Year 2000 Just a quick note that my critiques in 1998 have largely been remedied. The characters have all been redeemed of the faults I listed then. Tom Paris has undergone some growth experience and Seven of Nine has contributed a unique and special new character fitting the Star Trek Genre. In fact, the combination of the Doctor, The Borg and the Vulcan give us a unique triumverate of alternative beings comparable to the uniqueness of the original Mr. Spock. Yes, I know Neelix is up there too, even if he does have to rely on quite human resources and isn't perfectly logical, capable of transmitting himself or conscious of the difference between individuality and the collective. And just because I haven't mentioned Janeway, Torres, Kim and others does not mean they aren't doing the greatest job - right on! Year 1998 As you read this, do not let my rambling critique's give you the impression I do not love this show. Although Roddenberry's death has left a horrible void, the momentum he placed in motion is still moving. From Captain Janeway's cup of coffee to Neelix's soup, there is hardly finer dining on TV. Though this essay may sound critical, I love this show very much. I wondered why I was so critical. The answer came to me. This show does not only have the criteria of good acting and good scripts to live up to, but my own idea's of the Star Trek genre, all the past character boundries of specific races within the federation, and the general ideals instilled by Gene Roddenberry to maintain themes of mutual cooperation, tolerance, intelligence and recognition of protocols required within specific hierarchies. All in all, any actor in this crew has to cover a lot more bases than any other show except Deep Space Nine that is on Television today. My praise to all the characters, even Tom Paris. Voyager is one of the greats in the Golden Age of Television. In the traditional manner, Voyager continues to raise the consciousness of society while providing relaxing entertainment, unlike so many programs that lower the consciousness of society by numbing people to the events of our time. A consistent issue across all Star Trek serials is how the program is engaged in educating people with futuristic cultural themes. This being done in the idealism that our future would embrace our ideas of justice for all. Keep in mind, that about the same time Bobby Inman stated the future is no longer what it used to be, Gene Roddenberry dies and many of us see the Machiavellian aspects of our social order rise above our precepts of justice for all. Voyager as a post-Roddenberry series, begins to see a relaxing of the ideals with the allowance of characters who stray. Not wanting to be too harsh on Tom Paris, he is this character. In one episode we see him dare Chakotay to remove his mask and breathe the toxic atmosphere. While we learn later that this was not the real Tom Paris, it was quite believable and in character for Tom. Ensign Kim has a tendency to keep up with Tom Paris and also shows signs of straying. B'Ellana Torres strays also. In "Ship in a Bottle" she becomes irate with Seven of Nine over behavior. While she may be in part justified: some people are rude and impolite, I do not think she was here and furthermore, her scenario creates a foundation for the basis for unethical discrimination based on cultural nuances for fascist corporatism to attack without cause the individual. On a Starship, there is a hierarchy of authority. Either Seven of Nine is acting within it or she is not. That can be dealt with. However, the subjective attack on Seven of Nine is consistent with the arbitrary way in which corporations are engaging in discrimination: a newer, more subtle way. If a group of people wish to get rid of someone, someone complains about that persons style. In a case of someone being attacked, they are usually cautious and there is nothing substantial to attack them with. However, using a subjective value, one person may lead an attack. If this does not create friction, another person may join. Now, several of the group who wish to discriminate simply have to chorus in and the truth is out the window, and the person targeted has lost their job. I think that B'Ellana's attack against Seven of Nine was uncalled for and the scripting was the result of the new unethical corporate fascist influence that has replaced Gene Roddenberry. Star Trek does portray a military hierarchy similar to a corporate/fasciestic culture, and I am not criticizing that. I am critical that any Star Trek episode would validate what is being used as a means to circumvent protections against discrimination enabling the corporate fascistic structure to engage in petty and arbitrary attacks against individuals who have otherwise done their job well, and who perhaps are the victims of political groups seeking to discriminate in subtle ways. Star Trek teaches to accept the multi-cultural melting pot. To now start validating non-cooperation and feuding based on possible cultural differences, possible other undisclosed factors, or simply rascist and discriminatory agenda's is something Gene Roddenberry would have unmasked and presented in full scope. Otherwise, I like B'Ellana's character very much, and as she was not part of such a deliberate targeting of someone, I am not condemning the character which is very good