Day of Honor Stardate not given: B'Elanna reluctantly faces the Klingon Day of Honor, and it turns out an awful day indeed. First she has to accept that her arrogant new crewmate Seven is going to work in engineering, then she has to drop the warp core after a failed experiment. Next, she and Paris take a shuttle to search for the core, but are attacked by the Caatati. An imminent hull breach forces them to leave the shuttle in spacesuits. Their oxygen having dropped to a minimum level, B'Elanna admits that she loves Tom. Most of the Caatati have been assimilated by the Borg, and besides the warp core they also demand the extradition of Seven of Nine. Seven succeeds in finding a solution for the energy shortage of the Caatati who agree to return the warp core.

I loved this episode for a few reasons. I like how they put B'Elanna on the holodeck for the Klingon day of honor ritual. I also liked how for the first time we see a species that was almost extinct by the Borg and Seven ends up greatly helping them. About the scene where B'Elanna tells Tom she loves him: It's about time, to any serious Voyager fan we figured that out like a month before.
Remarkable scene: The day of honor ritual includes eating the heart of a targ and the drinking from the grail of Kahless.
Remarkable quote: "We've dumped the core. Welcome to the worst day of my life." (Torres to Janeway)
Rating: 9 (Kyle)

Day of Honor Stardate not given: Synopsis in main VOY listing

I was actually a tad bored by this episode but it built into a pretty decent analysis of B'Elanna. For a long time the only thing indicative of her being Klingon was just being a bit snappier at the crew than normal, but here she's actually far more human, acknowledging that her grating personality was just only pushing away those who cared, of course Tom Paris the prime example, who finally gets his reward when she admits to 'loving' him. So this episode really kick starts their relationship, and I actually respect how it was built up over the long period and the two actors hinted at it for a while before now.
The B-plot of course focuses on Seven's desire to function in some capacity as part of the crew, while the ship deals with a bunch of jerks in the Caatati, who after taking a wealth of supplies from Voyager, holds its ejected core to ransom in an effort to extort more supplies from the ship, however Seven conveniently possesses the knowledge needed to help the Caatati replenish their energy supply. Granted, I don't think she was immediately told that they used thorium isotopes, but it was still a deus ex machina and one delivered at the wrong time.
So, funnily an above average episode, started out with silliness involving B'Elanna wrestling with cliché Klingon rituals, but she's not at all like Worf who embraced these ideals, and here we see she's more human for it, and not just a cardboard cutout, conflicted hybrid character, like Worf.
Remarkable scene: Voyager being reflected in B'Elanna's helmet before the pair are beamed back into the ship with the credits rolling immediately after.
Rating: 7 (Cameron)

Nemesis Stardate 51082.4: Synopsis in main VOY listing

Chakotay in Vietnam fighting Predators! Yet another episode which isn't that great that happens to feature Chakotay in the leading role but I did like some things. The imagery of course, the soldiers being desecrated was kind of disturbing in a way, as well as the villagers being taken away to extermination camps. The language of the Vori, the unique way that different words are supplemented to still get the message across. Even though the Vori weren't a typical 'ridged forehead' or 'spotted' alien-humanoid of the week, their language was obviously some small attempt to differentiate them from Humans which I thought was a bit refreshing.
Also the twists the episode takes, Chakotay really experiencing an indoctrination simulation as evidenced by his return to the 'reset' village, the Kradin actually being the friendly aliens who help Voyager, but that's where the intelligence seems to end. The idea of the Vori capturing their own people and others to fight their war using this lengthy simulation seemed convoluted and confusing, if the Kradin were so brutal (and nothing was said to prove otherwise) surely the Vori government wouldn't need such a time consuming process to recruit "dozens" of soldiers at a time. And the message was too simple, Chuckles couldn't deal with accepting the thanks of a member of a people, he'd just been brainwashed into hating, of course he'll have trouble dealing for a short time (short time being till the start of the nest episode of course ;-D).
Remarkable omission: Shock, horror! Seven of Nine doesn't appear in this episode! Never fear, it is the only episode in which she doesn't make an appearance.
Rating: 4 (Cameron)

