Star Trek: Voyager - A Marathon Re-visit.

[SRFX]

ONE - 4x25 - 1/5

About 15 minutes in you know exactly what this episode is going to entail. There's nothing really to comment on with this episode as it is boring, predictable and formulaic. The most depressing part is they re-use this episode type in Enterprise - like it wasn't boring enough the first time.

Also, I never get why turning off the life support system = instant evacuation of air. There would be enough ambient air on the ship to last at LEAST several hours.

 

[You_Will_Fail]

I loved "One" but "Demon" is truly awful, truly freaking awful.

 

[SRFX]

HOPE AND FEAR - 4x26 - 4/5

Things start with more of the usual self righteous Janeway bullshit that keeps getting shoved down Seven's (and the audience's) throat. Fortunately, Seven balances this with a healthy amount of opposition.

The episode is yet another "you know they'll fail to get home" story, but of course, like with Eye of the Needle, if the fail is spectacular enough, I'll bite.

It's a little predictable, with Arturis obviously being too good to be true. But revealing his motives to be the repercussions of Voyager assisting the Borg is great, and I'm glad this was touched upon. It gives him an added dimension and I can't help but feel sorry for him, as sits on his ship, alone, waiting for the end.

There's a couple goofy moments, such as there being this huge obvious button underneath a huge obvious console on the bridge that switches everything to bad guy mode. Clearly Harry and Tuvok didn't check things over closely enough.

Overall, a nice season end-er and an interesting choice to not leave us with a cliffhanger.

 

[SRFX]

Star Trek: Voyager - Season 4 - average score: 3.12

Sigh, Voyager. What am I going to do with you?

Numerically, I guess I haven't quantified or reviewed TNG, DS9 or ENT. But I can't help but feel a comparable score for S4 to Voy's own S1 is a little disappointing.

Sure, things have improved upon seasons 2 and 3, but I was hoping for a more marked improvement in quality. And admittedly, season 1 was a very short season with a lot of the sub-par episodes being pushed on to season 2, so perhaps season 4 can stand on it's own in this regard due to it being a full 26 episode season.

There were many top tier (5 star) episodes this season: Year of Hell Parts 1 & 2, Message in a Bottle and Living Witness.

I also awarded plenty of high scores (4 star): Scorpion Part II, The Gift, Hunters, Prey, The Killing Game Part I and Hope and Fear.

The number of 1 star episodes was also far less than previous seasons, and after recalculating, I worked out the season average score improved if we were to ignore these episodes (Demon and One)

So on the plus side, this has been Voyager's best season yet. On the down side, I'm not confident it measures up well to TNG, DS9 or ENT's best seasons.

I'd have to review those series in more detail, but at the moment, this is how I'm feeling. If Season 5 can maintain or improve on Season 4, then so much the better and I remain optimistic.

Anyway, we'll be going into season 5 with a Harry Horror count currently at only 9. Season 4 has been very good to Harry with his worst (and only near death experience) being right at the start of the season.

That said, it hasn't stopped him being Janeway's whipping boy for a year.

 

[SRFX]

NIGHT - 5x01 - 4/5

I applaud the writers for this significant change of pace. It's been a long time since a Star Trek season ended and opened without a cliffhanger.

'Night' has a great sense of atmosphere to it. It presents the realities of space travel quite well, and the crew's method of dealing with that.

I am bit a uncertain about how to feel about Janeway though. On the one hand, it's great to see her feeling depressed and feeling responsible for the whole situation. Perhaps Arturis' words about Voyager's selfish desire to get to Earth at any cost are really hurting Janeway, a situation created by Janeway for stranding Voyager in the Delta Quadrant in the first place. On the other hand, it's a bit disturbing to see the Captain of a starship become this reclusive. Though I guess Voyager's situation wasn't really covered at the Academy.

There's plenty of great scenes between the characters and I especially enjoyed Seven's participation in Captain Proton: "I am Borg" *rips out guts of robot*

Although, speaking of that scene I was a little confused at how apparently in this episode, holographic forms persist despite there being no power. Seems in contradiction to previous depictions of the holodeck.

 

[SRFX]

DRONE - 5x02 - 4/5

I must have missed this episode entirely the first time I watched Voyager as I don't recall it all and it felt like a brand new episode! That's always a pleasant surprise.

It's also great when an episode you've completely forgotten happens to be really really good as well. It's a bit reminiscent of 'I, Borg" but that's okay, since that was a fairly stellar episode.

This is a little different though, as we're basically witnessing a Borg child taking it's first steps into the world and trying to understand the universe and the people in it. One is portrayed very well and the episode is great to watch, especially the interplay between him and Seven.

The episode also manages to elevate itself with One's heartbreaking sacrifice, which also contributes to Seven's growth as a person.

