Episode Review – Drone (Voyager, Season 5)

 For those who are new to my episode reviews, you can find the post where I establish my point criteria here.

Overview – An away team is studying a proto-nebula when the shuttle is caught in a gravimetric sheer. As the transporter beams the team to Voyager, there is an accidental merging of the Doctor’s mobile emitter with some of Seven of Nine’s Borg nanoprobes. The result is an advanced Borg drone that is largely made up of assimilated 29^th Century technology. The drone, who adopts the designation of “One”, learns about his origins and surroundings from Seven. Together, One begins to assimilate to life onboard Voyager while he eventually learns about the true nature of the Borg. When the Borg become aware of One’s existence, they send a sphere vessel to assimilate Voyager. It soon becomes apparent that only One can save the crew from assimilation.

 

Score: 9/10 – Imagine Seven of Nine as an unexpected adoptive mother, and that is the basic theme of this episode. It is a touching and heart-felt tale of an unusual character that sadly only appears once in this episode. When re-watching it to write this review, I was impressed with a lot of the attention to even small details that was given to this excellent character story. Of course, as was the case in many of these season 4-5 episodes, it focuses mostly on Seven of Nine, although the Doctor is prominently featured. I particularly liked how the episode began and ended with the same shot of Seven examining herself in a mirror. At the start, she is practicing her smile, while at the end it looks as if she is trying to pick up where she left off but finds that she cannot after the loss of One. One himself is an interesting character, one that develops quickly. I would say that the only thing that I would have done differently would have been to spread this out over more than one episode. The movement from his adjusting to life on Voyager to the point where he sacrifices himself for the crew seems a bit rushed at the end. One is such a cool character that his untimely demise could have been even more powerful if he had been around for at least another episode. Despite that, this is a very enjoyable episode and should warrant a few viewings in one’s lifetime.

Relevance - 2 points. At the start of the shuttle mission the away team experiences some turbulence. This leads to some criticism of the type II shuttle they are using, to which Seven suggests that Paris designs and builds a bigger and more efficient type of shuttle. In the next episode, “Extreme Risk”, Tom has indeed designed a new shuttle, which became the Delta Flyer. I am also scoring a point for Seven's motherly instincts that will be very evident later in this series with Icheb, and carries over into Star Trek: Picard. 

 

Continuity – 3 points. One of the nice features of this episode can be addressed in discussing its story continuity. When you watch this episode, pay attention to the number of security guards that are assigned to escort One. At the beginning there are at least three, all heavily armed. As One’s character grows and becomes more accepted, the number of guards and their armaments decreases. It’s those types of little details that strengthen the story. Character continuity is also solid here. The Doctor is naturally distraught over losing his mobile emitter, Neelix is used perfectly as one of One’s early guides/friends. B’Elanna shows typical annoyance at having another Borg on the ship. Seven is acts as we would expect a former drone to act in an unexpected parental role (which adds a fair bit of humor to the story). Janeway’s use is particularly noteworthy here. She mentions that she would rather try to help the drone become an individual as a means of protecting themselves from the Borg. She mentions that she would rather not have to kill the drone, although she makes it clear that she will do it if necessary. This reminded me of her choice to sacrifice Tuvix to restore Tuvok and Neelix. Her statements here fit her character perfectly. As for universe continuity, that also gets its point. 

Character Development – 3 points. Of course, there is a lot of development for Seven in this episode. She goes through many stages of parenting in a short amount of time, from infant to child to adolescent. We also see in the opening shot that she is trying to improve her interpersonal skills by practicing a smile. I also found that the Doctor was given some important development here. For almost two years he had enjoyed the freedom that a mobile emitter gave him. It was nice to see him faced with the possibility of losing that freedom. When One mentions that the emitter is a part of his central nervous system, the Doctor’s expressions accurately depicts the sting he still feels at his re-imposed limitations. That is partially due to Robert Picardo’s excellent acting in this episode.