at all: I am only condemning the specific incident which writers used to backslide on the very tight ethical systems integral to Star Trek. The Star Trek theme of justice for all and mutually respectful behaviors for differing cultures was in direct contrast to the egotistical one-step-upmanship of individuals plagued by inferiority complexes and low self esteem, who behave condescending to others to make themselves feel better. From Star Trek to the next Generation we saw the development for more respectful interaction, which is maintained well in Deep Space Nine. Voyager, while having much greatness from the momentum and culture that exists, must be careful not to undermine the cultural advances put forth by Star Trek Serials in general by validating childish abuses that are fitting only for the Q. In one Voyager episode, the Doctor. says "facts be darned"(in order to save lives) but later reverses this belief realizing that history is doomed to repeat itself as long as lies are allowed to supplant truth. This is very admirable and is consistent with the ethical values established by Star Trek Series, and consistent with the realization that the means affect the ends, or that Machiavellian politics is self defeating and ultimately displaces tyranny with tyranny. With discipline and respect, the crew of Voyager presents responsible, highly aware, and conscientious role models for today's and tomorrow's societies. Seven of Nine has adapted admirable and quick, and detached and dedicated, present a professional demeanor. Chakotay, although not of Star Fleet, has adapted as if he has had the best training there is. Inclusion of vision quests, lucid dreaming, and other phenomenon still veiled from science but beyond denial by Chakotay brings a valuable asset to Voyager. The lesson here is for science to work to understand the unknown, rather than go into childish denial of that which cannot be quantified or tested by scientific means. I was sorry to see Tess go. And I think I recognize Tuvoc. Wasn't he the same guy who tried to Hijack Picard's enterprise when it was being cleaned of Barium particles. Of course, he was human in that episode, but he could have had his Vulcan ears masked. Tuvoc has had a very hard role to follow after Mr. Spock, but I am sure that this offers Tuvoc many opportunities not yet exercised. Indeed, Tuvoc has hardly started to play the logic card. I relate very much to Neelix, being an inventive cook myself, with a diverse background of knowledge. I think there is much we can see in the growth of Neelix's character, discovering new talents no-one knew he had. The Doctor is quite the innovation. A holographic officer who can travel radio networks is quite an accomplishment, and I think Janeway will have lots to show off if she ever gets back to Earth. Janeway has a very tough role. To follow all the male captains of the past, and keep that authority and respect while not losing her feminine traits. I think she is doing it, and will continue to lead the way. Her role is quite important as it deals with a leadership role of women in society. There are plenty of scenario's to test her, and much in real life to draw on which may be hurled at her to see how she responds! Janeway, as the first famous female captain of a Star Fleet Vessel hopefully will not let a "June Lockhart in Lassie" motherliness get in the way of her being a captain as she deals with infantile and egotistical behavior from one of her officers who is influencing the others. If Janeway wants to be June Lockhart in Lassie, Parris will suffice as Timmy. If she's going to get the Voyager home, she'll need to make a real Star Fleet officer out of Tom. I think Tom is a bad influence on the crew. He is kind of like an immature 'Q', without the power of 'Q' or the discipline of Star Fleet. He has done lots of good too, and he has become more disciplined, but he must work on his trifling behaviors and perhaps low self esteem. Tom Paris is not without hope. If Janeway hadn't turned into a lizard and had sex with him, she probably would have kicked his butt and got him in shape by now, instead of being his lover. Paris needs a make-over: an episode where he grows up fast. Perhaps make him into a victim of a Catch 22 so he understands the importance of mutual respect. "Q" represented that elitist of the oligarchy which is above the law, above morals, totally egotistical and without conscious. As Americans are slowly brainwashed into forgetting our beliefs in Justice and Truth and Human Rights, gradually buying into the egocentric arrogance of power by wealth, we lose the striving for a classless system and slip back into the horrors of a past epitomized by caste systems, nobility, serfs and laws that are the whims of some and no more than tools of enslavement for others. As America forgets Thomas Jefferson and misquotes Thomas Jefferson, the culture of Star Trek is threatened by the culture of the Q continuum. I love Voyager's crew. Chakotay, Ensign Kim, B'llana Torres, Tuvoc, Tess, Neelix, Seven of Nine, Captain Janeway, the doctor, Ensign Kim and even Tom Paris. I hope to see them chart more unexplored space than Captain Kirk before they are through, and to expose the overt monsters of Captain Kirk, as well as the more covert monters Picard had to deal with.
Eoroneth@hotmail.com
California
United States