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| Seven of Nine's human side wars with her Borg side... |
THE PLOT
Seven of Nine is having issues: Waking nightmares of the Borg Collective trying to re-assimilate her. She cannot understand why she feels fear of the Borg; to her, the Collective is still "home." She also cannot understand why each of her visions includes a raven. She does her duty and reports the issue, but the Doctor can find nothing wrong with her and, with Voyager negotiating with the xenophobic B'omar for rights to travel directly through their territory rather than around it, Janeway's attention is focused there.
And it is during a negotiation with B'omar officials that Seven's Borg nature suddenly reasserts itself. She assaults Neelix in the mess hall, then moves like an automaton through the corridors, brushing past every attempt to stop her on her way to the shuttle bay. She takes a shuttle, then heads directly into B'omar space.
The outraged B'omar insist that they will deal with Seven, flatly stating that she will be "found and destroyed," and that any attempt by Voyager to go after her will be considered an act of aggression. Tom and Tuvok find a way to slip a shuttle into their space to go after Seven independently. But with the Doctor reporting that her last scan shows her Borg nanoprobes regenerating, the question becomes: Are they recovering a shipmate, or preparing for a confrontation with a Borg drone?
CHARACTERS
Capt. Janeway: Shows a nurturing, almost maternal attitude toward Seven. She pushes the former Borg to develop her creative side. She spends time talking to her and listens to her perspective without showing judgment. When Seven reverts and escapes with a shuttle, Janeway refuses to believe she is lost to them. "She was responding to us," Janeway insists. "She was adapting to this environment and to this crew." This drives her to approve a risky mission for Tom and Tuvok, though she does tell them that if Seven responds violently to use whatever force may be necessary.
Seven of Nine: Has by this point accepted the idea of her humanity reasserting itself, though she still finds much of the Voyager crew's activities to be inefficient and pointless. Despite her efforts, she still inadvertently creates awkwardness when interacting with Neelix, mentioning the assimilation of various Talaxians. She does acknowledge genuine appreciation of Janeway's kindness toward her, though she still considers the Collective more as "home" than the ship.
Tuvok: After previous episodes have shown him considering Seven as a security risk, this episode... Well, basically proves him right. Yet instead of giving him an adversarial role, when he finally catches up with Seven he is patient and almost compassionate. He observes the inconsistencies in her behavior versus that of a full Borg - such as her voicing appreciation for Janeway's kindness, or her offering to let him go rather than assimilate him. The last part of the episode makes them a genuine team, and perhaps establishes a sort of working friendship that I would love to see developed in future episodes.
Neelix: I could make a joke about how appropriate it is that when Seven finally goes "full Borg," it would be with Neelix. In fairness, though, Neelix tries very hard to make her feel welcome in the galley, even after she talks about the Borg assimilation of Talaxians. He seems genuinely concerned just prior to her reversion, and shows no trace of hostility whatsoever.
THOUGHTS
Six episodes into the season, and Star Trek: Voyager is in danger of becoming "The Seven of Nine Show." With the exception of Nemesis, she has been at the center of either an "A" or a "B" plot in every episode. I can't complain too much about this, as both character and actress are working well and the overall quality of the show - while far from remarkable - is considerably higher than it was this time in either Season Two or Three. And I'll admit it: If I was a Voyager staff writer, I would also prefer to write for the former Borg drone assimilated into the Voyager crew rather than for the largely static established regulars.
Besides, Seven's presence helps the rest of the crew feel more like individuals and less like... well, drones. When Seven leaves in full Borg mode, Janeway is determined to get her back and to make her part of the Voyager family. Chakotay is sympathetic, but also realistic enough to wonder if Seven may be beyond saving. Harry feels real sadness at the potential loss of someone he's learned to like. B'Elanna, who has been the least sympathetic toward Seven, shows a palpable lack of remorse at her departure, probably thinking "Good riddance" while thanking God that the Borg didn't actually kill anyone on her way out. It may only be in reaction to Seven, but these differing reactions make the characters come to life... in three out of four cases, in an episode that keeps them well in the background!
The Raven is well-made, with some nice atmospheric directing by the reliable Levar Burton. Seven's hallucinations are particularly well-shot. Bryan Fuller's script keeps the action moving quickly, using the "A" plot to provide some backstory for Seven while leaving plenty of room for further exploration. The script also deserves credit for pushing Seven and Tuvok to interact, effectively creating a new character dynamic (something this show doesn't do nearly enough). The story zips along and is never boring.
Unfortunately, this is yet another episode with an intrusive "B" plot. The script makes sure to link the "A" and "B" plots strongly, with the B'omar providing an external threat to Voyager. The problem is that the B'omar themselves are very bland, and no matter how much the camera shakes while dust is thrown into the frame, they simply don't come across as a genuine threat. In addition, the resolution to the "A" plot is so easy to see coming, the episode might have gained more mileage by revealing that around the midpoint, with the rest of the episode focusing on Seven's emotional fallout - and, yes, maybe finding a strained return after having abruptly turned on the Voyager crew for the second time since joining them.
While it may not deliver fully on its potential, The Raven is well-made, fast-paced, and entertaining. It's shallow fare, which limits my final score, but it is enjoyable. Another solid episode in a season that has yet to deliver a truly bad installment.
Overall Rating: 6/10.
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