I know that the ultra gorgeous blonde lady has been brought as an easy appeal to hormone-pumped teens, but she is a fine actress playing a fine character.
I've seen many people disregard Voyager as a neglected cousin of TNG and DS9. For me, STV is in pair with both. All series have their generous rate of appalling fillers. And STV overused silly personal interactions, holodeck highlights, and lazy writing. In general, the characters are good to begin with. Lots of different mindframes and origins. Too bad they have spent precious time with the insufferable Seska and that comic relief of a Hyena. By then we had memorable episodes, and could enjoy excellent actors in action.
The primary cast is better than that of TNG for me. If we compared head by head (when possible) with TNG, Voyager wouldn't be put to shame.
Janeway X Picard = The only thing I don't like about Janeway is her voice, other than that she is a fine Starfleet Captain, of course in a different style to the grandiloquent Shakespearean Picard, but I prefer her.
Chakotay X Riker = The initial rebel/indian sides of Chakotay were gradually abandoned, which is bad, because I find him better than Riker.
Tuvok X Data = both are winners and highlights of Star Trek. Tuvok is somewhat underrated compared to Data, but for me Tim Russ did a lovely job, adding Vulcan-ness to the layers of Spock.
Crusher X The Doctor = no comparison here, Robert Picardo is fantastic, one of the best additions to the Star Trek long history. Crusher was introduced, I believe, basically as an uninteresting love interest for Picard, duh...
Kes X Troy = both fragile ladies with underused telepathic powers. Both could have been so much more...
Neelix X Wesley = both equally disgusting.
B'elanna X Geordi = The Klingon lady is a much more layered character than LaForge.
Worf = in the beginning badly written, later improved. A good character.
Kim = average Starfleet officer. A decent addition to the crew.
Guinan = added a lot to the texture.
Tasha = nothing.