 

Social Commentary – 3 points. Dealing with becoming a parent and the loss of someone you care for are just two themes rolled into one in this story. Seeing the drone follow Seven like a little child, trying to be like his “mother”, is cute and relatable. Seeing how Seven has to learn patience with the emotionally juvenile Borg causes many parents to nod in appreciation for what she is going through. As I mentioned earlier, Seven had been practicing her smile. At the end of the episode, she turns back to her mirror in an apparent attempt to return to her earlier endeavors. After suffering the loss of One, she just cannot find it in herself to go back to her old routine just yet. That is something that almost all of us who have lost someone important to us can relate to.

 

Cool Stuff –2 points. A point must be scored for One. Everything from his look to the wonderful performance by J. Paul Boehmer gives us a delightful character that we are sad to see go and makes us wish that he could have been around longer. In today’s television I suspect he would have been around for at least one, maybe two more episodes before being killed off, just to hit us even harder in our emotional core. I am also scoring a point here for the proto-nebula. They are able to get some beautiful shots of Voyager super-imposed on the nebula. It is a really good effect that adds to the already strong episode.

 

Rank – Admiral (21 points). An excellent episode that seems to truly capture Seven of Nine in an engaging way. The fine attention to detail be director Les Landau adds to the strength of a compelling story that draws you in and gives us a memorable, yet sadly one-time only, character. One of the highlights of Voyager’s fifth season.

If you would like to read other reviews from Star Trek: Voyager, click on the link here.

If you would like to read an episode review from any of the Trek series, click the following link to get to the series catalog. If the episode you want reviewed has not been done yet, then feel free to request it in the comments and I will see what I can do.

Episode Review - Someone to Watch Over Me (Voyager, Season 5)

For those who are new to my episode reviews, you can find the post where I establish my point criteria here.

Overview – Captain Janeway and Tuvok leave on an exchange assignment with a race known as the Kadi, a race that does not value over-stimulation of the senses. Nelix is assigned to host the Kadi ambassador who is responsible to evaluate the Voyager crew. During this exchange, the Doctor takes it upon himself to educate Seven of Nine in the art of romance. The Doctor ends up making a bet with Tom Paris as to her capability to be successful at dating. As he tutors her on the aspects of going on a date, the Doctor comes to realize that he himself is developing feelings for his pupil. Amidst this, the Kadi ambassador turns out to be more than Nelix seems to be prepared for.

Score: 8/10 – This episode is a light-hearted character driven story that taps into some standard motifs of the romantic comedy. We see the awkwardness of the inexperienced individual result in hilarity. There’s the falling in love of the teacher to the student. There is a typical bet that damages the relationship between the two, and an eventual resolution. While this episode does seem to hit the standard notes, it does so in a successful manner. The pacing is a bit rushed at times, and the story is mostly predictable, but it is a delight to watch. Seven’s disastrous date with Lt. Chapman is not too over the top, but still funny. There is some great banter and humor. Scott Thompson, best known for his work in “The Kids in the Hall” sketch show, does a great job as Tomin. He plays the part with flare and passion. It is unfortunate that some of the main characters are glorified extras in this episode. I think Chakotay is only in one scene, and Harry gets very little time as well. Tuvok is only seen at the start and end, with little else to do or say at those moments, and Janeway does not get much more screen time than that. Mostly, we get a great story that really pushes the relationship between the Doctor and Seven of Nine to a different level. Both Robert Picardo and Jeri Ryan sing for this episode, and the duet of “You are my Sunshine” is delightful.

Relevance – 3 points. This is the beginning of the Doctor having romantic feelings for Seven of Nine, so that scores a point. There is also a point for the final appearance of Sandrine’s, the holographic French pub that Tom Paris created. A great line is when Tom comes into the program and loudly wonders what happened to the pool table. There is also a reference as to why Seven refuses a glass of champagne, as in the episode “Timeless” she learned that synthehol has a negative effect on her.

