Human Error - The Most Depressing Episode of the Series

[tomalak301]

I've been going through the final season (After getting season 7 for christmas) and I've been enjoying it thus far. There are some episodes I really liked, some that are better than I remember and some that are not as good. However, tonight I got to Human Error and I think in the context of my fandom towards this series, this episode is the most depressing, fruastrating 42 minutes I've seen. Yeah, you have your bad episodes you have your episodes that makes the crew look bad, but what about this episodes that showed so much promise only to be torn away at the last second.

Human Error was that show. I've always said that I had wished Seven had grown some personality. I'm not talking about the sarcastic borg humor she had, but really just be more human. She had bland emotions, a bad outfit, more or less, and I just wonder if she ever truely developed. Oh, and the Hair was not as great either. I've believed that Jeri Ryan is a fantastic actress and in interviews I hear from her, a fun person to be around. It makes me wonder why she was cast as Seven of Nine, who has less emotion than Tuvok sometimes. I always enjoyed episodes in which she "acted human," like The Killing Game, Unimatrix 0, and this one.

I felt watching this episode that I wish all of it was real. Why not give seven her own quarters, the uniform, the charming smile, and the person you'd want to hang out with? Then we had the Borg node thing and yeah this might be the most depressing show of the series. So much for change, and such a wasted opportunity to free Seven of Nine.

 

[jgdst]

Yup, I'd agree with those sentiments. Rewatching season 4 recently, I noticed a couple of moments when she seemed to evolve beyond ex-Borg - smiling at Harry, learning to enjoy games and experimenting with a broad sense of humour. She even spoke more softly early on. After The Voyager Conspiracy, I went off her a little bit and got a bit weary of the almost shouting way in which she speaks.

It seemed like every time they made her a bit more human, they re-Borged her for the next episode, as the story demanded.

I remember thinking after watching Human Error "YES! She's finally evolving!", only for her to return to regular Seven until Endgame. I think the majority of Voyager fans would've loved to see her in Starfleet uniform, sleeping in quarters, etc... obviously the producers felt that keeping her in a catsuit was a better idea

 

[freak]

I happen to agree with this. I never really thought that Seven of Nine evolved as an individual either. And I didn't really like Human Error- mainly cause she stole Chakotay(holographic or not! ) away and I didn't like their relationship AT ALL! Anyway, the episode itself makes me cringe and I'm a HUGE fan of the show. I also thought her catsuit was too confining and wanted her to be in a uniform for a while. The thing suited her well!(great example of this is the ep Relativity). I liked her hair though, but sometimes it never moved..must have had too much hairspray in it like Janeway's did in the beginning of the series with that bun. Towards the end of the series, I was really disappointed and frustrated at everything. I wanted to know what happened to the crew-were the Maquis pardoned? What about their families? It left a lot of unanswered questions for me. But the best thing is that there is fanfiction around, which helps me to imagine a different ending to the series.

 

[kimc]

According to a Braga interview on the Season 7 dvd this episode was supposed to be the start of a "tragic arc" for Seven that would end in her death in the final episode. Given the abandoning of that arc though the episode as it stands seems pointless and stupid. The repercussions of Seven using a member of the crew in a holoprogram should also should have been dealt with. After all, Seven was experiencing holo-addiction similar to Barclay's in TNG.

 

[tomalak301]

According to a Braga interview on the Season 7 dvd this episode was supposed to be the start of a "tragic arc" for Seven that would end in her death in the final episode. Given the abandoning of that arc though the episode as it stands seems pointless and stupid. The repercussions of Seven using a member of the crew in a holoprogram should also should have been dealt with. After all, Seven was experiencing holo-addiction similar to Barclay's in TNG.

I'm glad they didn't kill seven (What purpose would that serve other than to avoid having to write how earth would react to her, which in turn didn't happen anyway) but I do agree about her holoaddiction. That was pretty much ignored, even though I think only the Doctor knew about it.

 

[AuntKate]

I didn't like the episode the first time I saw it, mainly because I thought it was wrong of Seven to copy a member of the crew like that without being caught and chastised for it. Maybe they just didn't want to hire a guest star that week or something, but it was an odd direction to take. I do think that Beltran does a good job of making the two Chakotays we see in the episode quite different. When you compare the holoChakotay to the real one, the attitude toward Seven is completely different. The First Officer we see here is light years away from becoming involved with Seven outside of this holoprogram.

