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Original airdate: 9/11/95. Stardate: 48892.1. This is one of those "What is reality?" episodes that have become a staple in the Star Trek universe--not surprising, since it was written by Brannon Braga and directed by Next Generation veteran Jonathan Frakes, who covered similar territory in the memorable NextGen episode "Frame of Mind." In this case it's the Doctor (Robert Picardo) whose perception of reality is called into question, beginning when the Doc's EMH program is activated just after Voyager had been attacked by a Kazon warship. But the attack is a holographic simulation, and the Doctor's confusion intensifies when he learns he is actually Lewis Zimmerman, the scientist who created Voyager's EMH program in his own image! Now seemingly human, and capable of being injured, the Doctor then encounters Reg Barclay (series semiregular Dwight Schultz), whose explanation of the situation, while not entirely consistent, twists "Projections" into yet another layer of reality, forcing the Doctor to make an anguished decision that could end Voyager's existence altogether. Or could it? Consider the potential repercussions of holograms within holograms, and this mind-bending episode takes on an intriguing puzzle-box perspective that may or may not make sense, but it's fun while it lasts. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The EMH discovers he is a real Doctor after all...
On a "Star Trek" series the most interesting character for the writers ends up being the least human member of the crew, and on "Star Trek: Voyager" that would be the Doctor since everybody else is organic. In Episode 17 "Projections" (Written by Brannon Braga, Aired September 11, 1995) the Emergency Medical Hologram project is activated because of an emergency. The Doctor (Robert Picardo) discovers that most of the crew has abandoned the ship. Torres explains that "Voyager" was attacked by the Kazon and that she and the Captain stayed aboard to stop a warp core breach. Janeway has been injured and by using the newly installed holo-emitters the Doctor is sent to the Bridge. But it is while helping Neelix fight a Kazon that the Doctor is stunned to find that he is bleeding and is informed by the computer that he is not an EMH but its creator, the real Dr. Lewis Zimmerman. When the Doctor orders the computer to shut down the holographic system, everyone disappears-except the Doctor. Then Reg Barclay (Dwight Schultz) shows up, says he is Zimmerman's assistant, and things get really weird.

The main problem with "mystery" episodes like "Projections" is that you have no chance to figure out what is really going on with the protagonist. You just watch and wait, knowing that eventually somebody will show up and explain the situation. The Doctor will agonize over the decision and in the end will either do the right thing or effectively eliminate himself from most future episodes (hey, Tasha Yar had her best episode after she died on "STNG"). My other complaint is that the episode seems like it is coming up with something significant reagarding the Doctor, but it is really just a holographic mind game. There are much better episodes down the road dealing with this character which further serve to make this one look hollow in retrospect.

Not Voyager's best outing
This episode was okay, but I wouldn't call it a significant contribution to Season Two of Vogager.

In this episode, which involves principally the character of The Doctor, we begin to question what's real and what's hologram...interesting premise, since we thought we had all of this settled!

We arrive that this confused state through the workings of none other than Reg Barclay of "Star Trek The Next Generation" fame! It turns out that Reg is back at Jupiter Station running a holodeck program that has gone terribly wrong...and informs the doctor that his next decisions will be crucial to his own holo-survival!

Robert Picardo, as ususal, does a good job with his part. But I was not overly impressed with the way this episode was written - somewhat confusing in parts, and didn't do much to get Voyager Season Two off to a running start!

Holograms gone mad
The doctor materializes in sickbay to discover the entire ship has been abandoned and heavily damaged. In his attempt to figure out what happened he runs into Torres who with the captain stayed behind to try to save the ship from a warp core breach. Janeway is on the bridge unconscious so B'elanna transfers him there to assist. Later on he is approached by Barclay who says he is a real person who is suffering from kenoplasmic radiation exposure and can't be freed. The only way he can save his life is to destroy the ship!!!!!

An okay Episode
This is a bit boring, and kind of a whos real and who is not real. Basically the doctor is told by the computer that he is real, and everyone else is a hologram and that he is really on a holodeck testing long field assignements and will die if he does not get off the holodekck. Now he is accompanied by Barcley from TNG. He uses his new holodeck control by going back and forth throough time, as proof that is it not a dream. Until he gets a message from Chakotay saying it is........ ... Read more

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Original airdate: 10/2/95. Stardate: Unknown. Just as Kes is enjoying a surprise second birthday party inside the "Sandrine's Bar" holodeck program, Voyager is engulfed in spatial distortion rings that disable its primary systems. What's worse, the entire ship is being literally twisted out of shape, so normal movement between decks becomes a frustrating, mazelike ordeal. While the executive staff attempts to counter the distorting effect--which threatens to crush them out of existence--Janeway is rendered unconscious from contact with the distortion's powerful electromagnetic field. This ship-bound episode benefits from the strange sight of Voyager's structure and crew bending out of shape (imagine a fun-house mirror on steroids, achieved via digital image manipulation), and some top-level tension between Chakotay and Tuvok is thrown in to keep things interesting. Still, the distortion gimmick is barely enough to sustain a 45-minute episode, and the resolution of Voyager's crisis (the distortion is actually a benevolent life form) feels tacked on and overly familiar. Not a bad episode at all--especially if you like stories that focus on Voyager's crew--but there's not much happening beyond the basic premise. You will agree, however, that Neelix makes a tasty-looking birthday cake--and he didn't even use the replicators! --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (8)

The "Voyager" crew deals with the prospects of being crushed
The "Voyager" crew has a surprise second birthday party for Kes (Jennifer Lien), which is nice since Occampans do not have too many of those. But during the festivities the ship is surrounded by a strange spatial distortion, which not only shuts down most of the systems but also appears to change the structural layout of the starship. The next thing we know Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) cannot find her way back to the Bridge, B'Elanna (Roxann Biggs-Dawson) keeps getting lost on the way to Engineering, and everyone is getting frustrated and confused. Meanwhile, the spatial distortion keeps growing smaller, threatening to crush "Voyager." When Janeway ends up being knocked unconscious it is up to Chakotay (Robert Beltran) to take command and find a way to save the ship and crew. However, this does not sit too well with Tuvok (Tim Russ).

Episode 19, "Twisted" (Story by Arnold Rudnick & Rich Hosek & Arnold Rudnick & Rich Hosek, Teleplay by Kenneth Biller, Aired October 2, 1995) is yet another in a long line of "Star Trek" episodes in which something strange is happening to the ship and the crew has to solve the mystery and save the day. However, it breaks the mold in two significant ways. First, the crew fails to solve the mystery, at least not in time to do anything about what is happening. Admittedly, this is a flip on normal expectations, and when we realize the crew has indeed exhausted its bag of tricks it is something of a minor shock. Second, and more importantly, "Twisted" is an episode where character interaction and development takes on more significance than the solving of the mystery. The key is Janeway being out of action, because this is what allows the simmering tension between Chakotay and Tuvok to boil over. Remember, the "Voyager" Security Chief had infiltrated Chakotay's team when the First Officer was captain of a Maquis raider and just because Janeway trusts them both is no reason for either of them to follow suit.

The payoff comes at the end of the episode when the crew essentially pairs up to face what they think is an inevitable death. Ultimately the mystery was just an interesting contrivance to set up these poignant vignettes. This might seem like the long way around to get to this point, but since it comes as a surprise that the episode reaches this point, you have to agree it works well as a set up. The result is not a classic episode of "Star Trek: Voyager," but certainly well above average.

