Date: January 17, 2021

Season 6, Episode 6

Music Video of the Day:

Interstellar News: Did two loads of laundry (sheet and towels), made a wonderful dinner, and did grocery shopping for the week. Go me!

TL;DR: Tuvok and Neelix are on their way back from an away mission when Tuvok is attacked by an unseen force the Keset later identify as the Ba’Neth. Problem is the Ba’Neth have never actually been seen but Naroq believes they are behind several other attacks. Tuvok is unconscious at first, and then wakes up because of Neelix’s perseverance… but he is more like a scared child and much less like the Tuvok we’ve always known. He tries to become his old self but later finds joy in having fun with Neelix and baking for the crew. He finally remembers the cloaking frequency and together Voyager and Naroq work on tracking the Ba’Neth down so they can get more information on the weapon used in order to help Tuvok. They find them, make an agreement, and Tuvok reluctantly returns to his usual self… though he does provide a non-logical answer to Neelix’s riddle.

Favorite Quote:

EMH: There have been rare cases in which comatose patients responded to external stimuli. Aromas, touch, voices.

Neelix: So, you’re saying that if I stay here and, and try to talk to Tuvok, I might be able to provoke some sort of response?

EMH: If anyone can provoke Tuvok, Mr. Neelix, it’s you.

The EMH giving some hope to a very hopeless Neelix, who just needs to do SOMETHING.

“I have no desire for fun.”: One of my favorite closet cosplays is my “Lady Riddler”, so I’m always interested in new riddles, and the one given by Neelix at the top of the episode is not only fun, it’s also used wonderfully again at the end of the episode to show that maybe Tuvok remembers what happened when he wasn’t quite himself and he’s making an effort to be less of a Vulcan. I liked Naroq, although he seemed like a conspiracy theorist at first, as he was truly more interested in satisfying his curiosity and saving Tuvok’s life than making an enemy out of Voyager or the Ba’Neth. This was also a wonderful vehicle for both Neelix and Tuvok as characters. Neelix always wants to help and he’s sort of a jack of all trades, but he also doesn’t have any formal training in counseling or cognitive development so he’s just making it up as he goes along. Tuvok is able to be a child and experience life, and I love that he bakes because that takes a really scientific and math-based mind, which is perfect for a Vulcan who doesn’t have to be logical about everything all the time. The two of them together, especially at the end, brought warm fuzzies to my heart because it was so damn adorable. This episode earns 8 really long charging cords from me.

TA Out!

Date: January 16, 2021

Season 6, Episode 5

Music Video of the Day:

Interstellar News: This last week has been a lot of ups and downs

TL;DR: Voyager comes across a junkyard and acquire some supplies, including a small ship that Paris falls in love with… literally. It has a nuerogenic interface that takes on the female personification of ‘Alice’ who is only seen by him, and her only goal is to interface with a pilot to take her home, which is a particle fountain. Torres and the Doctor are able to finally get to him before the craft is destroyed, and he promises Torres he’s “just friends” with the Delta Flyer.

Favorite Quote:

Tuvok: We’ve detected a large group of vessels directly ahead.

Chakotay: Hostile?

Tuvok: Possibly. I’m charging weapons.

Janeway: On screen.

Kim: I’m counting sixty two ships and a few hundred pieces of ships. All dead in space.

Paris: It’s a junkyard. Congratulations, Tuvok. You just saved us from a flotilla of hostile trash.

Tuvok acting on the information he had at the time and Paris being his usual sarcastic self.

“From now on, I promise no more affairs with strange ships.”: I love the science fiction technology piece of a ship that needs a biological unit to interface with, the neurogenic interface is so fascinating. As we’ve seen in “Vis a Vis” and several other times throughout the series, Paris is constantly getting himself into trouble. What starts life as a side project becomes his obsession, and Torres says it best to Kim when she asks why he always forgets she exists when he takes on a new hobby. I also love that we really see how much Paris and Torres care for each other when he chooses to share his project with her, even if it didn’t go as planned, and when she agrees to help link to his mind to get him to lower the shields. The one thing I absolutely hate about this episode is after Torres is assaulted by both Alice and Paris, she goes to Janeway and the first damn words out of Janeway’s mouth is “that doesn’t sound like Tom” and I’m back to what I felt during “Retrospect“. You can say it doesn’t sound like a person but I’m so sorry that happened and let’s get down to the bottom of this immediately… but not leave it as is. That one line and her reaction brings this down to a 6 for me, and that’s it… just the number.

TA Out!

Date: January 14, 2021

Season 6, Episode 4

Music Video of the Day:

Interstellar News: Today was the day I went to the chiropractor and all the things cracked and I feel SO MUCH BETTER.

TL;DR: The EMH programs some daydreaming algorithms that are observed by an alien in the Hierarchy. The alien believes the daydreams, so they plan an attack to raid them for resources. Due to the interference, the EMH starts to daydream all the time which leads to the crew observing his innermost thoughts. The alien realizes it’s all a fantasy, but it’s too late to stop the attack so he contacts the EMH who then has to pose as the Captain. At first he stammers and is super nervous, but eventually he bluffs the Hierarchy with his “photonic cannons” and they retreat. The crew puts on dress uniforms and throws a celebration for the EMH where he is awarded a commendation.

Favorite Quote:

Paris: What I wouldn’t give right now for a whoopee cushion.

Kim: A what?

Paris: Ancient technology.

Paris poking fun at the EMH being timid about sitting down in the captain’s chair.

“That was a Platonic gesture. Don’t expect me to pose for you.”: This is a super fun and super silly episode. The first bit where he puts on an opera for the crew got me hooked, because up until Tuvok was crying I totally thought it was real. Well, okay, I’ll be honest. I thought it was real until he started singing about Tuvok’s pon farr, and then I realized it was a dream or holodeck simulation. But seriously, watch the whole clip! This one was absolutely the best day dream, it was truly wonderful. I liked his “ECH” daydream because who doesn’t dream of being the person to save the ship? It was a normal daydream and worked well with the story when he eventually has to play it out and gets to live out his fantasy.

I absolutely hated that he had Janeway, Torres, and Seven all fighting over him… I mean I get his fantasy was to be desired by the three most powerful women on the ship, but he’s only ever indicated he’s had the hots for Seven. It shows he doesn’t respect the Captain or Chief Engineer and I’m not having it. Other than this one bit, the rest of the story was fun. We see the Hierarchy and how they work as well as the EMH finally getting to be the badass he always thought he could be. He shows Janeway how much he loves and appreciates the crew and that gets her thinking about they need to do more for the one being on the ship who has saved their asses on more than one occasion and has been with them since the beginning. For the sheer ridiculousness, I give this episode 8 yummy milkshakes.

TA Out!