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. We all know about pilot episodes, but sometimes you need a few extra episodes to really get the status quo. Today’s episode is a quintessential “second pilot”. But does that mean it’s good?
The second episode of Voyager aimed high. Did it hit or miss?
Plot Synopsis:
While tensions on the ship run high, Voyager receives a distress call from a ship apparently caught in a singularity. But all attempts to contact the ship fail.
Neelix finds his place as chef and Kes builds the airponics bay. Paris does double duty as Conn Officer and Field Medic. Chakotay recommends Torres for Chief Engineer, but Janeway isn't convinced she can exhibit the professionalism of a Starfleet officer. They then realize the vessel they are trying to rescue is Voyager itself.
Janeway is convinced when Torres is able to figure out that the ship they found in the singularity was themselves. Her plan works the ship is saved and Torres is officially chief engineer.
Guest Stars:
A few characters debut here who become recurring including Lt Kerry and Martha Hackett as Seska.
Episode pros
It is nice to see the characters starting to gel. They still haven’t quite become the group they would become but the seeds are there. Of course they weren’t supposed to gel there was supposed to be constant conflict-but we know how that worked out.
Janeway and Torres have great scenes together I almost wish we had seen more over the years. And yeah the singularity plot is nothing major, it’s just a lot of technobabble which would become a signature of the series.
Episode Cons:
Neelix proves he’s useless right off the bat by barging into a meeting he wasn’t invited to then offering nothing. At least Kes had a good idea.
When the show first premiered it was supposed to edgy and full of fast paced action given the premise. And we see hints of that in the overblown opening about Torres having a fight with Kerry. The over the top camera angles, unnecessary blood, and even talk of the Maquis mutiny are all things which would quietly go away.
We also in this in the over the top action scenes where the camera shaking is crazy. It wouldn’t last. Another thing that wouldn’t last is Chakotay bickering with Janeway. Though he’s right when he says if Janeway is going to integrate the crew she has to give them some responsibility.
And while I get the idea was to show Kerry was not as good as Torres there are moments he almost seems incompetent. This was Janeway chief of Engineering?? This was also early on when Kate Mulgrew was talking weird like she was afraid to talk naturally. Something that improved thankfully.
Fast Forward Moment:
The stupid gag with the doctor shrinking was lame. I guess they had no idea what to do with to besides be a joke. Hard to believe he would evolve into one of the best characters in the show.
Final Thoughts: I like this episode though and I accept the weak plot because the point wasn’t the story but getting the status quo in place. Which it does. Not bad as far second episodes go. At least it wasn’t “The Naked Now”.
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