"Sometimes nothing is a real cool hand."
That phrase was first heard in the classic Paul Newman film "Cool Hand Luke" and it works just as well here. When the Voyager and crew encounter a spatial distortion wave moving through space their attempts to maneuver around it are ineffectual. Since the majority of the bridge officers are gathered in Paris's holodeck recreation of Chez Sandrine to throw a surprise party for Kess who is turning two that day, Tuvok is presently in command on the bridge and he increases the starship's speed in order to travel through the phenomenon as quickly as possible. When Voyager comes into contact with the wave they soon notice that the integrity and shape of the ship is constantly changing. Practically helpless and kept thoroughly confused by the current state of flux, the officers gathered in the holodeck separate into pairs in an attempt to reach different locations to try and solve the ever-increasing emergency situation. This results in Janeway coming into direct contact with the distortion wave that disorients her; she has to be confined to a couch available in the Chez Sandrine where The Doctor can give her no medical aid because of their stranded state. Each effort that the separate teams attempt has no effect and in fact increases the dire straits they find themselves in. Finally Tuvok proposes the only reasonable and foreseeable solution to the problem - but it seems too outrageous and incredible to work...or is it?

'Twisted' is one of the more memorable episodes from Voyager's second season, stressing character interaction and new developments between the crewmembers. Neelix's jealousy of Tom Paris first surfaces here; when Janeway and Harry attempt to reach the bridge through a Jefferies tube she tells Harry he's "been one of the bright spots of their challenging mission"; Chakotay and Tuvok clear the air between them and learn to trust each other in the process; The Doctor has a moment in the episodes' finale where he softens a bit, offering uncharacteristic compassion to Kess; Neelix and Chakotay have a brief but notable conversation concerning jealousy. All of these character building oriented scenes aren't wasted as they help to advance the story and are incorporated perfectly into the action that is taking place. The credible, unexpected climax and the revelation about the nature of the distortion wave further add to the success of 'Twisted', making it an exceptional episode well worth purchasing for your collection.

Ok, but not the best
Not the best episode of Voyager, but certainly not the worst either. This episode is sort of confusing, and I remember reading that one of the actors of Voyager really didn't like this episode. However, the premise of doing nothing is an interesting plot twist for Star Trek, and it works. An interesting idea to a confusing episode!

One of My Favorites
This episode opens with a surprise birthday party for Kes in Chez Sandrines, a holographic recreation of Tom's favorite getaway in France. The entire bridge crew is there to celebrate when Voyager is surrounded by a spatial distortion ring that slowly engulfs the ship. As a result, corridors and areas on Voyager are compressed and twisted which continually changes the layout of the ship. This constantly confuses the crew as they get lost attempting to reach their destinations. No matter where they try to go they always end up at their original starting point at Chez Sandrines, in the center of the ship. They realize that the distortion ring is pushing them to this location, the only place that isn't currently effected by the ring. To further complicate matters, Captain Janeway comes into brief contact with the distortion and is semi-conscious and incoherent. The bridge crew's attempts to stop the distortion and escape, fail and they see the distortion coming toward them. Out of options, they know they must accept the inevitable and each makes peace in his or her own way as they surrender to the anomaly.

At the end of the show, we get to see the friendships and bonds of the bridge crew as they "pair up" to meet their supposed death. I thought it was actually quite touching especially when Tuvok reached out to Janeway. A somewhat unique episode in the Star Trek saga, one of my favorites.

Sometimes doing nothing is the best plan
I enjoyed this episode because, for once on Star Trek, we saw that doing nothing is sometimes the best thing we can do. An unusual premise given Star Trek's long and colorful history of action, action, action!

In this episode, the crew with the never ending stream of "brilliant-ideas-in-a-scrape" tried them all and came up empty...and in the end finally had to just sit down and "let it happen", not knowing at all what the outcome would be. Very interesting concept for a Star Trek episode!

I also felt that the last few minutes of the show were very telling...not knowing whether they were going to live or die, we got to see what each of the characters would choose to do in the last moments of life....who they would choose to speak with and what they would say.

Very enjoyable episode. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Torres and robots who want to procreate AND make war
In Episode 29 "Prototype" (Written by Nicholas Corea, Aired January 15, 1996) "Voyager" beams aboard a deactivated robot floating in space and Torres (Roxann Biggs-Dawson) thinks that activating it would be a good thing. This takes a while, and when she succeeds the robot declares itself to be Automated Personnel Unit 3947 (Rick Worthy), created by the Pralor, a humanoid race now long gone. The robot wants Torres to build a prototype that would allow the construction of additional robots, but Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) cites the Prime Directive as the reasons to decline. But 3947 finds the answer unacceptable and abducts Torres to a Pralor ship, where it turns out he is not alone after all. "Voyager" tries to get her back, but while the robots cannot create new technology they are prety good at working existing weaponry, and Torres agrees to help create the prototype so that her ship is not destroyed.

"Prototype" is one of those episodes where trying to find an actual principle of consistency behind the Prime Directive gives me a headache. The rationale behind Janeway's decision is not logical, but rather dramatic since it forces 3947 to kidnap Torres and kicks off the rest of the action in the episode. But then, having played off the idea that 3947 should not be alone in the universe we discover that not only are their other robots but actually two warring groups of robots. In the end, the lesson here is that in quest to be more "human" that we invariably attribute to robots, these robots have tragically succeeded. This episodes has lots of twists and turns, but neither the journey nor the destination warrant the trouble, which is why this is a below average "Voyager" episode.

B'Elanna and the robots
I enjoyed this episode of Voyager, but if I have one criticism, it is that I would have liked for the writers to have used this episode to better aquaint us with the character of B'Elanna Torres. Unfortunately however, I didn't learn anything new about Torres through this episode - it was just "more of the same". Torres is smart. Torres is competent. Torres is stubborn. Torres has a temper. Okay...I get it! Now let's get below the surface!

The best thing about this episode, in my opinion, is that it provides a "textbook case" of why the Prime Directive is so necessary. Torres learns this the hard way in "Prototype". Turns out, Janeway is much wiser than Torres originally thought!

automated units
I don't know why, but there's just something a bit cute about these "automated units".

They're the most polite androids you'll ever see in this Star Trek episode or *ANY* episode...

It's pretty shocking to find out that these "automated units" are evil.

I like the design on them too. And the display you see at the beginning of the episode is much more REALISTIC and FUTURISTIC than then "Red display" you see in "Terminator I and II".

There's something I like about these "automated units."

Sort of Bicentenial Man meets Voyager
If you've ever seen this episode, you know what I mean.

This episode starts out from the point of view of Automated Personnel Unit 3947, a damaged robot found by the Voyager crew floating in space.

Torres makes it her personal crusade to save the robots "life." Once reactivated, 3947 kidnaps Torres and takes her to its ship and threatens to destroy Voyager if she doesn't build a prototype so its people can "reproduce." After successfully doing so, she realizes the real reason the robots were made incapable of reproducing, and ends up destroying her creation.

At the end Torres and Janeway have a rather sappy discussion of how good Torres felt creating a new life, and how sad she was at having to destroy it.

