Tinker, Tenor, Doctor, Spy **1/2

Ok, before everyone starts to beat me up, let me explain why I didn't give this episode a higher rating. First of all, I enjoyed this episode far more than I thought I would. The cast was wonderful, their chemistry together was fabulous, and the idea was creative. The Doctor was also fabulous, as always, he gave us a down right, pee in your pants funny, protrayal of the EMH. I found myself laughing, even when the jokes were corny, and my heart went out to the Doctors desperate need to be loved. So why did I only give this episode **1/2 stars? Well let me explain.

First of all, the episode was choppy. The beggining confused me, and I had a hard time shifting between daydream and reality. The dirctor could have made smoother and more clearer transitions. I remember asking myself, "what doese the Doctor's daydreams have to do with these tater tot aliens?" I may have been the only one who was confused, but I doubt it.

The second reason is because I felt that the portrayal of the Doctor, in is daydreams, as a flirtatious womanizer was incorrect. Yes, it was a plot device in order to make the episode funnier, but I felt that it betrayed the very essence of who the Doctor is. The Doctor has never been played out as a horny atraction. I know, I know, it's in a man's nature to fantisize about other women, but we didn't need to know about it. I personaly lost a little respect for the Doctor. I mean, would you really want your Doctor to be daydreaming about you in an erotic situation one moment and then examining you the next? I wouldn't. Ok, alright, you can beat me now. What can I say, I guess I always veiwed the Doctor as a kind and gentle man who didn't fantasize about touching Janeway's butt. Not to say that he is any less of a person because he has normal human fantasies, but because I never thought of him in that context before.

As for what I liked, well even though I was opposed to the Doctors flirtations, the idea of Janeway, Seven and B'Elanna fighting over the Doc was far too enjoyable. My favorite scene was when B'Ellanna saw herself desperatly begging the Doctor to love her, while poor Tom sat sielently in the backround. That wave that Tom gave when the Doctor said "What about Tom?" was pricless! The end was also enjoyable. When Seven kissed the Doctor on the cheek, I giggled. It was cute. Then there was the long awaited award that he recieved. If you ask me, I think he should have recieved the award for his contributions as an awesome Doctor, not his one time Command adventure.

Needless to say the actors saved the show. The plot was weak, and the directing questionable, but the actors were hilarious and fun to watch.

Next week: A Brunett Barbi Doll haunts Tom.

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