3-7. Sacred Ground.

Janeway goes on a vision quest.
I thought that was Chakotay's job...

THE PLOT

While taking shore leave on the homeworld of the highly spiritual Nechani, Kes approaches a religious shrine - only to be struck comatose by an energy field. The Nechani express their sympathies, but state that Kes has been punished by the spirits for commiting sacrilege and that she will die.

Janeway refuses to accept this answer. When Neelix turns up an old story about a king who was able to save his son in a similar situation by going through a cleansing ritual, she seizes upon it and asks that she be allowed to participate in the same ritual. Permission is granted and Janeway is soon met by a guide (Becky Ann Baker) who encourages her to let go of her expectations and to simply have faith.

Which is about when this episode goes from merely bland to truly stupid.


CHARACTERS

Capt. Janeway: Has always driven herself to succeed in any challenge she attempts. This has led her to expect any goal to come at the price of a challenge, to the point that she will "accept nothing less." As captain, she feels responsible for the lives of her crew (at least, for those who are in the credits - She didn't appear too troubled when poor Mr. Hogan became dino chow), and insists on pushing herself to the point of genuine danger to try to save Kes.

Chakotay: After all his generic Native American rituals and vision quests and animal spirits and whatnot... This episode decides to turn Chakotay into the voice of Science! He threatens to declare Janeway unfit for duty at one point, when she is ready to put herself at risk of death on a leap of faith. He's talked out of this very easily, of course, but that at least is consistent - Chakotay hasn't really shown evidence of a backbone since Learning Curve.

Neelix: Gets a decent enough showing here. Janeway probably gives him research duties more to keep him occupied (and out of her hair) than anything else, but he throws himself into it and finds the story the captain draws on as precedent to plead for Kes' life. Despite his love for Kes, he also tries to dissuade Janeway from putting herself in danger, telling her that too many people are relying on her for her to risk her life - even if it means Kes' death.

The Doctor: Tells Neelix that he does understand his feelings of helplessness as he hovers by Kes' bedside, indicating that his memories of his friendship with Kes are intact after all. He reacts to Chakotay's threatened interference with irritation. When Chakotay indicates that the Doctor may not be taking all factors into account while monitoring Janeway's condition during the ritual, he snaps right back at the commander: "You seem to be implying that I'm not paying attention. I assure you I am monitoring her constantly. If I thought she were in jeopardy I would act!"


THOUGHTS

"Science is bad, mm'kay?"

At least, that appears to be the message here, in an episode stuffed with dime store mysticism and New Age goo. Apparently, it's supposed to be powerful to see Janeway let go of her Religion of Science (TM) and embrace "pure faith." After all, we are specifically told, science has failed her because it has not given her the solution to curing Kes.

A bunch of bunk, of course, as the scientific method basically targets failure, with any given supposition tested before it is accepted. But then, as far as I can determine from watching this episode, the writers' understanding of science approaches that of a fundamentalist preacher, who has learned just enough terminology to make him sound that much more convincing in decrying it as the work of the devil.

I will say that Sacred Ground is watchable. Kate Mulgrew gives a terrific performance here, and Robert Duncan McNeill's directorial debut shows an eye for the visual that makes me hope he gets a chance to direct a less wrong-headed script down the road. But though it's watchable, it isn't very good even as a drama... And the anti-science stance leaves a particularly bad taste in my mouth.

Overall Rating: 3/10.

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