Chakotay’s character

[Sumire]

So, I’ve seen a number of posts like this on Tumblr lately:

“Chakotay has a reputation for being chill and easy going (while Janeway is the chaotic one) but one of his favorite ways to find joy in life is causing problems on purpose. Weather that’s making the rest of the senior staff sit through the Doctor’s entire presentation, or sabotaging Voyager to keep a conquering group of aliens from being able to fully use the ship, or even the way he ingratiates himself to every one who kidnaps him only to calmly start picking apart their self and outwardly destructive belief structures. It’s all the same quality. He likes to nudge things out of place, cause unobtrusive disruption. Maybe he’s creating joy for himself, maybe he’s planting seeds that’ll destroy your civilizations whole deal in a hundred years. He may seem chill but he’s always up to something.

Somehow despite being ignored by the writers Chakotay actually does have a pretty solid structure as a character.” prettypinkdork

I have heard Beltran was quite fond of joking around on set and that no doubt lent some of the sly humor found in his interactions but what do people think, is Chakotay actually a stealthy agent of chaos?

 

[Ragitsu]

When it comes to character traits, his wisdom - augmented with a healthy helping of spirituality on the side - is widely known, but few people (openly) acknowledge that Chakotay is one of those quietly intelligent individuals.

 

[Lynx]

Chakotay is a good character who could have become much better if the writers had bothered to develope the character.

He was actually good in many episodes during the first three seasons and in the foutrth season episode Nemesis. But then he was wasted by those in charge which was a pity.

Still one of my favorites. No: 2 on my list after Kes.

 

[Ragitsu]

Also, an effective member of the Maquis must be at least somewhat versed in social engineering.

 

[Oddish]

It’s all the same quality. He likes to nudge things out of place, cause unobtrusive disruption. Maybe he’s creating joy for himself, maybe he’s planting seeds that’ll destroy your civilizations whole deal in a hundred years. He may seem chill but he’s always up to something.

Maybe joining the Maquis was the wrong way of resolving the problem... maybe he should have just stayed in Starfleet and done his thing, and in a few years Starfleet would have supported the Maquis and driven the Cardassians out of the DMZ.

 

[at Quark's]

Beware the nice/quiet ones, eh?

I must admit that I never viewed Chakotay that way, but I can't deny that there's (at least) a kernel of truth in it.

 

[Phaser Two]

Ha, that's a funny take with Chakotay as chaos agent. I've always thought - and did 25 years ago - that Beltran/Chakotay had effectively irresistible charm and charisma that was pretty evident in his interactions with everyone, and not just the women. I'm reminded of what a co-star (Reiko Aylesworth) said about Kiefer Sutherland on 24 once - that he would have chemistry with a lamppost. I knew exactly what she meant, and felt it with Beltran's performances too.

Hence, I was always baffled by the "Chakotay is wooden" hot takes (or by now very cold takes). Watch pretty much any episode of Voyager (excepting any with alternate character versions like "Living Witness" or "Author, Author") and concentrate on his interactions with virtually any other actor, from the obvious examples like Martha Hackett, Ryan and Mulgrew through to Picardo, McNeill, Wang and any guest star. Dude had game.

 

[Akiraprise]

I agree. He's got game.

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I always liked Chakotay.

 

[WarpTenLizard]

This is a really brilliant character analysis.

I'll add that the episide "the Fight," while quite stupid and generally disliked, is a far better backstory-episode for Chakotay than "Tattoo." What we learn about his unhinged grandpa fits perfectly with everything Chakotay has said and done leading up to that episide. Throughout the series, the only time he ever seems really on the verge of panic is when something is messing with his mind (like in "Waking Moments") or when someone is threatening to mess with his brain ("Unity").

Growing up with a crazy grandpa went worlds to preparing him to be largeky unphased by his eccentric shipmates.

And the fact that he's a boxer makes it much funnier in "Maneuvers" when the Kazon try getting command codes by punching him, and he just laughs in their faces.