512. WarlordFORMULA: The Passenger + Cold Fire
WHY WE LIKE IT: Kes and Neelix break up.
WHY WE DON'T: The gory bits.
REVIEW: Ok, I'll try to make it my last rant about this kind of thing, but it's really bugged me over the last few episodes. Whether it's because of the writing, directing, editing or producing, Voyager is consistently failing to provide any incentive to stick with the episode after a commercial break. This is especially true of the teaser in Warlord. It's basically a nonsense scene in which Neelix recreates a resort in the holodeck, the boys make a few modifications to turn into the Carribean, and we go to credits by fading out from Neelix's dancing feet. Aside from the apparent interest in replacing Sandrine's with Risa Lite, how does this (1) act as publicity for the episode we're about to watch and (2) create any anticipation that will make sure we keep the bathroom break to a minimum? This incomprehension of the television format is frustrating. End rant.
As for the story itself, it shares its premise with DS9's The Passenger, as an evil tyrant transfers his mind into Kes. This gives Jennifer Lien a chance to play something totally different. Where Kes is almost zen-like in her patience and demeanor, the tyrant Tieran is manic, violent and mercurial. She pulls it off, though there are a couple of over the top moments, but they're to be expected. I'm not sure what to make of Tieran's sexual metamorphosis though. Objectively, there's no reason for his culture to be highly flexible in the area of sexual politics, though at times it looks like a reason to show Kes in some girl-on-girl action (the reference to a threesome was particularly gratuitous, as was Kes kissing Tuvok). And then there's the matter of Kes' psionic powers, as accessed by Tieran. The give him extra incentive for keeping Kes' body, but the creators go a bit far in showing the nose bleeds they cause. When the aliens have a large number of nostrils, it gets to be pretty gory.
While he's in her body, he also takes it upon himself to end her relationship with Neelix. Face it, any ongoing relationship on a show like this is simply keeping characters away from the possibility of romantic stories, and when that ongoing romance is as demure as Neelix and Kes... Sure, Neelix is quick to get his hopes up when the possession is revealed, but no, this will be permanent. Why the epilogue has to be with Tuvok instead of Neelix is a bit beyond me, but in that scene, she makes the claim that she has been touched by darkness and can never go back to the way things used to be. I applaud the sentiment, knowing full well Voyager has done a generally bad job adhering to this idea. Is the writer trying to cement the psychological changes she has wrought on the character? Or was this all mandated by the producers in order to "sex up" Kes, as evidenced by a sexier look in episodes to come.
But I don't want to be too hard on Warlord. It has its nice bits, including some quickly paced action and a constant battle between Kes and Tieran that keeps the tension going. And the performances are generally good. While I always thought the combat vessel from Unification was cool, it's kinda weird seeing it in the Delta Quadrant. Note to the creators: If you have a very distinctive model, crossing it over to another quadrant may be risky.
LESSON: It's not you, it's the evil alien entity inside me.
REWATCHABILITY - Medium: A good piece for Jennifer Lien, well paced and directed, and with lasting consequences for once. It does go for cheap sensationalism however.
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