Tuvok investigates a series of attacks on former Maquis members of the crew, but realizes that the person responsible may be closer to home than he realizes.

Oh, for God’s sake. How low can this series go? The trailer promised an exciting insurrection with Chakotay taking over the ship. Now, I knew how unlikely that was going to be without alien involvement (sadly), but this is the worst constructed story in the history of the world. It starts off with Tom and B’Elanna going to the cinema. Yes, after they moaned about lack of time off together last episode, now they’ve got lots of time on their hands and Tom has knocked up a holoprogram showing crap 3-D horror movies from the Fifties. If this idea isn’t silly enough (bring back Captain Proton), there’s worse.

When someone is attacked, Tuvok is put in charge of the investigation. Now, firstly his prime suspect is a woman he finds in the quarters of the attacked crewman. Hardly conclusive evidence, I’m sure you’ll agree. Secondly, of all the people he doesn’t examine the alibi of, the one he misses (himself) is the culprit. Unlikely as it might be, you’d still think he might have looked into this. Not only that, but he’s got the world’s largest bruise on his side which is a clue, a bruise that looks so painful it’s odd that he doesn’t notice it immediately.

Then there’s the reason. Yes, Tuvok was captured while in the Maquis and experimented on by a Bajoran. It’s never explained why, we never know exactly what was done to him, and nor is it revealed how this Bajoran is a) still alive, b) knows Voyager is lost in the Delta Quadrant, c) managed to intercept and alter a letter to Tuvok or d) what the Bajoran hopes to gain by controlling a ship billions of light years from where he is.

Everyone on Voyager deserves what they get. When people start acting oddly, no one reacts quickly enough to stop themselves being shot or knocked out. Seven doesn’t bat an eyelid at some odd behaviour, Paris doesn’t spot a thing and the Doctor forgets he can turn his program back on at will. And then there’s the end. After spending ages building up to a shipwide takeover, Tuvok merely recovers his faculties via no readily-explained means, mind melds with Chakotay, puts him back to normal and the first officer hands the ship back to Janeway. Then they all go to the pictures. Just as something exciting happens, the episode ends three minutes later, leaving everyone crying out ‘Was that it???’. A completely misjudged and truly terrible offering, this episode has to be seen to be believed. But if I were you, I wouldn’t put myself through it.

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