J/C drinking game: 4 sips
Let's get down to the heart of it, I enjoyed this episode implicitly. It took me in, and made me feel the emotions that were presented, my only hope is that the rest of this season continues to do that.
From the beggining of the episode, the attention already began to shift to the Captain. You can always tell when Janeway's mad, she gets the look of death in her eyes. It was a nice moment when she saw a dead alien on the corridor floor, but somehow I wished that they had spent more time in Sick Bay, showing the Captain's reactions to her dying crew.
The following scenes on the Equinox seemed choppy, and a bit dull. It would have been more effective if Captain Ransom had played the part of a man obbsessed with getting home. I felt the same way about his crew. Their scenes would have more entertaining if the crew had been nurotic about returning home. I mean here is a ship filled with people who have been thorugh more tragedies than Voyager, and who were compelled to murder aliens in the first place, you'd think they would've been more desperate. I hardly think taking away the Doctors protocal sub-routines was harsh. I must say, however, that I was impressed with Seven's loaylty to Janeway, and the Doctors loaylty to Seven.
Then all of a sudden the clouds of darkness began to form above Janeway's head. I think it was those very same clouds that turned her into Mr. Hyde. It began with a squrmish in the ready room with Chakotay and pretty soon it was deja vu, is this Scorpion? Before you know it Janeway and Chakotay are at each others throats, and we begin to wonder, how far is it going to go this time? To my surprise it went farther thatn I imagined it would. The tension built quickly, and I couldn't help but notice Chakotay's painful ephasis on "Yes mame," before leaving the Captain's Ready Room.
Frankly it was painful, but I liked it. Yes my heart was riped out of my chest, but I was so relived that the writter were doing anything with their relationship at all, that I couldn't help but enjoy it. The fights on the bridge were impressive as well and the accting was surpurb from both Kate Mulgrew and Robert Beltran, some of their best work together. It also confirmed another susspision, the fire's still there. They can still create holocausts with their glares and verbal slaps in the face, it was quite an enjoyable fire works show. The most impressive scene came when they interigated one of Ransom's crew members. At this piont I was convinced that Janeway was out of her mind. She had big issues! I never thought in my wildest dreams that she would lock a man who was loayl to his Captain, in a room to be food for aliens! This was insane! I found myself yelling at the TV screen as they walked into the corridor, "Don't let her do it, stop her Chakotay, stop her!!!" Of course he tried to reason with her first but that didn't work, she was clearly possesed with revenge, so he disobeyed her direct orders! Now this is drama! And I was thrilled when he yelled "Kathryn!" (the last time he said her name was in Night). The entire show was worth whatching just to see her give Chakotay the galre of death when he defied her orders. Personaly, I would have slapped her but we all know Chakotay is a gentleman. I didn't think the glares could get any worse until the next scene in the conference room, her eyes were burning a hole thorugh Chakotay's head, if looks could kill... I also noticed the way he tried to B-line it out of there before she saw him, but Janeway cought him and the trails began. She relieved him of Command! My jaw dropped a mile, but it was dramaticly effective and I had to say brovo again to thier brilliant acting abilities. No two actors on the face of this Earth could act a scene like that, with such hate, yet portray a feeling of deep friendship, this was clearly painful for the two of them. I desperatly wanted Janeway to answere him when Chakotay asked, "What's happened to you Kathryn?" The only explination we got was that she held a grudge. Personally I didn't buy it, and that's why I didn't give the episode 4 stars. Listen, Chakotay and his motley crew broke the Starfleet beliefs and she welcomed them on her ship with open arms, but the moment Captain Ransom and his crew kill a few aliens, she's all gung-ho to kill one of their crew members, and God knows what else. I may raise the rating on this episode if and only if they do a follow up episode on Janeway's issues. It was clear this anger wasn't just about revenge, it ran deeper than that. It would be nice to see some future episodes dealing with Janeway's emotions, but I'm not holding my breath, I'm still waiting for the follow up episode on her feelings in Night.
Returning to the Equinox, the Doctor and Seven's scenes would have been far more effective if they had had more time to act. Personaly I would've like to see their situation become a whole other episode in it's self but there's no such thing as a three parter. So the scenes with them played out just as they were, a C story, unimportant and unifective. I felt no panick for Seven's predicamate, she was never in any real danger. I also felt that the Doctor could have been scarier, his discripion of himself being Mr. Hyde was misplaced, it was Janeway who was Mr. Hyde, not the Doctor. Through out the episode Ransom became weaker and weaker suddenly a consince began to form and we knew that he wasn't going to hold on to his evil image for much longer, he was becoming a softy.
The end was enjoyable, adding new crew members will help their journey along, but Janeway's sudden snap back into reality confused me beyond words. I just pray they follow up with her issues, before she blows up. I did enjoy the cute little scene with Seven and the Doctor, it was short and sweet. But the scene I enjoyed the most was Janeway and Chakotay's scene. I loved the silent appologies they made to each other, without even uttering a word. They didn't need to fill the scene with usless bable, they're beyond that, they knew what wasn't said. I did, however, love this dialogue:
"Neelix is throwing a Pot Luck"-Chakotay
"Will I see you there?"-Janeway
"I'm replicating the salad."-Chakotay
"I'll bring the crutons."-Janeway
That to me was increadably sweet and simple, the audience knew immediatly that they were going to be OK.
Can we say metephor? The Voyager plaque scene was strikingly beautiful. Their unspoken love shined through in that last scene when they looked at one another. To me, the plaque was a symbol of their friendship, and this episode made me realize that their friendship is far more important than any argument they may have.
In conclusion this was a very good episode to start the new season out with, I hope there are more wonderfuly emotional episodes in the furture that make me feel the way this one did. I also hope they show us more of the different levels of Janeway and Chakotay's relationship. The writters may not be doing anything with them romaticly this season, but the least they can do is explore thier friendship, at least that would be a step in the right direction.
J/C drinking game. 4 sips. I cheated a bit and took one sip when he shot at the alien that attacked Janeway, and then was attacked himself. I thought that qualitfied for throwing himslef on her to protect her. The second sip came when he called her Kathryn in the corridoor, right before he disobayed a direct order. Another sip came when he called her Kathryn in the confrence room. The final one happened in honor of such a cute ending. It also qualitfied for the potential of them letting thier hair down at the party.
As far as J/C content goes, I thought that it was a wonderful excersise in the strength of their friendship. It also confirmed Chakotay's loyalty to her, any other first officer, including Ricker, would have never put up with a Captain who had a such bad attitude. They would have muntinied. I also loved the cute ending between them and the metaphor with the plaque. After Chakotay say's "let's put it back up where it belongs" I could see the wheels turning in Janeway's head, I think she had a revalation about how much he means to her.