There are much better episodes to spend your 14 bucks on. ... Read more

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Original airdate: 9/25/95. Stardate: 49011. Series producer BrannonBraga contributes yet another "alternate reality" episode, contriving an alientime stream to catapult Ensign Kim (Garrett Wang) back home to 24th-century SanFrancisco, where he can find no record of his service on Voyager. As faras everyone else is concerned--including his beautiful girlfriend--Kim is an acedesign specialist, nearly late for an important presentation at Starfleetheadquarters. Unable to comprehend this shift of identity, he locates Tom Parisin France (allowing an obvious dialogue pun), but Paris is also living adifferent role, and to him, his one-time crewmate is now a total stranger. Wheneverything is explained by an alien posing as the proprietor of a San Franciscoespresso stand (no, we're not joking), Kim--now a Starfleet fugitive--must re-create the conditions that caused this jumble of parallel timelines, and restorehimself and Paris to their normal duty aboard Voyager. Not bad aspuzzle-solving goes, and the digital vistas of 24th-century Earth are a welcomed sight.Still, Braga's premise has grown too familiar: toss a Voyager crewmemberinto an alternate reality, and put them through a rat's maze to find their wayhome. It's fun, however, to see Paris as he might have been, had Janeway andVoyager not liberated him from his dubious past. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Harry Kim gets his wish and wakes up back home
Nobody on "Voyager" was more desperate to return home than Ensign Harry Kim (Garrett Wong), so when he wakes up in San Francisco you would think this would be a good thing. But the strange thing is that his girlfriend Libby (Jennifer Gatti) acts as if he has not been lost in the Delta Quadrant for over a year and neither does his friend Lt. Lasca (Mark Kiely) at the design lab at Starfleet Headquarters. When Kim checks Starfleet records they indicate that "Voyager" did indeed disappear in the Badlands and that he was never assigned to the lost ship-and neither was Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill), who is out on parole and now living in Marseilles (What? Are you telling me that you did not know that Paris was in France? What universe are you from?).

Episode 22 of "Star Trek: Voyager", "Non Sequiter" (Written by Brannon Braga, Aired September 25, 1995) is another in a long tradition of "Star Trek" episodes where a crew member wakes up and finds everything is completely different. Of course Kim is desperate to believe this is really happening, but his sense of duty keeps intruding. When Kim tracks down Paris and learns that his best friend has no idea who he is, Paris is still interested in the story. But his questioning gets him arrested as a Maquis spy, which leads Kim closer to the truth. The explanation, of course, is rather confusing, but what makes this a decent "Voyager" episode is how Paris responds to Kim's insistence that they are friends and the idea that in a quadrant far, far away he is not a worthless disgrace that washed out of Starfleet. The ending of "Non Sequiter" plays out along those lines and the episode has some resonance in the series in that it does end up helping Harry Kim get his head straightened a bit regarding how his duty might be more important than his plight.

Boring!
I bought this episode because it sounded interesting. It really fell flat. It's slow-moving, and the solution is confusing. I didn't like how we didn't see the rest of the crew at all until the end. I guess I don't like Harry Kim enough to put up with just him for an entire episode!

Exclusively Harry Kim Episode
Harry Kim is on a damaged shuttlecraft on his way back to Voyager when he encounters a temporal anomaly that sends him to Earth. But it is not the Earth he knows. Instead, he finds himself on an altered-reality Earth where he and Tom Paris were never assigned to Voyager. In this reality, Harry is a starship design specialist in the Starfleet Engineering Corp in San Francisco, and Tom Paris is a drunk who never accomplished anything in life except to be regarded as a member of the Maquis. Harry's attempts to unravel the mystery of his altered life leads to trouble with Starfleet. They think he is a spy for the Maquis because of his dealings with Tom and the admiral places a security anklet on Harry's leg to monitor his movements while the investigation proceeds. The questions regarding Harry's new life are answered when a friendly coffee shop owner, Cosimo, comes to his aid and explains the temporal anomaly mishap that led to his altered life. Cosimo explains that he was sent to keep an eye on Harry; that his species exist in a temporal inversion fold in the space-time matrix. He goes on to say that Harry entered one of their time streams and, as a result, history and events were scrambled. Unfortunately, Harry learns that there is only one possible way back to his own reality, but there is no guarantee that he will survive the trip. He decides that he must make the attempt so that he can set things right with his life and with Tom's as well. The scene where Tom and Harry are on the stolen shuttlecraft (right before it explodes) entering the time stream is a good one as we witness that their friendship has transcended time and alternate reality.

This is my second favorite Garrett Wang episode; the first being "Timeless." Throughout the seven years Voyager was on the air, I couldn't count the number of times Harry Kim saved someone's life or saved Voyager. However, he was still an ensign when the show ended. That never made sense to me. In "Timeless" we got to see a guilt ridden, troubled side of Harry; in "Non Sequitur" we get to witness his strong values and beliefs. In both episodes he displays his loyalty to Voyager and her crew.

Kim in Alternative Timeline
I liked this episode since I like the character of Harry Kim...but I wouldn't say that this episode is a "must see" in terms of understanding the overall story arc of the show.

I give it four stars because it was an enjoyable episode and I felt that Garrett Wang did an excellent job developing his character. But I held back on five stars because this particular episode didn't really contribute much to the overall epic storyline of Voyager.

A very good Star Trek: Voyager episode
This is a very good Star Trek : Voyager episode. Harry Kim (Garrett Wang) suddenly wakes up in San Fransico with his long lost girlfriend Libby (Jenifer Gattie). He is unaware how he got back to the Alpha quatrant and Earth at the sametime. Afterwondering around the town he meets Casimo, Coffee shop owner. He tells him he is proud of him for designing the ship the Runabout,Yellowstone. Kim askes his questions about his life here on Earth because he just found out from Libby he is in present day Starfleet command. Casimo assures him everything will be fine and that he and Libby are engaged. Kim encounters more Starfleet officers and Starfleet officials and gets more confused about how got to Earth. At some point Harry Kim decides he doesn't belong in this reality and finds who else from Voyager is here on Earth. He locates Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeil) and finds out that his reality was changed as well. He never left on Voyager with Captin Janeway and others. Instead, He was send to the Brig on DS9. After many explanations Kim tells him they are both not from this reality and askes him to fly shuttle simulation to figure out how they got here and how they can get back. Because of the altered reality Paris doesn't reconize his duties to Voyager and tells Kim to leave him alone. Kim not understanding what is going on must find away to get back to Voyager and to the Delta Quatrant because he feels he doesn't belong here on Earth. He is also in toruble with Star Fleet who suspects Kim of Being a Maqui Spy! Can Harry find away to convice Paris to help them get back to Voyager, even if it means he can not be with the love his life Libby? Findout! Buy this video! What is true identity of Casimo the coffee shop owner who has been watching Kim through his time on Earth? This is my one of my Personal favorite Star Trek: Voyager episodes ever!!! Buy it! ... Read more

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Original airdate: 10/9/95. Stardate: 49068.5. Tormented by jealousy, Neelix is enraged by Tom Paris's crush on his beloved Kes, and it's not long before the Voyager crewmates are having a food fight in the ship's mess hall. Kes is confused by this jealous rivalry (Ocampans mate for life, she explains, prompting the Doctor to observe "your literature must be very dry"). The diplomatic Janeway--who needs to replenish dwindling food supplies--sends Paris and Neelix on a shuttle mission to investigate nutrient sources on a nearby planet. A crash landing forces the battling crewmates to settle their differences, especially when they discover a humanoid/reptilian hatchling in a cave, slowly dying because Paris and Neelix have inadvertently cut off its source of nutrients from the planet's "trigemic vapor" atmosphere. Meanwhile, Voyager battles an alien ship, ultimately discovering the reason for its aggression. The outcome casts Paris and Neelix as proud (albeit temporary) godparents, and while the plot's a bit flimsy, "Parturition" allows for some buoyant character development, and that little lizard is awfully cute, if you can ignore the low-budget animatronics. Sharp dialogue saves the day, and kudos to series regulars Ethan Phillips and Robert Duncan McNeill for making the Paris-Neelix feud so enjoyably juvenile. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (4)

