I watched Initiations recently and something that has been bothering me for many years came up again.
Did the writers screw up the end of the episode?
The story is that Chakotay is in a shuttlecraft on which he performed the Pakra, a solitary ritual for the memory of his father's death.
Now, why couldn't he do that in his quarters or at the holodeck instead is a mystery. But never mind.
Anyway, his shuttle is attacked by a Kazon shuttle. The Kazon pilot is a young boy named Kar who is attacking the shuttle in order to "win his name as a Kazon-Ogla warrior". But what happens is that he 's being captured by Chakotay.
Kar tells Chakotay that due to his failure, he will never win his Kazon-Ogla name not even in death. Obviously a devastating failure for a young Kazon.
Anyway, Chakotay is then captured bu the Kazon and he and kar are taken to the Kazon ship where Jal Razik wants Chakotay to kill Kar, obviously since he is such a failure that he doesn't deserve to live.
But Chakotay manages to escape and kar follows him, they end up at Tarok, a kazon training moon where the Kazon train their warriors.
Chakotay discusses the future with Kar but no option seems good for the young kazon who won't be accepted in some other kazon sect and he don't want to join the Voyager crew either.
But then it gets weird:
Did the writers screw up the end of the episode?
The story is that Chakotay is in a shuttlecraft on which he performed the Pakra, a solitary ritual for the memory of his father's death.
Now, why couldn't he do that in his quarters or at the holodeck instead is a mystery. But never mind.
Anyway, his shuttle is attacked by a Kazon shuttle. The Kazon pilot is a young boy named Kar who is attacking the shuttle in order to "win his name as a Kazon-Ogla warrior". But what happens is that he 's being captured by Chakotay.
Kar tells Chakotay that due to his failure, he will never win his Kazon-Ogla name not even in death. Obviously a devastating failure for a young Kazon.
Anyway, Chakotay is then captured bu the Kazon and he and kar are taken to the Kazon ship where Jal Razik wants Chakotay to kill Kar, obviously since he is such a failure that he doesn't deserve to live.
But Chakotay manages to escape and kar follows him, they end up at Tarok, a kazon training moon where the Kazon train their warriors.
Chakotay discusses the future with Kar but no option seems good for the young kazon who won't be accepted in some other kazon sect and he don't want to join the Voyager crew either.
But then it gets weird:
Chakotay figures out that the only way for Kar to "win his name" is to kill him so he discusses that option with Kar, stating that The Doctor might be able to revive him if he gets back to Voyager in time.
What happen next is that a bunch of Kazon warriors led by Razik eners the cave where Chakotay and Kar is hiding and we have the following conversation:
KAR: I've been waiting for you, Razik.
RAZIK: So, the Federation Commander is your prisoner.
KAR: I only came with him so I could have another chance to kill him.
RAZIK: So you could earn your name.
KAR: That's what I've been hoping for, Razik. But you taught me well. I know what you're going to say. You've said it so many times before. In battle, there are no second chances.
(The Voyager group enter.)
KAR: (to Chakotay) But you are not my enemy, he is.
(Kar shoots Razik.)
Then Kar turns to Jal Haliz
KAR: My name is Jal Karden, Kazon-Ogla. You are First Maje now, Haliz. My life is yours. Kill me if you wish, or let me live and I will follow you into battle whenever you command.
HALIZ: Jal Karden, Kazon-Ogla.
KAZONS: Kazon-Ogla.
KAR: The Federation does not belong here. If we meet again, I will not hesitate to kill you.
CHAKOTAY: I understand.
JANEWAY: Janeway to Voyager. Five to beam up.
A weird ending. Kar actually kills his commander, chief, warrior leader or whatever and that all of a sudden makes him accepted by the Kazon.
Is it common by Kazon to actuyally kill kill their commanders if they find it neccessary and how could such an act all of a sudden give Kar his name as a warrior?
Or did the writer realize that he had written himself into a corner where the only option was that Kar would join the Voyager crew or be killed and in order to finish the story came up with that weird scenario?
What happen next is that a bunch of Kazon warriors led by Razik eners the cave where Chakotay and Kar is hiding and we have the following conversation:
KAR: I've been waiting for you, Razik.
RAZIK: So, the Federation Commander is your prisoner.
KAR: I only came with him so I could have another chance to kill him.
RAZIK: So you could earn your name.
KAR: That's what I've been hoping for, Razik. But you taught me well. I know what you're going to say. You've said it so many times before. In battle, there are no second chances.
(The Voyager group enter.)
KAR: (to Chakotay) But you are not my enemy, he is.
(Kar shoots Razik.)
Then Kar turns to Jal Haliz
KAR: My name is Jal Karden, Kazon-Ogla. You are First Maje now, Haliz. My life is yours. Kill me if you wish, or let me live and I will follow you into battle whenever you command.
HALIZ: Jal Karden, Kazon-Ogla.
KAZONS: Kazon-Ogla.
KAR: The Federation does not belong here. If we meet again, I will not hesitate to kill you.
CHAKOTAY: I understand.
JANEWAY: Janeway to Voyager. Five to beam up.
A weird ending. Kar actually kills his commander, chief, warrior leader or whatever and that all of a sudden makes him accepted by the Kazon.
Is it common by Kazon to actuyally kill kill their commanders if they find it neccessary and how could such an act all of a sudden give Kar his name as a warrior?
Or did the writer realize that he had written himself into a corner where the only option was that Kar would join the Voyager crew or be killed and in order to finish the story came up with that weird scenario?
