In watching Star Trek: Voyager, I wished for something different from the previous series. The premise is perfect, having a Federation ship flung lightyears away from their home and dropped into the middle of an unexplored part of space. With Maquis joining the crew as a means to survive, the USS Voyager would have its morals put to the test throughout the series. Most of the time, Federation morals would win the day (it is Star Trek, after all). But as the crew is tested on their journey home, there are times that tough decisions must be made. Living for years off only what the ship can afford, getting by through alliances and trades (and sometimes more aggressive means), and putting all power to engines and life support. It's not ideal, but through it all, the Voyager crew makes it work.
Much to my dismay, this isn't what happened. Star Trek: Voyager ended up just like any other Star Trek series up to this point. Their lives are so cushy on Voyager, it's treated more like a vacation, rather than an unfortunate circumstance. Ship almost out of fuel? No worries, lets just find some; easy as that. Bored? Holodeck is a-calling. If you're feeling peckish, just replicate some steak. No drama, no intrigue, no sense of exploration. At a certain point, even before the Maquis had officially been defeated back in the Alpha Quadrant, you forget there were even outlaws/terrorists aboard.
"The Void," in my mind, is the alternate universe where Star Trek: Voyager actually tired to make the premise work. Voyager is sucked into a void (a different void than the one from "Night," apparently) and is forced to fend for themselves/find a way out. Which, might I point out, is the same premise as the show as a whole. At first, Janeway's attempts at diplomacy fall on deaf ears, with the other trapped ships being understandably skeptical. After all, they've presumably been here for much longer than Voyager has. But it all comes together in the end, a few deserters notwithstanding. Even when it would be easier to just plunder other ships for the parts they need, Janeway keeps Federation ideals. Unable to find any usable loophole in the Federation Charter, the captain holds steady. Even when others questioned her methods. And in this instance, it worked in Voyager's favor.
This episode had everything that I was looking for in Star Trek: Voyager. A positive outlook in spite of a bad situation, alliances with alien species, anomalies, betrayal, cooperation, first contact (with Fantome's species), and joining forces with Delta Quadrant species to find a way to survive. This is Voyager at it's best and one of the best episodes of the series, no question. I only take points off because, as others have noted, this would've worked much better as a two-parter. Showing a little more struggle between Janeway's morals and keeping Voyager's crew safe would've made this a perfect Star Trek show.
It's such a shame that it took 7 seasons and multiple failed plotlines (Kazon/Borg Queen/Malon, your pick) for the writers to figure out something so simple. It's lame, but Janeway's line towards the end of the episode says it all: "It was almost like being part of the Federation again." To me, "The Void" was almost like watching an interesting version of Star Trek: Voyager.
Much to my dismay, this isn't what happened. Star Trek: Voyager ended up just like any other Star Trek series up to this point. Their lives are so cushy on Voyager, it's treated more like a vacation, rather than an unfortunate circumstance. Ship almost out of fuel? No worries, lets just find some; easy as that. Bored? Holodeck is a-calling. If you're feeling peckish, just replicate some steak. No drama, no intrigue, no sense of exploration. At a certain point, even before the Maquis had officially been defeated back in the Alpha Quadrant, you forget there were even outlaws/terrorists aboard.
"The Void," in my mind, is the alternate universe where Star Trek: Voyager actually tired to make the premise work. Voyager is sucked into a void (a different void than the one from "Night," apparently) and is forced to fend for themselves/find a way out. Which, might I point out, is the same premise as the show as a whole. At first, Janeway's attempts at diplomacy fall on deaf ears, with the other trapped ships being understandably skeptical. After all, they've presumably been here for much longer than Voyager has. But it all comes together in the end, a few deserters notwithstanding. Even when it would be easier to just plunder other ships for the parts they need, Janeway keeps Federation ideals. Unable to find any usable loophole in the Federation Charter, the captain holds steady. Even when others questioned her methods. And in this instance, it worked in Voyager's favor.
This episode had everything that I was looking for in Star Trek: Voyager. A positive outlook in spite of a bad situation, alliances with alien species, anomalies, betrayal, cooperation, first contact (with Fantome's species), and joining forces with Delta Quadrant species to find a way to survive. This is Voyager at it's best and one of the best episodes of the series, no question. I only take points off because, as others have noted, this would've worked much better as a two-parter. Showing a little more struggle between Janeway's morals and keeping Voyager's crew safe would've made this a perfect Star Trek show.
It's such a shame that it took 7 seasons and multiple failed plotlines (Kazon/Borg Queen/Malon, your pick) for the writers to figure out something so simple. It's lame, but Janeway's line towards the end of the episode says it all: "It was almost like being part of the Federation again." To me, "The Void" was almost like watching an interesting version of Star Trek: Voyager.