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| The Doctor becomes infatuated with Seven. |
Original Air Date: Apr. 28, 1999. Teleplay by: Michael Taylor. Story by: Brannon Braga. Directed by: Robert Duncan McNeill.
THE PLOT:
Seven of Nine gets into a heated argument with Torres when she admits that she's been studying her and Tom's relationship as research on "human mating behavior." Since Torres ends the encounter with threats of physical harm, this would have been perfect to help set up her hyper-aggression in Juggernaut; this being Voyager, the confrontation naturally occurs one episode after that, when the issue has theoretically been resolved.
The argument leads a confused Seven to consult with the Doctor, who takes it upon herself to teach her how to date. The Doctor makes a wager with Tom: If Seven brings a date to a reception for an alien ambassador, and actually manages to leave with the same date, then Tom will work double-shifts for a month - but if Seven creates a predictable spectacle, then he will get that same month off.
The reception is for Tomin (Scott Thompson), who represents the Kadi - an ultra-conservative religious race that frowns upon anything that might "inflame the senses." Tomin is here as part of a cultural exchange, visiting Voyager while Janeway and Tuvok beam down to their home planet. He's been left in the care of Neelix, who has developed a strict itinerary for his visit.
But Tomin has little interest in tours of Engineering or in observing his daily prayers. Instead, he wants to sample every sensation Voyager has to offer, from spicy foods to alcohol to amorous holodeck pastimes - until he loudly declares that he wants to stay on Voyager forever!
CHARACTERS:
Capt. Janeway: Only briefly in the episode. She does advise Seven to that she should try dating. Apparently, doing so is only against the rules if you happen to be Harry Kim.
The Doctor: It's always good news when an episode spotlights Robert Picardo's Doctor. Picardo is equally adept at comedy and drama, and he is able to wring the most even from a weak script. Look at the scene in which he shares a singalong with Seven of You Are My Sunshine. He goes through a range of responses as Seven sings: surprise at her vocal quality, then simple enjoyment of the music, and finally - as he watches her - the first stirrings of infatuation. It's a splendid performance, one that helps to keep this fairly mild episode afloat.
Seven of Nine: Jeri Ryan, arguably the show's other most consistent regular, is also very good. When Seven goes on a disastrous date mid-episode, Ryan plays her reactions as someone doing her best to make sense of a foreign concept. Few Star Trek lines have ever been as relatable as her frustration that "dating is a poor means of interaction." She remains blissfully unaware of the Doctor's growing attraction toward her, simply seeing him as a friend who is trying to help her.
Neelix: The "B" plot is a Neelix comedy relief plot, which is usually my cue to start screaming in pain. Except this one mostly works. The comedy isn't particularly funny, but Neelix is surprisingly likable. The key is that he's the straight man. He has seriously and studiously prepared for Tomin's visit, learning all the correct customs and prayer times for his race... only to look on in horror as his charge behaves like an overgrown frat boy. It's a pity Tuvok spends the episode off the ship; one suspects that, after having spent the first three seasons being the designated victim of Neelix's worst tendencies, he might have enjoyed watching the Talaxian's dilemma.
THOUGHTS:
Someone to Watch Over Me is, at least, a much better episode than Juggernaut. It's not a great episode, and I don't really have much to say about it. But at least it was pleasant enough to watch.
"Pleasant" is probably the best descriptor here. The "A" plot borrows a little from My Fair Lady, with the Doctor making a wager to teach Seven social behavior; and a little from Cyrano de Bergerac, with him deliberately trying to guide her into romance even as he falls for her.
It doesn't go very far with either element, however. There might have been some emotional stakes had Seven and the hapless Lt. Chapman (Brian McNamara) actually started a relationship while the Doctor looked on... but their romance is restricted to a single date, with Chapman barely mentioned after that scene. The Doctor's unspoken feelings never really rise beyond infatuation, so there isn't much drama to be wrung from that either.
The "B" plot is also pretty mild. Ethan Phillips and guest star Scott Thompson keep it enjoyable enough - but nothing happens at any point that's unpredictable or even particularly chaotic. Other than a single inappropriate remark to Seven, Tomin essentially spends a couple days of vacation eating too much, drinking too much, and enjoying the company of holographic playmates - which is to say, doing no real harm to anyone. Neelix's frustration is amusing, but it feels like more could have done here.
OVERALL:
In the end, "mild" and "pleasant" are the adjectives that come to mind for Someone to Watch Over Me. It's not a bad episode, and I did not dislike watching it. But there's nothing here that's going to linger in my mind.
Overall Rating: 5/10. Episodes don't come much more average than this.
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