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At certain points in the history of a show, there are necessary pit stops to refuel and rrenergize the audience. When Brannon Braga and the lot sat down to start on this one thing they probably realized was that it was about time to have a really thrilling episode. Whether or not they planned it, who knows. You can usually tell when there is a big episode by who guest stars in it, or atleast it's one indicator. The hype over 'Pathfinder' began months before it ever aired. Paramount really made this a big deal, which when we the fans see happen, we tend to get a little over-excited.

By now I know I have some of you wondering where I am going with this. When you sit down in front of your television to watch a show, maybe it's not even Star Trek, you have a preconceived notion of what it is you're going to think about it, even if the show is completely new to you. Paramount had trailers, rumours, statements, etc. circling which meant one or two, at the very least, people went into this convincing themselves 'Pathfinder' was going to be great. If a viewer does not want to risk cheating themselves into being fooed, we have to be atleast a little skeptical. If not we might get into that stubborn mode and refuse to let ourselves think badly. So what happened here? Did anyone overlook anything? Did I let myself get taken for a ride?

Boy, you sure are lucky.

Did all those mystical clouds of deception block out anything? Yeah, probably, I try to be harsh where I can.

For six years the Intrepid-class USS Voyager has been traveling across some of the most unfriendly territory in the galaxy in hopes of reaching home. They've been up against the Kazon, Borg and Species 8472. Seems like nobody likes them and everyone is picking on them, aww..

Nice try Brannon Braga. Every episode is meant to communicate a theme, an important message the audience is supposed to pick up on consciously or subconsciously. Voyager has had a rough time, but...duh. Throughout the holodeck programs we see the crew in need. Irregardless of the actual situation, it was need that was meant to be capitalized. Starfleet isn't hunting down Voyager because they are lost in the Delta Quadrant, but because their poor people who just are on the brink of going crazy. It's not the truth and it's not that interesting to watch. Voyager has been through a supreme deal and they do need help, but we should not be to the point we feel they are truly lost.

Another problem here was the lack of powerful moments. This was a big deal. In the end Starlfeet finally establishes contact with Voyager for longer than just 5 seconds, we need to feel it. I got nothing from the entire scene. It just was not moving for me, I wanted to feel more tension leading up to it.

The show did a better job in realizing this than I would have origianlly expected. Whoever thought of casting Dwight Schultz

Rating: A-