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| Seven of Nine investigates an incident from her past to help other ex-Borg. The results aren't what she expected. |
Original Air Date: Sept. 29, 1999. Written by: Ronald D. Moore. Directed by: Terry Windell.
THE PLOT:
Voyager has actually found a friendly port, an outpost teeming with aliens from different species. Janeway approves a cultural exchange, allowing large numbers of visitors onto the ship while her crew enjoys some much-needed shore leave. Though Tuvok is annoyed at the security headaches, the interactions are peaceful overall, with no sign of any sinister motivations.
Except for three of the aliens who visit Voyager. These three approach Seven with a specific artifact: synaptic relays, Borg technology from her old unimatrix. Seven agrees to take them, but she's clearly rattled at the reminder of the life she left behind.
That night, while Seven regenerates, the trio use the relays to interfere with the ship's security. They attempt to implant nanotechnology into Seven - but she awakens at the attempt even as Tuvok arrives to stop them.
Surprisingly, the attack was not an attempt to bring Seven back to the Borg. Quite the reverse. The trio are also ex-Borg, former members of Seven's unimatrix. They long to become individuals, as Seven has managed. But something in their implants has linked them together, sharing each other's thoughts and even dreams. The reason lies in the past, when they and Seven were the sole survivors of a Borg crash on a jungle planet...
CHARACTERS:
Capt. Janeway: She's happy at finding a friendly port, seeming more relaxed throughout the episode than we've seen in a while. When Tom and Harry get into a bar brawl, she disciplines them. Still, her manner is indulgent, even amused, with her pausing in her lecture to check that they at least won their fight. She stops by sick bay to check on the three intruders, and she's emotionally supportive of Seven. Outside of that, however, this is more or less Janeway on vacation.
Seven of Nine: Though she continues to use Borg designations herself, she chides Naomi Wildman for doing the same. She does not want the girl to emulate the Borg. The flashbacks emphasize that Seven was a child when she was assimilated. This is likely one reason why Seven has retained her Borg designation instead of reclaiming her human name, something the three ex-Borg wonder about. Seven tells Janeway that she actively wants to help them become individuals, as she has become - but of course, it doesn't end up being that simple.
The Doctor: Seven observes that he is the only other member of Voyager's crew who can fully appreciate the ex-Borgs' dilemma. Like them, he was once defined by his function: Emergency Medical Hologram. Like her, he gradually evolved into being an individual, with his own personality and experiences. This gives him insight that allows him to balance risks to his patients against their emotional needs. Even so, as a doctor, his first duty is to their physical well-being, as he reminds Seven.
Tuvok: An amusing early scene allows Tim Russ to display his comic timing, as Tuvok presents a report on all the crimes that have occurred since Janeway opened Voyager to the station. Janeway dismisses the incidents of disorderly conduct and petty theft as minor - whereupon Tuvok dryly informs her that there's a page 2... and a page 3. When she expresses her overall happiness with the friendly reception they've received, he becomes openly sarcastic in replying that he's happy that she is happy. In addition to this comedy moment, Tuvok also demonstrates his competence, overcoming the ex-Borg's interference with ship's security far faster than they had anticipated.
THOUGHTS:
Survival Instinct is one of only two Voyager episodes credited to writer Ronald D. Moore, and it's his only solo script for the series. This is a shame, as Moore's episodes frequently ranked among the best of TNG and DS9. His consistent strengths with continuity, themes, and characterization would have gone a long way toward offsetting some of Voyager's weaknesses.
Survival Instinct is a good episode, and Moore's strengths are in evidence. Characterization is spot-on, with good moments not only for Seven, but also for Janeway and Tuvok. Even the quickie "actor got paid this week" appearances by Tom, Harry, and B'Elanna see these characters actually well-written. The script moves effectively between Seven's present and her past, and it's well structured. The first Act introduces the mystery of the ex-drones and what they're up to. Those questions are answered by the 15-minute mark, with the answers leading smoothly into Seven's attempts to help them. That attempt, in its turn, leads to the final complication.
All of that said... It's in that final complication where I think the episode stumbles. It comes too late for the implications to be effectively explored. Avoiding spoilers, I'll just say that Seven is left with a choice to make, one of those cases where there's no really good option. But nuance is sanded away, with a decision that should be thorny and difficult reduced to the usual Voyager fault of being ultimately very simple. Maybe this should have been a two-parter, with the reveal coming at the cliffhanger and the second part revolving fully around that fateful decision?
OVERALL:
Even with a rushed and simplified final Act, Survival Instinct is still a good episode of Star Trek: Voyager. It's a particularly strong episode for Seven of Nine. The big reveal of the episode emerges naturally from who Seven was - Annika, the frightened child who was assimilated by the Borg; and Seven of Nine, who never properly knew any life outside of the Borg as a result of being taken at such a young age.
With such good character writing, I wish I could rate it even higher than I do - but that last Act just doesn't quite land for me. Even so, there's a lot of good writing here, more than enough to make me wish that the "It'll do" attitude in Voyager's writing room hadn't chased Ronald Moore away from the show.
Overall Rating: 7/10.
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