An overly contrived episode about Paris and Neelix
One of the key elements of Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeil) during the early seasons of "Star Trek: Voyager" was that he was trying to redeem himself from being a hot head always in the dog house. However, Paris started to lose points with me in this episode when he started putting the moves on Kes (Jennifer Lien) despite the fact she came aboard with Neelix (Ethan Phillips). In Episode 23, "Parturition" (Written by Tom Szollosi, Aired October 9, 1995) Kes wants to take flying lessons from Paris and immediately becomes interested in her. Neelix figures this out before Kes and attacks Paris in the mess hall. Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) decides that for some reason it would be good to send Paris and Neelix off together to find some new food supplies. They head for the nearest planet, encounter electromagnetic disturbances, and make an emergency landing. "Voyager" is aware of this (a nice twist for once) and Janeway sends off a Search & Rescue mission. Unfortunately the planet has dangerous vapors that force the two stranded crewmates to seal themselves into a cave while "Voyager" has an inconvenient attack from an alien vessel.

The situation on "Parturition" is about as contrived as you can get, but Szollosi does come up with a rather unexpected way of making Paris and Neelix reconsider their situation on multiple levels. However at that point the episode gets rather contrived and when the main plot line and the sub plot come together you are surprised, but not in a good way. On the one hand the idea that Paris would step out of line with regards to Kes makes a certain amount of sense, but this episode over traumatizes the experience. I can appreciate why Neelix would be upset that Paris would be casting eyes at Kes, but turning to physical violence is really too much to buy. So while Paris might be acting in character, Neelix's over reaction is just another in a long series of contrivances; after all, Kes considers herself mated to Nelix and anythign Paris is doing does not even come up on her Ocampan radar. There are some nice moments in the cave between the two when they find a common cause for which to work together, but the set up is just too much to really see it as being anything significant. Consequently, "Parturition" is a below average episode of "Voyager" for me. There had to be better ways of getting to this point without overloading the contrivances.

Turns out Tom Paris has character!
I thought that this was a great episode, and it did alot to develop the characters of Tom Paris and Neelix. I was very pleased when Tom stood the test and did what was right instead of simply taking what he desired. Tom shows us here once and for all that he does have a tremendous amount of integrity...something that was in question at the beginning of the series.

I also thought the alien baby was pretty cute....I don't remember any other ST episodes that used an alien baby in quite this way, and I thought that Berman & Co did an effective job of combining plot lines in this episode.

Neelix vs Tom
This is one of my very favorite episodes ever! It's like one laugh after another. I quote: #1

Tom: Can I make a suggestion?

Neelix: Your the commander of this mission, you can make any suggestion you want. And if you make it an order, I'll even have to obey it. #2

Tom: Harry, I'm in trouble.

Harry: So what's new?

Tom: I think I'm in love.

Harry: So what's new?

Tom: With Kes.

Harry: Kes! #3(while physically fighting in the mess hall)

Neelix: I'll kill you!

Tom: Too late. I'm betting your hair pasta already did the trick.

He he! You've got to see this episode!

A new member of the family
This is a great episode of voyager. It was made back when Neelix and Paris weren't the best of friends and there's some good ole bickering between the two of them. I highly recommend this episode for its character developments. Many new friendships form in this episode. If you're a fan don't miss out. ... Read more

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Just as Voyager is about to encounter an inhospitable race calledthe Botha, the Doctor orders Captain Janeway to get some much-needed R&R. Butwhen Janeway is startled to find her favorite holonovel characters appearingoutside of the holodeck, it's eventually discovered that someone or something isplaying tricks on the entire crew, resulting in shipwide hallucinations based ondeep-rooted fears and desires. Only Kes is resistant to these nefarious visions,due to her emerging use of telepathic abilities, but the rest of the crew isvirtually immobilized. That leaves only Kes and the Doctor to devise a plan toeliminate the psionic field that surrounds Voyager, generated by atelepathic alien that has been playing mind games with Voyager for thesheer malicious fun of it. This is pretty thin plotting, to be sure, and the bigrevelation is only marginally climactic, but this episode does offer someintriguing glimpses inside the space-worn psyches of Voyager's executivestaff, including Janeway's melancholy longing for her husband on Earth, andTorres's heretofore hidden lust for Chakotay! Hot stuff, if only for a fleetingmoment, and a teasing hint of fantasy for Trek romantics. --JeffShannon ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Playing those mind games with the "Voyager" crew
Sooner of later all "Star Trek" series have an episode where the characters have to confront their subconscious fears as an encounter with something alien forces hidden thoughts to the surface. For "Star Trek: Voyager" that moment comes in Episode 24, "Persistence of Vision" (Written by Jeri Taylor, Aired October 30, 1995). As they work there way across the Delta Quadrant "Voyager" is about to encounter the Botha. This meeting is fraught with peril, danger, etc., and the Doctor (Robert Picardo) orders Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) to relax. The Captain tries to enjoy her favorite holonovel, but before things get too interesting with Lord Burleigh (Michael Cumpsty) she is called to the Bridge for first contact with the Bothan representative (Patrick Kerr). The reception is far less than cordial, but a rendezvous is set up where the decision will be made whether or not to allow "Voyager" safe passage through Bothan space. Then things start getting weird.

Janeway sees the little girl from her holodeck in the novel. It could be a glitch from the crew's work on expanding the ship's holographic system (to help the EMH wander free), but that is quickly ruled out. By the time Kes (Jennifer Lein) sees the little girl too Janeway has heard her fiancé Mark and been attacked by another holonovel character. Again, it is Kes who is able to confirm what is happening to Janeway, but the Captain turns over the negotiations to the Botha to Chakotay and submits to medical tests. However, this time the encounter turns hostile and again Janeway has to run to the bridge where new surprises await for both her and the "Voyager" crew.

On the one hand the explanation behind these bizarre manifestations has a certain logic, but if "Voyager" is going to go to the repressed emotions route there should be something more significant to the payoff for the trip. The biggest upside to the episode is that Kes has something substantial to do away from Sick Bay, even if it still involves the Doctor. But mind games on "Star Trek" should be serious stuff and not involve a few minor jolts and simple mind games. Besides, I think Janeway needs to find herself a better holonovel (I have a strong preference for Da Vinci over Lord Burleigh).

Voyage-less
A largely forgettable outing with only one memorable twist: Torres has the hots for Chakotay? Perhaps the episode, at best, demonstrates the fundamental flaw behind the entire series ... great ideas (a Torres/Chakotay relationship) was hinted at and NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER explored, teased, or even mentioned again. Some nice detective work by the EMH -- the show's most increasingly annoying character -- and Kes -- the show's most underwritten character -- are wasted in what could've risen above the level of formulaic adventure into real psychological tension.

Note to Rick Berman: resign while you've still a shred of dignity.

