I give it an 8. Good beginning for Voyager.
CARETAKER: Rating and discussion
- Thread starter Mrs Paris
- Start date
Ain't that the truth,exodus. I gave the pilot ep an 8, just because it was a great way to start off the series of Voyager. I remember sitting on the edge of my seat when the music started for the show. 
It could have been better without the banjo man and the southern lady. But all in all, wonderful special effects and great character introductions. 
And LOVED the ending!!!!!! "Mr. Paris, set a course....for home!" I gave it a 9. Solid story and nice intros of the main cast. It would've gotten a ten, but killing off Lt. Stadi in the first ep never sat right with me.
My favorite pilot episode as well - I gave it an 8.
Everyone got a chance to shine, with the possible exception of the EMH (He got plenty later)
Needed a bit more Chakotay/Paris conflict. Paris' relationship with Chakotay or the whole "your life is mine" angle was hardly touched on again.
The Kazon needed some tweeking. I have no problem with the "space gang" motif, but their look and the ridiculous "we need water" thing was hard to swallow.
Everyone got a chance to shine, with the possible exception of the EMH (He got plenty later)
Needed a bit more Chakotay/Paris conflict. Paris' relationship with Chakotay or the whole "your life is mine" angle was hardly touched on again.
The Kazon needed some tweeking. I have no problem with the "space gang" motif, but their look and the ridiculous "we need water" thing was hard to swallow.
I have never seen the pilot. Ever.
I'd like to see it one of these days. I didn't get into the show until the end of the second season and I missed it every time it was on repeat during that period.
I'd like to see it one of these days. I didn't get into the show until the end of the second season and I missed it every time it was on repeat during that period.
I agree. Even those who don't care much for Voyager seem to like the pilot which says a lot imo.
It was all right. I suppose that I'm not really the best one to judge since I found Voyager a disappointing series overall that wasted its potential to be awesome.
My major problem with it is that I would have liked to see some reaction from the rest of the crew over Janeway destroying the array.
"So, you violated the Prime Directive and stranded us 70 years from home? Okay, that's cool. I don't mind at all."
Considering that the worst she did to Lon Suder was confine him to quarters, I probably would have had some choice words for her the next time I ran into her in the mess hall.
My major problem with it is that I would have liked to see some reaction from the rest of the crew over Janeway destroying the array.
"So, you violated the Prime Directive and stranded us 70 years from home? Okay, that's cool. I don't mind at all."
Considering that the worst she did to Lon Suder was confine him to quarters, I probably would have had some choice words for her the next time I ran into her in the mess hall.
To argue against destroying the array would have been to argue against protecting the Ocampa which would have been a difficult argument to make. There was some followup about the crew having to adjust to the situation and of course characters like Seska never expressed any fondness for Janeway. However, if you're going to be stuck 70,000 light years from home it may as well be for a purpose, imo.
I can imagine that most of the crew members did find Janeway's decision the right thing to do. OK, the Starfleet people maybe had the discipline not to question the captain's orders and most the Maquis thought it was the right thing to do because of the situation with the risk of the Kazon taking over the Array.
If we look at it, they all probalby knew that it would be impossible to start the process which would send them back. The Array was damaged, it would take hours to get the "sending back" procedure working and during that time the Kazon would get reinforcements. Or to quote Jabin: "I have called for additional ships". There was the risk of the Kazon taking over the Array before Voyager was sent back to the Alpha Quadrant and in that case, Voyager wouldn't be transported back anyway and the Kazon would also get a chance to shut down the safety barriers which protected the Ocampa underground city, invade the city and annihilate the Ocampa.
I guess that most of the crew on Voyager did realize that or at least did realize afterwards that destroying the Array was the only thing to do.
If we look at it, they all probalby knew that it would be impossible to start the process which would send them back. The Array was damaged, it would take hours to get the "sending back" procedure working and during that time the Kazon would get reinforcements. Or to quote Jabin: "I have called for additional ships". There was the risk of the Kazon taking over the Array before Voyager was sent back to the Alpha Quadrant and in that case, Voyager wouldn't be transported back anyway and the Kazon would also get a chance to shut down the safety barriers which protected the Ocampa underground city, invade the city and annihilate the Ocampa.
I guess that most of the crew on Voyager did realize that or at least did realize afterwards that destroying the Array was the only thing to do.
I'd think it would take even the seasoned Starfleeters some time to think it through. More impromptu, more primitive reactions would come first.
They might be subdued in case of said Starfleeters, since the regulations frown on expressing one's opinion too loud. But why would Chakotay's crew stay silent about the issue when Janeway makes her speech? It's not as if Chakotay himself commanded so much authority that he could give his crew a gag order on something this serious.
Timo Saloniemi
They might be subdued in case of said Starfleeters, since the regulations frown on expressing one's opinion too loud. But why would Chakotay's crew stay silent about the issue when Janeway makes her speech? It's not as if Chakotay himself commanded so much authority that he could give his crew a gag order on something this serious.
Timo Saloniemi
The Kazon/Ocampa thing was none of their business. Maybe it was the morally right thing to do, but that has little bearing on the PD, it's all about staying out of other people's affairs. Granted, it's been a while since I've seen it, but didn't the Caretaker offer to send them home?
I agree that most of them would have made peace with it (or killed themselves. They could have had a wonderful episode if a member of the crew was so distraught at being trapped so far from home that they offed themselves, really force everyone else to take a long look at their situation, and it's not like S1 was so full of indispensable gems, either), and that by season 2 or so, it would have ceased to be an issue. I'm just saying that in a situation like that, at that time, with a lot of the crew dead, I probably would have lost it on Janeway at the next opportunity, Starfleet or no.
I agree that most of them would have made peace with it (or killed themselves. They could have had a wonderful episode if a member of the crew was so distraught at being trapped so far from home that they offed themselves, really force everyone else to take a long look at their situation, and it's not like S1 was so full of indispensable gems, either), and that by season 2 or so, it would have ceased to be an issue. I'm just saying that in a situation like that, at that time, with a lot of the crew dead, I probably would have lost it on Janeway at the next opportunity, Starfleet or no.
B'Elanna protested didn't she? Until Chakotay pulled her back - I think having come from the Starfleet background and being the person he is, he knew that it was the right decision to save the Ocampa. And having just lost their ship they weren't really in a position to mutiny right then and there anyway.
I gave the episode a 9. My favourite pilot of the Trek series.
I gave the episode a 9. My favourite pilot of the Trek series.
I gave "Caretaker" an 8. A strong storyline, a good introduction to each character, and a nice set-up for the rest of the series.
