There's an interesting episode trapped in the body of an awful episode here. Definitely some ideas and issues that are worth exploring but it never really comes together or results in anything memorable. Once again, Voyager demonstrates a definite sense of churning out a TNG cast off episode. There's a familiarity about it all. Bits and pieces taken from TNG eps and stuck together.
As the wide eyed innocent, Kim was probably the right choice to be the officer that gets taken but making it a Kim episode is a double edge sword. He just doesn't draw you in at all. Chakotay's spiritualism and Janeway's respect for it further clarify the differences between these two characters but it's mostly more blandness.
Ultimately, it's an extremely forgettable episode. The story isn't interesting enough, the ideas aren't engaging enough, the whole thing is a little insipid and pointless.
My least favourite season one ep.