Seeing things?
While traveling, Voyager enters a part of space that is less than welcoming. While negotiating across it, the crew begin seeing people from home and fantasies about eachother. Is this a natural phenomena? Is the crew going crazy? Or is there more going on here? ... Read more

Amazon.com

Original airdate: 11/6/95. Stardate: Unknown. Did you ever wonder whyCommander Chakotay (Robert Beltran) wears that funky tattoo on the left side ofhis forehead? You'll find the answer in this interesting episode, in whichflashbacks to Chakotay's youth in Earth's Central American rain forest aredirectly connected to the commander's present-day discovery of familiar symbolson a mysterious M-class moon. As it turns out, the "Sky Spirits" that therecalcitrant 15-year-old Chakotay had learned about from his father are the samerace, called "the Inheritors," that have now appeared on the seeminglyuninhabited moon--in essence, a bloodline reunion between Chakotay and thedescendants of his ancient tribal ancestors. Out of a seeming need forself-defense, the Inheritors have been subjecting Voyager to life-threateningstorms, but their discovery of Chakotay--and the telling evidence of hisancestral tattoo--is all that's needed to forge a happy alliance. Through this,Chakotay is spiritually reconciled with his long-dead father, and Trekfans are treated to the intriguing backstory of Voyager's second-in- command. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (4)

At long last we learn the story behind Chakotay's tattoo
The actual universe is infinite in size; however, the "Star Trek" universe is a much smaller place, as amply proven by Episode 25, "Tattoo" (Story by Larry Brody, Teleplay by Michael Piller, Aired November 6, 1995). Chakotay (Robert Beltran) is stunned to see symbols on an alien moon that remind him of those he saw in the Central American rainforest when he was younger (Douglas Spain) when he was on a journey with his father, Kolopak (Henry Darrow), to learn about their ancestors. Chakotay is given permission to lead an Away Team to the supposedly uninhabited planet and the episode keeps flashing back to the young Chakotay disappointing his father by not embracing the traditions of their tribe. But then Neelix (Ethan Phillips) is injured by a hawk and Tuvok (Tim Russ) finds an abandoned village. Chakotay thinks they maybe they have frightened off the villagers, he has the Away Team lay down their weapons as a gesture of peace, but the only response is a storm and when the Away Team beams back up to "Voyagers" Chakotay is knocked unconscious and left behind.

"Tattoo" is the episode that reveals the significance of Chakotay's facial markings and while finally getting around to that particular back story this episode does make things a little too contrived to set up the revelation. But the Inheritors have been the standard "Star Trek" justification for the "Earth" races scattered around the galaxy, so it is hard to blame the episode for paying that card. Still, it strikes me as a bit of an overreach: the parallels were strong enough to evoke the response in Chakotay before coincidences starting raining down on him. However, "Tattoo" does its best to keep this a very personal episode for Chakotay and that is one of the episode's strengths.

Essential Chakotay
This is one of the most important Voyager episodes in terms of development of the character of Chakotay. If you are a fan of this series, I'd highly recommed this episode as it reveals much about Chakotay's background and character and gives us insights into the soul of one of the more complex characters on Voyager.

This episode is perhaps one of my favorites from the second season of the show. Certainly it is not the most "action packed", but it does allow us to know Chakotay much better...and that knowledge enhances our appreciation of many subsequent episodes.

Tattoo
In this episode Chakotay discovers an ancient symbol of his people on an M class planet. We get to discover more about the commanders past as he recalls memories from his childhood. As Chakotay gets stranded on a planet we also get a quick glimpse of Chakotay in the buff. (Too quick). But hey you can always put the Video on freeze. Chakotay shows us his sensitive earth loving side as he finds out the truth behind an Indian legend.

Chakotay discover his heritage
In search of supplies Voyager crew comes to a planet only to discover that the inhabitants may have a connection with Earth's history as Chakotay discovers that the symbols sketched in sand are similar to those he learned in his youth. So begins Chakotay's journey of rediscovery as he and the crew of the Voyager follow the trail of the "Sky People".

This episode provides a great deal of background information on Chakotay, his father, and his heritage and it provides for some solid character development. We learn that Chakotay did not always revere his ancestors or their customs as flash backs introduce us to a young, rebellious Chakotay who has little tolerance for the ways of his father.

A secondary story which also provides for some character development is one involving our favorite Holodoc. When the doctor fails to demonstrate any appropriate bed side manner Kes lets him have it and tells him he best acquire some or else. To prove the that the crew are all a bunch of whiners, the doctor programs a mild case of the flu for himself to demonstrate that he is made of sterner stuff and to set an example for the crew. The results are hilarious.

A 4 out of 5 ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The Hatfields & McCoys of outer space
After a Federation oupost is raided, the Enterprise heads to Acamar Three (it would seem that most planets in Star Trek need to have numbers connected to them) where they meet Marouk (Nancy Parsons), leader of the planet. Marouk explains that a group called "the Gatherers" is to blame for the raid on the outpost. After centuries of blood feuds, the renegade group of Acamarians who call themselves "gatherers" live as space-faring nomads, "gathering" the belongings of others.

Marouk has a sincere desire to reintegrate Acamar Three's lost sons. Marouk's servant, Yuta (Lisa Wilcox), is always at her side. She is almost like a Labrador retriever, being Marouk's "gofer" for everything and treated sometimes like a robot instead of a young woman. Riker finds her to be quite fetching and the two take a liking to each other.

Picard volunteers to help Marouk locate the clan leader of the Gatherers, Chorgan (Stephen Lee), so that they can make peace with them, give them amnesty for their "gathering" crimes and give them a piece of land so they can start to reintegrate into their society.

Unseen to everyone else, Yuta runs across an elderly Gatherer, a member of the Lornack clan, who recognizes her from years before. With a touch of her hand, the old man drops dead. Crusher finds that the man, despite his age, was relatively healthy, but died of a rare virus that was almost designed to attack him specifically. This is the second such death and a connection is made - members of the Lornack clan are dying and the only one left is Chorgan. But who could be killing off the Lornacks? Their sworn enemies were wiped out 50 years earlier?

Some sleuthing by Data and Crusher reveal the secret and Riker must beam into the middle of talks with Chorgan, Marouk & Picard to stop Yuta in her tracks.

An interesting tack on an old theme.

There's no feud like an old blood feud
Picard determines that a Federation research center was raided by the nomadic Gatherers. A century before the Gatherers had left Acamar Three during the height of the clan blood feuds that killed thousands. Marouk, the ruler of Acamar Three wants to have peace talks with the Gatherers and comes aboard the Enterprise with a small group which includes her cook, Yuta, who catches Riker's eye. During the negotiations at one of the Gatherer's camps, Yuta is talking with one of the old men. When she finds out he is a member of the Lornack clan, she touches him and he dies. While Picard tries to keep the negotiations going, Dr. Crusher works on determining how the old man died, and Riker keeps on being Riker.