I also agree that the Seven of Nine character was very poorly and inconsistently developed. There was no progression in her attainment of humanity, and this really shows up in Season 7, and not just here. Earlier in the season, when the three Borg children leave, we see how far Seven is from being human when her cortical node fails. This episode ("Imperfection") explains why she is still using the regeneration alcove and reminds us of the permanent damage that the Borg assimilation has done to her. Sometimes Seven seems to carry all knowledge that the Borg have assimilated around in her head, and other times she is strangely clueless--depending on what the writers needed her character to do. It's quite frustrating.

While "Human Error" is depressing, it is also a poignant insight into Seven's frustrations and a reminder, of sorts, of the limitations she faced. I liked what it showed us and was very sorry when this element of her character was summarily dropped in "Endgame," especially for such a frivolous B plot. The C/7 relationship is a disservice to both characters IMHO

But you knew that.

 

[2 of 10]

To get off the Human Error, I thought this was what episode in season 7 that was the most depressing. For me it was Homestead, not that Neelix left Voyager after 6+ years. It was the way they found the Talaxians, 35,000 LY's from their home planet, and living IN an astroid. I understand they needed to wrap up the series post-haste, but this episode totally did not work for me. Why would they want to live inside of an astroid that as soon as Voyager is gone the miners will come back and blast them into atoms. There should have been a better way to get rid of Neelix, any thoughts...

 

[nx1701g]

^ Surprisingly I have always liked that one. Neelix got accepted by his people after being branded a traitor for refusing to go to war.

 

[Lucy of Nine]

To get off the Human Error, I thought this was what episode in season 7 that was the most depressing. For me it was Homestead, not that Neelix left Voyager after 6+ years. It was the way they found the Talaxians, 35,000 LY's from their home planet, and living IN an astroid. I understand they needed to wrap up the series post-haste, but this episode totally did not work for me. Why would they want to live inside of an astroid that as soon as Voyager is gone the miners will come back and blast them into atoms. There should have been a better way to get rid of Neelix, any thoughts...

I would agree, I had no issue with Neelix leaving the ship, but the way it was done was rather odd, the whole Talaxians in an asteroid thing was hard to swallow. I am sure they could have come up with something better than that... it was a dis-service to Neelix fans. Yes, all six of us.

 

[jgdst]

^ That bothered me too. Alas, for me the winner of the Most Senseless Character Development award goes to Joe Carey. I remember being actually annoyed that he turned up for the first time in years just for the sake of being shot.

Then again, there was a lot about Friendship One that bothered me too. As for making it the most depressing? I'm not so sure.

After watching Dark Frontier again last night, I'm going to say that's the most depressing for me: Various little retcons, odd characterisations, facts and figures just seeming a little off, they revised the crew to 143 after seemingly hammering it home all season that the crew was 150, willingly sacrificing a shuttle, and suddenly out of nowhere Seven has been on the ship for two years instead of one (or more accurately 18 months). One saving grace is I thought the musical score was among the best of the series, up there with Scorpion and Year of Hell.

Little things being a bit off now and then I don't mind, but Dark Frontier was too much all at once for me Plus it's the episode I'd started to grow weary of the Borg, and the point they seem to start becoming less threatening.

 

[tomalak301]

To get off the Human Error, I thought this was what episode in season 7 that was the most depressing. For me it was Homestead, not that Neelix left Voyager after 6+ years. It was the way they found the Talaxians, 35,000 LY's from their home planet, and living IN an astroid. I understand they needed to wrap up the series post-haste, but this episode totally did not work for me. Why would they want to live inside of an astroid that as soon as Voyager is gone the miners will come back and blast them into atoms. There should have been a better way to get rid of Neelix, any thoughts...

I would agree, I had no issue with Neelix leaving the ship, but the way it was done was rather odd, the whole Talaxians in an asteroid thing was hard to swallow. I am sure they could have come up with something better than that... it was a dis-service to Neelix fans. Yes, all six of us.

I saw the episode last week but I forgot. Was there any explanation for how the Talaxians got there? I mean this far from home in a ship that probably has warp 7 or less capability. That's quite a trip.

 

[david g]

I find Human Error depressing, as well, but depressing because of how effectively it evokes Seven's fundamental loneliness, which is a fascinating aspect of how VOY represents her. Being told again and again to embrace her individuality, Seven must then--almost unaided--confront the pitfalls of individuality, namely isolation. To me, this episode is very Trekkian. The only thing I dislike about it is the soft-core porn nature of the holo-program, which seems overly designed to titilate.

