Saturday, May 10, 2008

7.22 natural law

Chakotay and Seven are in a shuttle, on-route to a conference, but Chakotay wants to check out the scenery, and while deviating from his flight plan, crashes into a previously undetected energy barrier. With the shuttle disabled, the only alternative is for Seven to punch a hole in the barrier and crash-land. Trapped inside, they find they share the space with a primitive indigenous tribe called the Ventu. Seven is uncomfortable, but of course Chakotay is right at home, learning to communicate through sign language.

On the outside, Voyager has learned that the barrier was erected by aliens who visited the planet long ago and were attempting to protect the Ventu from the Ledosians, who were intent on exploiting their lands and conquering them.

In the meantime, Tom Paris has been ‘punished’ for reckless piloting and is forced to take a long review course and exam, led by a Ledosian instructor who wants to prolong Tom’s pain.

With help from the Ventu, Seven lowers the barrier, and Chakotay is beamed out. But a Ledosian expedition enters, and the Ledosians want Janeway to leave the technology and keep the barrier down. When Janeway refuses, the Ledosians attack Voyager and disable their transporters. Janeway calls on Tom, who gleefully breaks off his lesson to fly down, beam out the Ledosian party, destroy the technology, and get out just before the barrier closes again.

While not great, at least this episode again felt like ‘Classic Trek’, attempting to teach a lesson within an action framework.

No comments:

Post a Comment