Learning Curve

[Starbreaker]

So, I'm going back and watching the episodes I missed the first time around (Learning Curve, Basics I & II, Drone), and I just got done watching Learning Curve. I'm a huge Voyager fan, but I think I have to classify this as the worst teaser ever. Janeway plays holodeck for three minutes and then a maquis crew member tells Tuvok to leave him alone... I would have changed the channel if I wasn't a fan by this point.

 

[Picard Alpha]

I've always found "Learning Curve" to be an enjoyable episode. I for one never had any direct issues with the teaser; and believed the set up for the neural gel packs malfunctioning was sufficient. I was always a fan of the Maquis / Starfleet conflict so I may have formed a biased opinion. Sadly, it's one of the last times the plot was ever thoroughly explored. There are certainly far worse hours of Trek out there...

 

[Lynx]

I like this episode. Not one of my absolute season 1 favorites but still a good one. OK, Tuvok acts a bit like a bully here and there and personally I hope that some of the worst military bullying seen here will be gone in the 24th century. But the whole story is good and entertaining and it's intersting to see Tuvok slowly winning the respect of the former Maquis.

Some really funny scenes as well: The classic "get the cheese to sickbay" comment from B'Elanna and the Doctor's little speech to the gelpack in sickbay: "Don't worry my little friend".

I think that Dalby, Henley, Chell and Gerron are very good characters and it's a shame that we never saw them in some other episode. Fortunately they are prominent in some of the Star Trek Voyager books.

I'll give the episode 3 points out of 5.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Chell is mentioned a couple more times and is seen in season seven several times and eventually replaces Neelix as cook.

They should have changed the theme song to "To Tuvok with love" for just this episode.

 

[Captain W Riker]

I like this episode. It's nice to focus on secondary characters, especially the Maquis; Tuvok's appraisal of their inadequacy always reminds me of Seven in "Good Shepherd" for some reason.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Really. I think someone was trying to rip off Sidney in To Sir With Love.

It was blatant.

 

[Lynx]

Chell is mentioned a couple more times and is seen in season seven several times and eventually replaces Neelix as cook.

They should have changed the theme song to "To Tuvok with love" for just this episode.

I never watched season 7 so I missed that.

Anyway, he's a great character and so aare Dalby, Henley and Gerron.

 

[kimc]

I always thought this was a good solid episode.

 

[Guy Gardener]

I laughed when I found out there were only four of them with problems and later I laughed that one of them wasn't Suder.

I also found it hilarious how cheesy the deus ex machina was. Did they save him because Tuvok taught them about honor by being a complete fracking bastard? Or did they just not want to get into a shit load of trouble by leaving him to die? or had they always been noble and honorable but Tuvok had been too dense and couldn't see it past their scruffiness?

I tuned in because I thought they were going to kill him. Cottor had more trouble wrangling Sweathogs. Hell, Doctor Fever had more trouble keeping those nerds in line.

O, and there's no point in taking that class (willingly without the threats.) unless they can put it towards a Starfleet education so that they can trade in those provisional rank badges for some pips. I didn't see that happening even after another 6 years when Icheb started classes under various crewmen that he was in a class of one that no Maquis had the inclination to better themselves.

 

[nx1701g]

They made up for the teaser with the 24th Century version of the Kobayashi Maru.

 

[Starbreaker]

I did enjoy the rest of the episode, actually. Some of the acting was a wee bit over the top, but it was enjoyable.

The cheese/sickbay thing used to be a running gag around here, and now I can finally laugh along the next time it's used!

 

[doubleohfive]

I liked this episode better when it was called "Lower Decks." Admittedly, I've tried to blot this one out of my mind, but as a season finale it sucked. The script was derivative (so much so that they felt the need to milk the premise again with "Good Shepard" five years later). The guy who played Dalby was a horrible actor too. I mean seriously, the only good thing that came out of this episode besides the corny line about cheese was Chell, and I think we saw him maybe once more after this.

In short, this episode was crap.

 

[DanCPA]

I liked this episode better when it was called "Lower Decks." Admittedly, I've tried to blot this one out of my mind, but as a season finale it sucked. The script was derivative (so much so that they felt the need to milk the premise again with "Good Shepard" five years later). The guy who played Dalby was a horrible actor too. I mean seriously, the only good thing that came out of this episode besides the corny line about cheese was Chell, and I think we saw him maybe once more after this.

In short, this episode was crap.

Hey, I liked Dalby. He reminded me of myself. Not very charismatic... maybe not the greatest tactical mind... but he helped Chakotay out of a crunch... and I bet he's a guy you want on your side when the chips start falling

 

[doubleohfive]

Dalby the character wasn't so bad. The actor though (and this is probably equal parts the actor and the shitty script) gave a cringe-worthy performance.

 

[DanCPA]

Dalby the character wasn't so bad. The actor though (and this is probably equal parts the actor and the shitty script) gave a cringe-worthy performance.

Nah, I enjoyed his performance. Dalby was a bland guy... not everyone is a great inspiring leader

 

[Starbreaker]

Chell shows up five years later for Repression. What a waste of a supporting cast.