Relativity

 DVD, Voyager S5 (Relativity)

Amid watching the new Treks it's so comforting to go back to the old, there's a reassurance there, a familiarity that has been lost from the tone and style of what's made now. Relatively, this episode is one of the best of the season - time travel stories can almost do no wrong. It takes you back to when anything shown beyond the 24th Century was a view of hope: hope that Trek would continue beyond this season, beyond this series, beyond further series' and films. That the story wouldn't end with this segment of history. Now, of course, we don't have that pleasure thanks to 'DSC' Season 3 travelling further than anyone had ever been before to show what the Federation was like in the 32nd Century. Turns out it was very different, but humans were the same as those depicted as far back as the 23rd Century (their version) - lack of discipline, lack of sense, lack, lack, lack... At least at this time in the 'Voyager' history going outward in time could still excite. Now they have time Transporters that can pinpoint place you in any time and place with accuracy! They have a ship that looks very different, but on the inside is still recognisably Starfleet. It was a glimpse of what things could be like five hundred years later. But before we got all that we were treated to what things were like in the past, the none too distant past: Janeway's first tour of her ship, beaming aboard, stepping out onto the Bridge, sitting in the Captan's Chair, walking through the Ready Room and Briefing Room... It's a slice of bliss for those who care about the reality of this world and its characters.

It was so good they'd do it again in 'Fury' (when Kes travels back to an earlier time on the ship), and to some degree in 'Shattered' (the ship's divided into various time periods), so it shows what a great idea it was that they could continue to mine it for the last two seasons to come. Not only that, this is also a direct sequel to one of the exciting early-ish two-parters, 'Future's End,' the same character they dealt with in that, reappearing. It's a shame they couldn't get the original actor back to reprise Captain Braxton as that would have been better, but the guy here does a fine job. It's not like recasting a major character so it's not essential, but it would have been better if they could have got him. But still, we do see old faces on the crew, mostly the main characters as they were back then, but also Lieutenant Carey who would go on to have difficulties accepting B'Elanna in the role he should have had, and it was great to have him meet Seven since we'd never seen them interact as Carey's role was fairly redundant once B'Elanna took over, but he was one of those faces that came back now and again, ultimately being killed off right near the end of the series, a cruel fate to mete out. Just as I'd have preferred them bringing back original Braxton, I'd have liked to see some of the other minor characters established in 'Caretaker,' like Rollins or Cavit, maybe Stadi, though I suppose most viewers wouldn't remember these bit parts well enough for it to be worth it.

Still, they cram in all kinds of wonderful nostalgia moments, from the attack by the Kazon (did they reuse footage of the ships or was it new - I'm guessing they probably saved the money!), to the EMH first being activated and meeting Janeway, the old bun hairstyle, mention of the Maquis and Tuvok's role on Chakotay's ship, as well as the Badlands, the first mission the ship went on (not to mention a fun exchange where it's suggested the Federation owes its existence to the Borg thanks to the events of 'First Contact'!). So it's full of delights, but not in the way modern Trek shovels in as many references and characters as they can get just to try and appear authentic. 'Voyager' didn't need to try, it was authentic, it didn't rely on past glories to sell itself as Trek, yet also managed to boldly go into its own legendary status, true to the tone and ethos of its forebears. When they did choose to look back it had all the more resonance and while I can nitpick that characters didn't quite look and sound as they should to be convincing as their past selves from a few years before (in other words, why doesn't Chakotay have any grey in his hair?), there was enough of a similarity to note the difference - the EMH isn't quite as brusque and deadpan as I'd have liked, but it's still a thrill to witness him meet his Captain for the first time. I loved the little moment in the corridor when Janeway of now runs into B'Elanna of then during the Kazon attack, and just in general the conceit was lovingly played out. Wasn't the Doctor first activated in 'Caretaker'? I don't remember, and either way it would have only been hours' or days' difference.