Continuity – 3 points. Universe continuity is intact here. Character continuity is also good, although I found Seven forgiving the Doctor to be a bit quickly done. That is more of an issue with pacing than anything else, so not much I can do to detract from this category. I did find that it made perfect sense for the Doctor to develop feelings for Seven as he worked with her in developing social skills of the romantic nature. Story wise there was one small aspect that bothered me. When Janeway, Tuvok, and Neelix meet the Kadi in the transporter room, it was odd that Chakotay was not present as well. I would think that the first officer, who would be in command of the ship during Tomin’s visit, would be there to great them. Still, I find that to be a minor oversight, and while it deserves a mention, it doesn’t merit a point deduction.

Character Development – 3 points. We see the beginning of the Doctor’s infatuation with Seven in this episode. It is a significant advancement in the Doctor’s character, and it is carried through for almost the remainder of the series. Seven also gets some good attention as we see her expand her skills and interests into more interesting areas. The B story gives us a rare chance to grow Neelix’s character as we see him try to reign in the out-of-control ambassador. We have seen this before in TNG’s “Liasons”, but here we see Neelix’s charm and good heart win through.

Social Commentary – 1 points. Here is where the story comes up a bit short. This is a great character story that deepens the insight into two popular characters. We are given a fun story of futile love (which, come to think of it, might have been a fitting title, a former Borg trying to understand love). But what are they saying here that is truly relevant to us? Is it that love is a fickle game? Perhaps we could examine the Neelix story and come away with how living a sheltered life can become troublesome when you are in an environment where your inhibitions are freed. I suppose that something there is something to that in the story of Tomin. He has lived a very disciplined life and when given the opportunity to explore outside what he is accustomed to. Of course, the results have some hilarity, but it does make one think about the inhibitions we have. Still, most in our society do not have the level of restrictions that Kadi have, so this will give us just one point in this section.

Cool Stuff – 2 points. I loved the performance by Scott Thompson. He is a gifted comedic actor that really knows how to pull off an over-the-top character, and the suddenly unrestrained Tomin certainly qualifies. I am also scoring a point for the lovely singing that Seven and the Doctor engage in. It added a great sense of charm and sweetness to the episode.

Rank – Captain (20 points). This is such a fun and charming episode that does a great deal of justice to Seven’s and the Doctor’s relationship that it is just too good to pass up. While it lacks in the action and intrigue department, it more than makes up for it in the characterization, humor, and fun. Well worth multiple viewings.

If you would like to read other reviews from Star Trek: Voyager, click on the link here.

If you would like to read an episode review from any of the Trek series, click the following link to get to the series catalog. If the episode you want reviewed has not been done yet, then feel free to request it in the comments and I will see what I can do.

Episode Review - The Voyager Conspiracy (Voyager, Season 6)

For those who are new to my episode reviews, you can find the post where I establish my point criteria here

Overview – Seven of Nine programs her regeneration alcove to allow her to process sensory information while she is regenerating. This allows her to discover issues with the ship before the rest of the crew. When Voyager encounters an alien who has designed some technology to help him get back home, Janeway is encouraged at the prospect of shaving a few years off of their own long voyage. As they work with Tash to develop this space catapult, Seven becomes increasingly suspicious as to the true nature of Voyager’s mission. She slowly sinks into deeper conspiracy theories, to the point where she suspects the entire crew for being complicit in a huge covert undertaking.

Score: 7/10 – Here is an episode that is fuelled on whatever neurotic Kool Aid that conspiracy theorists love to drink. The idea that Seven of Nine starts to jump to more and more obscure theories as to Voyager’s mission because of her receiving too much information is interesting, but the conspiracy theories that she devises become more and more perplexing. There is an element of fun to this episode, but the constant descent into paranoia for our resident former Borg drone gets a little tedious by the end of the episode. The story ties in a lot of the Voyager’s past adventures, and the space catapult is an interesting piece of technology. It should be noted that this is one of the few instances where we see the effort that Captain Janeway and her crew put into a shortcut home actually pays off, and three years gets shaved off of their journey. For the conspiracy theories that Seven come up with, there is just enough that initially starts us to believe that maybe there has been more going on than we were led to believe over the last five years, and this could have given us something to chew on as we ourselves wonder if there was more to Voyager being in the Delta Quadrant than initially believed. Sadly, as the episode continued, we were left with little doubt that there is no hint of a conspiracy and that this is all just Seven’s overactive analysis of the data that she has been assimilating. There were even a few interesting mysteries that were brought to light here, yet they were just left unsolved at the end and nobody questioned it. It was a bit of a lost opportunity for the story, but overall the episode is not too bad.

