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I don't think it will be a plot-killing spoiler if I mention this:
They don't even remember the Equinox crew members!
It never crossed my mind that Janeway might have had a thing with Ransom. But now I've thought about it, yeah, that does explain a few things about the 2nd part. Hmmm. I shall have to reflect upon this.
Shatnertage, you totally pegged it talking about how creepy the Doc/Seven duet scene was. I can't say enough nice things about how great they both were in that scene.
About froot's and mairbeariepie's theory: ??!! I totally wouldn't have thought that! I guess I should re-watch Part I, but what led you to this theory? Eep.
Janeway has a completely different attitude in this episode, and while I like it (for the most part), it's hard to see where it's coming from. Having already seen ENT, it reminds me a lot of season 3 Archer, although he had to save an entire planet, whereas she's just upholding Starfleet principles...and sometimes in an unprincipled way. The near-airlocking (well, it wasn't an airlock, but it's about the same) of Lessing was clearly crossing the line. And firing Chakotay for opposing her? I don't get it. Interesting that as Ransom became more reasonable and re-discovered his humanity, Janeway seemed to lose hers.
I'm fairly certain the role-reversal was exactly what the writers were gunning for. It's why we see Voyager's plaque on the floor at the end of the episode, just like the one on the Equinox.
Janeway was all kinds of wrong (although getting your ass betrayed by a fellow 'Fleet captain would be a bitter pill to swallow.) But I think her misguided quest for justice is why this episode is interesting. Also, I can't muster up an ounce of sympathy for Ransom - after he left the VOY crew to die horribly and began torturing Seven he became a lost cause in my book. Janeway thankfully was able to turn back from the brink - she did torture Lessing (well, she at least make him soil his Starfleet issues,) but she did not ultimately return Ransom's favor and betray the Equinox to the green beasties. (Mostly because other things came up.)
Anyways, I don't think she was specifically out to murder Lessing - the line "He'll break" implies she was just trying to make him wet his pants and spill the info. Would he have died accidentally if Chakotay hadn't rightly stepped in? Maybe. Probably. YMMV, of course. Either way, she was wrong to fire him for not only saving Lessing's life, but her soul. Holy hell, what if Lessing did die?
Can I state my theory? Teacake hasn't weighed in yet, but here's mine!!!
Well it should be noted it's just an interesting way to watch the episode. I dunno how much stock I put in it! I'm not sure if it's really in Janeway's character - she is clearly shown as someone who prefers long-term commitments.
I'm not sure what lead me to the idea. But... they were both lonely people in a lousy situation. Rank wouldn't have been an issue. Ransom seemed like a nice enough dude early on - and probably was, before the whole Delta Quadrant mess started. They probably had quite a bit in common. Maybe they had a few Gin Rickeys and a heart-to-heart one night, and stuff just kind of went from there.
And then, a few days later, Ransom left them all to die, and Janeway felt like a fool.
Teacake's right, though - the situation does look a lot worse if Janeway was out there gunning for revenge because she was a jilted lover and not because Ransom betrayed them and stomped on everything she was trying to uphold.
I think I just came to that theory because there was a scene in Part 1 that Janeway looked like she was checking Ransom out. Like literally, eats his body with her eyes. And froot's right. They were both lonely in a crappy situation and rank would not be an issue.
Well, an alternate theory could be that she just entertained the thought of sleeping with Ransom.
What would have been really epic would have been this: Voyager rescues the Equinox and the two ships travel together for several episodes. They could be fighting the Ghostbuster Aliens all the time, or if this went on for a while, they could fight them every now and then and also have alien of the week adventures together. While this is going on, Janeway and Ransom slowly develop a romantic (or at least friendly with some flirting) relationship. Also, the Voyager crew would uncover Ransom's guilty secret gradually. Maybe Chakotay and Tuvok could lead the investigation. (And butt heads, too.) Then when the truth was finally revealed and Janeway went nuts, it wouldn't exactly be like she was just pissed at her boyfriend. It would be like members of her crew betrayed her.
Anyone wanna write me a fanfic? I'll bribe you if necessary.
But yes, perhaps a "friendly, flirtatious" relationship with Ransom would be more Janeway's style. At least at first. I think that sounds like quite the interesting plot bunny there! Can Possums write stories, or do their little claws get in the way?
^No, unfortunately, Possums have short attention spans and cannot write fanfic. Unless you want to read this:
And then, Janeway was totally all like: "ZOMG! Ransom is kinda cute!" And they had crazy sex for like TWELVE HOURS right there in the ready room. And then Tuvok was all like: "Hey, y'all, I found out that the Captain's little boy toy was totally killing sentient beings." And then Chak said: "Holy crap, you mean the Ghost Buster Aliens?" And then Janeway was pissed and went all BAMF on Ransom and he cried like a girl. Later, Janeway went home and married Dr. Crusher. The End.
