*
One of the pitfalls of setting a Star Trek show away from home is that great difficulties result in exploring the full impact of any given story on a character. Most character building is based on character alone, but when that character is separated from most of what gives that character meaning, there is a necessary limiting effect.
What I mean to say here is the character of Tom Paris suffered the most from being adrift in the Delta Quadrant. The Maquis members of the crew had redemption arcs of their own, but Tom had a wider curve, since he was an outcast to both Maquis and Starfleet in the first episode. That he quickly proved his worth didn't mean that his inherent characters trait could easily be demonstrated later on, however. He was the outsider who could fit in, but was still an outsider. (And no wonder that he ended up married to B'Elanna Torres.)
In an episode like "Vis a Vis" (much like the misunderstood "Threshold"), Tom Paris undergoes one of his periodic lapses into antisocial behavior, grounded in his instincts that few are properly able to comprehend. When he alienates everyone, even tagalong buddy Harry Kim, there's no one to understand what he's really going through, no family or friends who knew what he was like before his life spiraled out of control. That's what's missing in most of his episodes. Robert Duncan McNeill seems to understand this in his acting most of the time, portraying Paris as someone who's tired of people not "getting" him, and sometimes simply doesn't care. He's got good instincts and bad instincts, and sometimes he's caught up in both of them.
"Vis a Vis" is a basic version of that character arc, which became harder to explore the longer the series continued.
Franchise * Series * Essential * Character
Memory Alpha summary.
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Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Voyager 4x19 "The Killing Game, Part 2"
***
The second half of "The Killing Game" has the benefit of the crew finally coming together and formulating a strategy, while the arc for the Hirogen also comes to a culmination. With the metaphor of the French Resistance during WWII, it's both a period piece and a fond sendoff to the semi-regular appearances of the Hirogen on the series.
It's essential viewing for both the series and the season, and for all Star Trek fans looking to complete their Nazi set.
Franchise * Series * Essential * Character
Notable guest-stars:
J. Paul Boehmer
Memory Alpha summary.
The second half of "The Killing Game" has the benefit of the crew finally coming together and formulating a strategy, while the arc for the Hirogen also comes to a culmination. With the metaphor of the French Resistance during WWII, it's both a period piece and a fond sendoff to the semi-regular appearances of the Hirogen on the series.
It's essential viewing for both the series and the season, and for all Star Trek fans looking to complete their Nazi set.
Franchise * Series * Essential * Character
Notable guest-stars:
J. Paul Boehmer
Memory Alpha summary.
Voyager 4x18 "The Killing Game, Part 1"
***
The Hirogen go out with a bang after a strong fourth season effort in this two-parter that features yet another hostile takeover of the ship, this time with the crew being stuck into elaborate holodeck scenarios that allow the hunters to continuously track their prey, in ways that may prove a new future for the species.
It's essential viewing for the season and the series, a culmination of appearances for the Hirogen throughout the midpoint of the fourth season. Even though "Message in a Bottle," "Hunters," "Prey," and "The Killing Game" can be viewed separately, together they create a cohesive portrait for a Delta Quadrant species where very few others exist. Of course, by nature our crew can't hang around any of them for long, but the Hirogen benefit from more work than even the Talaxians, who are represented by Neelix for seven seasons, were able to muster, with a fairly complete understanding of who they are and where they're headed. Like the Kazon before them, they may not seem so different from Klingon warriors who live on hostile intent, but they've got ambition and nuance that suggests a culture that's living in the moment rather than in tradition.
It just so happens that some Hirogen are trying to come up with new methods other than actual murder to get what they want.
The particular method of holographic hunting the Hirogen eventually decide upon, Nazis, happens to be a franchise staple.
Franchise * Series * Essential * Character
Notable guest-stars:
J. Paul Boehmer
Memory Alpha summary.
The Hirogen go out with a bang after a strong fourth season effort in this two-parter that features yet another hostile takeover of the ship, this time with the crew being stuck into elaborate holodeck scenarios that allow the hunters to continuously track their prey, in ways that may prove a new future for the species.
