5-4. In the Flesh.

Janeway attempts diplomacy with Species 8472.

THE PLOT

Starfleet Command, San Francisco. As groundskeeper Boothby (Ray Walston) tends to his work, Admiral Bullock (Tucker Smallwood) greets a group of cadets. Not far away, Chakotay takes pictures of the area, evading questions by both Boothby and the attractive Commander Valerie Archer (Kate Vernon). While talking (and flirting) with Archer, Chakotay sees a nearby ensign clutch at his throat. The man's face begins expanding and contracting, and people nearby hustle him out of the room.

"Have you ever reverted?" Archer asks, adding that while she can hold her human form, she finds the concept of sleeping difficult. She then makes a date with Chakotay, who agrees to meet her that night - much to the surprise of Tuvok, who has just arrived to escort him back to the coordinates they will use to return to Voyager.

This is not the real Starfleet Command, of course. It's a space station, in which replication technology and holographic imagery have been used to recreate Starfleet - with, as a concerned Janeway notes, startling accuracy. When they discover that the aliens impersonating humans are none other than Species 8472, the race that fought the Borg to a standstill and threatened to "purge (the) galaxy of life," the Voyager command crew fear that this space station is preparation for an invasion that would likely end with the destruction of all life on Earth!


CHARACTERS

Capt. Janeway: Once she learns that the aliens are Species 8472, she begins preparing for war. She demands Seven prepare vast numbers of the Borg nanoprobes they used the last time they came into conflict with this species, and she orders genetic testing be performed on all members of the crew to make sure there are no Species 8472 impostors on board. She still insists on trying to find a diplomatic resolution, however, and when the negotiations start to look promising she takes a risky action to show that she can be trusted, all but daring her adversaries to prove her wrong in doing so.

Chakotay: Though Janeway takes over at the climax, this is primarily a Chakotay-centered episode. Thankfully, Chakotay's improvement over the last season and a half remains in evidence. He is instantly attracted to Valerie Archer, but he never behaves stupidly while talking to her. He enjoys talking with her on their "date" - but he also continually steers the conversation in the direction needed to learn information, and he takes advantage of her departure from the room to download information from her computer terminal.

Hot Alien Space Babe of the Week: Valerie appears at first glance to be a potential ally. She has immersed herself in human culture, and expresses enthusiastic appreciation of human literature. But as she and Chakotay talk, it becomes clear that she believes humanity is a violent species that poses a direct threat to her people. Despite this, it remains clear that she and Chakotay very much like each other, and Kate Vernon and Robert Beltran play nicely off each other... All of which makes their not-quite-romance a lot easier to take than might have been the case.


THOUGHTS

I'll get this out of the way up front: Janeway effectively disarming her ship as an olive branch to Species 8472 is, plainly and simply, foolhardy. Had her instincts been wrong, Voyager would have been all but instantly destroyed and the species would have carried on with their plans to invade Earth. I would have a different opinion if a tag had indicated that she had a backup plan ready (on the mantra of "Hope for the best, prepare for the worst") - but in the absence of any backup weaponry, she basically placed humanity's head on a chopping block, armed Species 8472 with an ax, and dared them to swing.

But if the resolution is plagued by naivete, and if a Cold War allegory is far from timely in an episode made more than a decade after end of the Cold War, neither of those things keep this from being a good episode. It's not a great one - but Nick Sagan's script has some clever touches. Particularly effective is the portrayal of mutual fear on the part of the Voyager crew and the members of Species 8472. As the episode progresses, we see that neither side particularly wants open conflict - but at the same time, both Janeway and Boothby separately express the feeling that conflict is inevitable.

The moralizing at the end, and the way in which a complex situation is solved a little too quickly and easily, keep this from being all it might have been. The episode also forever destroys Species 8472 as a proper "monster" - though I think their potential as such was already pretty fully tapped out, so I find myself less than sad about that. This variant of Species 8472 has potential to be interesting, and certainly more three-dimensional than "intelligent killer insects." As such, I'm hopeful we'll see them again, either as adversaries or allies, as I see plenty of interesting ways to use them in either capacity.


Overall Rating: 7/10.

Previous Episode: Extreme Measures
Next Episode: Once Upon a Time 

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4-16. Prey.

Hirogen hunters pursue their prey.

THE PLOT:

Voyager encounters a Hirogen ship adrift in space. Only the Hirogen Alpha (Tony Todd) remains alive, the other hunter having been decapitated by their prey: A member of Species 8472!

