WHY WE LIKE IT: The Big Bad returns.
WHY WE DON'T: The slow recap.
REVIEW: We're down to the final six, and so this episode is all about setting up the series finale. We spend a little too much time in a feel-good recap and "almost-end" (but who are they kidding?). The mission is taken away from Voyager. Janeway and Chakotay reminisce about the old days (and Endgame's Admiral Janeway). The Nova Squadron hopefuls don't want Dal in their exercises, but Ma'jel convinces them he's a cool cat. The Doctor tells Zero Starfleet knows how to build them a new body (REALLY! I mean, Disco did it for Gray, but that was the super-future, and Picard's android body is also in the future). Point is, it feels like the end.
And then, Asencia shows her hand. She's somehow built a fleet of ships inside temporal shelters (so, in record time) and bam, a giant warship appears out of nowhere, commanded by Drednok, and by the end, it leaves Voyager dead in space. The source of illicit temporal tech is an eye-opener: A captured Wesley!!! Oh crap! Dal gets to use a Nova Fighter when the Lurian Grom (she's female? who knew? she never talks - amusingly someone tells her to can the chit-chat, very Morn) is hurt in the attack. The Flyers are supposed to be a take on the Delta Flyer which is fun too, and the space action was right out of Battlestar Galactica. Meanwhile, most of the kids follow Chakotay to the Protostar to protect it... and the timeline. I guess Chakotay is why they send Dal to do something else (but Zero too), since his role is taken. It's especially nice for holo-Janeway who seems very sad with her crew on Voyager. Unfortunately, Bribble follows Rok so it can deploy a poop joke. Great.
Since this IS about the timeline and protecting it, I should mention the rather strange conversation with Jellico that mentions the Romulan evacuation happening in this time frame and the use of those primitive androids. It's so weird to think about. After Cracked Mirror, last episode, it feels like Star Trek: Picard is all part of an alternate timeline. I sometimes think it should have been.
LESSON: Tom Paris is the GOAT, even in absentia.
REWATCHABILITY - Medium: Things are moving nicely, but maybe there wasn't enough material for a full episode here.
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