It's essential viewing for the season and the series, a culmination of appearances for the Hirogen throughout the midpoint of the fourth season. Even though "Message in a Bottle," "Hunters," "Prey," and "The Killing Game" can be viewed separately, together they create a cohesive portrait for a Delta Quadrant species where very few others exist. Of course, by nature our crew can't hang around any of them for long, but the Hirogen benefit from more work than even the Talaxians, who are represented by Neelix for seven seasons, were able to muster, with a fairly complete understanding of who they are and where they're headed. Like the Kazon before them, they may not seem so different from Klingon warriors who live on hostile intent, but they've got ambition and nuance that suggests a culture that's living in the moment rather than in tradition.
It just so happens that some Hirogen are trying to come up with new methods other than actual murder to get what they want.
The particular method of holographic hunting the Hirogen eventually decide upon, Nazis, happens to be a franchise staple.
Franchise * Series * Essential * Character
Notable guest-stars:
J. Paul Boehmer
Memory Alpha summary.
Voyager 4x17 "Retrospect"
*
If for no other reason than it helped shape the direction of two characters, this one is worth watching, even if it's not too great otherwise.
The Doctor and Seven were two characters the show never really got tired exploring, so it was only natural that they would develop some kind of relationship. Given that Seven basically replaced Kes, it's also appropriate that this happened, since The Doctor tended to try and live vicariously through the more innocent members of the crew, and you don't get more innocent than Kes and Seven. In his quest to push his own limitations, however, The Doctor could sometimes make huge mistakes, and he didn't seem to mind dragging others with him.
Hence what happens in "Retrospect." Actually, that's pretty much all there is. It doesn't really do much for Seven, which is weird, because she's supposed to be the hot new thing on the show, and one of her own episodes is co-opted by an existing character's story. The fact that The Doctor's lesson is a little redundant here is why I don't find it to be one of his stronger entries, but it's worth a look for its historical significance.
Franchise * Series * Essential * Character
Memory Alpha summary.
If for no other reason than it helped shape the direction of two characters, this one is worth watching, even if it's not too great otherwise.
The Doctor and Seven were two characters the show never really got tired exploring, so it was only natural that they would develop some kind of relationship. Given that Seven basically replaced Kes, it's also appropriate that this happened, since The Doctor tended to try and live vicariously through the more innocent members of the crew, and you don't get more innocent than Kes and Seven. In his quest to push his own limitations, however, The Doctor could sometimes make huge mistakes, and he didn't seem to mind dragging others with him.
Hence what happens in "Retrospect." Actually, that's pretty much all there is. It doesn't really do much for Seven, which is weird, because she's supposed to be the hot new thing on the show, and one of her own episodes is co-opted by an existing character's story. The fact that The Doctor's lesson is a little redundant here is why I don't find it to be one of his stronger entries, but it's worth a look for its historical significance.
Franchise * Series * Essential * Character
Memory Alpha summary.
Voyager 4x16 "Prey"
*
The Hirogen episodes continue, and again it's worth watching, this time as much for the Hirogen themselves (featuring Star Trek veteran Tony Todd) as the first appearance of Species 8472 since the two-part "Scorpion" (and thus the beginning of the season).
Species 8472 was not only the one threat the Borg couldn't handle, but also one of the first purely CGI aliens, so they were more alien than most aliens, didn't have speaking parts, and so mainly represented themselves by way of reputation. That the Hirogen obsessed over them wasn't a surprise. "Prey" is more about the Hirogen than it is Species 8472 (this is the least important appearance for them), but it's worthwhile viewing for crossing both in one episode, and therefore a good episode to watch for fans of the series.
Franchise * Series * Essential * Character
Notable guest-stars:
Tony Todd
Memory Alpha summary.
The Hirogen episodes continue, and again it's worth watching, this time as much for the Hirogen themselves (featuring Star Trek veteran Tony Todd) as the first appearance of Species 8472 since the two-part "Scorpion" (and thus the beginning of the season).
Species 8472 was not only the one threat the Borg couldn't handle, but also one of the first purely CGI aliens, so they were more alien than most aliens, didn't have speaking parts, and so mainly represented themselves by way of reputation. That the Hirogen obsessed over them wasn't a surprise. "Prey" is more about the Hirogen than it is Species 8472 (this is the least important appearance for them), but it's worthwhile viewing for crossing both in one episode, and therefore a good episode to watch for fans of the series.
