Voyager again, for the first time

[NightJim]

So I have a question, we all know that the original Resolutions script was supposed to include a kiss between J/C. I have part of the original script but only up until that kiss. I wanna know what they planned to happen for the rest of the episode until Voyager comes back...does anybody know? Was it any different from what we have actually seen? Was it more intimate?

Also can we talk about Hunters and Workforce yet? Or are we not there yet?? I dont wanna spoil it for those who watch it the first time...

I think it was left open so the viewer can make up their own mind. But I'd like a short story with Tuvok as Captain, something that came up with those two missing from the ship. Same with one during the two months(?) Tuvix was onboard. It'd be cool to see life on board with crew changes.

It also seems that the Who breaks aren't going to be as all encompassing as I thought. Since I'm watching with a group of people we have to be strict about how many episodes we watch so no one gets ahead (I sort of already have). S:

Flashback

This is one of the episodes I actually started this whole thing for. I'd never seen it, and a flashback to the movie era and Tuvok's place there was an intruiging one. I'd always assumed it came a lot later since I more or less watched Seasons 1-4 when they first aired. Turns out I missed the start of Season 3. I also had no idea it was based during Undiscovered Country. Seems my recent rewatch of the films was well timed, and what's more, I'm going to be reading Captain's Daughter next too.

Anyway, I liked it. It didn't go as in detail as I'd expected, but I've had nearly fifteen years to build up how big an episode it was. Nothing ground shaking, and the whole 'virus' was a bit too sci-fi nonsense excuse to have the flashback. I think I'd have preferred something a bit deeper than that.

Also a nice timely appearance of Kang aka Michael Ansara too.

 

[Melakon]

They did a good job with Excelsior's bridge, even though it was a rush job to recreate it in a week.

 

[R. Star]

Really the weakness of Flashback as opposed to it's anniversary counterpart Trials and Tribbleations is the plot. The virus bit is just weak and it really ends up being a Janeway/Tuvok story with the Excelsior in the backdrop. T&T had the whole crew involved in some aspect of the story. The filling in the scenes during TUC was nice and it was good to see Sulu, Rand and Kang all again, but yeah it doesn't live up to the hype. Though every time I see Valtaine in TUC I can't help but laugh.

 

[Lipton]

Hey, NightJim. Looks like The Chute is next for you. Can't wait to hear what you think of that

 

[NightJim]

Oh now I'm worried.

 

[R. Star]

You will be. -sinister voice- You.... will... be...

 

[KaraBear]

I thought The Chute was a good episode

 

[Katie O'Clare]

I did not...lol its on my list of voyagers worst episodes

 

[NightJim]

well the Chute.

First of all, I'm not sure I saw a lot of the start of Season 3 when it was first on, because this is the second episode in a row that I have absolutely no memory of.

Not that I think The Chute would stick in one's mind anyway. It feels like a retread of about 3 other episodes from Voyager's first two seasons. Locking the Voyager crew up on some crazy misunderstanding is becoming a bit of a tried trope.

Also the complete lack of exploring what is wrong with the alien culture. It's looked at sideways and never addressed, which just seems lazy. I did like Janeway's refusal to speak to the two 'terrorists' on first capture, but after the Ambassador says they won't release Paris and Kim anyway I expected a conversation.

It feels like a very rushed episode to meets the number of shows they have to make.

 

[NightJim]

The Swarm

God Damn Picardo is good, Voyager really won't let you forget that. Not only does he do a fantastic job of playing the EMH losing his mind but a second Diagnostic program that is a bit like the original Doctor taken to Nth degree. Brilliant.

Which I'm not so sure of for this week's aliens. If this is an introduction to a ongoing bad guy it's good, but I get the feeling this is a one time appearance, in which case they're massively undersold. The most handwavey I can get with it, is that Voyager's not going to stick around and figure out the problem when they're trying to get home. Which at least stands with Janeway's 'screw the regs, we're going through' It was rather nice for her to make that decision rather than not adding over a year to the journey.

It's also the start of the Torres/Paris pairing, maybe. Maybe it's a hind sight thing, or maybe it is actually them preparing us for what's coming. What was certainly a hindsight thing was back in Faces, I think there was a little of the chemistry there, or at least one of them being interested/caring for the other.

Oh, and I really liked the aliens shooting Paris during the whole "I'm Lt Tom Paris of the Federation Starship Voyager." Nice to get someone who can't be bothered listening to it.


False Profits
Hey, TNG tie in! and I remember this episode from the original airing. Been awhile since I had one of them.

And WOW Janeway actually sends Chakotay to lead an Away Mission, she obviously must have thought it was a boring one, despite the mystery of the replicator. Bizarrely, he has his sacred tattoo removed without so much of a mention, not just once either, but twice. Seems a little at odds with what we know of him.

Another good Janeway moment when Tuvok questions getting involved with the Ferengi. She seems to have started accepting that following Starfleet Regs this far from Federation space might not be in the best interest of the crew.

Fun little episode and the first missed shortcut home. I remember these way more frequent then they were. Been a while since we had a shuttle wreck as well.

