Not sure what to think of this one. The plot is multi-faceted yet simple, relying more in the visceral approach with shocking moments compelling you to angrily raise your hand then extend a select digit or two at the television screen. The two-finger variant is more fun, especially if you're in England.
Picking up on the trust issue for shiny new Seven is promising, especially as all sorts of accidents happen and they're just that.
Wasting time in the holodeck with a superficial tradition of sacred honor with a (blood) pie thrown in the face was empty padding. But not entirely; as Torres exclaims to Neelix, there's shades of Seven in there - albeit inverted - with an unconnected plot point about being away from Klingons for so long that all the customs mean more and aren't as hateful compared to when she first learned of them as a child. I suppose it's a good thing that Tom keeps acting like a pig or else she'd have nothing else to do since her favorite hobby is comparing him to a bacon butty sandwich? And he's not turned on by that like the pig he's said to be?! Dang.
Seven admits to knowing only Borg life as programmed into her by the Collective. Unlike Locutus, this does leave her in a different situation as, at least for right now, shows no signs of remorse when badgered by Torres over all sorts of things. Torres is quick to hate her, since clearly Seven was acting of her own free will and not like she was ever under duress or mind control or anything. Sheesh, can we get the Voyager crew to deal with Picard for a while and see what happens? Bloody hell, it's in the Starfleet logs how Picard was not doing anything under free will. (Didn't TNG also play into that in an episode other than "The Drumhead"?)
I did like how Seven offers herself to the aliens-of-the-week*, just before Janeway says she will not be handed over and be protected, to the species that also doesn't understand that Seven wasn't doing it of her own free will... though it's quick how they can easily put out the bare bones of a solution and everyone's quick to accept it. Even the Brady Bunch took more time with their quandary in that episode where Bobby tries to sell hair tonic that turned everyone's hair green - really, Greg was piiiiiiiiised, and it's little Cousin Oliver with his bunny collection that thinks selling bogus green bunnies to everyone is a truly superb idea.
* the first of many that VOY creates, of which many have had prior dealings with the Borg. Arcturus is arguably the best.
For being in an otherwise novel and new situation of being stranded in space in a suit, which is bleak and a couple decades before that movie from a couple years ago that pretended nobody thought of being stranded in space above contemporary Earth orbit, and no worries because they'll all be saved in the nick of time**, Torres and Paris spend way too much time trying to turn the place into a giant singles' bar as opposed to conserving their oxygen by not incessantly yammering like giddy teenagers who ditched prom early to go make some babies. (That, and unrequited love is far more intriguing and with far more ways to do it with the personalities involved than to ship people happily ever after. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz...)
** no relation to the nick of lorcano
So, watch it once or wait a decade or two between re-viewings and it'll probably keep you entertained, especially as Seven has some character conflict with the crew. But it's not a frequent go-to.
Rating: B+ (first viewing), A (for subsequent viewings where needing to get to sleep is of high priority. Otherwise: D. )
Picking up on the trust issue for shiny new Seven is promising, especially as all sorts of accidents happen and they're just that.
Wasting time in the holodeck with a superficial tradition of sacred honor with a (blood) pie thrown in the face was empty padding. But not entirely; as Torres exclaims to Neelix, there's shades of Seven in there - albeit inverted - with an unconnected plot point about being away from Klingons for so long that all the customs mean more and aren't as hateful compared to when she first learned of them as a child. I suppose it's a good thing that Tom keeps acting like a pig or else she'd have nothing else to do since her favorite hobby is comparing him to a bacon butty sandwich? And he's not turned on by that like the pig he's said to be?! Dang.
Seven admits to knowing only Borg life as programmed into her by the Collective. Unlike Locutus, this does leave her in a different situation as, at least for right now, shows no signs of remorse when badgered by Torres over all sorts of things. Torres is quick to hate her, since clearly Seven was acting of her own free will and not like she was ever under duress or mind control or anything. Sheesh, can we get the Voyager crew to deal with Picard for a while and see what happens? Bloody hell, it's in the Starfleet logs how Picard was not doing anything under free will. (Didn't TNG also play into that in an episode other than "The Drumhead"?)
I did like how Seven offers herself to the aliens-of-the-week*, just before Janeway says she will not be handed over and be protected, to the species that also doesn't understand that Seven wasn't doing it of her own free will... though it's quick how they can easily put out the bare bones of a solution and everyone's quick to accept it. Even the Brady Bunch took more time with their quandary in that episode where Bobby tries to sell hair tonic that turned everyone's hair green - really, Greg was piiiiiiiiised, and it's little Cousin Oliver with his bunny collection that thinks selling bogus green bunnies to everyone is a truly superb idea.
* the first of many that VOY creates, of which many have had prior dealings with the Borg. Arcturus is arguably the best.
For being in an otherwise novel and new situation of being stranded in space in a suit, which is bleak and a couple decades before that movie from a couple years ago that pretended nobody thought of being stranded in space above contemporary Earth orbit, and no worries because they'll all be saved in the nick of time**, Torres and Paris spend way too much time trying to turn the place into a giant singles' bar as opposed to conserving their oxygen by not incessantly yammering like giddy teenagers who ditched prom early to go make some babies. (That, and unrequited love is far more intriguing and with far more ways to do it with the personalities involved than to ship people happily ever after. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz...)
** no relation to the nick of lorcano
So, watch it once or wait a decade or two between re-viewings and it'll probably keep you entertained, especially as Seven has some character conflict with the crew. But it's not a frequent go-to.
Rating: B+ (first viewing), A (for subsequent viewings where needing to get to sleep is of high priority. Otherwise: D. )
