My first voyage with Voyager

[LtGarak]

Janeway is no Companion, Firefly version, not Doctor Who.

That being that, I liked this episode. But then, I love these depressing stories, sort of reminiscent of Les Mis style storytelling.

I agree, it was a good character development piece for Tuvok.

[Qutluch]

Prototype

What an awesome opening! This was easily my favorite introduction to an episode. I am really impressed on how they filmed the opening scene. Showing the crew through the eyes of the robot (as the camera) was brilliant. It was a different way to visualize the crew, and the part where the robot looks at their screens to see itself being “operated” on was rather dramatic. I do have to say though, I hate when the credits role and I see the Doctor’s name, “Picardo”, because it always makes me miss Captain Picard!

B’Elanna is dead set on fixing the robot and refuses to sleep until she does. I love how she verbally spanks Kim when he tries to argue that he can stay up if she is staying up. She even makes a sly comment about Star Fleet, ah, B’Elanna, how I love her sassy ways! While B’Elanna is running through every perceivable way to fix the robot Neelix cuts her off from coffee and gives her a good piece of advice about working while you are too tired. What a great morale officer, he always has a quirky piece of knowledge to share with anyone who is willing, or not willing to listen.

After taking Neelix’s advice to sleep B’Elanna wakes up with a brilliant idea and rushes to speak to the Doctor. I like it that she shows up in her pajamas. Her character is so reactive I wouldn’t have believed it if she changed first, or if she would have said goodbye or thank you to the doctor before rushing out the door once she had her idea.

After B’Elanna successfully fixes the robot it kidnapped her, brought her to its own ship, and attacked Voyager. B’Elanna barters with the robot that she would “fix” one of their design flaws if they stopped their attack on Voyager. While speaking with the robot she talks about DATA!! Data is my favorite Star Trek character of all time, so even the mention of him makes this episode better!! It turns out the robots are in the middle of a Civil War of some sorts and are responsible for killing their own builders because the builders tried to turn them off. The flaw B’Elanna fixed was a restrictive measure to stop “procreation” that the builders put in place. Once B’Elanna realizes what she did she terminates the robot she built a prototype for.

Favorite part: The writers did a great job with B’Elanna’s character this episode. They showed her intelligence, her rashness, and her brazen opinions on Star Fleet. This was easily the best B’Elanna episode thus far.

Least favorite part: Janeway and B’Elanna’s discussion on the Prime Directive. I feel like they have already broken the Prime Directive a number of times at this point, and I don’t understand why Janeway is so reluctant to be of some assistance. To some extent, I think the Voyager has to break the Prime Directive at points in order to survive on their own while they are lost in space.

[Guy Gardener]

The self destruct was invented so that they wouldn't have to break the Prime Directive.

What I found interesting about tapping the Prime Directive in this episode is that these robots are from a technologically superior culture than the federation, yet the social and political issues bound tot he Prime Directive still apply.

[Jeff O'Connor]

B'Elanna's fantastic in that episode. This reminds me, she really has several knockout eps throughout the series' run -- even a couple in the Janeway-Seven-Doctor Triforce seasons.

[lurok]

Having just rewatched series for first time in years, she's definitely one of the highlights, along with Russ, for me. Consistently good from the start and really grows as a character and actress. And I didn't use to like her very much. Go figure.

[teacake]

Me neither! I thought she was shrieky and Tom insipid. Well I still think he's a bit insipid but the relationship works quite well and is believable to me now. I really like how B'Elanna is in a constant state of sass. Her antagonism towards 7 is lots of fun as well as being nicely realistic. The Borg are terrifying, it would make more sense to have crew members deeply uncomfortable or hostile especially with a bunch of Borg tech still buried in 7's skull.

[Jeff O'Connor]

I think the reason we don't see Joe Carey for so long is because he's hiding from Seven. Likely, he asked Naomi for a good hiding place and never looked back.

I'm still working on the perfect expanation for where he is in Seasons 2 and 3, though.

[teacake]

Jeff O'Connor wrote:

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I think the reason we don't see Joe Carey for so long is because he's hiding from Seven. Likely, he asked Naomi for a good hiding place and never looked back.

I'm still working on the perfect expanation for where he is in Seasons 2 and 3, though.

I feel some Carey/Flotter slash coming on..

Might have to lie down now.

[Jeff O'Connor]

"Flotter and the Ogre of Fire Cancel Each Other Out As Joe Carey Fades Away"

[lurok]

VOY has some really under-utilised and wasted potential. Carey was one. Seska definitely. And I wish they'd had Ballard as a regular, and a lot earlier. She really lights up the screen that penultimate season.

[exodus]

Jeff O'Connor wrote:

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B'Elanna's fantastic in that episode. This reminds me, she really has several knockout eps throughout the series' run -- even a couple in the Janeway-Seven-Doctor Triforce seasons.

Agreed 100%
Roxanne Dawson really knew her character from the start and owned it every time she appeared.

[Sindatur]

Be careful to remember how far into the Series the First Time Watcher is, guys. This last episode she is discussing in only Episode 2.13, so, you really should avoid discussing things beyond that

[R. Star]

Prototype was a neat episode and had a crazy oldschool scifi feeling to it with two robot civilizations bent on each other's destruction.

I never thought much of Torres being she was often a self parody. The snarling Klingon chick who routinely smashes things is the engineer and all. But this was a good episode for her. If they wrote Torres like this consistantly she would've been one of the stronger characters in the series.

[teacake]

Sindatur wrote:

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Be careful to remember how far into the Series the First Time Watcher is, guys. This last episode she is discussing in only Episode 2.13, so, you really should avoid discussing things beyond that

Oh yes! Sorry about that.

[Qutluch]

Sindatur wrote:

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Be careful to remember how far into the Series the First Time Watcher is, guys. This last episode she is discussing in only Episode 2.13, so, you really should avoid discussing things beyond that

Thank you, I was trying to skim them so I did not absorb too much!