Relevance - 3 points. It is easy to see how this episode makes us go back and re-examine things that have occurred so far. The pilot episode, “Caretaker”, is an obvious important story here. We also touch on some other significant developments and stories, such as Kes leaving the ship (which is now suspected as being Janeway’s doing to get rid of someone who may have gotten wise to their mission), to Chakotay’s relationship with Seska, to various alliances, to the EMH’s journey to the Alpha Quadrant using the Hirogen array. All of these, if it had been played right, can give the viewer a new experience in looking at the whole idea of the show, which helps if you are familiar with the episodes that are referenced here.

Continuity – 0 points. This episode has been a bit tricky for me to figure out if it matches up continuity-wise. First, character continuity seems a bit off for me. To see Chakotay and Janeway so easily swayed to become suspicious of each other after five years of supporting each other just seemed off to me, so I had to take a point off for that. Also, there is the fact that Seven brought up at least two ideas that did not get resolved. First, there was the ship with the tractor beam that was supposedly present when the Caretaker array was destroyed. While there was no proof as to the existence of the ship, what appeared to be a tractor beam remained unexplained. That one might have remained a mystery, but the second one could have easily been resolved with an explanation from the Captain. It is mentioned that the tricobalt devices that Voyager used to destroy the array were not standard issue on starships. This begs the question as to why Voyager was carrying those weapons in the first place. No explanation is given, so I have to deduct the point for story continuity. Finally, we have the universe continuity. Here I see an issue with Seven’s theories, specifically with the Federation and the Cardassians are in a power alliance. Chakotay starts to buy into that premise, which is a bit absurd for the character and the situation. Starfleet and Cardassia may have both wanted to stop the Maquis, but it was well documented that they were often at odds over how to do so, and it is a real stretch of the imagination to think that they would cooperate on such a grand scale as this. So, like all conspiracy theories, the logic used here just doesn’t add up, and I cannot score any points for continuity.

Character Development – 2 points. Definitely a Seven of Nine episode. While Chakotay and Janeway both undergo some development as they are forced to confront suspicions that they have towards each other, their development is relatively minor. Seven, on the other hand, has been given a real shake-up as she starts to doubt everything she had been led to believe in with the crew of Voyager. She faces the fact that her own analysis of situations may be flawed. Yes, she was right about a few things at the beginning, but as she assimilated more information, she became increasingly paranoid and unstable. She learns her lesson, as she so aptly counsels Naomi Wildman to learn at a slower pace in order to properly absorb the knowledge.

Social Commentary – 2 points. Seven’s behaviour reminds me of just about everybody that I know that believes in some of the most interesting conspiracy theories out there. From shooting victims being crisis actors to 9-11 be a government orchestrated event, these people will take coincidental occurrences and link them together to come up with explanations that may seem compelling on the surface, but in reality, they are grossly unlikely. Many of us also fall into this trap, albeit to a lesser degree. We make assumptions that various people, particularly in politics, that are not likely to be true. Even in Star Trek we sometimes fall into that practice. How many times have we heard, or even said o ourselves, things like “J.J. Abrams hates Star Trek”, or “the people behind Discovery are trying to destroy Star Trek!”. We exaggerate our thoughts and ideas to make it more compelling, and yet, as Tuvok says, speculation is not evidence. This episode should, hopefully, give us pause to think before we share that inflammatory opinion piece in the guise of “evidence” and perhaps help us to take time to properly digest and appreciate the perspectives and knowledge that we are presented with.

Cool Stuff – 1 point. The catapult is a cool piece of technology, and it actually helps the USS Voyager get a bit closer to home. That in itself is a cool part to this episode. Aside from that, there is little else that fits the cool category here.