Star Trek has always been against the Old Testament version of vengeance that demands an eye for an eye until everyone is blind. In that regard "The Vengeance Factor" is another variation on a standard theme, but the story of how Yuta became a living weapon deadly only to the enemy clan that all but obliterated her own, is rather fascinating. You always have to appreciate it when the writers are really able to pull off something reasonably "futuristic." Of course, when it comes to Riker, if it wasn't for bad love . . .

pretty good
This one is pretty good. As someone who has seen and is collecting them all, this is one of the first 40 that I have purchased. Out of 176 or so episodes, that should tell you something. The caracters are very believable and there isn't too much over acting. The story will hold you in for the entire episode. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Seska returns to cause problems for "Voyager" and Chakotay
In "Tattoo," two episodes before this particular "Star Trek: Voyager," Chakotay (Robert Beltran) confronted his past in terms of his relationship with his father and the heritage of his people. Chakotay made peace with certain aspects of his past, which is a good think because in Episode 27, "Maneuvers" (Written by Kenneth Biller, Aired November 20, 1995), a more recent part of his past history comes back and messes with both his present and his future. When the crew of "Voyager" picks up a Federation signal, Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) follows the trail to the source only to be attacked by a Kazon vessel, which has no problems penetrating the ship's shields. A party beams aboard, grabs a transporter module, and beams away. Janeway tells the Kazon leader that the module can be used only with Federation technology, but that is not a problem since one of the members of his crewmembers is Seska (Martha Hackett), the Cardassian spy who was part of Chakotay's Maquis before they were forced to join "Voyager" in the Delta Quadrant.

The Kazon leader intends to use the stolen module to build alliances with other sects in attacking "Voyager" and getting his hands on even more Federation technology. But Janeway is more worried about Seska aiding the Kazon since she has experience with the Cardassians, Maquis, and Starfleet. Chakotay feels responsible for Seska since he recruited her in the first place, so he beams aboard the Kazon ship intending to destroy the transporter module. However, he is captured, and now Seska has a new toy with which to play. The situation is a bit contrived, but Biller does create a situation, which brings Chakotay and Seska together to rehash old differences in a pretty good scene between Beltran and Hackett. However, "Maneuvers" is not a coda to their troubled relationship but a key transitional episode where the denouement offers up some significant implications for Chakotay down the road, which is why this ends up being an above average "Voyager."

Seska - the woman we love to hate
I really enjoyed this episode of Voyager and think that it is one of the key episodes of season two.

In this episode, former Voyager crew member and "all-around evil one" Seska reappears with the Kazon - and they are bent on taking over Voyager and stealing the Starfleet technology contained therein. Of course, Janeway and crew go through some action-packed moments during their ensuing struggle with the Kazon...but another plot layer involves the personal betrayal felt by Commander Chakotay, who had recruited Seska and been her captain during her time in the Maquis.

I like the way the writers juiced up this episode: in 46 minutes, this episode develops a major second season storyline, gives us lots of action, and gives us some excellent insight into the character of Chakotay. Plus, it gave us about a million reasons to develop a healthy hatred of Seska - the primary "villan" of season two. Not bad for a single episode!

I give this episode 5 stars and consider it a "must see" among season two Voyager episodes.

The return of Seska
Kazon forces attack Voyager capturing a vital piece of technology that unites the sects and who is master mind behind this strategy?????

You guessed it, our favorite traitor, Seska. You know...... the ex Voyager crew member who was a former Maquis, disguised as a Bajoran , who really is Cardassian spy...Yeah, Seska and she is EVIL...Oh yes.... A great villain. Did I mention she's Chakotay's ex flame???? She's back.

Chakotay takes all of this very personally and sets out to recover the technology, alone and soon he finds himself in the hands of the enemy.

The action is great and tensions are high. A plot driven episode with plenty of "maneuvering" going on.

A 5 out of 5 ... Read more

Amazon.com

First, the good news: Commander William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) isbeing given the opportunity to captain his own ship, the Aries, on adangerous mission into a remote part of space. The bad news is that the person offering him this mission is Kyle Riker (Mitchell Ryan), his father, whom he hasn't spoken with for 15 years. Ever since his mom died, Commander Riker has had bitter feelings toward his dad, believing he was all but abandoned by the man. Elsewhere on the ship, Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) has noticed that Worf (Michael Dorn) is in a particularly bad mood. With a little investigation and the help of Data and Geordi, he discovers it is the 10th anniversary of Worf's Age of Ascension, a special day that Klingons celebrate with family and pain. While Wesley figures out a way to celebrate Worf's big day, Commander Riker and his dad spar both mentally and physically, and through battle are able to say what they're feeling about each other. Trés masculine. Oh, and in a further attempt to give Dr. Pulaski (Diana Muldaur) more of a backstory, it's revealed that she used to date Kyle Riker. --Andy Spletzer ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Emotional pettiness has no place among commanders
Star Trek is never better when non-human cultures are being examined and it is sometimes at its' worst when emotions are involved. Star Fleet officers are subjected to the most rigorous training and psychological screening. They are clearly the best people, selected from billions of creatures in the Federation. The Enterprise is also the best ship in Star Fleet, so only the best of the best could possibly command her. Any person who commands a star ship will have enormous power, both military and economic. They possess enough power to destroy civilizations and at any time could engage in actions that could expand the Federation or plunge it into interstellar war
While human nature will remain human nature, no matter where the species goes, there are some things that just will not follow, and that is emotional pettiness. In this episode, Riker is offered the command of a Starship, where the mission is to go to a very remote place to investigate the possibility of another culture. It will take months at maximum warp to get to the location, so he will be completely autonomous. A civilian consultant to Star Fleet beams aboard to brief Riker about the mission, and it turns out to be Riker's father, from whom he is estranged. This is where the story breaks down. Riker reacts like a hurt child, at first refusing to talk with his father, and when he does, is very curt. Since Riker is being offered the command of a mission with the potential for great consequences for the Federation, an officer would not engage in such pettiness.
A secondary story concerns Worf. He is testy, even for Worf and Wesley discovers that Worf is suffering from cultural isolation. It is the tenth anniversary of his Age of Ascension, and he should engage in a ritual to mark the date. With the aid of the holodeck, Worf's friends engage in the ceremony, which involves him walking a gauntlet of Klingons armed with pain sticks. This story line improves the episode, as it gives us further insight into the Klingon culture.
While the emotional pettiness of Riker and his father drag this episode down, the events describing Klingon culture bring it back up into a good, but not great episode.

A story about Riker's Dad and a Klingon coming of age
Anbo-Jyutsu and Worf's Age of Ascension

Spoiler Alert for those of you who want to see the episode..

In this one we get to see Worf's coming of age ceremony with the Klingon Pain Sticks in the holodeck. While Wes, O'Brien and Dr. Pulaski look on.. also this one has Riker's father. He's been absent pretty much all of the time. He tells Riker he's hurting his career and has to move on. It would have been a variation of the formula if Will Riker did take command temporarily and returned to the Enterprise. I can't understand as to how he did keep turning down promotions and Starfleet still offered him the chair. Oh well, that's going to change with the new film "Nemesis."

There's no place like the Enterprise for Riker and Worf
"The Icarus Factor" is the first Next Generation episode to deal explicitly with the idea that the crew of the Enterprise has become a family. There are two plot lines in the episode, both dealing with how Riker and Worf are alienated from their families and both establishing that the spair has found a home on the Enterprise. The episode begins with a threat to our happy little family. Commander Riker has been offered command of the Aries along with a sensitive mission. Just to make things interesting the person sent to brief Riker is his father, Kyle, and it becomes very clear that these two would have to work really hard just to have a strained relationship (which involves martial arts fought blindfolded with large sticks). Meanwhile, Worf is about to celebrate the tenth anniversary of his age of ascension, but as the only Klingon in Starfleet he has no one with whom he can share the moment (which involves a ritual that uses pain sticks).