It makes it more fun that it should be someone who wasn't around on the ship at that time who carries out the missions initially - seeing Seven in a Starfleet uniform was great (as it was when T'Pol did the same on rare occasions in 'Enterprise'), and interacting with the environment. There did seem to be a point when things didn't quite hang together, however: namely when Janeway goes back in time to finish Seven's task. Earlier, she remembered seeing the chroniton readings on her first day on Voyager, recognising them, but doesn't mention it happening again during the Kazon attack, but when she goes back we see the version of her at that time remembers the readings from her first day, so surely our current Janeway would have remembered both instances, or she shouldn't remember any instances, from Drydock or Kazon attack. It's not a flaw, maybe the second memory was less distinct amid more pressing matters, while her first day on the ship would be more solidified in her mind. Or it could simply be put down to the vagaries of time travel and it hadn't happened originally. (I can also say carrying around a 29th Century Phaser wouldn't help one to blend in...).

There were so many things that were a delight to see or hear about Janeway's first boarding of Voyager. For one thing we get to see Utopia Planitia Shipyards, and it's all happening in space, there's none of that later stupidity of ships being built within gravity on the ground! Just as we'd seen before with a holoprogram of the Enterprise-D being constructed, it adds so much weight to the history and sense of place, one of those things that remind you of the days when Trek took itself seriously where it mattered, true to its history. And the Admiral reminding Janeway she's a scientist first, then a Captain since it can be easy to forget that aspect of the character. Or Janeway setting up the release of Tom Paris from detention, saying everyone deserves a second chance. It's all so nicely put together. It's not merely dry nostalgia fodder either, there's real drama from the fact that Seven has only limited jumps before she's damaged or killed, and most importantly, the sense of finality and sober defeat when the order to abandon ship is given. It doesn't matter what series or film it occurs in, it's always one of those dramatic moments that resonates so deeply because the ship is also a home, it's the vehicle that takes us to these adventures, and to go to that last resort is always spine-tingling and chilling in equal measure (even the ugly Kelvin Timeline Enterprise's evacuation and destruction was a high, and point of connection in 'Beyond' generally missing from that film series).

Again, I can wish for other things to improve the drama, such as seeing the internal destruction of various parts of the ship happening on screen, but it doesn't hurt the episode and it's one of those rare times you see the ship explode (last season's 'Year of Hell' was the previous time). Braxton mentions Janeway's made three temporal incursions he had to fix, but I'm not sure which ones he'd have been referring to, other than 'Future's End.' Maybe 'Year of Hell,' possibly 'Time and Again' or 'Timeless,' but I'm not sure. You'd think he'd have cited a few more, too, especially considering how the series ended with a direct temporal violation from Janeway! But since it isn't real time travel the writers didn't know they were going to do that then! One factor in the episode that could have added a whole other dimension to the story and might have made it more compelling in a different way is only touched on briefly: the idea that your past self could be held accountable for your future self's actions. That opens up a whole thorny issue of whether we're the same person throughout our life (in spite of changing all the cells in the body every seven years I think it is), and if we did have the ability to see the future would that be enough to hold someone in order to prevent the crime. And if the crime therefore never takes place, why are you holding the person... There's also the issue that we see different Braxtons (and I don't mean the actor who played him). At the end of 'Future's End' he claims he never experienced the timeline of being stuck on Earth for thirty years, in which case he'd have less of a reason to wish Janeway harm.

One other big problem is why Braxton runs around the ship with his bomb when he could have simply set it off anywhere. I suppose he was trying to find a location where it wouldn't be detected and he wasn't suicidal, he wasn't going to set it off wherever he was. There was some hope for him since he did plead for leniency by giving them the point at which he could be stopped, but it's all very confusing over what version of Braxton there is at any one time. If he's later contrite does that mean that his criminal past self should be treated better because he went on to change his mind. Or was he simply playing the system and knew the jig was up, he could do nothing so may as well do what he could for himself. I must say I loved his uniform with the same logo Chronowerx appropriated in the 20th Century, and we obviously get a chunk more of life in the 29th Century (though I'd love to know more about the alien we see), compared with the tiny timeship and single character of Braxton in the earlier story, even if it it's still minimal since they always wanted to leave as much speculation and room for manoeuvre for future stories as they could. Unfortunately that means lesser minds have come along with their own agendas and corrupted Trek or muddled it and because not enough was tied down had free rein, so it's a two-edged sword. All we can do is be grateful Trek lasted at the top or near the top of its game for so long and we can always time travel back via those old episodes. It doesn't stop it from being tainted by newer visions (I struggle to get through most current Trek, forcing myself week by week), but it can still be loved and enjoyed, even without the hope of more great Trek in the future.

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