Rank – Lieutenant (15 points). There were some missed opportunities here, but this episode does offer us a bit of fun and intrigue. Like most conspiracy theories, if you don’t take this episode too seriously, it is quite enjoyable.

If you would like to read other reviews from Star Trek: Voyager, click on the link here.

If you would like to read an episode review from any of the Trek series, click the following link to get to the series catalog. If the episode you want reviewed has not been done yet, then feel free to request it in the comments and I will see what I can do.

Episode Review - One (Voyager, Season 4)

For those who are new to my episode reviews, you can find the post where I establish my point criteria here

Overview – Encountering a nebula that has deadly effects on the crew, Janeway is forced to make a difficult decision. She can add a whole year onto their journey home by traveling around the nebula, or put the crew in stasis for a month with only Seven of Nine and the Doctor left to care for the ship and crew as they travel through it. Taking the shorter route, Seven finds her sudden solitude quite disturbing and more challenging that she had anticipated. As the nebula starts to have a debilitating effect on both her and the ship, Seven must make a difficult decision of her own.

Score: 7/10 – This episode is very similar to a future episode of Enterprise, “Doctor’s Orders”. Swap out Seven of Nine for Doctor Phlox, change the setting a bit, and it is essentially the same story. I would have to say that I liked the Enterprise version better, but this is an OK episode in and of itself. I really only have one issue with it, and that has to do with how some of the hallucinations were executed. I find that often, when a character is hallucinating their crewmembers, the way it is presented seems a bit cheesy. I am not sure if it is the writing/dialogue, or the acting, but it just did not seem to work for me. Some of the “whispers” were a bit over the top. When I compare it to “Doctor’s Orders”, nothing that happens in “One” was surprising to me. I was able to figure out that there were several things that were supposed to be a surprise or twist, such as the alien captain that Seven imagines up, that were too easily telegraphed. Regardless, it is a heavy Seven of Nine episode that shows a lot of growth for her. There is some great banter between her and the Doctor, and we get some nice moments. We have some fun, mostly at the expense of Tom Paris. There are some notable plot holes, which I will touch on shortly, but overall the episode is good.

Relevance - 0 points. Try as I could, I just could not find anything that connected this episode to anything else in Star Trek. We had allusions to things like Torres’s reasons for joining the Maquis and Seven having been separated from the Collective before, but there is not a whole lot that makes it relevant to the overall Star Trek story.

Continuity - 2 points. Character continuity checks off here. Chakotay expresses concerns to Janeway (in private, of course) as to having Seven in charge of the ship for a month. Janeway returns with a feeling of trust and faith in Seven. Seven herself responds to the situation in a way that shows the great turning moment for her character. Universe continuity seems to check out as well. I am going to dock the story continuity a point for a couple of things. First, how could a nebula so large not be detected by the ship sooner, and the fact that Tom Paris had escaped from his stasis chamber on several occasions should have caused some significant damage as they were in the thick of a nebula that on the outskirts of it killed a crew member after being exposed for a mere couple of minutes. Both are plot holes that can be easily overlooked for the sake of the story, but not for the scoring of points in continuity.

Character Development – 3 points. Definitely a turning point for Seven of Nine. For the majority of the season leading up to this episode, she had been very much at odds with various members of the crew. Each time, she grew a little. Here, she grows up a lot. The Doctor also shows how much he has grown since the beginning of the series and the relationship between him and Seven are greatly developed. I think that this is an essential episode for Seven’s progression, and for that alone it makes it a must see episode for fans of the character.

Social Commentary – 2 points. The weight of solitude for someone who is so accustomed to being connected to others is a heavy one to bear. Seven went from being one in a collective to one among a crew of individuals to simply one (hey, that’s where the episode’s title came from!). Seven must deal with the intense loneliness and isolation for a month. Many of us may experience a day or so, but I think we all would struggle with such isolation.

