"Lifesigns"
In Brief: The A-Plot with the Vidian woman, Denora Pel, was great. The B-Plot with Paris was wearing out its welcome at this point. I wish these two plots were in different episodes, so this whole one could be focused on Pel.
The A-Plot: Pel's body is critical condition so, through technobabble aided by TECH already within Pel's brain, the Doctor is able to project her mind into a holographic version of herself that looks like how she would've if she hadn't been afflicted by the Phage.
I feel really bad for Pel. It's great that she gets to see what she'd look like unaffected. But I feel horrible for her that she'll have to look that way again when she goes back to her own body.
An interesting nuance is that Torres doesn't want to help Denora at all at first. She remembers what the Vidians did to her in "Faces". I don't blame her. I'd feel the same way. Then, when Pel enters the room, looking normal and healthy, Torres sees Pel as a person instead of as a monster. Because now Torres sees a person, she's willing to help. Just like was said in "Is There In Truth No Beauty?" (TOS), perceptions of ugliness are the last of human(oid) prejudices. A credit to the episode for not dragging this out and letting it only last for the one scene, which is all we need.
In her holographic state, Pel can't go anywhere besides Sickbay, except for the Holodeck. The Doctor takes Pel to Sandrine's... and I have to say that they really hit it off. Anyone who says Star Trek can't do romance is full of shit. I could really feel it with the Doctor and Pel. After they get back from Sandrine's, and it looks like they're about to kiss, I thought the Doctor should've. In the heat of the moment, I bought into it that much. Immediately afterwards, I started wondering to myself, "Yeah, but how would that work with her in Vidian Space and Voyager heading towards the Alpha Quadrant?"
The conversation between the Doctor and Kes about Pel gave an opportunity for real growth with the Doctor. Even though he wasn't programmed for romance, his adaptiveness has now allowed for it, and Kes encourages him to pursue a relationship with Pel. But then, the Doctor tells Pel -- in a matter-of-fact way -- "I feel attracted to you and I wonder if you felt the same the way?" And right in front of Kes! I can't hold it against the episode or the Doctor. He's in uncharted territory. The look on Kes' face is priceless. Her facial reaction was the same as mine. Then Pel says she thinks they should keep their relationship professional. But it's not what the Doctor said, it's how he said it and went about it.
The best use of Paris in this episode is when the Doctor asks him for advice on how to handle rejection. Then, on the other end, Kes gives advice to Pel.
It all leads to the Doctor taking Pel on a date on the Holodeck and it was very creative. Something you wouldn't see anywhere else. The Doctor with Pel in a '57 Chevy on Mars. The Doctor starts pointing out constellations. But we're not here for an Astronomy lesson. Then the Doctor and Pel kiss. The choice of a song fit as well. "I Only Have Eyes for You". Great pairing up a '50s song with a '50s car. On Mars. A very Tom Paris thing to do, but it worked like a charm. Just a great scene, and I'm glad the Director decided to just stay with it for a little bit, before cutting to the next scene. More on that soon.
Now Pel really doesn't want to go back to her body. She doesn't think the Doctor will love her anymore. And she won't be able to stand her appearance again. The Doctor says he'll still love her, and that they can be together as long as they can be. Two weeks before they reach where she was originally headed. I didn't remember that this episode ended with just them dancing. A perfect way to close out the episode. And, in fact, I think how this episode deals with Pel is the opposite how Vina was dealt with in "The Cage". Whereas in "The Cage", Pike wants Vina to be given back her illusion of beauty and she says she can't go back with them, in "Lifesigns", the Doctor is dancing with Pel at the end with no illusion and her looking as she really does.
The B-Plot: Oh, my God. This is the point where the Paris and Jonas subplots really begin to wear out their welcome. Had this been in a different episode, I'd be more forgiving, but not here. Let the main story with "Lifesigns" stand on its own! Paris shows up late again, Chakotay wants to do something about it, Paris gives him attitude, he shows up late again, Chakotay says he's relieved, they get into an altercation, and Paris is taken to the brig.
At this point, when the series was first airing, I was wondering what was going on with Paris. After I knew what was really going on, seeing what happens here feels especially cringe-worthy.
Then there's Jonas. He finds out Seska's been getting his messages after all. The groundwork for "Basics" is laid when she says she wants to kidnap Voyager because she doesn't want to raise her child on a Kazon ship. Then she tells Jonas to sabotage something, which we never get see. To be continued?
Overall: This should be a 10. The B-Plot is too intrusive, too grating, and too tonally different from the rest of the episode. If it wasn't for the Re-Watch Thread, I'd skip over those scenes. But, for completeness, I can't. So, two points off. I give this episode an 8.
