Basics, part I

DVD, Voyager S2 (Basics, part I)

In its day this was an absolute classic and one of my favourite all-time episodes of the series. Not since the pilot had there been such sweeping plot movements, a collection of so many good things about the series, and a proper full-scale battle with Voyager outgunned by three Kazon lunkers (I like to think that's what they call that class of ship!). The Doctor goes 'overboard' in a holographic mix-up, Tom Paris bravely goes back for Talaxian help in the midst of the battle, and the plan to draw some of the firepower away from Voyager's shields by projecting false ships around it worked well. Perhaps one of the greatest things about the episode is the way it ends, Janeway and her crew stranded, alone except for curious cavemen and dinosaur-like lizards, on an inhospitable volcanic landscape without even two combadges to rub together. I'll bet Chakotay and Janeway were wishing they were back on the planet they got stranded on last episode - at least there they could have been working on a nice log cabin in between stints in the bathtub!

Nowadays the excitement level doesn't quite reach fever pitch - I can't help but have seen so many TV and film productions that it's chipped away at what was exceptional fifteen years ago. Although the action isn't as spine-tingling, I couldn't help noticing how professional everyone is under pressure. None of these quiet character asides (unless you count Suder, who seems as creepy as ever: "I just wanna do something for the ship!"), or slow scenes of plot extrapolation - everyone does their jobs as the camera flies around the bridge or engineering, orders are spouted out and all the evidence is there of a well-oiled crew at the top of their game. There's a steady mood of danger growing through the events, exacerbated by the appearance of Tierna, a Kazon who was apparently more loyal to Seska than to his own leader. Apart from that irregularity his story checks out. As the Doc says, he'd have had to be willing to breathe in noxious fumes until death if it was a ploy. It turns out he was willing to die as he whips off his toenail which concealing a needle, and sets off the chemicals in his bloodstream - suicide bomber or hero of his people? Was he threatened with a slow death if he didn't comply, or was he a Kazon fanatic? We'll never know.

We don't often get Chakotay's weird Indian wafflings, but this one is a particularly nice scene when he talks to his Father about the child and his Dad makes him realise that a child has no knowledge or blame. I like to think Chakotay merely imagined what his Father would have said to him in a dream rather than actually talking to him, but it was a great moment and a real shame Kolopak never showed up again. It was also one of the scenes that stand out for the lighting and direction with Kolopak's face almost covered in deep shadow - this strong contrast was used very effectively throughout the episode, to the extent that I mentally chuckled when Cullah, upon taking over Voyager comments on it being so dark and wants someone to turn the lights on! There are other strong visual moments too, in the landing of the ship, and the vast elliptical shadow it casts, the view of the saucer section used as a ceiling under which Cullah speaks to Janeway and some of the crew, as seen from a low angle is memorable.

Maje Cullah really gets the best scenes out of all the episodes he's been in, Seska, now engrossed in fondling her baby infant, plays second fiddle to his eye-rolling and exasperation, though it's still a shocking moment when he backhands the Captain showing her the 'respect' due a Kazon woman now she no longer has the leverage of her technology. He even gets to fully revel in his prize of the USS Voyager by laughing a hearty, evil laugh as he sinks back into the comfy Captain's chair, his victory, at least for the moment, complete. But Starfleet survival skills being what they are, and ingenuity being rampant among Federation types, and the possibility that Tom Paris' shuttle might just have made it to safety, means Cullah should enjoy his triumph while he can. He shouldn't have forgotten that the series is called 'Star Trek: Voyager' after all.

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