Is Tom Paris Nick Locarno?

By Anna Duncan

Introduction

Tom Paris is a character from the popular TV series Star Trek: Voyager. He is known for his rebellious nature and his tendency to bend the rules. Fans have often speculated about his past and whether he is actually Nick Locarno, a character from Star Trek: The Next Generation.

The Similarities

There are certainly some similarities between Tom Paris and Nick Locarno. Both characters are pilots, and both have been involved in accidents that resulted in the deaths of their fellow crew members. In fact, Tom Paris was introduced in Voyager as a former Starfleet officer who was dishonorably discharged after he was found guilty of causing an accident that killed three people.

Similarly, Nick Locarno was a cadet at Starfleet Academy who was involved in a deadly accident during a training exercise. He tried to cover up his mistake by manipulating his fellow cadets, but ultimately confessed and was expelled from the academy.

The Differences

Despite these similarities, there are also some key differences between Tom Paris and Nick Locarno. For one thing, their personalities are quite different.

While both characters can be charming and charismatic, Tom Paris tends to be more likable overall. He is often seen as a lovable rogue who means well but sometimes gets into trouble.

In contrast, Nick Locarno is portrayed as more of a manipulative figure who is willing to use others to get what he wants. He is also shown to be quite arrogant and self-centered.

The Official Word

So, is Tom Paris actually Nick Locarno The answer is no.

While there are certainly some similarities between the two characters, they were created independently of each other. In fact, the writer of the Voyager episode “Caretaker” specifically stated that Tom Paris was not intended to be Nick Locarno.

Additionally, there are some legal reasons why the characters cannot be the same. The writers of Voyager did not have the rights to use Nick Locarno in their show, so they had to create a new character with a similar background.

Conclusion

While fans may continue to speculate about whether Tom Paris is actually Nick Locarno, the official word is that they are two separate characters. However, the similarities between them do make for an interesting comparison, and it’s always fun to look for connections between different Star Trek series.