Imperfection (2)

 DVD, Voyager S7 (Imperfection) (2)

Probably the definitive Icheb episode, despite it being about Seven and how she deals with a seemingly unavoidable death from illness. It's as much about the crew's reaction to this as it is the event itself and is one of those thinking episodes, a good antidote after the more action-oriented season premiere, which explores various themes and ideas of the kind almost entirely missing from... yes, sorry, I'm about to denigrate the current state of Trek again, but this is exactly the kind of episode which shows to the full the kind of deep connection viewers could have with it, an emotional intelligence which is about as far from the effects-heavy melodrama and over the top emotionalism all too prevalent in the modern series'. It's understated and subtle so that a single tear carries much meaning, and finds the time to explore issues in a realistic manner. I can't help but think of the one episode in which Icheb and Seven both appear in the modern era: the only thing they got right with that horrific abuse of once-great characters was noting his cortical node was missing, and when they torture and murder him, referring directly back to this episode. We see in 'Picard' that Seven went on to have a long, though rather unhappy life in the years after Voyager, worse for Icheb, his life cut short. But none of that future rubbish should affect the power of this story of a person going through the stages of coming to accept death, while someone else is willing to do everything in his power to prevent it, even at the cost of his own life, a pointed redemption story of sacrifice, but one that has a happy ending insofar as it isn't the end, but then that was the point!

One thing that sticks out are some of the lesser used characters being given time for good scenes: B'Elanna wasn't a big part of 'Unimatrix Zero, Part II,' even while she was in the midst of the action, while Neelix was barely even seen, but here both have fitting scenes with Seven. It could be complained that they still only exist to serve Seven's story rather than having independent stories for themselves (we still haven't had a proper moment for Tom and B'Elanna yet and we're now two episodes into the season, you'd think they'd make time to check in on these friendships and partnerships that we'd been waiting for!), but that could often be the case, mainly because Seven was such a terrific and potent source of successful drama. It could also be complained that we'd just had a big Borg two-parter, so going back to them yet again was a bit much (apparently it was meant to be shown as the fourth episode of the season, which is why we have the Delta Flyer magically okay after it was destroyed in the Season 6 finale with no reference to that at all!), but I suppose these stories come along organically, they weren't necessarily plotting out the entire season, someone had this idea and they went for it, and in its defence, at least we weren't actually up against the Borg (other than in the sense of the finiteness of their technology, which in itself raises all sorts of questions: can full matured Borg ever really be saved if they're dependent upon a cortical node that can never be replaced except at the cost of another drone's life?), we visit a debris field to harvest for parts (a bit like 'Empok Nor,' without being as creepy), but that avenue is closed off by the Kazon scavengers...

I mean, really! Did they not realise how closely these pirates resembled Kazon? Not that it was a bad look, just that they were far too derivative, not one of Michael Westmore's better days! It did cause me to speculate whether their unfortunate resemblance to the recurring warrior gang species our heroes repeatedly encountered in the early seasons was what led Janeway to underestimate them and almost got her killed if it hadn't been for Paris' split-second beam-out! She holds one of the aliens hostage with a laser scalpel and not only does he take the risk to swat her away like a fly, Tuvok gets shot (and we never see him for the rest of the episode - I'll bet Tim Russ was annoyed they ignored any implication for his character's health, at least show him in Sickbay, but they probably didn't want to do anything to distract from Seven's situation), and Janeway's hand gets stepped on as she's about to be executed, a narrow escape. But at least it wasn't the Borg coming back for their technology as we know they can and do, even though, apparently, they don't bother repairing things. It was a little bit of a cop-out to say they couldn't replicate the node because 'it's too complicated,' but they had to remove all easy options from the table. Janeway shows her dedication to Seven by considering going in to extract a live Borg since the debris field didn't yield the necessary results. Aside from the danger to the entire ship, especially after just riling up the Queen so much, the Doctor is aghast that she could contemplate taking one life to save another (akin to his psychological episode in 'Latent Image'), though she famously had done just that in 'Tuvix.'