Revulsion Stardate 51186.2: Synopsis in main VOY listing

I guess it's always difficult to combine comedy and a drama/thriller with positive results, and that might be why this episode doesn't take off the way it does, and along the way falls into the trap of many clichés seen before in the 'horror' genre as is repeated with Dejaren's story. All that creeping around corridors, chases with the killer stalking, advancing adding to the tension, the miraculous lethal weapon perfectly placed for B'Elanna to use. Of course, the obligatory foreshadowing of his psychotic nature with his constant rants about 'organics', you could see the out come coming a mile away really, and did it help that we knew what he had done beforehand? And what good would sending a distress call had done, if he had already been sick of dealing with organics. He probably just didn't think it all through and clearly wasn't operating on all 'sub-routines' at the time.
The B-story is a lot better though, of course because it has moments of hilarity, and of course, the ever-beautiful Jeri Ryan slinking around in that silver catsuit... anyway. Seven and Kim working on some seemingly generic technical stuff and Kim is, as expected, infatuated and he's doing his best not to make it known. The best part of course is in the mess hall, and that quote of Seven's is acknowledged below, and what a fool Harry was not to 'comply' ;-)
Some nice continuity points as well, Paris referencing B'Elanna's "Day of Honor" as occurring a few days before hand, Paris the replacement Doctor as per his duties as nurse, Paris again, referencing the episode "Alter Ego" how Harry had fallen for a hologram.
All that redeems this though are the funnier parts of the episode and Leland Orser's performance.
Remarkable dialogue: "All of these elaborate rituals of deception... I didn't realize becoming human again would be such a challenge. Sexuality is particularly complex. As Borg, we had no need for seduction, no time for single-cell fertilization. We saw a species we wanted, and we assimilated it. Nevertheless, I am willing to explore my humanity. Take off your clothes." - "Uh... Seven..." - "Don't be alarmed. I won't hurt you." -Seven of Nine and Ensign Kim
Remarkable quote: "I exist as pure energy, but you depend on food and water to survive. Frankly, I find it disgusting. Look at you. Look at you! Grinding up bits of plants and animals with your teeth. Secreting saliva to force it down your esophagus into a pit of digestive acids. You can't even stand to think about it yourself. What a repulsive creature you are, constantly shedding your skin and hair, leaving your oily sweat on everything you touch! You think that you are the height of intellect in the universe but you are no better than any filthy animal! And I am ashamed to be made in your image!" -Dejaren
Rating: 5 (Cameron)

Scientific Method Stardate 51244.3: Synopsis in main VOY listing

Another creepy episode of Star Trek in the spirit of the equally disturbing TNG: "Schisms" in which aliens from another realm (of sorts) experiment with the crew. I like how the usage of Seven's implants gave us a chance to see the experiments taking place and it's quite uncomfortable to see all these devices strapped to the crews heads and the aliens playing around with them while the crew went about their duties unaware. And it was a good decision to have the Doctor hide in sickbay and Seven covertly monitor the aliens.
It's actually strange how the plot of Neelix and Chakotay was kind of abandoned, they were returned to their quarters, but to all but vanish half way through the story line was strange, they set up these dramatic changes for the pair but don't bother to follow through at all! And once more I must say how little a fan of those threats to kill the crew that seem to come about just for the sake of increasing tension I am. The alien scientist in the brig already got her skewed point across that what she was doing was the "right" thing, with Voyager's crew all but clueless as to how to stop them performing their experiments I didn't think the clichéd threat was needed. But at least Janeway had a legitimate reason to try and destroy the ship for once ;)
Some great visual effects, already seeing through Seven's 'eyes' was an effective technique, that beautiful binary system, Voyager itself rendered in CG, Season 4 is definitely where the show caught up with contemporary visual effects rather than simply relying on the models and sparingly used CGI.
Quite a clever episode.
Remarkable quote: "Sorry, these lab rats are fighting back." -Janeway, to Alzen
Remarkable fact: According to memory-alpha.org, it was during this episode that Kate Mulgrew quit smoking, perhaps that contributed to her irritable performance ;)
Rating: 7 (Cameron)

