Star Trek
Since a Nitpicker's Guide has already been released for Deep Space Nine, I figure that commenting on Voyager will be somewhat more interesting.
These are generally my brother's comments with my 2 cents worth thrown-in. This page may serve as a forum of general discussion on episodes so please do not hesitate to e-mail me at 'ryyc@yahoo.com' with any of your own comments or responses to these comments. Thanks.
Synopsis - Lieutenant Paris breaks the Warp 10 barrier with an experimental transwarp drive but then later suffers dramatic mutations.
Richard's 2 Cents - I could shallow the mutation bit but the reversion back to normal humanoid form by Janeway and Paris is another thing. Why should it be possible to drastically transform a living being simply by bombardment with radiation? Then again, even if taking this, is it not then possible to send someone back to the Alpha Quadrant back in one of these transwarp shuttles to inform Starfleet about Voyager's dilemma? The messenger in the shuttle can then simply be bombarded by radiation to revert back to normal whilst the entire resources of Starfleet works on the transwarp problem. Inevitably, they can even prepare a 100-odd reversion radiation chambers to treat the entire crew of Voyager if the ship enters transwarp back to the Federation!
Synopsis - An alien race examines the past association with ancient Earth and captures Voyager as proof.
Richard's 2 Cents - After all the unintentional trouble caused to Voyager by the alien scientist, surely he could have some foresight to help the crew on their plight by providing transwarp technology? Seems Voyager missed out on multiple opportunities simply because the writers choose them to remain stranded!
Synopsis - The crew of Voyager are gradually being teleported away and replaced by the Niryans who eventually take over the ship.
Richard's 2 Cents - I find it hard to swallow that the Niryans super-transporters are able to teleport and abduct people through shields and all, although it does make an interesting show. The Vulcan Nerve Pinch - have not seen this one much since TOS. The way it seems to be able neutralise any alien species with a mere disruption of certain nerves seems unrealistic as all aliens could not possibly have the same physiology to be susceptible in the same places. Perhaps I could theorise that as Vulcans possess telepathic abilities, the nerve pinch is in fact a form of psychic attack with neutralises opponents. Then again, this would contradict Data being able to execute the nerve pinch (Redemption, Part 2).
Synopsis - Voyager enters Borg space and discovers the Borg under fire by an equally malicious species from another dimension. Janeway is then forced to decide whether to work with the Borg against this new threat or turn back.
Richard's 2 cents - One wonders why the Borg is having trouble assimilating the Federation. In this episode, we are shown an entire armada of Borg cubes attacking Species 8472. After 2 failed attempts against the Federation, one would expect them to send just such a fleet and the entire Starfleet will not be able to withstand them. Perhaps we can expect something like this after 2 failed attempts at sending solo-cubes.
The Borg have often been seen to adapt to weapons fire (e.g. starship phasors and photon torpedoes). How is it then that they cannot defend against those energy beams of the bio-ships? Even Voyager was able to hold its shields against one blast whilst the Borg cubes were whacked with explosions and bits blown away. The convenient explanation is that they could not assimilate Species 8472 and so could not adapt. But then this contradicts how they have been able to do so against weapons of all other species before they are able to assimilate their technological and biological attributes.
Do those alien bio-ships of Species 8472 travel between the stars through interdimensional portals? There was no indication that they had warp capability and seem to emerge out of subspace rifts in most appearances. Despite these loopholes, the show is great viewing with awesome special effects and an interesting Borg plot we have been waiting for.
Richard’s Score - 8/10; Cool seeing the Borg vaporised almost effortlessly by Species 8472!
Synopsis - The crew of Voyager work with the Borg to defeat a predatory alien species.
Comments - Do Borg age? Apparently 7 of 9 grows from a young girl to a woman while being Borg. My impression was that once assimilated, Borg become more android that organic and hence should live on indefinitely, or at least much longer than normal life expectancy. (A similar case may be observed in Star Trek : First Contact, where Earth had billions of Borg through an alternate time line. Were these Borg the same as those assimilated during Cochrane’s time, or the result of biological reproduction!? Is the latter even possible? Population levels seem to indicate yes.) Another thing, 7 of 9 in some instances reminds me of Locutus, who was speaker for the Borg. Most Borg are observed to be passive automatons, but 7 of 9 behaves more individual-like. Hence she does not fit into one’s perception of Borg. Then again, she needs to be such to become a regular cast.
Critic’s Score - 8/10; Generally well done, especially in special effects. Plot a bit flawed.
Richard's 2 cents - In an early TNG episode (Q-Who), some Enterprise crew members boarded a Borg ship after damaging it and found several apparently humanoid infants. They suggest that the Borg are born normal and then later 'assimilated' with cybernetic enhancements. This would suggest that Borg do grow. Hence, if we see Hugh now, he may be taller than Picard!
Synopsis - Kes’ powers evolve to precarious levels and she has to leave to save Voyager.
Comments - So Kes just leaves like that? No tearful farewells a la Tasha Yar? The one with Janeway was touching, but then the rest of the crew appear quite indifferent. Of course it came at a critical time, but one would have expected some emotional reaction. (Even Wesley’s departure was more poignant, despite his potential recurring role.) So what happened to Kes? Did she perish, or become a being like the Traveler? All her departure shows is that she vanished together with the shuttle. (Incidentally, how many shuttles does Voyager have? They appear to lose at least one each season.) They could at least have gone for the ball of light thing, as seen in the departure of several evolved aliens in "The Next Generation". Finally, will there be any chance for her to reappear in the series? That would assume that she is still alive, and able to catch up with Voyager 10 light years away.
Critic’s Score - 7/10; Well paced for the scenes with Kes, but not for those with 7 of 9.
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Last updated: 28th April 1998
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