Star Trek Voyager's Garrett Wang Discusses Revival of Character Harry Kim
Lighter Side of Star Trek: Lower Decks Unveiled as Ensign Harry Kim Returns
Published on Dec 21, 2024
In a thrilling return to the Star Trek universe, Garrett Wang, the original Ensign Harry Kim from Star Trek: Voyager, graces the fifth season of Star Trek: Lower Decks.
Warning: Spoilers ahead for Lower Decks’ "Fissure Quest"
Getty Images / [Source Platform]
As the U.S.S. Cerritos encounters various iconic characters, including Data, T'Pol, Lily Sloane, Julian Bashir, and Garak, due to multiple subspace rifts in the Alpha Quadrant, Captain William Boimler, who has taken command of the U.S.S. Anaximander after Section 31 faked his death, embarks on a mission to investigate these quantum fissures and a suspicious ship that appears to be responsible for their frequent appearance. Accompanying Captain Boimler are interdimensional castaways T'Pol, Curzon Dax, and Elim Garak; Dr. Julian Bashir, an EMH; and a crew of ensign Harry Kims from multiple quantum realities—the Kim Krew.
[Source Platform] spoke with Wang about the adventures of Harry Kim(s), Lower Decks, the 30th anniversary of Voyager, and more.
The Perpetual Appeal of Harry Kim
Wang expressed his delight at being back as Harry Kim, after the intense fan reaction to the official trailer for Lower Decks' fifth season. "It feels fantastic," he shares. "When [Source Platform] premiered the Season 5 trailer, the reactions on social media were incredible, as fans were excited to see Harry back. Knowing that fans are still invested in Harry's character, underscores the enduring appeal of Harry Kim."
"I've been anticipating this return," Wang continues, "And I'm particularly pleased, as this season features multiple Kims, making it all the more enjoyable."
Animating the Star Trek Universe
While the series typically records separate sessions, Wang's unique experience for "Fissure Quest" involved scene partners often being various versions of Harry Kim, such as Two-Pip Kim, Tall Socks Kim, and others. Comparing this to his time on Voyager, Wang comments, "It's an interesting dynamic, especially when we're on the Bridge. Directors often use a scale to indicate phaser impact or similar effects. To differentiate between the different Harrys, I've come up with a system of numbers or adjectives, like 'nervous Harry,' 'overconfident Harry,' etc., which helps me to distinguish between them."
The Makeshift Anaximander Crew
The Anaximander crew is a diverse talent pool, boasting figures from across the Star Trek universe, including Elim Garak, Dr. Julian Bashir, and multiple versions of Harry Kim. On the opportunity to work with such a talented cast, Wang exclaims, "It's fantastic! I'm a huge Deep Space Nine fan, so having the chance to work with Garak and Bashir is an absolute joy. The interactions between these characters are something I've been wanting to witness for years!"
The 30th Anniversary of Voyager and its Influence
In 2025, Star Trek: Voyager will celebrate its 30th anniversary, leaving Wang in awe. "It's still hard to believe that three decades have passed," he muses. "Imagining a world where there are people walking the earth who weren't alive when Voyager first aired, it's astounding."
"And it's a tremendous honor to learn that Harry Kim has left a lasting impact," Wang continues. "Meeting fans at conventions who share how Harry was an inspiration for them to pursue careers in STEM professions, it's a humbling and inspiring experience."
"As the only Asian series regular on television during the late '90s, I never realized the significance of that role until I attended an Asian entertainment awards ceremony in Los Angeles," Wang recalls. "I had the chance to meet Daniel Dae Kim, who had guest-starred on Voyager. He congratulated me on paving the way, and I was overwhelmed. It was a proud moment, a testament to the power and influence of Star Trek."
The Complex 'Bad' Guy
In an unexpected turn in the episode, the team working to open quantum fissures are not the traditional franchise antagonists. Instead, they are an alternate reality Lily Sloane and her crew of Vulcans, pursuing peace through exploration of quantum realities and scientific advancement. Both crews eventually collaborate to help each other repair their ships following a disruption caused by aggressive Khwopians.
However, while dealing with the Khwopians, Two-Pip Kim, frustrated by perceived microaggressions, decides to steal Sloane's ship, the Beagle, with the intention of returning all the Kims to their respective realities, where they would no longer be overlooked or disrespected.
Speaking on Two-Pip Kim, Wang shares, "When you have the chance to play a villain, it's an exciting opportunity. It was fun to explore this side of the character, and I enjoyed adding a maniacal laugh to the performance—even though I thought they would choose a more subtle take on the laughter."
Wang adds, "Two-Pip Kim remained committed to his noble mission, seeking a better future for all the Harrys."
Stay Connected
Christine Dinh (she/her) is the managing editor for [Source Platform]. She pilots this federation starship.
Star Trek: Lower Decks streams exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S. and is distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution. In Canada, it airs on Bell Media's CTV Sci-Fi Channel. The series will also be available to stream on Paramount+ in the UK, Canada, Latin America, Australia, Italy, France, the Caribbean, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, and South Korea.
For more updates, follow @[Source Platform] on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.
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- The fifth season of Star Trek: Lower Decks features a mission that brings together characters from various Star Trek shows, including T'Pol, Garak, Julian Bashir, and multiple Harry Kims from different timelines, as they explore a series of quantum fissures and an unusual ship in the Alpha Quadrant.
- Garrett Wang, original Ensign Harry Kim from Star Trek: Voyager, discusses his excitement about returning to the Star Trek universe for Lower Decks' fifth season and acknowledges the enduring appeal of Harry Kim, evidenced by the intense fan reaction when the official trailer was released.
- Harry Kim encounters characters from other Star Trek shows, such as Captain William Boimler, Elim Garak, Dr. Julian Bashir, and multiple iterations of Harry Kim, in the fifth season of Lower Decks, making it an enjoyable experience for both the characters and actors due to the diverse talent pool.
