Retro Review: Meld
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There some fun to be had in this one. Suder is a fantastic character and it's a shame we didn't see more of him prior to his criminal activities. Speaking of which, I find it hard to believe he could have resisted his murderous tendencies as long as he did. Surely there were plenty of good opportunities earlier than this to kill people without being held accountable. I suspect there may have been a few occasions where the possibility made itself available.
And would it have been so hard to give Darwin an episode or two before "Meld" to provide some background and an opportunity for us to give a shit about him? It would have been nice.
I also like the B story and Tom's betting syndicate; the first time I ever watched Voyager, I genuinely wondered where the hell they were going with it. It seemed painfully incongruent and I wonder if that was part of the reason the writers got cold feet regarding ongoing subplots. Tom's behaviour just seems bizarre. On re-watches, it makes more sense and I'm glad it's there. I appreciate season two so much more, specifically because of the Seska arc and the plan to flush out the spy by making Tom behave like a dick towards Chakotay.
As you say in the review, the doctor's (or more precisely the writer's) attitude to mental health issues isn't exactly brilliant. Apparently, the "Maquis type" is just prone to violence and Suder isn't psychotic because it would have shown up on his genetic scan? Star Trek has never been brilliant with mental health and seems to prefer to just magic them away with technology like so many physical illnesses yet they also contradict this when it suits them (such as this episode) and give a character a mental illness that isn't explained, treatable or fully explored.
If I recall correctly, the doctor's (or is it the writer's) attitude improves in the episode "Repentence" with the prisoner Iko's story. Though again, it's dismissed with technology and the violent Iko is fixed by magic nano-probes. At this point in Voyager, pretty much everything is solved with nano-probes.
The episode gives Tim Russ something to get his teeth into. The ongoing irritation of Neelix, grating on him and imposing his over-bearing chirpiness onto his life leads to one of the greatest ever moments in Voyager. The Tuvok strangling Neelix fantasy scene. It felt so good to watch.
There's also some gold in their conversation in the mess hall. We learn about The Rumarie.
Sounds like a good night out to me.
And would it have been so hard to give Darwin an episode or two before "Meld" to provide some background and an opportunity for us to give a shit about him? It would have been nice.
I also like the B story and Tom's betting syndicate; the first time I ever watched Voyager, I genuinely wondered where the hell they were going with it. It seemed painfully incongruent and I wonder if that was part of the reason the writers got cold feet regarding ongoing subplots. Tom's behaviour just seems bizarre. On re-watches, it makes more sense and I'm glad it's there. I appreciate season two so much more, specifically because of the Seska arc and the plan to flush out the spy by making Tom behave like a dick towards Chakotay.
As you say in the review, the doctor's (or more precisely the writer's) attitude to mental health issues isn't exactly brilliant. Apparently, the "Maquis type" is just prone to violence and Suder isn't psychotic because it would have shown up on his genetic scan? Star Trek has never been brilliant with mental health and seems to prefer to just magic them away with technology like so many physical illnesses yet they also contradict this when it suits them (such as this episode) and give a character a mental illness that isn't explained, treatable or fully explored.
If I recall correctly, the doctor's (or is it the writer's) attitude improves in the episode "Repentence" with the prisoner Iko's story. Though again, it's dismissed with technology and the violent Iko is fixed by magic nano-probes. At this point in Voyager, pretty much everything is solved with nano-probes.
The episode gives Tim Russ something to get his teeth into. The ongoing irritation of Neelix, grating on him and imposing his over-bearing chirpiness onto his life leads to one of the greatest ever moments in Voyager. The Tuvok strangling Neelix fantasy scene. It felt so good to watch.
There's also some gold in their conversation in the mess hall. We learn about The Rumarie.
Sounds like a good night out to me.
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Brad Dourif played a great character. Suder was one of the more memorable temporary characters from the early seasons.
I like seeing the 'dark side' of Vulcans. We always 'hear' about how extremely violent their emotions are but we rarely 'see' it.
The whole 'Paris' thing seemed so out of left field and its one of the few 'arcs' that is better on the rewatch after you realize what is happening.
I like seeing the 'dark side' of Vulcans. We always 'hear' about how extremely violent their emotions are but we rarely 'see' it.
The whole 'Paris' thing seemed so out of left field and its one of the few 'arcs' that is better on the rewatch after you realize what is happening.
I liked a lot about this episode, particularly Brad Dourif. If you liked this, watch Babylon 5's Season 3 episode "Passing Through Gethsemene" to see Brad Dourif play a psychotic murderer in a very different way.