When the starship stops for the Hirogen, its prey takes the opportunity to come aboard, and immediately begins sabotaging life support and gravity on a section of the ship. In such close proximity to his prey, the Alpha demands to be allowed to continue his hunt. Janeway reluctantly agrees - but she insists they make every effort to capture the creature rather than kill it, dismissing the objections of Seven of Nine.

They find Species 8472 quickly enough. But when it uses its telepathic abilities to plea for a safe return to its own dimension, Janeway grants the request and denies the Hirogen its kill. With more Hirogen ships closing fast, however, her moral stand may well result in the destruction of the starship Voyager!


CHARACTERS:

Capt. Janeway: Views the damaged Hirogen ship as an opportunity to improve relations by showing compassion. Which doesn't stop her from being practical enough to also gather some key information about this new alien threat. Scientific curiosity probably drives her initial desire to use non-lethal force against Species 8472. But the creature's plea to return home, its evident desire to avoid further conflict, earns Janeway's sympathy. She is making a genuine moral stand when she protects the creature, and is clearly willing to see it through even when her ship comes under bombardment from other Hirogen vessels.

Seven of Nine: Abhors Species 8472, remembering all too clearly the devastation visited on the Borg: "They destroyed millions of drones, hundreds of our worlds. I have reason to be 'agitated,'" she tells Tuvok. But that's only part of what brings her into conflict with Janeway. She has a very different viewpoint than the captain. The evolving situation is filtered through a tactical viewpoint for Seven, rather than a moral one. She argues against stopping to help the Hirogen, and actually recommends firing on the damaged ship - Kill the enemy while he is weakened. Later, she acknowledges that Janeway's decision was justified... Not because of any likely futile hope of improving relations, but because valuable information was gained. When Janeway orders Seven to assist in returning Species 8472 home, Seven balks, prompting some excellent Janeway/Seven scenes that may redefine their entire relationship.

Tuvok: Tim Russ has come to truly inhabit Tuvok. While this isn't a huge episode for the Vulcan, he gets some very good side moments. I particularly enjoyed his impassive response when his area of the ship loses gravity while he's in mid-sentence. He simply reaches for a handhold and keeps talking, with just a flicker of expression that makes the moment extremely funny. In service to the plot, Tuvok's telepathic abilities allow the wounded Species 8472 alien to communicate, prompting the third act crisis.

Hirogen: Prey offers a much better showing for the Hirogen than Hunters did. They still come across as two-dimensional, driven entirely by the desire to hunt; my reference to the Predator films in the last review seems all too apt. But unlike the blatantly stupid Hirogen who essentially defeated themselves, this episode gives us a genuinely formidable and cunning antagonist in Tony Todd's Alpha. Todd is terrific, seizing on the moments in which we see the Alpha's keen observational skills. He recognizes Seven's abhorrence of Species 8472, and seizes on that to manipulate her. More of this kind of cunning could make this new adversary into a real threat.


THOUGHTS:

"This prey is resilient."
-A Hirogen hunter pays a rare compliment.

Prey opens with one of the best teasers Star Trek: Voyager has offered, a precredit scene that sets the tone, grips the viewer, and remakes the Hirogen as a credible threat all in a few short minutes. This opening is from the point of view of the Alpha, as he and his Beta (Clint Carmichael) track down their prey. The Beta wants to destroy it from a safe distance, lest they "lose the moment." The Alpha wants to experience the glory of finishing this challenging hunt firsthand. They track their prey to an asteroid, where they execute what the Alpha observes is "a flawless kill."

The entire sequence is stunning - Superbly paced and executed by director Allan Eastman, well-acted, genuinely tense. The reveal that the prey is a member of Species 8472 is the perfect bow to slip around this already wonderfully-wrapped package.

The rest of the episode is good, too. Between writer Brannon Braga's script (one of his best) and Eastman's atmospheric direction, the pace remains fast and the tension high thoughout. The exploration of the Hirogen ship reveals the remains of past prey, in a sequence that's genuinely creepy even before Tom Paris stumbles across the Beta's severed head. The interactions between Janeway and the Alpha, and later between Seven and Janeway, are charged with conflict. Janeway and the Alpha create an alliance, but their values are so opposed that each seems to know that they are destined to end up as enemies again. Seven and Janeway are well-established allies, but Seven is so sharply in disagreement with Janeway's decisions that a rift is inevitable. I don't usually think of Braga as a character writer, but he brings levels to the Janeway/Seven relationship that have not been apparent in most previous episodes but which fit their characters completely.