The Year of Hell, Part I Stardate 51268.4: Synopsis in main VOY listing

Brilliant, an amazing introduction to 80+ minutes of the finest of Trek there is, my only gripe is that they didn't do this sort of story telling right from the start, however I am happy with what was achieved here as it was.
Amazing visual effects, dramatic story telling bringing out some of the better performances from the cast, the ship strewn with rubble like you'd expect after the constant battles, a compelling and tragic villain in Annorax (surely one of the best villains from all Star Trek's incarnations). The continuity with "Before and After" was well handled as well, of course there's the issue of how Voyager ended up in Krenim space without Kes pushing them there as she did in "The Gift", however this can be overlooked if one is willing to concede Voyager made some off-screen jump somehow... But it's nice how the effects and camera shots from "Before and After" were reincorporated into this episode. And we again witness more conflict with Chakotay and Janeway over her decision, but seriously, the performances all round were great. Seeing the crew in this desperate situation and fighting to survive (Tuvok going blind, Neelix becoming a security officer, Chakotay not shaving!), personally I expected this to have happened from Day 1 considering Voyager's plight of being alone, no allies, no supplies, hounded from Day 1 by Kazon, Vidiian, Borg, yet never had it taken a pounding like this, nor the consequences been so severe, so it's rather bittersweet to only place Voyager and her crew in this situation for 2 episodes.
Nevertheless, an amazing set up for part 2, an incredible episode.
Remarkable styling: Janeway sports yet another hairstyle in this episode, the shorter version which she'll keep for the rest of Season 4, and the remainder of the show.
Remarkable new toy: This episode premiers the impressive Astrometrics lab, which will make many more appearances over the series.
Remarkable visual effects: The opening sequence with Annorax's time-vessel erasing the civilisation. Deck 5's destruction.
Remarkable ship: Of course, Annorax's time-ship.
Rating: 10 (Cameron)

The Year of Hell, Part II Stardate 51425.4: Synopsis in main VOY listing

Wow, wow, wow, the follow up to the first part delivers in every way except the reset button, however considering the time weapon was responsible for Voyager's predicament it is only logical that its own destruction would've restored Voyager to her original condition, however I wish another way would've been found to have destroyed it, the crew of Voyager had been through so much and bonded through their 'year of hell' that it all deserved to have been validated, in the end Seven's relationship with Tuvok is erased, the trials of the remainder of the crew are reset, and of course, the ship is back in pristine condition, ensuring that no scars from the experience were left on either crew or ship. So it does get a mark taken off it for that, it was a necessary step to take, but one only taken to ensure that Voyager's reputation for being so easily accessible and dare I say, 'sanitization', was maintained.
We learn more about Annorax as well, his motivations, however in that I believe we lost the sympathy first garnered for him in Part 1, in the second Part we see the true scale of his ambition to restore his wife and in that we see how big a god complex he has, more than once during the episode he talks himself up as how billions of lives exist at his mere whim unless they interfered with the Imperium and Kyana Prime. I think that made him a little too harsh of a character really, yes his crimes were obvious, but to go so far as to even gloat over the power his ship gave him, didn't think it was needed or wanted.
Never the less, great action, greater effects once more, brilliant conclusion to the Year of Hell.
Remarkable quote #1: "Target Voyager. Put Janeway out of her misery." -Annorax
Remarkable quote #2: "Time's up!" -Janeway
Remarkable PUN: "It's a beautiful day. Spend it with me?" - "I suppose I can make the time." -Annorax's wife and Annorax
Remarkable scene: Voyager ramming the Weapon-ship
Remarkable fact: According to memory-alpha.org, after leaving Star Trek, Ronald D. Moore used this episode as an example of how Star Trek: Voyager should have proceeded all along.
Rating: 9 (Cameron)

Random Thoughts Stardate 51367.2: Synopsis in main VOY listing

Oh we've seen it all before, Starfleet officer unwittingly commits a crime or is framed for committing one on an alien planet with some wholly undemocratic and unjustifiable laws in place, this time it's the familiar concept of thought crimes. One Starfleet officer digs around at his own peril, discovers the truth, exonerating the other officer accused.
Like I said we've seen this sort of scenario happen lots of times in other incarnations of Trek there's little point discussing the plot, it's a mediocre episode. Oh and of course it HAD to feature that out of place final scene in which Janeway once more dispenses her 'Captain Knows Best' attitude, telling Seven their involvement with other cultures during their journey home, as dangerous as it may be, is worth it for some sense of enlightenment. Show me what enlightenment was gained from interacting with the Mari, a race policing the thoughts of their citizens (and visiting aliens) to no benefit but to try and reinforce the idea that their technique had eliminated crime. Maybe if Janeway had done a quick reading over of the planets laws like we do in this day and age before visiting other countries with different cultures the problem may not have arisen in the first place.
Remarkable guest appearance: Switching bad teeth for bad hair, Gwyneth Walsh, better known as Duras sister B'Etor, stars in this episode as Chief Examiner Nimira.
Rating: 4 (Cameron)