Cool Stuff – 1 point. I scored a point for the cool alien pilot that we see in Seven’s hallucination. We never learn if he is based off of an actual species or if he is purely the product of Seven’s imagination.

Rank – Lieutenant (15 points). There are definitely some great moments in this episode, and fans of Seven of Nine should definitely watch this episode as it provides a great turning point for her character. However, I think that “Doctor’s Orders” from Enterprise is a far better telling of the isolated crew member dealing with hallucinations. So, you may skip this one and not miss on much that is important, but you would miss out on a fairly solid story.

If you would like to read other reviews from Star Trek: Voyager, click on the link here.

If you would like to read an episode review from any of the Trek series, click the following link to get to the series catalog. If the episode you want reviewed has not been done yet, then feel free to request it in the comments and I will see what I can do.

Episode Review - Retrospect (Voyager, Season 4)

For those who are new to my episode reviews, you can find the post where I establish my point criteria here

Overview – While negotiating the purchase of an isokinetic canon, Seven of Nine discovers she has strong feelings of anxiety towards the arms dealer, Kovin. As the Doctor attempts to help Seven discover the cause of this, hidden memories of her being assaulted by Kovin surface. As the crew attempts to investigate the truthfulness of these accusations, more questions than answers are discovered.

Score: 6/10 – This is an OK episode that does a lot to develop Seven’s character from the perspective of how the rest of the crew feel about her. There is a little action, but the majority of the episode is character driven. The pace can be a little slow at times, and there is one plot point that sticks in my craw a bit. The isokinetic canon that Kovin is trying to sell them seems like it would be good for the Voyager crew, and despite what happens to Kovin there is no reason that I can see as to why Voyager didn’t get or keep the canon. It would have been a great addition to Voyager’s arsenal, but nothing becomes of it. The weapon was even in the process of being installed at the beginning, but that was the last we heard of it. Everything took a backseat to Seven’s issue. The canon only served to be a plot device to give them a reason to be dealing with Kovin. One of the more interesting aspects about this story is the fact that the truth is never fully revealed. We do not know for certainty whether or not Seven had truly been assaulted by Kovin or if Kovin was innocent. This makes the story less about the assault and more about the importance of finding the truth.

Relevance - 1 point. One point for the Doctor’s reference of the social lessons he has been given Seven.

Continuity - 2 points. The story and universe continuity score points here, but the character continuity takes a hit. I already mentioned the isokinetic canon plot problem, and I just don’t see how Janeway would have let the canon go.

Character Development – 3 points. Big development for both Seven and the Doctor, with some minor development for Janeway. Janeway admits that it is time to give Seven some more leeway, and that she rallied around Seven blindly. The Doctor comes to realize a fault in his programming where he immediately became the convinced that Seven was the victim and lost his objectivity. He even wanted to have the sub-routines associated with his psyche counselling deleted, which Janeway denied. Seven meanwhile is conflicted as she mistakes the trauma she may have experienced at the hands of Kovin, but more by the results of her accusations. Kovin dies in an accident as he tries to flee what he perceives as a personal attack on his reputation, and Seven feels more remorse for him, the individual, than she had for the countless species she had assimilated as a Borg.

Social Commentary – 2 points. On one level one can see this as a commentary on the seriousness of assault. As is typical for Trek, the writers chose to shy away from an actual sexual assault in favour of allegory. The harvesting of Seven’s nano-probes against her will or knowledge can be seen as a suitable violation. While few of us may be able to identify with Seven being a victim of such an assault (at least, I hope more of us have never been assaulted in a similar manner), many more of us are likely able to identify with the Doctor. We hear of something that is concerning or troubling, and we immediately leap to the defense. If it involves someone important to us, all the more reason to make our conclusion quickly so we can support them. Lost in this is often the truth. We live in a world where we worry about the implications first and the truth of the matter becomes a secondary matter. Seven and the Doctor (and the rest of the crew, to a lesser extent) face themselves that their over-zealousness has led to the death of a likely innocent man. While the consequences of our own little crusades may not be life or death, how many people have had their reputation tarnished simply because a lot of people feel that they know the whole story with only a small portion of the details made known to them.

