...alright, I figure I can take this one away from @Prax so he's got more time for the young'uns and other more important sh*t. I finally finished season 5 and just watched Equinox and Survival Instinct... season 6 has a tall order ahead if it wants to usurp season 5, which is vying with season 4 as my favorite season of VOY so far. Counterpoint was definitely my favorite s5 ep, but Drone, Bride of Chaotica, Night, Timeless and a bunch of others were also great imho. So, onward and upward (hopefully): Equinox was a good ep, though not my favorite 2-parter by a longshot. Survival Instinct was great though imo: I loved it for being a "Seven-centric" ep and also just in general, as I found it thought-provoking and emotionally-driven, which made it quite engaging for me as a viewer. Seven sure has to handle a lot: not only is she trying to re-integrate into humanity (and all that that entails), but she's got a huge number of individuals (from an array of different species) who are extremely (and understandably) biased against her for being a former drone. She seems to have to endure issue after issue (such as the one presented here) that repeatedly come back to haunt her and make her question herself, both as a potential human and a former drone. Honestly, without the help of Janeway et al I think she probably would have done herself in by now due to severe emotional stress and baggage. I loved the exchange between her and Chakotay in this ep... their discussion appeared to help Seven make her ultimate decision, but I wish the writers had included some tiny element at the end of this scene to show if/how this talk could have aided Chakotay in any way, or if it had any sort of impact on him. He did try to blow Seven out an airlock originally, though the two seem to be well past that at this stage. Anyway, I hope to get to Barge of the Dead and Tinker, Tenor, Doctor, Spy in the next few days...
It's been so busy lately now that summer is over, and when I do come here, I get drawn into chaotic discovery threads. I've been neglecting my first love. I'm not a big fan of the Equinox episode. I think it's mostly down to some of the dialogue(petty, I know). It is a fan favorite, though; and a very well done story otherwise, with top notch acting. I do feel that Janeway could have easily been a little more tactful and outwitted Ransom before he ever had a chance to escape. I also really wanted to punch that First officer creep, and I really, REALLY hated that other EMH, for some reason(which I justify or excuse myself by saying he's not really a person). So I guess Picardo is such a good actor, that he can make the audience hate him, and love him in the same episode. Also, this was the first time a crewmember died since season 4. The majority of Voyager's casualties were in the first few seasons, with almost none in the last few. I really like that about Voyager, that it doesn't abuse the "redshirt" trope. Enterprise did this very well, also. Survival Instinct is a good one, too. A little behind the scenes: Brannon Braga is the showrunner(head writer) of Voyager at this point(season 4-6). He began as an intern on TNG around season 4, and worked his way up the ranks. Another writer, Ron Moore began his career much the same at TNG a year or so earlier. The two young writers began to collaborate. They eventually co-wrote the famed TNG finale "All Good Things" which I believe won a Hugo award. They also teamed up on the first TNG film "Generations," and the critically acclaimed "First Contact." When TNG ended, Braga got a promotion and moved over to Voyager, and Moore got a promotion and moved to DS9. When DS9 ended, he was invited over to Voyager. He wrote "Survival Instinct"(Which really feels like a DS9 episode) and he began work on "Barge of the Dead." Then the two writers/producers had a major falling out, and Moore left the series before season 6 aired. He had a very different vision for Voyager, and about 6 years later would go on to create the "Battlestar Galactica" reboot mini-series, and subsequent series(4 seasons long?). I'll try to post an "anticipatory" ratings/thoughts list of season 6 when I have time. I have no doubt that you're really going to enjoy the next few, though.
@Prax Thanks for the behind the scenes notes ... always appreciated and I like knowing that stuff, even if it's not entirely applicable everywhere. Too bad Moore left VOY since I did like Survival Instinct. I found it a bit dark and certainly deeper on an emotional level. If that style is typical of DS9 I'll likely enjoy that series too, once I get my mouse-paws on it, that is.
