Star Trek 491: Threshold

491. Threshold

FORMULA: New Ground + Genesis + Identity Crisis

WHY WE LIKE IT: The exploration of Tom Paris' character.

WHY WE DON'T: The exploration of Brannon Braga's stupidity.

REVIEW: Here we go, the worst Voyager episode, bar none. The number of nonsense premises stacked on top of each other don't just strain suspension of disbelief, they kill it, throw it in a hole, bury it, then nuke the planet from orbit before leaving for another dimension. Stupid ITEM #1: With no outside resources, Voyager's motley crew (specifically an ex-con, a promising ensign and a Maquis engineer) succeed in sending a ship to Warp 10 (a theoretical impossibility) when no one back home has ever been able to even come close. Stupid ITEM #2: The episode uses the same definition for Warp 10 the Tech Manuals do, i.e. it represents infinite speed, which in turn means you would be everywhere at once. It's not like breaking the warp barrier for a few seconds then throttling back to see the Earth far behind you. You could probably not hope to get your pilot back from such a flight. Even so, after the events of Threshold, the whole things is scrapped because it's not safe. But why can't you just go to Warp 9.99 or whatever? You don't need to go to Warp 10 to hit record velocities.

Stupid ITEM #3 (the big one): Existing everywhere at once makes you evolve a super speeds, and our ultimate form is that of a salamander. Not only does the script not understand how evolution works, but the conclusion it reaches is anti-Roddenberrian. Star Trek has always taught us that humanity would one day evolve into a higher plan of consciousness, indeed that all species carry the potential for it. Seems to me a god-making experience like the one Paris had would bring him closer to that. Perhaps there's something akin to the Traveler's means of travel in this metaphysical endeavor. As it is, it's a good opportunity for body horror reminiscent of Cronenberg's version of The Fly. Not very palatable tv. But things get worse! Paris kidnaps Janeway, turns her into a salamander and mates with her. Prime Directive be damned, they even leave the hatchlings behind. Not only is this all very dumb indeed, especially the lack of reaction from those two later, but it's yet another indignity for the Captain. The show seems set on not allowing us to respect her. Anyway, don't worry, there's a big DNA reset button at the end, because you know, it's that easy to rewrite someone's genome. It'll even give you back the haircut you had before mutating into a gross (actually, the puppets are rather well made) lizard thing.

I do give props for the early scenes of Paris desperately trying to prove himself, especially when the Captain tries to take the mission away from him. This need, not just to prove himself, but also be on record as something else than a screw-up and rogue, is what's been driving this entire "second chance", and there's pathos in the idea that the one he's really trying to prove it to (his father) may never know. Unfortunately, it all ends with a Family Matters-style lesson about not caring about others' opinions.

Brannon Braga did go on record regretting writing this mess, but whether that's because of fan backlash or seeing the result on the screen is anyone's guess. It seems like a bad idea is a bad idea on the page, long before real money's spent on it. This is where Braga joins an illustrious group of negligently clueless producer types, among them George Lucas, John Nathan-Turner and Joe Quesada.

LESSON: I'll be a monkey's uncle.

REWATCHABILITY - Low: Even if you look at Voyager like it's Lost in Space: The Next Generation, this is still a pretty awful episode of Lost in Space.