Underrated Trek: Tinker, Tenor, Doctor, Spy (VOY)

Welcome back to Underrated Trek, where I take a special look at Star Trek episodes that I love…which may not be the most popular or even liked by most. What, I haven’t done one of these since Halloween?? Let’s remedy that! I talked last time about how Star Trek can be scary. But it can also be light and even funny. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it misses. Today’s actually worked! This is


:

 This episode should have been so stupid, and yet the silliness works! This episode was fun to film, write, perform, and of course watch.  Let’s take a look:

Plot Summary:

The Doctor has begun playing with his subroutines and has given himself the ability to daydream. While he does this, an alien vessel out of detecting from Voyager is monitoring the dreams.



One alien named Phlox thinks the dreams are real, and when one dream has The Doctor save the ship from a Borg attack the alien leader, called the Hierarchy, determined Voyager to be dangerous and destroyed. Meanwhile the tampering makes The Doctor’s daydreams go out of control.



The alien soon discovers his mistake but to late to say anything or else he will be reprimanded. So to help Voyager he contacts The Doctor via a dream and explains the ruse they need to prevent the attack. Janeway allows the deception and The Doctor succeeds in scaring the aliens away.

Guest Stars:

Phlox (not the Enterprise one) is played by the late Jay Leggett and he really makes this role work, he feels like a real person (alien?) and you feel for this guy.

Episode Pro’s:



Obviously this whole episode works thanks to one person, and that’s Robert Picardo. He manages to make The Doctor so much fun that we don’t get tired of these daydreams. He’s also good when he’s ashamed in that scene after his daydreams have become public.



It’s always fun to see our actors get to be silly and break character. Though it’s really only he women who get to have a little fun. But unlike other episodes like this the dreams never get to crazy. It’s still the characters we know which is maybe why the episode works. Unlike, say, “Hollow Pursuits” where the crew were demeaned in the fantasies (which was the point) or “Our Man Bashir” where they aren’t the characters we know at all.



There are some small moments which are cute too. I love the reactions when they see the Doctor painting a nude Seven. The best though is the computer. Yep, Majel Barrett drops her computer tone for a line during a daydream and it’s so hysterical herring her normal voice. And Janeway’s reactions during the final climax are really funny, she conveys all we need without a line!



The daydream’s are clever, most notably the one where The Doctor saves the ship from The Borg. Who hasn’t had that daydream?

Episode Con’s:



It’s hard to criticize the daydreams because they’re just that, dreams. They can be hand waved away because they’re supposed to be silly. But the dream where all the female’s are coming on to The Doctor is a bit much. Why is he horny?? And taht one scene where The Doctor is having a heart to heart with B’elana makes no sense to me.



A plot point of the epispde is The Doctor sending a grievance letter to Janeway regarding his treatment by the crew. This feels like an early season issue and out of place at this point in the series.



The Hierarchy is an interesting concept but not explored very well. Are they just asking a computer or are there actual eyes seeing the reports and commenting on them? It’d be fine if he we learned at some point but we never do. They do appear again but don’t feel like watching that pretty weak episode to find out.



And the ending where everyone applauds The Doctor is a little forced, NOW Janeway sees his worth and wants to consider his feelings? Why didn’t she do it before she discovered his daydreams? Though Seven’s final line about not posing for him was great!

Fast Foward Moment:

The teaser is pretty pointless really, it’s just a daydream where The Doctor is doing an aria when Tuvok freaks out and has to be sedated. Cute moment but, again, pointless. There is also a lot of talk about an away mission The Doctor wasn’t invited on, which is forgotten half way through the episode and never mentioned again.

Final Thoughts:

As someone who did he fair share of daydreaming, more than fair share actually, I can certainly relate to what The Doctor feels in the episode. While daydreaming is fun it is important not to get to carried away with them.

There are lots of episodes out there I didn’t like when I first saw them but grew to appreciate after re-watching them and learning about them. “Inner Light” is a prime example, “Lower Decks” and “The Empath” also come to mind. But there is another that I HATED when I first saw it, but it keeps showing up on best episodes lists! Was I to harsh? Every so often I like to give something I hated a second chance and I think it’s time to take a second look at this episode, stay tuned.