Repentance

[hux]

This is an odd episode for me. On the one hand, there is an interesting, liberal exploration of the nature of criminality in the shape of Iko. This guy is presented as a real piece of scum (when he mentions the names of Yediq's children as a threat, I genuinely felt Yediq's anger was justified, even when they began beating the crap out of him).

Lo and behold, Sevens miracle nanobots can even cure being a dick. He is transformed into someone who now feels remorse for his crimes. His whole personality is changed.

Now while on the one hand, the episode seems to advocate an anti-free will, deterministic explanation of an individuals behaviour, this narrative is slightly undermined for me by the Neelix B-story.

Joleg recounts his adventures to Neelix and explains the discrimination faced by Benkarans. It seems entirely clear at this point that Benkarans are analogous to black people in the way they are disproportionately judged and punished.

NEELIX: They (Benkarans) occupy just ten percent of Nygean space, but take up nearly eighty percent of the space in Nygean prisons.
PARIS: Maybe they commit more crimes.

They really push this analogy throughout the episode but then at the end, Joleg turns out to be manipulating Neelix and....oh, he is a criminal after all. I don't know why but this didn't sit well with me. They've essentially made Joleg a black man who is unfairly treated by a society that is dominated by Nygeans (whites) then said.....actually, he totally is a criminal.

I find the whole episode a bit mixed up in regards to what it's trying to say about criminal behaviour. It's an episode I go back to quite a lot though.


.....oh and it's also nice to see Lt. Andrews get a line.

 

[Catarina]

I don't know. Jaded from the whole, my sister's murderer felt no remorse thing, last month. I say no, because execution is too easy. If he's enlightened, he should use his time to work with other prisoners but not get out. it s the price you pay I guess. bad choice.