Critical Care

DVD, Voyager S7 (Critical Care)

They didn't do the more traditional morality plays on 'Voyager' very often, but this is in the tradition of the Original Series - they even have a controlling computer, the Allocator, to deal with, although it isn't about the computer. It's a mirror for the American health service, and while it probably meant a lot to that audience, for English viewers with our National Health Service providing care for all, regardless of financial situation–sorry, T.C., it's hard to empathise with the real world message.

The series is looking good, with some nice CG work, even if the style does seem a little out of place for Trek, and the balance of the episode, carried mainly by the Doctor, is also spread out among the other characters too. There are things that make you wonder, however. Does the Doctor not follow the Prime Directive? You can feel a Janeway dressing-down coming his way at the end of the episode in the vein (urk!) of 'as much as I agree with your position you shouldn't have interfered', and I got the impression he wasn't too forthcoming about the events on the hospital ship.

The hunt Voyager carries out has some funny moments (Janeway grabbing Tuvok's hand to pretend they're 'together' is the highlight), and some good alien heads, but it doesn't stop the story from seeming a little lightweight. Gregory Itzin returns to Trek again, and as usual he's not in makeup (does he have it in his contract that he can't wear prosthetics?), but performs slightly on-the-edge, emotionless, unflustered alien man as well as always. I wonder where Chellik got his desk computer? Was it from Gar, since it looks just like a Voyager laptop - and the wall decor also looks similar to sickbay's technology, so are these people less advanced or not?

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