To add some more behind the scenes info, did you know that Equinox became what it did because it was at this point that Kate Mulgrew was considering leaving the show? I'm sure that Captain Ransom's character would have been written in a different way if Janeway had been killed off or something similar. But I'm really happy she stayed, after all she is Voyager to me. People like to accuse VOY of how much Seven is in the focus but I beg to disagree. This show is what it is because Janeway's presence is felt all the time. She isn't only there in episodes that focus on her, her strong presence is felt when an ep focusses on another character or when all of them are in the focus. Talking about (potential) leaving, I'm happy that Moore left. I can't be certain, of course, but going by DS9 he would have given us a very different VOY from the first five seasons and that atmosphere I love VOY for would most probably have got lost. Imagine a whole two seasons in the style of YEAR OF HELL ... this would have been very different from what the show up to that point had been and what it had become in later seasons. Then, of course, this is just guessing ... And if memory serves, Moore and Braga (or the others) did not see eye-to-eye on petty things like whether Seven should wear a uniform or not ... so perhaps the show wouldn't have been that dark eventually. After all, although I still like DS9 the second most of all Trek shows, my main reason for not liking it as much as VOY (or other shows like StarGate for example) is not that it is dark but that I think it contains a lot of boring episodes. I wouldn't have minded dark if the stories had been more interesting ... But Worf and all the Klingon rituals ... were excruciating for me to watch. Having said that I hope you'll enjoy DS9. It's definitely better than all the other ST shows in my book - except, of course, VOY.
Tinkor, Tenor, Doctor, Spy is an excellent episode. Probably the funniest single episode of Trek I've seen. That or Hollow Pursuits from TNG.
Wow, I had no idea Mulgrew almost left the series, though I could probably hazard a guess as to why. I'm glad she stayed- I agree the show wouldn't have been the same without her. Was Ransom supposed to (originally) have been her replacement? Hmmmmm.... I can understand you not wanting Moore to have stayed because it would have possibly altered the tone of the show but, if he had remained, then we would have just gotten a slightly different series (possibly) and the reality would have just been different... kind of like an alternate universe or something. I watched this one the night before last and I agree... I laughed several times right out loud. The scene when he is painting Seven in the nude, in particular, though there were other great moments. The Hierarchy was a bit interesting as well. When they first appeared I thought they might be Torat's species (the little dude from Counterpoint), but Torat's makeup and mannerisms were much cooler imho.
activate....the Photonic Cannon! I think the funniest part in Tinker, Tenor,... Was the texting/sexting. It's one of the only times the P.a.d.d. was used that way in Trek, and it's relatable today, but not so much back then. It's hilarious. Also, have you noticed how often the doctor does a "mic drop" with his hypospray syringe thing? That's hilarious too, especially here. Tinker, Tenor, Doctor, Spy - 9.975/10 My thoughts on the next few. Alice- a character focus episode, disconcerting at times, but well done. Possibly a metaphor for drug abuse, or performance enhancing drug abuse, but feels original, and done in a competent sci-if fashion. 7/10 Riddles- Beautiful episode about two characters who don't always see eye to eye. I'll say no more. It's really good. 9.975/10 Dragon's Teeth- A fan favorite. I think you'll like this one more than I did. It certainly was well made though. 8/10 One Small Step- Another fan favorite that I don't care for, but he's got nice teeth. 6/10 The Voyager Conspiracy- This is such a good episode! I've seen it criticized heavily, but those critics are dumb dumb sugar plumbs. I know you'll like it. 9/10 Disclaimer: these ratings are meaningless.
Season 6 has some strong episodes. Blink of an Eye is great and I think Child's Play is heavily underrated. But, I think the show also gets more inconsistent in season 6. IMO season 6 became increasingly about begging for ratings in the trailers. Tsunkatsae was only the biggest example.
You have a guess? What's your conspiracy theory, Mouse? Just joking ... As far as I know it was because she wanted to spend more time with her children ... or something similar. Truth is it was such a long time ago I read about this that the details are somewhat blurry to me now ... Perhaps someone more knowledgeable could shed some light on this. Anyone?
Eh, that's okay... I don't really care all that much about the details, so no one needs to try to dredge the recesses of the brain. The fact is she didn't leave the show and the aftermath of that reality is the realm we occupy. That's good enough for me... Oh, and Alice was a pretty good "Tommyboy" episode. I watched that last night... it was moderately derivative, but still good nonetheless.
Did you see a "performance enhancing drug abuse" analogy? Like an after school special about football player or other athlete who starts using drugs? There was episodes like that in like every sitcom from the 90's. I think A.C. Slater even dabbled in steroids. Or is it some other analogy? Paris is a geek, and he geeks out over this hunk o' junk starfighter. He becomes obsessed, but doesn't really cross the line(and become a dirtbag) until the ship begins manipulating him. The ending is pretty dark, what she does to him. Doesn't he say "I can't feel my legs"? And she says "You don't need them to fly me."