 

[NightJim]

Remember

A lovely "if The Nazi won WW2 with regards to the Jews" allegory. I can't decide if the show handled the subject well or dodged it by showing the problem then moving on. Anyway...

I love B'elanna's initial reaction to the dreams, which is basically, "well we have a bunch of telepaths on board, and I'm now having incredibly vivid sex dreams, but the only downside is I'm sleeping in a little, so HEY FREE PORN!" Though her out and out telling Chakotay "I'm late for work cos of sex dreams" is a little weird, even though the show does a great job of portraying their friendship, especially his little aside to Neelix during the reception.

I think that's the odd thing about Voyager, sometimes it portrays these relationships really well, then others it's like they've been totally forgotten. There's a good Janeway/Tuvok moment of "when was the last time I surprised you" too, although actually the last two episodes both had Janeway doing the opposite of what Tuvok thought.

Excellent performance by Dawson it had to be said.

 

[KaraBear]

Remember

A lovely "if The Nazi won WW2 with regards to the Jews" allegory. I can't decide if the show handled the subject well or dodged it by showing the problem then moving on. Anyway...

I love B'elanna's initial reaction to the dreams, which is basically, "well we have a bunch of telepaths on board, and I'm now having incredibly vivid sex dreams, but the only downside is I'm sleeping in a little, so HEY FREE PORN!" Though her out and out telling Chakotay "I'm late for work cos of sex dreams" is a little weird, even though the show does a great job of portraying their friendship, especially his little aside to Neelix during the reception.

I think that's the odd thing about Voyager, sometimes it portrays these relationships really well, then others it's like they've been totally forgotten. There's a good Janeway/Tuvok moment of "when was the last time I surprised you" too, although actually the last two episodes both had Janeway doing the opposite of what Tuvok thought.

Excellent performance by Dawson it had to be said.

I think that's something that happens when you have different people writing episodes. someone plays up a friendship, someone ignores it. But I think their friendship was shown well here.

 

[NightJim]

Sacred Ground

I don't really have much to say about this one... didn't really do much of anything.

But Future's End next, I kinda remember that one and quite looking forward to it.

 

[NightJim]

Future's End

Not the episode I thought, but I really enjoyed it. Part 2 was actually the episode I discovered I'd missed the start of Season 3, I remember seeing them in modern day and being bemused how that worked because the Eugenics War was meant to be raging. This time that didn't bother me, mainly because I know Greg Cos explains that with his books, a series I have down as one I really need to pick up at some point, as well as Christopher Bennett's Department of Temporal Investigations, which this show could be a prime candidate for a book.

Everyone in the crew got some good time on this, except maybe Neelix, though Harry giving him busy work watching TV was a good touch, and came in useful. I felt it was good use of a character who doesn't have a proper job during an emergency like this.

Did they really just leave old Braxton there?

 

[Melakon]

Best line--

Rain: Who are you, and what's that thing in your pants?

 

[NightJim]

Tuvok's response is pretty good too.

 

[Melakon]

The cast apparently had a lot of fun getting out of the studio and wearing regular clothes for a change.

I almost included Tuvok's reply, because Rain really does the setup and Tuvok actually has the punchline.

 

[NightJim]

I can believe it, it was one of the most fun episodes in a while. After Basics fluffed the landing I'll admit I was a little hesitant about another two parter. Future's End did it well, the only thing that seemed a little odd was the shuttle crash and the survivalists. It was incredibly underdeveloped side plot, especially with the ATF turning up outside and never really being addressed except for an unseen firefight.

 

[KaraBear]

Future's End

Not the episode I thought, but I really enjoyed it. Part 2 was actually the episode I discovered I'd missed the start of Season 3, I remember seeing them in modern day and being bemused how that worked because the Eugenics War was meant to be raging. This time that didn't bother me, mainly because I know Greg Cos explains that with his books, a series I have down as one I really need to pick up at some point, as well as Christopher Bennett's Department of Temporal Investigations, which this show could be a prime candidate for a book.

Everyone in the crew got some good time on this, except maybe Neelix, though Harry giving him busy work watching TV was a good touch, and came in useful. I felt it was good use of a character who doesn't have a proper job during an emergency like this.

Did they really just leave old Braxton there?

I love when they're watching TV and Neelix gets all into the Soap Opera

 

[NightJim]

Not a bad episode. I was starting to get the impression I just didn't like the standard stories Voyager was trotting out, but this one showed me otherwise. This one actually worked quite well. Good Kes episode helped by Lien's ability to play two totally different characters, even if they did go a bit Mirror Universe Kira with her. It helped that the episode was from the perspective of the bad guys, so they came across as proper characters with lots of political intrigue going on.

Now a minor point, but one I really like and feel I should highlight. Tom and Harry wearing civvies on the bridge. I've seen a few times where they just ignore that the crew members were off duty when an alarm goes off and suddenly they're on the bridge in full uniform. I didn't mention it before but I had a similar thought in Remember when the senior staff are at the diplomatic reception in civvies. It just makes Voyager feel that much more like a living ship, especially one that the crew are basically trapped aboard. I watching it now it really bugs me that it's extremely rare for them to take the uniform off. Why do they still look like they're on duty for scenes at the French bar that Paris ran on the holodeck for instance?