JANEWAY VS. SEVEN:

What makes the Janeway/Seven interactions so strong is that each has a good point. Janeway is the captain, and as such does get to make the final decision. Once her decision is made, it is inappropriate to continue arguing. In this, Seven is guilty of gross breaches of protocol long before Janeway calls her on the carpet. Seven, however, is quite right that Janeway's actions put Voyager at risk. The way the climax plays out, the ship is likely minutes from destruction if Janeway stays her course. Seven argues that she saves the ship by violating orders, and what we see lends real merit to that argument. However, she does violate orders - orders that are entirely consistent with Starfleet protocol. Janeway doesn't show any sign of incompetence or instability, leaving Seven making decisions that are rightly Janeway's. By any reasonable standard, Janeway's final punishment of the former Borg is actually ridiculously lenient.

The final scene of the episode is a great one, as we see Janeway and Seven left as completely alien from each other as Janeway and the Alpha had been. Janeway is clearly hurting at punishing Seven, whom she has protected and nurtured throughout this season. It tortures her that she cannot make Seven even comprehend her point of view. Seven, who has reacted to Janeway as a maternal figure in the past, worrying about winning her approval, now reacts as a rebellious teen might at being grounded. This extends to her final statement, which could easily come from the mouth of a teen daughter during a fight with her mother:

"I believe that you are punishing me because I do not think the way you do, because I am not becoming more like you. You claim to respect my individuality - but in fact, you are frightened by it."

All of this is good material, which should bring even more new levels to the Janeway/Seven interactions in the future - That is, if the series can resist its tendency to reset everything by the next episode.

Overall Rating: 9/10.

Previous Episode; Hunters
Next Episode: Retrospect 


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3-26, 4-1. Scorpion.

Introducing Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan).

THE PLOT

One of Voyager's long-range probes has stopped transmitting. Torres is able to retrieve the last few seconds of the probe's transmission, showing a sight Janeway has been dreading: the Borg!

The ship is nearing Borg space, and the recovery of their probe means the enemy knows they are coming. Fortunately, the probe detected a narrow corridor of space the Borg avoid - a passage filled with distortion caused by quantum singularities. It will be a bumpy ride, but there is a decent chance of avoiding the Borg if they can stay within what Chakotay dubs "The Northwest Passage."

There's another threat, however: An alien race the Borg term "Species 8472." These aliens are engaging the Borg and destroying them, seemingly without effort. Harry hopes for allies, but when Kes makes telepathic contact, she realizes they are anything but. Species 8472 is completely malevolent, and bent on destroying all inferior life, which to them means all life.

Janeway sees only one way forward: A deal with the devil. An alliance with the Borg!


CHARACTERS

Capt. Janeway: Understands that the day may come when the danger in front of Voyager is too great to responsibly continue. When she realizes the ship is approaching Borg space, she fears that day may have come, and she admits to Chakotay that she dreads facing the crew with that decision. That, as much of any of her justifications, prompts her alliance with the Borg. Still, her arguments to Chakotay are sound. Species 8472 is an even bigger threat than the Borg, and if they aren't stopped at an early stage, they may become genuinely unstoppable. Kate Mulgrew is in superb form throughout both parts, her performance clearly rising to the quality of the material. 

Chakotay: Strongly disagrees with Janeway's decision to make an alliance. He invokes the title by reciting the parable of the scorpion who, upon making an agreement with a fox to take it across a river, stings it because its malevolent nature is too strong to resist. When Janeway is temporarily out of action in Part Two, he goes with his own instincts over hers, leading to another argument between them. The best part? Both Chakotay and Janeway have genuinely good reasons for their decisions, and neither's argument is presented as a "straw man" to make the other look good. I'd love to see this Chakotay/Janeway relationship carried forward... though I suspect his characterization will return to "bland Tattoo Face" within one to two episodes.

Kes: Species 8472 is telepathic, which allows Kes a solid supporting role. Before they even know there is such a species, she has premonitions: Visions of dead Borg, including a horror movie tableaux of Borg bodies stacked one on another. She sees the attack on Harry minutes before it actually happens, but her warning is not enough to prevent it. At the climax, she acts as a conduit between Janeway and Species 8472, allowing direct communication during the confrontation. Considered alongside Before and After, this script seems to hint at the potential for a larger role for Kes in the future - if not for a certain People magazine article, at least...