You could say she makes that kind of decision on a regular basis - even Icheb mentions how they risk the safety of the ship to respond to a distress call for strangers, part of the powerful argument he makes at the end to change Seven's stony mind from refusing treatment. One of the most fascinating discussions happens when Seven remarks on the mission Janeway's been on to get the crew home, and that it's been at the cost of various lives (mentioning a few, such as Lyndsey Ballard whom we met last season in 'Ashes To Ashes,' in a nice bit of continuity), which is true. But she also mistakes Janeway's motivations when she believes the only reason she refuses to accept her coming death is because she's an unfinished project and that she's failed her Captain because of that. There is an issue about different characters getting different treatment, but Seven required all the extra work Janeway gave her, she was the 'good shepherd' (another episode in itself!), who goes out for the one sheep lost from the flock, and I suppose you could say there was a greater investment in her than in the average crewmember, though I don't think Janeway would agree in the sense she cares for all of them and if any needed her special attention she'd more than give it to them. Was the journey home worth the lives lost, that's the question, but if they had simply settled on a planet there'd have been risks in that, too, there's also duty to consider and that those who died made a serious commitment to Starfleet, even if for some they never imagined it leading to extremes so early in their career in the same way a soldier goes to war, but doesn't expect to be killed in the first action they're part of.

Janeway's a good Captain, but it's surprising that even at this stage she hasn't learned she needs to trust her crew, not merely protect them: in the same way that Seven is more valuable to them all alive, the Captain of the ship is integral to their greater survival, even more in this particular case when she's essentially the matriarch of their community. So when she was all for going into the debris field alone, it was clearly in protection of her crew, but very unwise, so I appreciated Tom and Tuvok piping up to insist on accompanying her. It would also be good practice to bring a Security Team along, but that so often falls through the cracks on this series! I suppose it was so they didn't get 'redshirted' all the time as there were very limited crew numbers and they couldn't afford to be losing people every week like in 'TOS,' but having an Away Team without specialists seems mad. As it was, Janeway would undoubtedly have been kidnapped and possibly killed by the unspecified aliens - I loved the humour of the moment when Paris has beamed her and Tuvok back and basically orders her to take Tactical. She just complies with an emphatic "Aye, SIR!" That's the kind of humour that works, no undercutting the drama, not being a 'witty' smart-aleck, but acknowledging the uniqueness of the situation, yet also getting on with things because there's no time for Janeway to take offence or put Paris back in his place - it's obviously something he'd more likely do aboard the Delta Flyer since it's basically his ship in the same way the Defiant was almost Worf's ship, except when Sisko was aboard, who's presence would overwhelm everything!

The Doctor is one to be out in a difficult position throughout, and yet responds in good grace and, surprisingly, wisdom with all kinds of things to deal with, such as the thorny issue of a patient's wishes. Seven points out she shouldn't be treated differently to any other member of the crew in the sense her state of health is personal, with doctor/patient confidentiality important. It's not through a good sentiment she says this, as Icheb later shows her, she prefers to be independent and face things alone rather than admit her condition to the crew, part of his powerfully persuasive argument that shows minds can be changed with reason, while also accepting he does it in a passionate way: intellect and emotion together forging a strong battering ram to have at the wall Seven puts up when she believes there could be even a chance Icheb would be put at risk by giving up his node for her. The Doctor can't treat her before this because she as the patient refuses the treatment, and Janeway can't order her to take it because medical matters dictate the authority, but the key is that Seven can be talked round - actually, she wasn't talked round exactly, Icheb had to perform self-surgery in order to prove he could survive, and only then does he enter into his carefully constructed argument, flinging back her criticism about him being too dependent on her as motivation for wanting her to live, though I'm sure if she examined her reasoning she'd have to admit she was only saying that to make it an excuse for not putting him in danger.

It was lovely to see the motherly side of Seven again, as we'd seen before with Naomi (who strangely isn't there to see off the Borg children as they find new homes - let's hope they have a better time than Icheb did when he returned home last season...), a touching sendoff for her little brood of Borg, but also dealing with her 'teenage son' in Icheb. Throughout, their interactions are a joy: so often stilted and emotionless like a Vulcan Mother and child, yet also fierce and combative in a mirror of how Janeway and Seven interacted so much in Season 4. Icheb has really grown by this point, eager to stay with Starfleet and make it official, well thought-through ambitions. Rather than being dependent on Seven it's clear to see he's flourishing on his own, as he proves by making the selfless decision to do whatever he can to save her when she has given up. I imagine this would be a good episode to watch if you have an illness yourself, even if it's not a terminal one, since it's quite an inspiring story, the kind Trek used to do so well, showing how people can deal with real world troubles, perhaps one reason why it became so special to so many while the modern variations come across as mere entertainment without that special spark of reality and the ability to put yourself in the shoes of the characters through the distancing of them being like superheroes more than relatable people who act heroically and professionally.