Franchise * Series * Essential * Character
Notable guest-stars:
Tony Todd
Memory Alpha summary.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Voyager 4x15 "Hunters"
*
This is another episode that defies the conventional wisdom of Seven's impact on the series, at least in her first season. This is technically a Seven episode, but it's far more about the emerging Hirogen threat (and its basic culture) than anything. She is a lead character in the Chakotay sense, to be frank.
As such, "Hunters" is designated as an episode for fans of the series, because it's an important one for you to watch if you want to know what Voyager actually did versus what detractors will say it was. The Hirogen and how the crew handled them are exactly the kind of experience you'd expect from a show that focused on a ship lost on the other side of the galaxy.
Franchise * Series * Essential * Character
Notable guest-stars:
Tiny Ron
Memory Alpha summary.
This is another episode that defies the conventional wisdom of Seven's impact on the series, at least in her first season. This is technically a Seven episode, but it's far more about the emerging Hirogen threat (and its basic culture) than anything. She is a lead character in the Chakotay sense, to be frank.
As such, "Hunters" is designated as an episode for fans of the series, because it's an important one for you to watch if you want to know what Voyager actually did versus what detractors will say it was. The Hirogen and how the crew handled them are exactly the kind of experience you'd expect from a show that focused on a ship lost on the other side of the galaxy.
Franchise * Series * Essential * Character
Notable guest-stars:
Tiny Ron
Memory Alpha summary.
Voyager 4x14 "Message in a Bottle"
****
One of my favorite episodes, easily, an essential episode for the series and the character of The Doctor, and thus essential in general, only lacking in hard relevance to the franchise, an opportunity that might be considered wasted considering how much was going on for it already.
(In that regard, consider that Andy Dick appears as the new version of the emergency medical hologram, and there's no reference to Lewis Zimmerman, also played by Robert Picardo, or even Julian Bashir, who flunked his chance to become that model a year earlier.)
But Andy Dick, a pop culture oddity who made his best mark on NewsRadio, is such an unusual Star Trek presence that even without a series of priceless interactions with Picardo (who probably only ever had comparable fun on the show in "Heroes and Demons") his appearance would have helped this episode stand out.
The Doctor's unexpected visit to the Alpha Quadrant has the benefit of another appearance from the Romulans on the show (it was a missed opportunity for the creators to forget about this recurring theme in the later seasons), even though this one's far more random than "Eye of the Needle."
But the biggest development and most relevant element for later episodes and thus for the series as a whole is the debut of the Hirogens, who quickly became a defining alien species both for the season and the show as a whole.
In short, there's very little about this episode that should prevent you from watching it.
Franchise * Series * Essential * Character
Notable guest-stars:
Andy Dick
Memory Alpha summary.
One of my favorite episodes, easily, an essential episode for the series and the character of The Doctor, and thus essential in general, only lacking in hard relevance to the franchise, an opportunity that might be considered wasted considering how much was going on for it already.
(In that regard, consider that Andy Dick appears as the new version of the emergency medical hologram, and there's no reference to Lewis Zimmerman, also played by Robert Picardo, or even Julian Bashir, who flunked his chance to become that model a year earlier.)
But Andy Dick, a pop culture oddity who made his best mark on NewsRadio, is such an unusual Star Trek presence that even without a series of priceless interactions with Picardo (who probably only ever had comparable fun on the show in "Heroes and Demons") his appearance would have helped this episode stand out.
The Doctor's unexpected visit to the Alpha Quadrant has the benefit of another appearance from the Romulans on the show (it was a missed opportunity for the creators to forget about this recurring theme in the later seasons), even though this one's far more random than "Eye of the Needle."
But the biggest development and most relevant element for later episodes and thus for the series as a whole is the debut of the Hirogens, who quickly became a defining alien species both for the season and the show as a whole.
In short, there's very little about this episode that should prevent you from watching it.
Franchise * Series * Essential * Character
Notable guest-stars:
Andy Dick
Memory Alpha summary.
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