618. ProphecyFORMULA: The Emissary + Rightful Heir + Dragon's Teeth + Destiny
WHY WE LIKE IT: Klingons!
WHY WE DON'T: Klingons??!
REVIEW: Klingons in the Delta Quadrant? How convenient. Too convenient? Well, maybe the story is driven by prophecy, so it's fate and not coincidence. Maybe. You know, it makes me nostalgic to see people argue about the interpretation of a prophecy. In that glowy DS9 kind of way.
These Klingons apparently left the Empire generations ago, acting on a prophecy about a messiah - the kuvah'magh - leading them to a new homeworld (Edennnnnn, yeah brother...). Could the kuvah'magh be B'Elanna's baby? The Klingons are split on that point. On one side, Kohlar, who chooses to see everything as the prophecy made true not because he truly believes it, but because he wants his people to move on. On the other, T'Greth, perhaps more of a believer, but just as politically motivated. He rejects Kohlar's interpretations as a means of gaining power.
They only let us in on the prophecy a little at a time, as the plot warrants, so it's not like in Destiny when everything is suddenly revealed. Instead, more often that not, something happens and then we're told the prophecy covered it. Far from as rewarding. And it's an odd prophecy that names a messiah, but then has all the great deeds be done by the messiah's parents. (It's a Klingon thing.) I suppose that's as strange as the prophecy requiring the Klingons to blow up their own ship so they can squat on Voyager. Strange, but a necessary plot requirement to raise the stakes. Similarly, the surprise disease everyone has and that is ultimately cured by the kuvah'magh's blood chemistry, is revealed late (and cured suddenly). In other words, we're never told enough to really make the pieces fit. Lazy writing again.
There's also a funky subplot about Harry being pursued by a Klingon female and Neelix helping him (and himself) by taking her off his hands. A subplot that dovetails nicely into the bit where Neelix and Tuvok are thrown together as bunk mates when the Vulcan comes off to basically find a sock on the doorknob. Well orchestrated comedy, if it perhaps conjures some odd images in your head.
LESSON: If one Klingon doesn't screw you, another one will.
REWATCHABILITY - Medium: The prophecy's value is kept appropriately ambiguous and it's nice to see another Klingon sleeper ship (and coincidence be damned), but the episode suffers from some rather lax writing.
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