It's especially rewarding to see Seven in a vulnerable position (and I don't mean lying on a Biobed in Sickbay in full view of anyone that walks in, without even a covering to go over her catsuit - you'd think there'd at least be a curtain or the energy field equivalent to allow her privacy!), not able to deal with the approach of death, an attitude we'll all have to go through (if we're fortunate and don't die suddenly without warning), needing time alone and taking out her discomfort in anger on Icheb. The Doctor was right in saying she needed to deal with it in her own way and with dignity. It's all so far from the tough nut hard-drinker rebel we saw in 'Picard,' and it's not because Seven is weak here, she's of very strong character, but even the strongest have to deal with things that shake them and there's a fascination in seeing that without resorting to cliches like a glass of whisky (quite apart from the message that sends to viewers!). She's vulnerable in a different way at the end, a healthier way when she sheds a tear for Icheb - not bawling, sobbing or otherwise making a fool of herself, but a dignified emotional reaction that also shows she's becoming more and more human with each passing season, more connected to the feelings that had been locked off within the Borg. She even has time to discuss the afterlife with B'Elanna, the half-Klingon's important scene when she, who used to be so riled up by this combative figure, gives her the compliment of saying Seven's legacy is that she's made an impact on every member of the crew, high praise indeed.

I loved that she respected her wish for solitariness, escaping from the Doctor by hiding in the upper level of Engineering, and finding excuse for her to remain there, as well as allowing room for discussion on what she thinks of post-death: she's the perfect character to be questioned about such a divisive topic since she went through some kind of experience in 'Barge of The Dead,' though she seems to remain uncertain of what that really was since she hopes there's something after death rather than having wholehearted belief. For Klingons it's about how honourable a death they receive, which is a sad thing to think of that a whole life could be good and honourable, only for a slip-up at the end to mean eternal damnation. It's these kinds of issues that don't get much time in modern Trek in general which is too busy being flippant and going after excitement than it is addressing the questions of human experience. It's not that they come down on one side or another, it's that they raise the question and leave it to the audience to ponder, a healthy approach, especially given Trek's 'science is all' attitude, because they clearly know science only goes so far in reality, it can't explain everything, nor can the faith in it one day explaining everything be a comfort here and now. In fact, B'Elanna's initial reaction to Seven's thought process is that she shouldn't be thinking of death at a time like this, when, on the contrary, on the verge of facing it seems to be the most important time to consider such questions.

Neelix is the other person Seven interacts with outside Janeway and the Doctor, the comforting attitudes of the Talaxian a warm and dependable friend that whether she admits it or not, is something she needs as much as the self-imposed tasks she uses to distract herself, even if the Doctor and Neelix have to use a charming little reverse psychology tactic to get her to play Kadis-kot. My favourite line was probably her polite, but dismissive acceptance of Neelix' kindness by saying she'll 'admire the flowers later,' in typical Seven style: flicking on or off a switch for things that would be natural to most people (like 'fun will now commence'). The same way she thinks it best to deactivate the Borg children's regeneration alcoves as soon as they've left the ship because they'll be a drain on the ship's power, when inactive they must be like leaving something on standby for us, only a minuscule drain - either she was trying to be especially practical or it gave her something to do related to her former charges that would help to cover dealing with the loss. Technology is very important in the story, obviously the key to survival being the cortical node, though it made me wonder if that means all Borg have a shelf life - their memories may live on in the Hive forever, but if repairs aren't considered worthwhile does that mean becoming Borg is a death sentence after all, as we used to think when they were introduced? Even if you become assimilated you're only safe for as long as this node functions? There's still so much we don't know about the Borg, and probably never will, but it's incredible they kept finding ways to peel back the onion with this race.

We also see the old 'leaving your Combadge behind' trick to fool the computer into thinking you're still in that location when in reality you've moved. This is actually a very promising reminder of the importance of the individual right to privacy as I've mentioned in other reviews, because clearly the computer is capable of detecting bio-signs so Starfleet could easily track each person, it just hasn't been programmed to do that, and in an age when digital ID cards are becoming ever higher on the agenda in order to track and give governments more control over their populace, it's a pleasing suggestion of Trek's superior moral use of technology once again. In other notes, it was nice to see Tom as a nurse, not something we so often in these later seasons, though you'd think the Doctor would have trained one or two other dedicated crewmembers by now! And Harry Kim doesn't get much, but he does call the Captain 'Ma'am' when she orders him to locate the Borg debris field - I don't think it's quite crunch time yet, Mr. Kim! Maybe that was the equivalent of a strong swearword in modern Trek that Kim was so surprised they would head back to a Borg location? The accolades go to Manu Intiraymi for his portrayal of a student who refuses to give up on his mentor, both Jeri Ryan and he showing what they're capable of in a number of ways, and if it hadn't already been long cemented, showing once again what a deep bond these two characters have - did I hear right that Seven was also going to take the Starfleet test Icheb was going for? It'd make sense.

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