Mortal Coil Stardate 51449.2: Synopsis in main VOY listing

Neelix pondering whether he should continue living? Some may find that an oxymoron but Ethan Phillips actually delivers a convincing performance here and it's a surprisingly decent episode. 2 things bothered me, 1. Another of Chakotay's silly vision quests. Sure it had its place and it helped tell the story and better illustrate Neelix's inner turmoil (albeit in more of a DS9 sort of way), but it wasn't something explained well enough as to how it worked (how does the piece of technology really work?), and always seemed a little stereotypical considering Chakotay's heritage. But on the other hand it could just have shown that people can still have their own faith despite the times they live in. In either case, Chakotay gets a good scene convincing Neelix not to kill himself, and all in all, something other to do than say 'Yes Captain', so I'm happy. :)
2nd thing was how Neelix blocked out the transporter over-ride, enough said.
But at least due to the quality of acting on offer those issues seem rather insignificant and it's an episode carried well by an actor exploring a very real issue that may be dealt with by members of society, perhaps forever. And of course it's not something dealt with in Trek as I don't believe any other characters barring Spock had come this close to death. Picard's experience in TNG: "Tapestry" is of course questionable, Sisko's fate was left up in the air, and when they killed Jadzia and Tasha they killed them good, i.e. permanently.
This episode also deals with Seven to a small degree, but nothing so distracting from the original plot, and of course reintroduces Naomi Wildman, who was last seen as an infant only 2 seasons before in 'Deadlock', of course, Ktarian physiology explains why she seems to have doubled or tripled in age in that short space of time. Good episode.
Remarkable continuity: Seven mentions Neelix's solitary lung in this episode, as his original lungs were stolen by the Vidiians, with Kes donating one of hers as a supplement.
Remarkably awkward conversation point: "Children assimilated by the Borg are placed in maturation chambers for seventeen cycles." -Seven of Nine, to Samantha Wildman and the Doctor
Remarkably bad luck: Turns out Neelix chose the wrong faith, with the Talaxian Afterlife all but non-existent, we find out however in Season 6's "Barge of the Dead" the Klingon Afterlife is perhaps quite real.
Rating: 6 (Cameron)

Waking Moments Stardate 51471.3: Synopsis in main VOY listing

Another routine alien-takeover plot with a slight twist about dreams and reality and the crews fears which makes it at least not as boring and predictable as the others. Really nothing more to it than that though. Gets a 5 for originality's sake.
Remarkable quote: "I wonder what a Vulcan nightmare would be like." - "Alone, exiled on a planet, where the only form of communication is laughter." -B'Elanna and Neelix.
Rating: 5 (Cameron)

Message in a Bottle Stardate 51462: Synopsis in main VOY listing

This is a great episode, full of laughs and action and impressive effects and even a competent supporting role from the now universally loathed and aptly named Andy Dick. And in terms of the story it's a big turning plot in Voyager's journey, with the Doc transferred back to the Alpha Quadrant by way of a relay network operated by the Hirogen who we'll get more familiar with this and next season. There he's confronted by Romulans who have hijacked a sophisticated Starfleet prototype ship, an action I doubt highly considering the Romulans' history of non-aggression, maybe they could've used another species who you would have expected to have been so bold in commandeering such a vessel, but it's not so big an issue to worry about. Plenty of great quotes and a wonderful battle scene involving some well rendered Starfleet and Romulan vessels, one of the best episodes of the series, highly enjoyable episode.
Oh, and I'll echo Bernd's nitpicking about the Beta Quadrant, from the looks of the the astrometrics display, the Network looked to have not spread into the Alpha Quadrant at all but indeed the Beta Quadrant.
Remarkable dialogue #1: "I am as close to a sentient lifeform as any hologram could hope to be. I socialize with the crew, fraternize with aliens, I've even had sexual relations." - "SEX? How is that possible? We are not - equipped..." - "...Let's just say: I made an addition to my program..." - "Before you leave, maybe you could download those subroutines into my database?" - "We'll see..." -The Doctor and EMH Mark II
Remarkable dialogue #2: "Stop breathing down my neck!" - "My breathing is merely a simulation!" - "So is my neck, stop it anyway!" -The Doctor and EMH Mark II
Remarkable quote #1: "I'm a doctor, not a commando!" -EMH Mark II
Remarkable quote #2: "I'm a pilot, Harry, not a doctor!" -Tom Paris
Remarkable quote #3: "Beep beep beep, beep beep beep? I've never heard that one before." -EMH Mark II
Remarkable ship: The U.S.S. Prometheus
Rating: 9 (Cameron)

