The most typical Voyage

[Nebusj]

I've been too negative lately so I want to do something to make amends. So I'd like to ask what I hope is a reasonably interesting question.

What are the most typical episodes of Voyager? I don't mean the great episodes, and I don't mean the mind-bogglingly awful ones, and I don't mean the ones so bad they achieve greatness, or so charming you don't care if they have any flaws. I mean the episodes that come closest to capturing the whole series -- its strengths and weaknesses, its triumph and its missed potential -- as concisely as possible.

 

[DarthTom]

Some of the best episodes of Voyager IMHO are the ones that take current events [or at the time 1990's current events] and transform them into Voyager problems.

Last night's episode, Lost Origin, is a great example. It's the episode where these group of humanoid dinosaurs are found to have a genetic link to Earth and search for Voyager because they're also in the Delta Quadrant for proof.

It parallels eloquently, our modern day debate about Evolution and about how religion can sometimes hinder scientific advancement.

 

[Michael]

It parallels eloquently, our modern day debate about Evolution and about how religion can sometimes hinder scientific advancement.

Often, I'd say.

 

[AuntKate]

I agree that the best Voyager episodes were the ones that addressed current events indirectly. "Deathwish" is an example of that in its discussion of assisted (or at least permissive) suicide and, oddly, a fun Q episode, too. "Critical Care" is a rather obvious dig at the U.S.'s crazy health care situation, especially the HBO phenomena. So many others are good: "Living Witness" (revisioning history), "The Thaw" (facing fear), "Sacred Ground" (religion versus science), "Nemesis" (the danger of brainwashing), "Latent Image" (dealing with debilitating memories), "Virtuoso" (the affects of fame), I could go on and on.

The stories that explore their situation are also good. The best is "Year of Yell," IMHO. However, "Resistance" is another good example, especially since most of the cast get a nice chunk of air time, and "The Void" shows how the Federation's principles continue to be the best solution for their survival.

That should give you a few to consider.

 

[KJM]

This thread is about the most typical episodes, NOT the best.

 

[TimelessTrek]

The most TYPICAL Voyager episodes but they have to emcompass what the series is about as a WHOLE also? That's tough, thanks a lot!

Hmmm...I was watching Parturition the other night and it pretty much sums up what Voyager was about:

1) A brief reference to an intimate relationship between crew members
2) Jokes about Neelix's cooking
3) Showing how annoying Neelix is and how the crew deals with it
4) Give Mr. Paris a chance to shine on screen
5) Crashing a #$%^ing Shuttlecraft
6) Encountering a strange weather pattern and/or alien
7) Putting aside differences by working together to save the day
8] Getting back on the ship as if nothing happened
9) Heading towards Earth


That's pretty typical!