It is always interesting to me how enlightened Starfleet is by giving Riker a choice to accept a new command or not. You have to admire any sort of military structure that allows such freedom of choice, unless, of course, the episode is written so that Starfleet actually issues orders or something like that. The relationship between Riker and his father is a bit overblown: Apparently they have not seen each other for fifteen years and they can not have a civil conversation unless they are beating each other up on the holodeck. The situation with Worf offers a nice counterpoint, because his situation is more understated. Certainly the resolution to that plotline is more in keeping with the idea of family. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Riker Van Winkle
Riker and much of the crew are celebrating his birthday in Ten-Forward as the Enterprise detects strange readings from a planet near the Neutral Zone. An M-Class planet, yet unhospitible conditions - they are being probed and the crew suspects that this could be from an underground, secret Romulan base that there have been rumors about. Riker's birthday party is put on hold as he, Worf & Geordi beam to the surface to investigate.

Volcanic gasses including sulphur become overwhelming and they have to beam back right away, but the Enterprise cannot lock on to Riker due to unknown interference. He coughs as the gasses become thicker and he is overcome and collapses.

He wakes up in Sickbay to find Dr. Crusher standing over him - but she looks considerably older and her hair and uniform are different. He catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror and sees that he's a little worse for wear himself. Dr. Crusher then tells him what has happened. While on the planet, he contracted an Alterian Virus. The DNA from the virus lays dormant until one day, it becomes active, destroying memory synapses in the brain... all the way back to the date of infection. After 10 days of fever, he has awakened in Sickbay to find out that he is missing 16 years worth of memories. He is the captain of the Enterprise, and he is supposed to rendevous with the Romulan ship Decius to sign a landmark treaty that will mean peace between the Romulans and the Federation at last.

He finds out that he was married, but his wife died 2 years earlier, and he has a 12 year old son named Jean-Luc. It's all a little too much for him to handle as Admiral Picard thrust him into negotiations with the Romulans when he feels he lacks the proper information to proceed with the negotiations. He only needs to reveal the location of a long-time secret Federation base to clinch the deal and seal the bond of trust.

He feels uneasy about it, but is goaded by Troi and Picard to proceed. Trying to jog his memory to recall any memory from the past 16 years, he accesses the ship's computer to look at his family record and photos until he finally sees a photo of his wife and he realizes that nothing is truly what it seems.

Just when you think the mystery is solved, another one surprises you. This is a well-thought-out story with excellent acting and mind-stimulating plot twists.

Riker gets off the bridge and into character
While others have pointed out the surprising nature of this episode's hypothesis, the thing that impresses me most about "Future Imperfect" is how its premise allows for normalcy. The drama here is propelled by very ordinary concerns: fatherly instincts, the grief of a wife's death, and simple disorientation. Marina Sirtis, divorced from her normal psychobabble, provides an unusually sympathetic performance. And Jonathan Frakes is allowed to step outside his posturing bridge presence to display rather more individual concerns. The result is an episode which contains not only satisfying plot twists but more subtle acting as well.

Waking Up A Stranger
Imagine you go to bed tonight, and tomorrow morning you wake up in your bed, but the room has changed. And who is that woman in bed beside you? Soon you see that 16 years is missing from your memory!

This is not exactly the scenario facing Riker, but he does awaken to find 16 years missing from his memory. Most of the crew is there, but they, like himself, have aged. He is now the captain, Data is his first officer, and Picard is an Ambassador. It seems that during those 16 years Riker has married, become a father, and a widower.

But he has little time to adjust to his new world. He is the key in an important negotiation with the Romuluns. But as time goes by, Riker becomes suspicious. Is this future indeed reality? If not, who is fooling him and why?

This episode is well written and directed, and it provoked many thoughts in me. For instance, I am in my middle 30's, and if I woke up tomorrow and I was 50, in time I would be distressed how I had in a sense "lost" 16 years. It is in contrast to the 25-30 years that Picard "gains" in the "Inner Light".

It is also interesting to see how Riker reacts to his being such a changed person. He has always distrusted the Romulons, but it seems that in the last 16 years he has helped bring peace between this race and the Federation. This is one of several episodes that would have been a good movie.

A thrilling mystery involving Captain Riker of the Enterpris
"Future Imperfect" is probably my favorite Riker episode from the Next Generation series and certainly provides Jonathan Frakes with an opportunity to show the character at his best. Riker is leading an away team that is investigating a suspected secret Romulan base near the Neutral Zone. Suddenly the group is overcome by poisonous gas and the next thing Riker knows he is awake and back on the Enterprise. The only problem is that sixteen years have passed, he is now captain of the Enterprise, and he can remember nothing of the intervening period--including the fact that he is a widower with a son named Jean-Luc (winningly played by Chris Demetral). Although he is assured that the memory loss is just a side effect of his exposure to the gas on that fateful day way back when. And just to make things interesting Riker is in the middle of final negotiations for a peace treaty with the Romulans. But the more people tell Riker that everything is okay, the less he believes them.

It is somewhat ironic that the best "mystery" episode in the series features Riker instead of Picard/Dixon Hill. More importantly, not only are their multiple layers and solid twists to the story, the payoff is up to the challenge. Of all the glimpses of the "future" Riker, this is far and away the best and his best moment since he told Worf to fire on Locutus. A surprisingly great episode. ... Read more

Amazon.com

When Tom Paris figures out a way to fly one of Voyager'sshuttlecraft at warp 10--also known as "transwarp speed" and "ultimatevelocity"--he becomes something of a hero, because it promises an earlyreturn home for Voyager. Then Tom begins to undergo a strangetransformation. Apparently, he's crossed more thresholds than just thewarp-speed barrier--he's also broken through the evolutionary wall, becausehe begins to evolve in a fashion that recalls David Cronenberg's TheFly (including a scene in which he pulls out his own tongue). That's theprice you pay for being a pioneer, I guess. The price for being a fan of thisshow, on the other hand, is sitting through episodes like this one, which hasthe kind of familiar plot line that goes all the way back to Star Trekclassic and has been recycled several times along the way. Still, it's hardto remember an episode of any TV show with an ending as jaw-droppinglysilly--and matter-of-factly handled--as this one. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A good idea for an episode but it goes horribly astray
"Star Trek: Voyager," Episode 32, "Threshold" (Story by Michael DeLuca, Teleplay by Brannon Braga, Aired January 29, 1996) focuses the character of Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill) and the two key aspects of his character: his recklessness and his need to find redemption. Paris has completed a series of simulations on the holodeck and wants to take his shuttlecraft on a real test flight to break the transwarp threshold. Flying the "Cochrane" (of course), Paris reaches Warp 10...and disappears. The vessel reappears and when Paris is beamed to sickbay he appears to be okay. But then things start to go wrong when Paris later collapses and one of the "Voyager" crew beams information about the transwarp flight to the Kazon. In sickbay the Doctor (Robert Picardo) discovers Paris's' organs and mutating and failing. When Paris dies, only to begin breathing again a few hours later, the Doctor discovers the pilot now has two hearts. However, the mutations continue to accelerate and Paris is now subject to violent episodes of paranoia.

