Prophecy (2)

 DVD, Voyager S7 (Prophecy) (2)

Theeeeeeere's Klingons on the starboard bow, starboard bow, starboard bow, there's Klingons on the starboard bow, starboard bow, cap'n... This is a chance to see what the series might have been like had it been set in the Alpha Quadrant, and there is something appealing about a herd of the warrior race descending on our little ship, especially as at this point in Trek's production there weren't many more of those traditional stories about familiar races due to 'DS9' ending and 'Enterprise' being barely a twinkle in its Daddies' eyes, so for all we knew this could be the only proper Klingon tale we'd ever see, and that gave it added weight and increased its delight. And it is all very Klingon, right from the assured mind of longtime Trek boffin and details enthusiast Larry Nemecek (among others), whose mark you can clearly see in both how well Trek lore is adhered to, and how minor issues were dealt with, leading to a satisfying conclusion that comes down on neither one side or the other in a debate about the efficacy of prophecy. Being a very secular series it of course throws up a lot of scepticism about the realities of faith, belief and tradition, showing up such things, at least in the specific context of this sect, but which can easily be interpreted as an examination of the dangers of such beliefs to upend a society, yet at the same time allow plenty of room for interpretation from a perspective of believers in faith in their own lives, a subtle and balanced approach that means it can be taken various ways.

As we see with the main Klingon sceptic, T'Greth (most of Grethor in his name, meaning Klingon Hell, maybe not a coincidence?), who constantly challenges his leader's assertions about B'Elanna Torres' unborn daughter being the long-sought saviour of their people, the Kuvah'magh. Interestingly, T'Greth was played by Sherman Howard, notable as Captain Endar in 'TNG' ('Suddenly Human'), and another role in 'DS9' ('Shakaar'), while his fellow plotter, Morak (Paul Eckstein), who numbered Jem'Hadar and Hirogen among his roles on both 'DS9' and this, marked his fourth role on 'Voyager.' As the story progresses we find Captain Kohlar is actually leading his people astray, having tired of their generational journey and wishing to put down roots and end the endless search begun so long ago - he's jumped at the unlikely opportunity presented to him in the form of B'Elanna (as she and Tom discussed, the odds of them stumbling on the only ship in the Quadrant with a Klingon aboard were as likely as the odds of the pair of them getting married and having a child in the first place, which appears to me that such odds are an almost impossibility, they were so great, lending credence to the prophecy in the first place), and as Klingons do, burns his bridges at first chance - in this case literally burning his Bridge (and the rest of his ship), by initiating self-destruct, causing Voyager to have no choice but to take them all aboard.

At this point we have to talk about the beauty of the old D7 ships, the class seen in 'TOS,' since this episode is an example in how to update something without losing its essence - it's not ten times bigger than it should be, it actually looks fairly small compared to the broad length of such battlecruisers we'd seen in previous iterations of 24th Century Trek, but it has a little more texture to it. We don't get a really good look at it, partly because it cloaks a lot during its battle with Voyager, and it doesn't last very long, but it just looks right and was a wonderful idea to bring it in, showing the right thinking behind the episode in contrast to that seen in modern Trek where it's all about making things BIGGER and flashier and... less true to the history. At the same time you could complain that the scene where all two hundred Klingons are beamed aboard Voyager was pushing it a little in what Federation tech is capable of. I'm not sure if we'd been in a situation where this ship in particular had needed to beam that many at one time and it did seem a little too convenient, but true to form, the episode comes back around to this unspoken concern many a true 'faithful' may well have had floating around in their heads while watching, and not only clears it up, but makes a virtue of it by turning it into part of the plot! A Klingon looking to take over Voyager craftily comments on how much superior its Transporters are compared to his old vessel allowing Kim to explain they don't usually beam so many due to safety concerns, so bravo for deftness of writing.

I'm not sure it was wise to beam all these Klingons into the Shuttlebay, it could have been dangerous: they might steal the Shuttles to exit the ship, or even blast their way through the doors, and while unlikely, it was a major security concern. I don't think we saw any actual vehicles in that space, so it could be they were beamed to a Cargo Bay or possibly even out into space to accompany the mothership (though we never see any in shots of Voyager, so that's not very plausible). Speaking of security concerns, though, you'd think Tuvok would keep the door to his Quarters locked, especially at a time when unknown Klingons are aboard in large numbers, yet Neelix breezes in while the Vulcan's relaxing in either a robe or his pyjamas with not even a door chime to warn him of the Talaxian's intent, but then I suppose that was the point - if Neelix had been at the door it would have been easier for Tuvok to deny him entry rather than him settling down and emptying his stuff on the floor as he did. I would say this somewhat B-plot was the missing piece of the episode, as having Tuvok and Neelix share Quarters sounds like a great episode idea on its own (I can imagine it happening somehow in ordinary day-to-day operations if there was some kind of radiation leak and no other alternative than for him to come and stay for a few days), harking back to the early days in much the same way as Odo and Quark on 'DS9,' both pairings which weren't explored as much as you might think from the success of their scenes together.