I thought that this was an excellent episode for Tuvok. It would have been more interesting though if this event continued to haunt him more for the rest of the series.
One thing about this episode though, and it's part of a more ongoing thing, but it seemed (in Season 2 particularly) that the entire engineering crew was Maquis. I wish that they had made Mr Hogan part of the Starfleet crew.
I thought that this was an excellent episode for Tuvok. It would have been more interesting though if this event continued to haunt him more for the rest of the series.
One thing about this episode though, and it's part of a more ongoing thing, but it seemed (in Season 2 particularly) that the entire engineering crew was Maquis. I wish that they had made Mr Hogan part of the Starfleet crew.
I can't immediately think of many other examples of what you're referring to here, but if is definitely buttressed in Extreme Risk.
Although in this instance, we can't attribute the lack of real engagement in B'Elanna's serious condition to the Doctor, it is more than a little disappointing that the writers didn't choose to proceed with any real treatment programme or even the suggestion of a consequence of this explicit exposure of her mindset needing to be addressed going forward. It pretty much seemed to be the equivalent of take an aspirin, without even the call me in the morning, and get back to work. All the revelatory exposition which was actually fascinating, IMO, was, even if not reset exactly, made to seem that it would just take care of itself somehow, Chakotay's throwaway line about figuring it out together notwithstanding.
Back to Meld, while I don't share your vicarious pleasure in Neelix's punishment, one sequence that was powerful and has not been mentioned as of yet, is Tuvok's calling out of Janeway in Sickbay. The menace, not to mention outright contempt, that he expressed towards her was powerful and compelling. Something else that occurs to me about it is that in his altered state of mind, he may very well be voicing actual reservations, if not disagreements that he has come to hold about Janeway's decision making process. The fact that the context of his vitriol revolves around Suder and is so overwhelming may make such a connection a little harder to discern, but I think that is is a valid
supposition to contemplate.
Extreme Risk is a frustrating episode. There is so much about it that is good but it felt unfinished to me. I realize there were time constraints and they couldn't show B'Elanna having a heart to heart with everyone she needed to but I always felt there should be something MORE to it than her smiling at her pancakes.
Same goes for the episode Memorial. PTSD is serious and the whole issue felt unresolved.
Extreme Risk is awful. It's essentially... B'Elanna becomes depressed, the crew discover this, the end... as though discovering the presence of a mental health issue is simultaneasuly the cure for it.
If you're going to utilise the "mentally unwell" character then you probably should explore the issue beyond "it was discovered and therefore fixed."
If you're going to utilise the "mentally unwell" character then you probably should explore the issue beyond "it was discovered and therefore fixed."
Yes, finally, it's especially disappointing because if not even for B'Elanna's specific benefit, it would be very interesting to see some further evidence of what mental health treatment is like in this day and age. Obviously, there are likely very advanced, pinpointed medications available that have the promise of faster results, but what role does talk therapy still play? Are there other modalities in use that for us, aren't even in a gleam in some psychiatrist's great-grandchild's eye? Frustrating.
Just out of curiosity Hux, what was your impression of Tim Russ's performance during that sickbay scene I mentioned?
Just out of curiosity Hux, what was your impression of Tim Russ's performance during that sickbay scene I mentioned?
Tim Russ has the hardest job on Voyager. Playing a character that doesn't express emotions whilst simultaneously being an actor who must express emotions through that character is not easy. He does an excellent job. Scenes like the one in sickbay are so good because he rarely gets to have as much fun as he does here. You can see how much he's enjoying it (Riddles also gave him a chance to be let of the leash).
As for the sickbay scene (and the one leading up to it in his quarters) there's no doubt that Tuvok has concerns about Janeway's abilities as a leader. There's no doubt that Chakotay also has concerns. Hell, even the doctor says (when he thinks he's about to face oblivion) in Rainassance Man that...
In Night, Tuvok tries to deconstruct Janeway's problem as a leader and concludes that it's simply an issue of being "unorthodox." Personally, I choose to take this to be a thinly veiled euphemism for "emotionally erratic."
As for the sickbay scene (and the one leading up to it in his quarters) there's no doubt that Tuvok has concerns about Janeway's abilities as a leader. There's no doubt that Chakotay also has concerns. Hell, even the doctor says (when he thinks he's about to face oblivion) in Rainassance Man that...
In Night, Tuvok tries to deconstruct Janeway's problem as a leader and concludes that it's simply an issue of being "unorthodox." Personally, I choose to take this to be a thinly veiled euphemism for "emotionally erratic."
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