Hunters Stardate 51501.4: Synopsis in main VOY listing

This episode is a good enough follow up to "Message in a Bottle" in that it revisits the Hirogen relay network and formally introduces the Hirogen as the next villain species for the first time, whilst dealing with the crew's letters from home and the impact is has on them. Just randomly there's a nice bit of acting from Kate Mulgrew as Janeway's reading her letter from Mark, realising he had come to accept she was lost and had moved on and married someone else, I'd seen this episode a few times now and that bit always strikes me. So the episode for the first half plods along with character development from Janeway to Kim, to Paris, to B'Elanna and Tuvok, and becomes routine in the second half when the Hirogen emerge and all ships are nearly destroyed, in the process though the one relay station they're getting the letters from is destroyed, in effect collapsing the entire network, which was a fairly bold move story wise and rather tragic.
I'm pretty amicable about this episode, nothing remarkable happens, but it isn't a terrible episode for that though. The Hirogen's first major appearance though is memorable, we can already understand their way of life devoted to the 'hunt' and that will play a major part in the rest of their appearances.
Rating: 7 (Cameron)

Retrospect Stardate 51658.2: Synopsis in main VOY listing

This is a fairly uninteresting episode about Seven and the Doctor and how their lack of experience with human emotions has ramifications. The Doc of course doesn't help egging her on as if her ordeal had actually happened, and in the end everyone pays for the mistakes made, Kovin kills himself, Seven is left feeling remorse and the Doctor contemplates having the sub-routines which led him to wanting to branch out beyond his programming, in this case to psychology which blinded his judgement, removed. But once more Overlord Janeway plays God with her crew and denies the Doctor's request, which, admittedly would've solved nothing and this is to help the Doctor understand the dilemma that other sentient beings go through with guilt and so forth.
Unremarkable lazy reuse: The timeship Aeon's cockpit returns as the cockpit for Kovin's ship, shockingly they couldn't even remove the Federation-like lighting on the inside in an effort to differentiate the too vessels.
Rating: 3 (Cameron)

The Killing Game, Part I Stardate not given: Synopsis in main VOY listing

Once again we're demonstrated that World War II was the only conflict in Earth history worth mentioning. EVER. That all aside I still think this is a great opening for the 2-parter, something that Voyager at least seems to do with great success consistently. The message about Nazi-ism and the overt implications of the Hirogen wearing their uniforms? I don't know, I think that one may have just gone over my head, I understand Bernd's point, but I don't think what happened in this episode is as bad as when it happened in TOS with the episode "Patterns of Force", at least in this scenario the Alpha Hirogen and many others of his race seem to belittle Nazi ideals, the Alpha is of course of the opinion that no one species is superior by blood or some deluded sense of entitlement. And the Beta is far too arrogant and dismissive of all the Alpha is trying to teach him to get caught up in Nazi ideals to care anyway. So in my opinion, this wasn't so much about trying to remind audiences about the German people's dark past (of course, they have no control over events that happened nearly 50 years ago nor should they be held accountable in anyway), but once more writers taking advantage of a dark chapter in HUMAN history and just costuming up the alien villains of the week accordingly.
Obviously the episode is sufficient in the action department, and story wise it's interesting that we are brought in mid-way during this story, well after the Hirogen had been able to board Voyager and forces its crew into the simulation. Jeri Ryan's got one hell of a voice too (and yes, that is HER singing). And we do gain a little bit more insight into Hirogen culture albeit from the point of view of one Hunter, as he tells of how the species had been pursuing this way of life for a long time, and that Voyager's technology had the potential to unite his people, so he at least isn't such a bland predictable character.
But the biggest problem is definitely plausibility. Until now the limits of the holodeck were well defined, and confined to what appeared to have been a small room, barely enough already for the Talaxian resort program from the earlier seasons. But this episode takes this all to a whole new level, already there is an entire French village, large enough to accommodate several members of the crew over a great distance, from the inside of the city to the outskirts where the "American Allies" Tom and Chakotay were, not too mention being possibly over 4 decks high as the final shot of the episode indicates. And which ever holodeck Harry expanded allowed if I'm not mistaken 5,000 square meters of space for the holodecks parameters. Unlikely.
But that all pales considering it's an entertaining enough episode.
Rating: 7 (Cameron)