I have to admit to bewilderment about the kinds of concerns people express about episodes like Dark Frontier and Homestead, which are so well done and so moving. I dont understand the emphasis on plot holes and continuity gaps here, which dont seem to me to be particularly important. Scientists say that the transporter is an absurd impossibility, yet we dont stop watching Trek as a result. There were indeed continuity gaps but too often VOY gets slammed for these in a way that overlooks how moving and meaningful and deeply Trekkian the show could be. I dont mean to offend, but does anyone else see what I mean?

 

[kimc]

I find Human Error depressing, as well, but depressing because of how effectively it evokes Seven's fundamental loneliness, which is a fascinating aspect of how VOY represents her. Being told again and again to embrace her individuality, Seven must then--almost unaided--confront the pitfalls of individuality, namely isolation. To me, this episode is very Trekkian.

Unfortunately, the writers chickened out of the tragic arc they were starting with Seven here. Not that they needed to go through with the plan to kill her but it's certainly plausible that a person assimilated at such a young age is going to have problems living as an individual. This does not necessarily mean a lifetime of "doom and gloom" but rather of journey of discovery where the journey itself is a victory.

The only thing I dislike about it is the soft-core porn nature of the holo-program, which seems overly designed to titilate.

That's exactly what it was meant to do. I still remember the ads at the time: "See Seven as you've always wanted to see her!" Whatever.

 

[teya]

I find Human Error depressing, as well, but depressing because of how effectively it evokes Seven's fundamental loneliness, which is a fascinating aspect of how VOY represents her. Being told again and again to embrace her individuality, Seven must then--almost unaided--confront the pitfalls of individuality, namely isolation. To me, this episode is very Trekkian.

Unfortunately, the writers chickened out of the tragic arc they were starting with Seven here. Not that they needed to go through with the plan to kill her but it's certainly plausible that a person assimilated at such a young age is going to have problems living as an individual. This does not necessarily mean a lifetime of "doom and gloom" but rather of journey of discovery where the journey itself is a victory.

Well, IMO, that's all life is for any of us--or at least, should be.

 

[kimc]

I find Human Error depressing, as well, but depressing because of how effectively it evokes Seven's fundamental loneliness, which is a fascinating aspect of how VOY represents her. Being told again and again to embrace her individuality, Seven must then--almost unaided--confront the pitfalls of individuality, namely isolation. To me, this episode is very Trekkian.

Unfortunately, the writers chickened out of the tragic arc they were starting with Seven here. Not that they needed to go through with the plan to kill her but it's certainly plausible that a person assimilated at such a young age is going to have problems living as an individual. This does not necessarily mean a lifetime of "doom and gloom" but rather of journey of discovery where the journey itself is a victory.

Well, IMO, that's all life is for any of us--or at least, should be.

All the more reason why Seven being suddenly and magically cured of her "borgness" in order to have an intimate relationship with a man twice her age in "Endgame" is beyond ludicrous.

 

[teya]

Unfortunately, the writers chickened out of the tragic arc they were starting with Seven here. Not that they needed to go through with the plan to kill her but it's certainly plausible that a person assimilated at such a young age is going to have problems living as an individual. This does not necessarily mean a lifetime of "doom and gloom" but rather of journey of discovery where the journey itself is a victory.

Well, IMO, that's all life is for any of us--or at least, should be.

All the more reason why Seven being suddenly and magically cured of her "borgness" in order to have an intimate relationship with a man twice her age in "Endgame" is beyond ludicrous.

I didn't see someone "magically cured of her borgness."

I saw someone who veered between shyness and assertiveness.

I saw someone who attempted to end the relationship brusquely and abruptly without explanation--something people do when they're unsure how to proceed--when it looked to her like things wouldn't end up so well for him.

I saw someone who was still unsure of how to navigate human relationships.

Now, this doesn't mean she's incapable of doing so. She's perfectly capable of making the journey. But she hasn't been "magically cured" of anything.

As to her relationship with a man almost twice her age--plenty of people have them. I know you find them skeevy, but hey, to each his or her own, yanno?


Oh, and yeah...

Back atcha, girl!

 

[Katatak47]

I find Human Error depressing, as well, but depressing because of how effectively it evokes Seven's fundamental loneliness, which is a fascinating aspect of how VOY represents her. Being told again and again to embrace her individuality, Seven must then--almost unaided--confront the pitfalls of individuality, namely isolation. To me, this episode is very Trekkian. The only thing I dislike about it is the soft-core porn nature of the holo-program, which seems overly designed to titilate.