This one features the Rock, yes? He was pretty big at the time, if my memory serves... I think I may have seen this ep before too, precisely because of the Rock being featured (my roommate at the time was working in effects production houses and worked on the Mummy film he was in, and subsequently sought out most stuff the Rock was featured in, for better or worse). I did pick up on that vaguely, yes (more so now that you mentioned it though). Also the nods to Predator and another film that I can't recall (but the tone and feeling when he is renovating the ship came from a number of other films I think- very familiar sequence, that was)... Paris reminded me of Mulder in the X-Files a bit here: can't see the forest for the trees and blinded by an obsession that is not healthy. It was a pretty dark episode and was a good watch, especially this time of year.
Yeah, because at the time the show aired after wrestling on UPN. So a lot of wrestling fans tuned in that day, then promptly tuned out after Seven's contrived fight with The Rock. So they sacrificed quality of writing for a one night long ratings boost based on viewers they knew hated the show and would never watch again. It was straight out desperation.
Riddles was indeed excellent imho... I am growing fonder of Neelix with every passing season and I have always liked Tuvok; I imagine Russ must have liked filming this episode as it required him to drop the stoicism and objectivity and advance directly to the opposite end of the spectrum. Plus, what was the sauce that was on the "sundaes" he made for Tom and Harry?
Fetran sauce. And yes, RIDDLES is a very good one. It takes forward the Tuvok-Neelix relationship ... culminating in HOMESTEAD in Season 7.
I don't know if Rudy Ramsom would have occupied the Captain's chair after K. Janeway's death but one thing is sure, if he had been actively present, business at the chain of command would have been conflicting and stressing..., no matter that Chakotay (uncovering more Starfleet than ever) or Tuvok is the First Officer! That being said, the most important question is: would ST: Voyager have worked without Kate Mulgrew/Kathryn Janeway? I don't think so. Ratings plummeted again (the charm of Seven and/or the Doctor didn't operate anymore while, they were the only one able to do something!). Anyway, the Captain is/makes largely the show. About K Mulgrew, I'd add that, tired of always having to beg people in charge of Star Trek: Voyager (Producers, UPN's Executives...) for free time to spend with her 2nd husband and children born of a first bed, in never getting anything, decided to change her technique and tried to use the press at her profit, in alluding briefly during her interviews to reporters, about her exhaustion, her feeling to have been around the character of Kathryn Janeway during the last 5 years and yes, her readiness to quit (in remaining fair-play with the production = in not choosing t renew her contract but staying to help the transition!). You can easily imagine that such a scoop would not fall into deaf ears, right?!. And of course, it didn't. Once informed of the risk of losing the star of the show (this idea has not been to the liking of everyone in the cast!) and while it remained to produce 2 seasons of 24/25 episodes, to reach the fateful 7 seasons, the said "people in charge", though very unhappy to have the impression of being placed against the wall - even if they knew about Mulgrew's numerous requests and ins / outs of her eventual voluntary departure, ended to make concessions on her relief schedule. Like what, 1) money does not buy everything and 2) it is sometimes useful to swagger a little, properly and when necessary. Sometimes, it works... and sometimes, it doesn't (JAG's David James Elliott, William Pettersen -> after Gil Grissom's departure, CSI has not been as attractive as before. I tried 3/4 episodes with the new chief but the the balance/alchemy was broken!).
Interesting....thanks for the details, GHBB. I think it's kind of a noble reason to want to leave the show and/or request time off. I would probably have felt the same had I been in her position. I also read something awhile back about Mulgrew's reunion with her first child, who was given for adoption and I can relate to that mightily, as I am also adopted and don't know my birth-mother or anyone else who I am biologically related to. Maybe I should solicit advice from Mulgrew on her reunion tactics. Hmmmm... maybe not, on (very fast) second thought, ha ha. I can't say I would have enjoyed Ransom joining the crew, but who knows? It certainly, as you said, would have increased tension on the ship. Chakotay might have had a true Starfleet nemesis, in that case...
Ransom may have a hidden charm, because as much as I thought he was a dirtbag, I forgave him about as fast as Janeway when he finally came around. It's that sleazy first officer of his who's the REAL bad apple. He led his captain astray, I say.