The Killing Game, Part II Stardate 51715.2: Synopsis in main VOY listing

A satisfying conclusion, I think I'll keep this short. Once again like most follow up's in Voyager so far this one's much more focused on the action side of things, however this episode really promotes Roddenberry's ideals of cooperation and understanding greatly. Janeway and the Alpha Hirogen coming together and agreeing to calling a halt to the bloodshed, and a new leader steps up to fulfill his legacy in accepting Janeway's offer of the holodeck technology to create a new way of life for the Hirogen, so it's really well done how that message gets across. I however unlike Bernd do not take exception with the depiction of the holoprogram and so on, yes it is cheap and simplified, however it's still simply a holoprogram, nothing no more credible than an interactive "Saving Private Ryan", such technology is used for entertainment, not lecturing on the evils of humanity. And that's why I'm giving this a higher rating.
In doing so though, we see Janeway do a major back flip on her policies of sharing technology with aliens, perhaps seeing the Kazon didn't have the capability to post as great a threat to her crew as the Hirogen did, Janeway may have been all too happy to give up technology this instance just to get those killing her crew off the ship.
But that's beside the point, it's fun and action packed, the small input of the Doctor and Neelix as they deal with holographic Klingons is hilarious.
It's funny though how in the Captain's log summation Janeway mentions the damage to the ship as severe, will we see such ramifications next episode? Even more unlikely!
Remarkable quote #1: "They're Nazis, totalitarian fanatics, bent on world conquest. The Borg of their day. No offense." -Tom Paris, elaborating on the antagonists in the holoprogram to Seven of Nine
Remarkable quote #2: "Even half drunk, Klingons are among the best warriors in the galaxy." -The Doctor
Remarkable quote #3: "Accept this... trophy. You can use it to create a new future for your people. At the very least, you can hang it on your bulkhead." -Janeway giving the Hirogen holographic technology
Remarkable dialogue: "Sing or you will die." - "Then I'll die." - "Seven. You are a valued member of this crew. The logical response would be to grant his request." - "Logic is irrelevant. (to Hirogen) One day the Borg will assimilate your species; despite your arrogance. When that moment arrives, remember me." -Hirogen SS Officer, Seven of Nine, and Tuvok
Rating: 7 (Cameron)

Vis à Vis Stardate 51762.4: Synopsis in main VOY listing

Oh well, what more can you expect to back up the impressive "Killing Game" 2-parter than a routine body-switching romp? It at least takes a small amount of time to talk about Tom and his role on the ship and how He's changed over that time, but I can't help but think they could've given this role to Kim to have given Garret Wang something else to do. His role on the show had been so limiting, in this bottle episode why not give him the chance to stretch his acting chops a bit, but I desist. And as a bottle show of course it's fairly predictable, plenty of unnecessary technobabble, the guest characters are barely examined, there's a few little twists and a good performance from Robert Duncan McNeill, nothing special though.
Remarkable vessel: The alien ship the 'real' Steth was aboard that came to Tom's aid.
Remarkable century: The 20th of course! It was perpetuated in TOS with many parallel Earth episodes and carried over into TNG, VOY and now Voyager that the 20th was pretty much the only century in human history to have piqued anyone's interest, Tom of course the resident 'Grease Monkey' as his fascination with the period will pop up here and there again.
Rating: 3 (Cameron)

Unforgettable Stardate 51813.4: Synopsis in main VOY listing

Another mediocre romance episode, another unfair alien society, another runaway doomed not to be acquainted with her Starfleet lover, we've seen it all before. This episode just seems most implausible due to the convenient technology at the disposal of the Ramuran society who use pheromones and technology to make people forget them, which is just a set up for the situation Chakotay finds himself in, and then the tragedy later on about how Kellin is later shot with the technology by an officer ruthlessly concerned with enforcing his societies laws on not allowing people to leave their world, and forgets Chakotay. It's rather dull but the competent performances from Robert Beltran and Virginia Madsen make it slightly watchable. But once again, another dud.
Remarkable fact: This episode was directed by Andrew 'Garak' Robinson.
Remarkable dialogue: "Basically, she was a security operative for her people. She's a trained expert in weaponry, surveillance, fighting skills. Any idea where she might fit in?" - "Mr. Neelix could use an assistant in the Mess Hall." - "Tuvok, that was a joke. Don't deny it-- you were trying to be funny." - "If you choose to interpret my remark as humorous, that is your decision." - "I do and it was." - "It's perfectly logical. All the qualities you mentioned would help in defending Neelix against the periodic wrath of the crew." -Chakotay and Tuvok
Rating: 4 (Cameron)

