When Chakotay and Seven of Nine began to explore their relationship in episodes such as 'Human Error' and 'Natural Law,' those fans pushing for romance between the Doctor and Seven were alarmed. In a new interview, Robert Picardo (The Holodoc) revealed he was one of them.

"I didn't get my hot tub scene with Seven," he complained to Michelle Erica Green at SFX Magazine. "I lost out to Chakotay. I think the producers just said, 'Who would we really rather see kissing this woman onscreen?'"

Picardo felt most viewers would have much preferred the Doctor kissing Seven. "The idea of the Doctor's intimacy with Seven worked great because it appealed to that subliminal thing in our male audience. 'Well, gee, if this guy can score with this woman, then we all can!' And it appealed to the female audience because the Doctor combines both the appeal of someone who is really brilliant and knows a lot about his field with this sort of big kid. I really don't know what I'm doing as far as emotional interaction."

"But you know what," Picardo admitted, "I don't think anyone really expected it except me."

The actor joked this was as much the Doctor's loss as Seven's. "[A] holographic lover has got to be perfect! They have intimate theoretical knowledge of the female body, yet no personal sexual history whatsoever. What can I say? A man who could be programmed to any dimension, rhythm, whatever - I think she's missed a big opportunity!"

In 'Endgame' the Doctor finally got some romance of his own with Lana, his new bride. Picardo welcomed this deveolpment. "It ain't the Seven Of Nine hot tub scene, but it's a wonderful runner-up," he said, then paused, and added, "I don't think they have hot tubs in the future anyway - they have sonic showers, which don't sound nearly as exciting."

More from Picardo can be found in the full interview, including his thoughts on why Voyager wasn't as succesful in the ratings over the past years and his future plans with the Doctor. To read the interview, you'll have to buy the June 2001 issue of SFX Magazine, available on newsstands in the UK now or via its web site internationally.

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