Kes returns to Voyager on a mission to seek revenge for what she sees as her corruption by the crew.
In comparison to many of the recent episodes of Voyager, this story is actually pretty good. On the other hand, that doesn’t mean it’s brilliant. You see, this is a time travel story, with all the tricksiness these kinds of thing bring. The basic idea is pretty good and is no doubt an attempt to show that Jennifer Lien’s leaving was entirely amicable through her character’s annoyance at being abandoned.
Once on board Voyager, there’s a great special effects sequence as Kes totals the area surrounding her, followed by her gaining power from the warp core, killing B’Elanna to do so. Naturally, this means everything will have to be undone at some point, but what’s difficult to believe is that the sweet, demure Kes could turn into such a vicious, unpleasant killer. Clearly she only has to jolt B’Elanna, not kill her.
One of the things this episode delivers in spades, however, is action, an aspect that’s been all but abandoned in favour of lightweight character pieces that have failed to come off. There are some great battle sequences with a real sense of foreboding, and it’s almost as if going back to the season one timeframe has enabled the cast to pretend they’re enjoying themselves again. The arrival and subsequent attack by the Vidiians is as much danger as the ship has ever been in.
If you can believe the change in Kes and cope with the obligatory paradox at the end of it all, you may well really enjoy this episode. There are even some nice continuity nods that make the fan feel that this is a familiar setting. Unfortunately, there are also a lot of problems. Janeway says Kes travelled back in time three years ago meaning shortly after leaving Voyager (impossible) and Tuvok experiences visions of the future that let Janeway know something is wrong, although there is no explanation as to how Tuvok is getting these visions or why. There is also no explanation as to why Kes is giving the Voyager to the Vidiians on a plate. If she wants to get revenge, why doesn’t she do it herself? Surely she should have enough compassion left in her to grant the crew a quick death, not a lingering and unpleasant one as organ banks for the alien race?
It’s an interesting conceit, but it simply doesn’t stand up to close scrutiny. The only thing it allows is for the crew to say a proper goodbye to Kes rather than the previously brief one.
***
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