555. NightFORMULA: The Immunity Syndrome + One
WHY WE LIKE IT: Satan's Robot.
WHY WE DON'T: Janeway's leadership style.
REVIEW: Having avoided a cliffhanger at the end of the previous year, the fifth season starts with the ship two months into a more than 2-year journey across a vast expanse of nothingness. I don't really know if such a thing exists in our galaxy, especially one through which stars cannot shed light through (though I'll accept any old dark matter theory on this), but the effect is certainly dramatic. The outside shots with just Voyager's lights running provide a stark contrast with the colorful exit from the region, and darkness is used very well throughout the episode to provide an ominous atmosphere and interesting transitions.
Different characters react differently to the void, though for the most part, it makes the crew stir-crazy. Neelix has bouts of anxiety as per his experience in Mortal Coil. Harry has perhaps the best attitude, seeing it as a 2-year vacation. Tom looks at it from the holo-programmer's point of view (imagine 2 full seasons of holodeck episodes if they hadn't gotten out) and for the first time presents the Captain Proton program. I can understand why they're visit this setting again and again because it's a lot of fun right from the start. Paying homage to what Star Trek was derived from, but essentially playing it for laughs (how Seven disables the robot is quite funny), with a bold black and white look. It's pretty great. I bet you can hear that soundtrack blaring when you're playing the program.
But it's Janeway whose attitude leaves something to be desired. At a time when the crew needs to keep up morale, she's spirals into self-pity and depression, isolates herself from everyone and leaves the ship in Chakotay's hands. The only thing this accomplishes is to make him look like a better leader than she is. Her contention that her original decision that got them stranded in the Delta Quadrant was selfish is nothing compared to how selfish she's acting at this very moment. In the plot, this is meant to remind viewers of Voyager's premise and to inform her next decision to save or not the delicious chocolate void aliens, but it does more bad than good for her character, and the crew's loyalty almost misplaced.
Since the episode can't possibly be just about the crew's cabin fever, Voyager DOES meet aliens. Two species in fact, including the Malon, which will become this season's recurring foes. They are space polluters who have been dumping toxic waste in the void, killing the natives. Voyager finds a peaceful resolution to the conflict, but it ignores the Prime Directive to such an outrageous degree that even the Malon has to comment on it. At this point though, the PD is a dim memory and only worth noting because it's been an integral part of Star Trek for so long. In any case, the Malon refuse to play along and it turns into a fire fight. One last question: With the Malon destroyed, why not stop and make repairs before going into the vortex and blowing it up? There's just no reason to risk the ship riding a shockwave at the end (nor does the ship seem in any great danger in the way it's played).
LESSON: On any trip, bring a lot of books. And candles.
REWATCHABILITY - Medium: Almost Medium-High, but Janeway's outrageous actions undercut the interesting ideas the episode introduces. I also can't help but wonder how bold it would have been to set this at the end of Season 4, and jumping 2 years in the timeline at the start of Season 5.
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