Thursday, February 28, 2008

1.05 the cloud

While trying to replenish energy resources (and thereby get Janeway her much-needed coffee again), Voyager penetrates a nebula that is not just a nebula - it's a living organism, and their exploration has damaged it. This same theme has been pursued a number of times in previous Trek series. Neelix dubs himself morale officer, much to the dismay of Tuvok, and serves treats on the bridge. The sub-plot is of Janeway grappling with how to handle her position with the crew, and vice versa. She gets the beginnings of a spiritual awakening with Chakotay.

1.04 phage

Neelix’s lungs go missing. The doctor manages to prolong his life by cleverly creating ‘holo-lungs’, but Neelix is confined to a bed, there to be comforted by Kes. Meanwhile, Voyager tracks and pursues the Vidiians, the aliens that stole the organs. They are the victims of a devastating plague called the phage. After Janeway spares their life, they oblige by using their advanced medical technology to transplant one of Kes’s lungs into Neelix. I’m pretty sure I’ve sat next to one of those phaged aliens on the IRT 7 train when I was living in New York. I guess the only problem with this episode is that we haven’t had a chance to care much about the annoying Neelix, so his lung problem doesn’t hold much emotional value.

1.03 time and again

A shockwave from a nearby planet rocks Voyager; upon closer inspection a completely devastated world is discovered. But while investigating on the planet’s surface, Janeway and Paris slip into a subspace fracture and find themselves in the past – one day before the explosion is about to occur. Worst than that, they have to blend in by wearing the same ‘Welcome to MacDonald’s – may I take your order’ garb of the local people. This is a clever episode that plays with the timeline, and it probably doesn’t make any sense, which will infuriate serious time/space devotees.

1.02 parallax

Exploring a quantum singularity, Voyager becomes trapped in time and is unable to escape. In the meantime, B’Elanna Torres has bloodied the nose of a co-worker in engineering. Chakotay has to deal with the difficult integration of his Maquis crew and himself. In the meantime, the holographic doctor is slowly shrinking, but no one seems to have time to effect repairs. This is a defining episode for Chakotay and B’Elanna’s characters. At the beginning, they are each to a degree resentful and unsure whether they can be a part of Starfleet. By the end, you can tell they are going to stay for at least six seasons. This episode also features an abundance of technobabble that unfortunately substitutes for really clever plotting. Still, great to watch to see Chakotay and Janeway interact – the spark is there.

1.01 caretaker

A Maquis ship, commanded by Chakotay (with Torres and Tuvok in the crew, all looking flash in their brown leather uniforms) is enveloped by a mysterious energy wave and disappears. Janeway assembles the crew of Voyager, which includes a visit to prison to fetch the petulant Tom Paris. Paris immediately befriends Kim and saves him from the clutches of Quark. Voyager also disappears, and, as both the Maquis and the Federation want to get home, Janeway suggests they work together. Chakotay agrees, even though he hates the mercenary Paris. This well-structured double-episode has a little of everything, and does a good job of introducing all the characters without any glaring plot contrivances.