 

[SRFX]

EXTREME RISK - 5x03 - 2/5

Sigh Voyager, you just couldn't keep it up could you and have a third great episode in a row? Oh well, at least I've gotta give them credit for trying with this episode, which is the only reason I gave it a 2 instead a 1. Dawson's portrayal of someone with depression is completely fine. My problem is that this seems to come out of absolutely no where.

My partner suffers from chronic depression and has been for several years. I have lived with and observed his varying emotional and physical states. It's not something that just appears out of absolutely no where. It is an observable and gradual change in mood and behaviour over a reasonably long period of time.

I am very uncomfortable with the scene between Paris, Chakotay and Janeway where they agree to violate Torres' privacy. You cannot confront and betray people with depression like this. Sufferers need to seek professional help and can only do that if they are encouraged by friends around them whom they can trust and again, this can take a LONG period of time to happen.

The scene towards the end of the episode between Chakotay and Torres is very good, however, it don't like where things end up. This could be a precursor to Torres seeking the help she needs, but leaving it at just a conversation with Chakotay and Torres saying she will eventually be fine is not a realistic resolution. Sufferers of depression need to seek the professional help of a psychologist, or at the very least, a counsellor - someone they don't have an emotional investment in. I know USS Voyager is not in an ideal situation, but the Doctor could provide this to some degree.

I am all for Star Trek tackling this issue, but I am not happy with the lip service this serious sociological and mental health issue is given in this episode, especially since it presents some false, simplistic resolutions to an issue that doesn't really come up ever again.

Voyager is notorious for reset button style storytelling. Jeri Taylor has specifically stated that the show needed to be mostly self contained episodes, which as a creative decision, is her prerogative (even if it's a dumb decision). In that case, DON'T tackle issues that can't be explored and given the proper respect it deserves in 40 minutes. At best it comes off as half-assed and at worst, ignorant and arrogant.

The stuff about building the Delta Flyer is fun, but mostly immaterial. I probably would've preferred if this episode was only about that storyline and played out in a Space Race/The Right Stuff kinda way.

I understand I have a vested emotional interest in this issue, and that colours my opinion on this episode. But there is no way I can put those feelings to the side when a franchise I love treats an issue I care about so deeply with such disrespect.

 

[SRFX]

IN THE FLESH - 5x04 - 2/5

How the mighty have fallen. Species 8472's appearance as Hirogen prey last season was very effective. This was a lone entity, badly injured and yet it still put up a hell of a fight. More was learned about 8472, but not everything was revealed.

In the Flesh plays out like an episode of Futurama where Chakofry ends up on a planet of aliens who want to destroy us for no reason and are masquerading as humans. Oh, and he makes out with one of them.

Voyager is guilty of causing the Borg's villain decay, but it pales compared to Species 8472's fall from grace. They go from being this unstoppable malevolent force of twisted nature to a bunch of paranoid cowards.

I mean, I'm all for a diplomatic solution but this is just wraps up too neatly for my tastes. Admittedly, this would be an OK concept if the aliens involved weren't 8472, but they are, and this is what's become of them.

 

[Mr. Scott]

Gee thanks for all the reviews and storylines SRFX. But I think that 98% of us on here have already seen everything on Trek and if we wanted to find an episode, we can look it up on Wiki.

I have been doing a marathon Voyager watch now myself and I will say that it is probably my second favorite Trek series next to DS9.

 

[SRFX]

It's probably my fault for not updating often enough (changing life circumstances), but I'd be doing this regardless of interest. Besides, I've had others asking me to keep it up and I figure since I've come this far I may as well see it through to the end.

Unless a moderator tells me otherwise.

 

[froot]

I say there's a charm to these bite-sized impressions versus a more involved review thread, although both can be interesting to read.

If the five-word story and the HiJS thread can continue to exist, I think this one should too.

 

[pleccy]

Hey SRFX, any more updates? I'm watching Voyager through then reading your mini reviews. Shame that it seems to have stopped!

 

[st.barthgirl]

TUVIX - 2x24 - 5/5

Season 2 just keeps dishing up good ones huh? I suppose Threshold still needs redeeming.

This episode has been, and probably will continue to be debated for years and I don't intend to turn this thread into another 'Janeway did the right/wrong thing discussion'.

I will state that I flatly disagree with Janeway's decision and I feel that it is inhumane to sacrifice an unwilling person to save another, but that doesn't stop this episode being superb. The fact that fans are still arguing over those decision 15 years later is a testament to how provocative this episode is. It is well acted, well paced, and yet another 5 star outing for Voyager.

i just rewatched this last night... and i'll have to find these threads you're referencing~ because i think it is a timeless debate. i'm thinking she made an immoral decision, too...