Living Witness Stardate not given: Synopsis in main VOY listing

Another fascinating 'What If?' episode which at the same time is profoundly insightful into how we often choose to perceive history through our own biases. Another great chance to see the cast act out of character once more (and it was probably the ONLY way Kim was ever going to achieve a promotion too :-D), we see Chakotay with a larger tattoo, Neelix at OPS, the Doctor is an android, Tuvok is a bit of a sadist, and Seven is still a regular drone with a mini-collective at her disposal. But even the gimmicky joy about the first half of the episode is replaced with a great deal of relevant dialogue about how the Kyrians view history (i.e. VERY SYMPATHETICALLY), and how Quarren admits they may be entirely wrong.
The (backup) Doctor also brings up a good point that how after 700 years people fighting over this one event is pointless and that no matter who started the conflict, it had been ended and both sides needed to simply accept the sins of the past and move on. It's wisely concluded with the Kyrian and Vaskan people even further in the future, once more reviewing history, noting that due to the actions of the Doc and Quarren, their two cultures were brought together in harmony. An enjoyable, insightful and touching episode, and it gets a 9 from me.
Remarkable appearance: This episode marks the first time a Kazon had been seen on Star Trek: Voyager since "Basics Part II" (albeit one in a holodeck like creation).
Remarkable ship: Need I say it? The WARSHIP VOYAGER.
Remarkable character actor : Henry Woronicz (Quarren) previously played another alien attempting to learn his species' history though USS Voyager in "Distant Origin".
Rating: 9 (Cameron)

Demon Stardate not given: Synopsis in main VOY listing

Voyager's running on empty for a change, ha, goes to show this episodes not really in tune with the rest as it's been since Season 1 where the ship was really low on power, so there's a nitpick down already, but they find fuel, deuterium on a 'Demon' class planet, oops, the Silver blood is sentient as it replicated Tom and Harry who act as messengers, still doesn't stop Janeway from TORTURING the sentient being into submission in an effort to release the grounded ship where a simple dialogue would have sufficed, good going Captain 'Ethics-may-vary'.
The Silver blood clones the crew in an effort to explore their new found sentience, little point dwelling on the biology of it all and how legitimate their thoughts and feelings are considering they're just copies after all, but that's irrelevant. The Doctor is smug and irritating as ever, even under the threat of deactivation by Chakotay if he didn't take in Neelix and some other crew members he still treats them with contempt, a little courtesy would've been nice as his behaviour was juvenile, petty and arrogant, a trait that will become all the more apparent in his behaviour later in the season.
For a change though this story will be picked up later in "Course: Oblivion".
Mediocre, forgettable episode.
Remarkable dialogue: "Lieutenant." - "Yes." - "We should have transporters back online within the hour." - "Well, that's great, but right now I'm more concerned with little things like, oh, I don't know, say, life support?" - "Indeed. According to my calculations, environmental systems will cease to function in two hours." - "You say that like you're giving me the weather report." -Vorik and Torres
Rating: 3 (Cameron)

One Stardate 51929.3: Synopsis in main VOY listing

I was actually about to write this one off as another one of those silly 'lone crewmen gets a bad case of the space crazies' type stories, and even though it doesn't stray far from that formula, even employing hallucinations about the crew and a scary alien making it reminiscent of a DS9 episode, it at least addresses Seven of Nine's fears and insecurities to a degree by testing her ability to function on her own. There's a very tiny bit of continuity hidden away I like, the few wisecracks by a more assertive Kim continue on from 'Silver Blood' in which he berates Tom for being claustrophobic. And the increasing bickering between the Doc and Seven does it's best to lighten the atmosphere. Wish I could award decimals cause this would probably be a 5.5/10, but I'm leaning toward 5, the hallucinations began to get repetitive even though it complimented the anticipation of leaving the nebula well, and the idea of them being traveling for a month wasn't satisfactorily addressed, at the least Seven could've changed outfits every now and then!
Rating: 5 (Cameron)

 

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