Harry Kim: Before that article named Garrett Wang one of the "50 Most Beautiful People in the World," Scorpion was envisioned as Harry's swansong. He's Part One's sacrificial lamb, suffering the devastating alien infection that shows just how terrifying a threat Species 8472 really is. This obviously wasn't set in stone, given that Harry is still alive at the end of Part One with the Doctor clearly hoping to be able to cure him... but Part One very deliberately leaves Harry in a state that would have easily allowed him to be written out between episodes. Instead, the Doctor is able to miraculously cure him so completely that he returns to the bridge with no recovery time needed. From this point on, he's just Harry: a glorified extra who occasionally spouts some Technobabble.

Seven of Nine: Part Two introduces Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine, the "Borg Babe" (in Brannon Braga's words). One of many smart touches in this script is that, while Seven received plenty of screen time and gets substantial interactions with Janeway and chakotay, she isn't presented as a new crew member. She is the voice of the Borg in this episode, speaking for the Collective during Janeway's alliance. She is a potential threat to our characters from her first appearance, and is very much an adversary when the alliance starts to fray. This allows her a strong introduction while avoiding the pitfalls of ramming a new character down the viewers' throat. It helps that Jeri Ryan is actually a good television actress, who easily holds her own opposite the established regulars.

The Borg: Scorpion almost acts as a mirror image to TNG's The Best of Both Worlds. That episode showed the Borg at their strongest, a single cube being unstoppable by all of Starfleet. This one shows the Borg at their most vulnerable, as devastated by Species 8472 as Starfleet was by the Borg. There's even a bit with Voyager flying through the wreckage of several Borg ships destroyed by the enemy - paralleling the devastation the Enterprise encountered when flying through the wreckage at Wolf 359. Writers Brannon Braga and Joe Menosky take care not to allow this to make the Borg less dangerous. They are unreliable allies, attempting to assimilate Janeway and Tuvok almost as soon as the agreement is reached and repeatedly trying to alter the terms of the agreement. As much of Part Two centers around attempts by the Voyager crew to contain the Borg as it does around defeating Species 8472. We are never allowed to forget the threat they pose, a threat that is increased by the alliance rather than decreased. 


THOUGHTS

Scorpion is almost certainly the best installment of Star Trek: Voyager I've reviewed to date. It is tightly paced, with no sense that either part of it has been padded out to fill air time. Its treatment of the Borg is just about perfect, with the Voyager/Borg alliance creating new tension rather than dissipating it. Species 8472 is presented as formidable, and in their brief snatches of screentime they live up to the demands the story places upon them. 

There's no sense of separation between the two episodes, which flow together beautifully. Part One establishes the situation and builds the atmosphere, with director David Livingston using the dim light and shadows of the Borg cube almost like a painter using colors in creating a portrait. Many of the effects shots are of feature film quality, including the Wolf 359 parallel of the graveyard of destroyed Borg cubes or the shots in which the bio-ships of Species 8472 descend, locust-like, on a Borg-controlled planet. The makeup job on Harry, as he is ravaged by the alien infection, is genuinely unsettling. 

Winrich Kolbe takes over the directorial reigns for Part Two. Kolbe has a long Trek track record, and his confidence with action scenes makes him a good match for the action-heavy second part. There are two attacks by Species 8472, along with a clash with the Borg, and Kolbe keeps all of this both coherent and exciting, making this a rare two-parter in which Part Two is every bit as good as Part One. 

Writers Brannon Braga and Joe Menosky make sure that in addition to providing an exciting climax, Part Two also pays off everything set up by Part One. In Part One, Chakotay compares the Borg to the scorpion of the fable. In Part Two, he's proved right when the Borg attempt to alter the agreement almost as soon as it's struck, and ultimately do attempt to betray Voyager. Janeway even uses the word, "Scorpion," to good effect in her counter-plan. Even the holodeck subplot involving Leonardo da Vinci (a thoroughly engaging John Rhys-Davies) is tied into the resolution, with Janeway and Chakotay sharing their final scene inside that simulation.

At the end of a season of Voyager that could only very politely be dubbed "uneven," this two-parter is a reminder of how good this series can be when the writers and producers are willing to push the characters outside their safe zones and take chances. Never mind its greatness as a Voyager episode: I'd rank this right alongside The Best of Both Worlds as among the best Borg episodes of the entire franchise.


Overall Rating: 10/10.

Previous Episode: Worst Case Scenario
Next Episode: The Gift


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