Well said, David g. You always manage to get to the heart of of what I think the writer's were intending. I think Seven's development was extremely subtle throughout and am glad she didn't suddenly become 'human' by the end of the series. This episode may have seemed depressing but it was very true to the character.

I have to admit to bewilderment about the kinds of concerns people express about episodes like Dark Frontier and Homestead, which are so well done and so moving. I dont understand the emphasis on plot holes and continuity gaps here, which dont seem to me to be particularly important. Scientists say that the transporter is an absurd impossibility, yet we dont stop watching Trek as a result. There were indeed continuity gaps but too often VOY gets slammed for these in a way that overlooks how moving and meaningful and deeply Trekkian the show could be. I dont mean to offend, but does anyone else see what I mean?

I, for one, see exactly the same issue over and over again and now just find it irritating. Suddenly any so-called 'gaps' or glossing over of details overshadows what was done well. What's important is connecting with the characters, perhaps identifying with their problems and maybe taking away some kind of life lesson along the way. That's the mark of good storytelling. I love your transporter example, btw. Perfect! People really do need to lighten it up. Take the show as it was and just enjoy the ride. There's too many other things in life to worry and fret over.

 

[kimc]

But she hasn't been "magically cured" of anything.

The magical cure I was referring to was the implant that was impossible to remove in "Human Error" that all of a sudden was not a big deal in "Endgame".

"Human Error" set up Seven as a tragic figure who thanks to the implant would never be able to have a "normal" emotional response. One could argue that even without the implant her experience as a borg would take her a while to get over.

Then suddenly she is magically cured because the Doctor suddenly was able to fix her because the "Endgame" script called for a last-minute implausible relationship? That's just not plausible.

 

[teya]

But she hasn't been "magically cured" of anything.

The magical cure I was referring to was the implant that was impossible to remove in "Human Error" that all of a sudden was not a big deal in "Endgame".

Funny, about 10 years ago, there were no treatments for osteoporotic fractures of the vertebrae. Rods and plates didn't work in bones so fragile they broke at the slightest touch. Then some doctors had a lightbulb moment. What if we used angiography to guide a catheter into the vertebrae and injected cement into the bone to strengthen it? Lo and behold, it worked. Within months, patients who were bedridden were hopping off the treatment room table and walking again.

What had been impossible a few months before was now possible.

That's medicine.

"Human Error" set up Seven as a tragic figure who thanks to the implant would never be able to have a "normal" emotional response.

And as you yourself have noted, they dropped that plotline.

One could argue that even without the implant her experience as a borg would take her a while to get over.

I would argue that it's something she'll deal with her whole life, as any of us who've faced trauma do. But she's been living among humans for 4 years. That's time enough to start fitting in.

Then suddenly she is magically cured because the Doctor suddenly was able to fix her because the "Endgame" script called for a last-minute implausible relationship? That's just not plausible.

First, again, I don't see it as a "magical cure"--she's still struggling with relationships, but has decided to take the chance. Which I said in my last post.

Second, "last-minute implausible relationship" is opinion you're attempting to use as fact to support your argument. I'm not buying it. Sorry.

 

[kimc]

But she hasn't been "magically cured" of anything.

The magical cure I was referring to was the implant that was impossible to remove in "Human Error" that all of a sudden was not a big deal in "Endgame".

Funny, about 10 years ago, there were no treatments for osteoporotic fractures of the vertebrae. Rods and plates didn't work in bones so fragile they broke at the slightest touch. Then some doctors had a lightbulb moment. What if we used angiography to guide a catheter into the vertebrae and injected cement into the bone to strengthen it? Lo and behold, it worked. Within months, patients who were bedridden were hopping off the treatment room table and walking again.

What had been impossible a few months before was now possible.

That's medicine.

This wasn't about medicine but rather about setting up a stumbling block for a character then removing said stumbling block with a magical resolution not for the sake of character development but for the sake of a bad script. Thus the tragedy of "Human Error" becomes rather pointless.

But she's been living among humans for 4 years. That's time enough to start fitting in.

That's time to start making progress. When you consider that the average human spend their entire childhood and adolescence learning how to get along with other (heck, there are many adults who still haven't learned) then having Seven accomplish decades of emotional growth while wearing an implant to dampen her emotional response is absolutely ludicrous.