The real B-story is another entry in Harry Kim's difficult path with the opposite sex, this time a statuesque Klingon warrior woman taking a liking to him so that he's reduced to crawling through the Jefferies Tubes to avoid her until Neelix happily takes her off his hands. A questionable side to the story, but then Klingons, especially the female ones, have often been shown to be aggressive in their pursuits, so it's hardly out of character. Klingons aren't supposed to be something we look up to (other than literally), they represent the violence of humanity, but here they also represent the deception of false religion when Kohlar prefers to mislead his people, interpret the ancient scrolls to achieve his end, and all because he wants them to settle on a planet instead of continuing to wander. It doesn't do much for B'Elanna's faith in her Klingon heritage, even though it appears to provide a nostalgic aside when he gets her to join him in praying to Kahless for their ancestors. Some interesting points raised here, since Kohlar wouldn't know that Kahless 'returned' to his people, although I think it was known that he was a clone of the original, or was it, it's been a while since I watched 'Rightful Heir'? Either way, this sect's been out of contact with their culture (might have been fun to have them all be flat-forehead 'TOS' versions of the race to further tie to the 23rd Century from which they came, but I suppose the genetic virus was already active and would have mutated them along with most of the Empire wherever they went), so wouldn't know anything about that, unless they took time to read up on recent Klingon history in Starfleet databases - possible, but not very likely.

The other notion I took from the scene was that Sto-Vo-Kor isn't up to much if the dead can't rest there unless the living honour their memory! You live an honourable life, you die an honourable death and head off to honourable Klingon Heaven, and yet there's still no peace unless someone back home cares enough to pray for you? Tough system! Unless this is yet another interpretation designed to reinforce traditions and faith rather being something of substance - Kohlar's behaviour calls into question Klingon ethics where it concerns their beliefs, and although he's only one man, he's also the leader of this sect that has been travelling for four generations, apparently. There was a slight issue with the timing of it all, since Kohlar claims more than a hundred years ago his Great-Grandfather was part of this sect, but since the race live for two hundred-plus years this guy could still have been around and I'm not sure it adds up that there would be so relatively few after all that time when they can live so long. At the same time they provide an out for this, besides the Klingon predilection for battling anyone that stands in their way: this disease that afflicts them and can come at any time, or so I read it, though it's also referred to like old age. It was a touch convenient that T'Greth would fall victim to it right in the middle of the Bat'leth fight with Paris, and it almost seems like they should either have gone for a battle to the death, or have Tom somehow beat him fair and square, though it's a bit much to believe a human who can barely have picked up the weapon would be trained to proficiency in the little time he had before the fight.

It's possible he regularly trained with a Bat'leth in a Klingon holoprogram to impress B'Elanna, but then again Klingon stuff doesn't tend to impress her and Tom usually prefers more old-fashioned programs. Odd we don't see any kind of training montage with Kohlar coaching him, but I assume time constraints put paid to that. My first thought when T'Greth collapsed was another deception from the master, Kohlar, ensuring victory for the Father of the Kuvah'magh at all costs by poisoning his friend - I do like that they appear to be friends and at least Kohlar calls him that, but there's also so much animosity from T'Greth, while Kohlar barely bats an eyelid, not offended at all. Very Klingon. The episode succeeds in its opening of the eyes of T'Greth to become a full believer in what Kohlar was only using as a useful circumstance, since the Kuvah'magh did save them. I'm not sure if this Klingon prophecy was meant to be for it saving the whole race or just this specific sect, in which case it could be called a self-fulfilling prophecy since if they'd never set out to fulfil it, they'd never have met the Kuvah'magh (unless it was when she's finally born and back in home space, but then certain things couldn't have fallen into place in that scenario). Kohlar came across as a bit of a bad leader in the sense that this group has been on this mission for so long and yet now he wants to sabotage it, even though it's for good reasons and the care of his people that motivates him. There's a good sense of the mysterious nature of prophecy finding a way to come true despite scepticism, but at the same time Kohlar's one of those negative stereotypes of a manipulator - interpret the scrolls to make them consistent with B'Elanna's life, his answer!

There's probably a word for an ordinary character who becomes the significant figure of their race, it's a bit of a trope of sci-fi and fantasy, especially in Trek where we have Sisko the key man in Bajoran religion, Worf (and Picard), integral to Klingon politics, Odo the bridge to his entire people, etc, and now Torres is to be Mother to a Messiah figure (again, unclear whether meant for this one sect or for all Klingons since it doesn't seem like they particularly need a change, being at peace with the Federation, for example). And of course modern Trek is full of 'superheroes' that are super-special - at least it wasn't Torres herself, but her child, and something that could have been picked up on in future had they ever wanted to play with Klingon politics and religion again. As is often the case with Trek, faith is often shown as being blind: what evidence did their ancestors have when beginning their journey, only their faith! But faith in what, why should they give up everything to follow some scrolls without any other kind of proof or motivation? I suppose Klingons are quite stubborn and once they get an idea in their heads they simply follow it to its conclusion, or death, so it's not going against type for them to act this way. In fact the only real fault I can find in the episode is Harry Kim claiming he cut himself shaving, since however they shave, I can't imagine it would be with a naked blade (they are not Klingons!), it would be some super-safe and super-effective technology doing the trimming. But even there, he was just making up stories to hide the fact he'd been bitten by Ch'Rega, so no real problems there other than if the Doc had been taken in, which he wasn't. Qapla'! pItlh!

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