Now, the initial premise of "Threshold" fits in the grand tradition of the idea that there are some things human beings were not meant to tamper with and although the obvious parallel would be to Chuck Yeager breaking the sound barrier, you can go all the way back to the Bible stories of the Tower of Babel and, of course, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden of Eden. However, I never liked the accelerated genetic mutation idea on "Star Trek," going back to when the "Enterprise" crew changed into weird animals and back on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (Geordi had something similar happen in another episode). My willing suspension of disbelief does not work in both directions: I can agree with the changes caused by the mutation, but the changing back always strikes me as the writer punching the reset button. However, "Threshold" adds insult to injury with the payoff for the episode in terms of what happens between Paris and Captain Janeway. What were they thinking? Kate Mulgrew should have shot this one down. So mark this down as a good idea gone horribly astray and try not to take it seriously when you watch it.

Threshold
This is a great episode! Especially if your a Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill) fan. I thought it was funny when Capt. Janeway and Lt. Paris mated. It should be the one you want to see!

Pathetic!
Tom Paris, Harry Kim and B'Elanna Torres have joined forces to figure out a way to break warp 10. They solve all the problems related to transwarp drive and Paris prepares to make the first warp 10 flight. The doctor tells Captain Janeway that the biometric readings are abnormal in Paris and suggests that Harry Kim make the flight instead of Tom. Paris pleads with the captain to let him make this flight and she decides to grant him the honor. When Paris reaches warp 10 in his shuttle, he disappears off sensors. He eventually returns and reports that he experienced the sensation of being everywhere in the universe at once; that he was aware of everything at the same time. Data is downloaded from the shuttle and it proves that Tom really was everywhere in the universe as Harry discovers 5 million gigaquads of information in the data banks of the shuttle.

A few hours later, while in the mess hall drinking coffee with Torres, Tom collapses. In sick bay the doctor discovers Tom's bio-chemistry is changing; that he is mutating. Despite the doctor's efforts, Tom dies because of the mutations. Later, Paris comes back to life while still in sick bay but continues to mutate. The doctor tells the captain that Tom's DNA is re-writing itself. New organs have appeared and others have disappeared. His personality is erratic and deranged. The doctor thinks he can restore Tom and while attempting treatment, Paris escapes. He captures Janeway and takes her with him on a shuttle. He increases the shuttle's speed to warp 10 and they disappear. Three days later, Voyager finds the shuttle on a planet. The doctor tells Chakotay and Tuvok that Paris has evolved into a future stage in human development. Tom has evolved into this stage in 24 hours when it should have taken millions of years.

On the planet, Chakotay and Tuvok find Paris and Janeway are both now lizard-like creatures. They also discover that Tom and the captain have had babies as these creatures. The lizards are stunned and taken aboard Voyager where the doctor finally eradicates all traces of the mutant DNA and restores Janeway and Paris to their original form.

This is, without a doubt, the worst episode in Voyager's 7-year run! A human being evolving into a lizard-like creature and then being restored back into a human and all of this is supposed to happen because they went faster than usual in a space shuttle? The writers were really 'out to lunch' on this episode! The only highlight is a scene toward the end where Chakotay and Tuvok find out that the lizard Paris and Janeway have had lizard babies. Chakotay tells Tuvok he doesn't know how to put this event into the ship's log and Tuvok responds that he can't wait to read it. I did manage a chuckle on that scene. Aside from that, this episode is a complete bust. I actually felt sorry for the actors who had to do this storyline. How embarrassing for them. In rating this video, I didn't even want to give it 1 star but you have to in order for the review to be published.

Corrections
To the latest reviewer:

Warp 13 was the maximum recorded in the original series, if I'm not mistaken, not warp 100. However, at the start of The Next Generation, Roddenberry recalibrated the Warp Factor scale in a manner that made Warp Ten the absolute top. The old warp scale would have its maximum at about Warp 58.5, based on this math:

Old warp scale: Times speed of light = warp factor ^ 3.
58.5 ^ 3 = about 200,000, hence 200,000 times the speed of light. On the new warp scale, Warp 9.9999 (maximum conventional warp speed) is 199,516 times the speed of light.

Also, Janeway and Paris had three offspring, not two.

stupidest of all star trek episodes
first off, i love star trek. i have been a faithful fan of star trek since the mid sixties. there are extremely few shows i didn't like. i even have all the cartoon shows. but, this episode defies all sense of logic!!! com'on the warp 10 speed is a barrier? in the original star trek the enterprise hit warp 12 in an episode. in TNG in the first season the galaxy class ship went somewhere along the lines of warp 100 when they went through 2 1/2 galaxies in just a few minutes!! and yet here they say that warp 10 is the warp barrier to ultimate speed!!!and that i you hit warp 10 you'll be everywhere at once!! give me a break!! ...and if that isn't bad enough, Tom Paris evolves in to a giant salamander! it seems to me he de-evolved. this show should have never been made. it goes against all other episodes of star trek in any version!!!the only reason i gave it a rating of 1 and not zero is because of Robert Duncan McNeils acting. ... if you want to watch an episode of de-evolution watch the episode of TNG where because of barkly everyone(except Data of course) de-evolves to some lower life form where Worf becomes real scary creature hunting down Picard. that episode had me on the edge of my seat!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Trek Meets "The Manchurian Candidate"
Like the 1960's classic film, "Mind's Eye" has one of the main characters programmed to assassinate a visiting Klingon governor. This is one of the rare occasions where the story line rests squarely on the shoulders of Geordi la Forge (Levar Burton). While it doesn't allow him much of a stretch, Burton does get such much-needed screen time in a show with seven principals. Veteran actor Larry Dobkin provides an air of respectability as a Klingon ambassador that may not be as he appears.

This installment of the series has the distinction of being one where the ominous, shadow-laden Romulan commander appears. Her identity when revealed will prove to be one the show's most memorable and surprising revelations.

Geordi La Forge, brainwashed Romulan assassin?
The Enterprise is taking a Klingon ambassador to investigate charges that the Federation is supporting a rebellion on one of the Klingon colony worlds. Meanwhile, in another part of space, La Forge is tooling around in a shuttle on when a Romulan ship uncloaks and takes him prisoner. The Romulans use La Forge's neural interface to brainwash him, feeding him the images they want and then sending him back to the Enterprise as a secret assassin. At the Klingon colony La Forge and Data discover that the "Federation" phaser rifles used by the rebels have been manufactured by the Romulans, a very impressive display of 23rd century investigative skills. The tension continues to escalate and as a host of Klingon warships surround the Enterprise, the true traitor orders La Forge to kill the commander of the Klingon colony.

"The Mind's Eye" is an average STNG episode, although certainly the idea of the bad guys using La Forge's visor is intriguing, as we see when the Duras sisters take advantage of it after capturing him in the Star Trek "Generations" movie. The character of Geordi La Forge was supposed to show how physical handicaps would not prevent someone from trekking around the Universe (Gene Roddenberry used the name of a real Star Trek fan who was, I believe, confined to a wheelchair) so usually his unique abilities are glossed over. This is one episode that actually takes some pains to deal with the implications of his visor. If they had done this more often they probably could have come up with a better episode along these lines.

Another Romulan story!
En route to the planet Risa, Geordi is kidnapped by Romulans who want to make the Klingons and the Federation bitter enemies. Rigging his visor to send his brain instructions to murder a prominent klingon, LaForge returns to the Enterprise unaware of the incident. Data senses E-band emissions aboard the ship, but will he stop Geordi in time? ... Re