Cool Stuff – 1 point. Kovin was played by Michael Horton, better known as Lt. Daniels in Star Trek: First Contact and Star Trek: Insurrection. Cool to give him more screen time.

Rank – Lieutenant (15 points). If you are in a hurry and want to watch only key important episodes, then this may be one that you could skip. Otherwise, I would recommend this as a solid outing that touches on some important issues.  

Episode Review - Tsunkatse (Voyager, Season 6)

For those who are new to my episode reviews, you can find the post where I establish my point criteria here.

Episode Overview – (Star Trek: Voyager: Season 6) While on some much needed shore leave, members of the Voyager crew discover “tsunkatse”, a sort of mixed-martial arts combat sport. Meanwhile, Seven of Nine and Tuvok are captured by the producer of the games, who forces Seven to fight in his arena. The crew must then attempt a rescue as Seven finds herself in a fight to the death.

Episode Score – 6/10. This was a fairly routine episode. The story is a rehash of the typical “forcing a character to fight against their will”. It is not poorly done, but when you compare it to a similar DS9 two-episode story (“In Purgatory’s Shadow” and “By Inferno’s Light”), it is very superficial. So while this is a good episode, it does not give us anything special beyond a reason for then-WWF (now WWE) fans to watch the Rock in his first acting role.

Relevance – 2 points. The Hirogen have been used before, and the Hirogen character played by veteran Trek actor J G Hertzler adds another dimension to this species. The species responsible for tsunkatse (the Norcadians) show up again in the form of Mezoti, one of the child drones taken aboard by Voyager in the next episode, “Collective”.

Continuity – 2 points. Story continuity, check. Nothing contradicts anything. The fact that in the next episode we see Mezoti, a Norcadian, makes sense since we are still in the same region of space. Character continuity, check. Everyone acts within established parameters. Seven and Tuvok go on a survey mission for their shore leave, everyone thinks they’re nuts, etc. Universe continuity... hold on there. The Hirogen acts the way we would expect him to act, and I would add that this character, while unnamed, definitely adds depth to this alien race. Where I have an issue is that in the audience, there are several aliens who are background aliens in Deep Space Nine. Have to ding them for that.

Character Development – 1 point. Yet another Seven of Nine episode, but this does not do a whole lot to develop her character. She shows allegiance to her crewmate and continues to butt heads with B’Elanna. Beyond this we learn that many members of the crew enjoy a good old fashioned MMA fight. That’s it for character development.

Social Commentary – 1 point. The best I can figure is that this episode makes reference to mankind’s fascination with combat sports. Since the times of the Coliseum in Ancient Rome, we have loved blood sport entertainment. This theme is only lightly touched upon. While professional wrestling is all theatrics, we do have MMA organizations such as UFC, and boxing is still a major attraction, yet rarely is a person’s life threatened. Any commentary on the legitimacy of such combat sports is buried in the vessel of the plot to make a Seven of Nine focused story.

Cool Factor – 2 points. The guest stars make up the cool factors for this episode. If you are a professional wrestling fan, you appreciated the Rock as the intimidating Pendari Champion. This was the first acting job for Dwayne Johnson (although to any WWE/WWF fan he basically was the Rock in prosthetics, right down to the Rock Bottom finisher and the raised eyebrow). This was also a deliberate cross-pollination of UPN products, as in addition to Voyager they were also aired WWF Smackdown. I am giving the second cool factor point to having J G Hertzler and Jeffrey Combs making their first Voyager appearance after having established popular secondary characters in DS9. This is also the first time that the two actors appear in the same scenes on a Trek episode. Combs plays Penk, the Norcadian producer of the sport (and Combs’ fifth Trek character), while Hertzler plays the unnamed Hirogen veteran (also his fifth character).

Rank – Lieutenant (14 points). This is a fun episode. Nothing too serious, nothing too revealing. A good mid-level quality episode with some cool features. Wrestling fans will likely get a little more out of it, but it has some good moments for all.