In Brief: The A-Plot with the Vidian woman, Denora Pel, was great. The B-Plot with Paris was wearing out its welcome at this point. I wish these two plots were in different episodes, so this whole one could be focused on Pel.
The A-Plot: Pel's body is critical condition so, through technobabble aided by TECH already within Pel's brain, the Doctor is able to project her mind into a holographic version of herself that looks like how she would've if she hadn't been afflicted by the Phage.
I feel really bad for Pel. It's great that she gets to see what she'd look like unaffected. But I feel horrible for her that she'll have to look that way again when she goes back to her own body.
An interesting nuance is that Torres doesn't want to help Denora at all at first. She remembers what the Vidians did to her in "Faces". I don't blame her. I'd feel the same way. Then, when Pel enters the room, looking normal and healthy, Torres sees Pel as a person instead of as a monster. Because now Torres sees a person, she's willing to help. Just like was said in "Is There In Truth No Beauty?" (TOS), perceptions of ugliness are the last of human(oid) prejudices. A credit to the episode for not dragging this out and letting it only last for the one scene, which is all we need.
In her holographic state, Pel can't go anywhere besides Sickbay, except for the Holodeck. The Doctor takes Pel to Sandrine's... and I have to say that they really hit it off. Anyone who says Star Trek can't do romance is full of shit. I could really feel it with the Doctor and Pel. After they get back from Sandrine's, and it looks like they're about to kiss, I thought the Doctor should've. In the heat of the moment, I bought into it that much. Immediately afterwards, I started wondering to myself, "Yeah, but how would that work with her in Vidian Space and Voyager heading towards the Alpha Quadrant?"
The conversation between the Doctor and Kes about Pel gave an opportunity for real growth with the Doctor. Even though he wasn't programmed for romance, his adaptiveness has now allowed for it, and Kes encourages him to pursue a relationship with Pel. But then, the Doctor tells Pel -- in a matter-of-fact way -- "I feel attracted to you and I wonder if you felt the same the way?" And right in front of Kes! I can't hold it against the episode or the Doctor. He's in uncharted territory. The look on Kes' face is priceless. Her facial reaction was the same as mine. Then Pel says she thinks they should keep their relationship professional. But it's not what the Doctor said, it's how he said it and went about it.
The best use of Paris in this episode is when the Doctor asks him for advice on how to handle rejection. Then, on the other end, Kes gives advice to Pel.
It all leads to the Doctor taking Pel on a date on the Holodeck and it was very creative. Something you wouldn't see anywhere else. The Doctor with Pel in a '57 Chevy on Mars. The Doctor starts pointing out constellations. But we're not here for an Astronomy lesson. Then the Doctor and Pel kiss. The choice of a song fit as well. "I Only Have Eyes for You". Great pairing up a '50s song with a '50s car. On Mars. A very Tom Paris thing to do, but it worked like a charm. Just a great scene, and I'm glad the Director decided to just stay with it for a little bit, before cutting to the next scene. More on that soon.
Now Pel really doesn't want to go back to her body. She doesn't think the Doctor will love her anymore. And she won't be able to stand her appearance again. The Doctor says he'll still love her, and that they can be together as long as they can be. Two weeks before they reach where she was originally headed. I didn't remember that this episode ended with just them dancing. A perfect way to close out the episode. And, in fact, I think how this episode deals with Pel is the opposite how Vina was dealt with in "The Cage". Whereas in "The Cage", Pike wants Vina to be given back her illusion of beauty and she says she can't go back with them, in "Lifesigns", the Doctor is dancing with Pel at the end with no illusion and her looking as she really does.
The B-Plot: Oh, my God. This is the point where the Paris and Jonas subplots really begin to wear out their welcome. Had this been in a different episode, I'd be more forgiving, but not here. Let the main story with "Lifesigns" stand on its own! Paris shows up late again, Chakotay wants to do something about it, Paris gives him attitude, he shows up late again, Chakotay says he's relieved, they get into an altercation, and Paris is taken to the brig.
At this point, when the series was first airing, I was wondering what was going on with Paris. After I knew what was really going on, seeing what happens here feels especially cringe-worthy.
Then there's Jonas. He finds out Seska's been getting his messages after all. The groundwork for "Basics" is laid when she says she wants to kidnap Voyager because she doesn't want to raise her child on a Kazon ship. Then she tells Jonas to sabotage something, which we never get see. To be continued?
Overall: This should be a 10. The B-Plot is too intrusive, too grating, and too tonally different from the rest of the episode. If it wasn't for the Re-Watch Thread, I'd skip over those scenes. But, for completeness, I can't. So, two points off. I give this episode an 8.
