Editing Kazon (section)

=== Abandonment ===
Following the end of the second season, Taylor decided to remove the Kazon as the series' primary antagonists, having found the effort to develop the alien species to be unsuccessful. She felt that they never grew into a compelling adversary, despite their appearances in multiple episodes. Taylor argued that the Kazon limited the potential of the series, saying: "It created the curious implication that we are standing still in space, when our franchise is that we are going at incredible speeds toward the [[Alpha Quadrant]] – we keep running into the same people over and over again! It was just an oddity, and I don't think the Kazon have served us well." While discussing their role in the future episodes, she explained that it was her "intention to leave them behind and to find new and I hope more interesting aliens".<ref name="ActionAdventure" />

Even though Piller understood Taylor's disappointment with the Kazon, he felt that "it was important and valuable to create this adversary".<ref name="Seska1" /> Berman agreed with Taylor's assessment of the Kazon and noted that they would be removed in the beginning of the third season. He also admitted that the writers made several mistakes and introduced inconsistencies while developing the Kazon. Believing that the large amount of space under the Kazon's control was implausible, he argued that the number of times ''Voyager'' encountered the alien species would make their territory bigger than the United Federation of Planets and the [[Klingon Empire (Star Fleet Universe)|Klingon Empire]].<ref name="AmazingAmazing">{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title= 30th Anniversary Issue|magazine=Star Trek: Communicator|location=New York |issue=108|publisher=[[Titan Magazines]]|page=56|date=August–September 1996}}</ref> Producer [[Brannon Braga]] supported the Kazon's removal, criticizing the species as "half-baked Klingons" and their constant inclusion in episodes as making the series have "the feeling that we're traveling in a big circle".<ref name="BakingwiththeKazon">{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title= Hopes & Fears on the Final Frontier |magazine=Star Trek Monthly|location=New York |issue=20|publisher=[[Titan Magazines]]|page=20|date=October 1996 }}</ref>

Despite the decision to eliminate the Kazon from future episodes, the writing team was uncertain if the season two finale and season three premiere would focus on them. Piller said that it was suggested that the episodes could serve as an introduction to a new alien species, but he supported the possibility that they act as a farewell to the Kazon storylines. He explained his decision by saying he "felt we had built up this arc with them and it was a natural conclusion".<ref name="AdiosKazon">[[#grossaltman1996|Gross & Altman (1996)]]: p. 169</ref> The Kazon were replaced by storylines focusing on the Vidiians, the [[Borg]], and the [[Hirogen]].<ref name="Hirogen">[[#barrett1994|Barrett & Barrett (2001)]] p. 82</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/star-trek-voyager/25477/why-star-trek-voyagers-fourth-season-is-the-best |title=Why Star Trek: Voyager's fourth season is the best |date=May 10, 2013 |work=[[Den of Geek!]] |last1=Harris |first1=Juliette |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170105053142/http://www.denofgeek.com/tv/star-trek-voyager/25477/why-star-trek-voyagers-fourth-season-is-the-best |archive-date=January 5, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>