Even when she lost her memory and was reprogrammed to do things opposite her usual... it STILL took her 3 weeks before she hopped into bed with Jaffen in "Workforce".
JANEWAY: We prefer permanence. The reward of relationships that endure and grow deeper with the passing of time.
Maybe if JANEWAY was on the broken ship, and was a broken woman, THEN I could see her falling immediately for the Captain who rescues her, but not vice a versa.
I agree that she could have been entertaining the idea of having a fellow Captain on a separate ship, traveling with her for the next 40 years, and "whatever develops... que sera sera." Once he stole their tech and sold out her crew to HIS enemy, THAT fantasy was as welcome as soggy bread at a picnic.
^No, unfortunately, Possums have short attention spans and cannot write fanfic. Unless you want to read this:
And then, Janeway was totally all like: "ZOMG! Ransom is kinda cute!" And they had crazy sex for like TWELVE HOURS right there in the ready room. And then Tuvok was all like: "Hey, y'all, I found out that the Captain's little boy toy was totally killing sentient beings." And then Chak said: "Holy crap, you mean the Ghost Buster Aliens?" And then Janeway was pissed and went all BAMF on Ransom and he cried like a girl. Later, Janeway went home and married Dr. Crusher. The End.
Start out with a bunch of Borg drones...and one of them is Seven. Hmmm.
Turns out they're at an intergalactic swap meet, and everyone's having such a good time Tuvok's pissed. In his understated Vulcan way,
In general, there's a very different feel to this episode--I get the feeling that there was a shakeup in the writing crew for Season 6. You've got Voyager crew out drinking and fighting, something I don't think we've seen since "The Trouble with Tribbles." It just has a very different vibe from what I've gotten used to.
Seven's the focus of the episode, and she pulls it off--with a little help from NaomiWildman. The general idea of the trio of former drones being hard-wired together by her made sense, but it kind of broke down with the details. It seems like everything was just put together very conveniently to give Seven a tough moral choice to make.
So from a plot aspect it wasn't really a great episode for me, but there was enough good acting in it--the Doctor has a great moment in particular--to make it a good episode.
Vaughan Armstrong as one of the Borg drones was great, too.
I loved the part where everyone's crowding the hallway, and Seven parts the seas--particularly NaomiWildman's little smile.
Hmmm. Could that be where the drinking and fighting come from? I'm not that familiar with his work, but I believe he wrote most of the TNG Klingon episodes and, of course, nuBSG, of which I've seen a little.
Start out with a bunch of Borg drones...and one of them is Seven. Hmmm.
Turns out they're at an intergalactic swap meet, and everyone's having such a good time Tuvok's pissed. In his understated Vulcan way,
In general, there's a very different feel to this episode--I get the feeling that there was a shakeup in the writing crew for Season 6. You've got Voyager crew out drinking and fighting, something I don't think we've seen since "The Trouble with Tribbles." It just has a very different vibe from what I've gotten used to.
Seven's the focus of the episode, and she pulls it off--with a little help from NaomiWildman. The general idea of the trio of former drones being hard-wired together by her made sense, but it kind of broke down with the details. It seems like everything was just put together very conveniently to give Seven a tough moral choice to make.
So from a plot aspect it wasn't really a great episode for me, but there was enough good acting in it--the Doctor has a great moment in particular--to make it a good episode.
Vaughan Armstrong as one of the Borg drones was great, too.
I loved the part where everyone's crowding the hallway, and Seven parts the seas--particularly NaomiWildman's little smile.
Yes, the vibe on this episode is VERY different, and I think that's due to the Ron Moore influence, like Mair said. I don't usually think much of Seven's constant Borg Angst, but something about the pacing and acting in this episode really made me enjoy it. And I was properly horrfied by the mini-Collective's situation - literally hearing voices in your head day in and day out while trying to hold on to some kind of individual indentity would be awful.
The drinking and fighting isn't that much of a departure, though, IMO. Not for Tom Paris, anyway. We saw that Alternate Universe!Paris was a cranky drunk in "Non Sequitur," for one thing. And he certainly had no qualms about spaghetti-wrastling with Neelix in the Mess Hall in "Parutrition." And of course Harry would play along if Tom started something.
Also, the prehensile plant is one of the best guest stars the show ever had.
EDIT: Possum, I would read all your fanfic forever.
??!! I totally wouldn't have thought that! I guess I should re-watch Part I, but what led you to this theory? Eep.
I think that sounds like quite the interesting plot bunny there! Can Possums write stories, or do their little claws get in the way?
