Star Trek: Voyager
Summary
I do n’t wish to speak ill ofStar Trek : Voyager , but one season 4 installment crush up the premiss of two previous episodes in a completely uncreative way . Voyageris reach down my favorite serial in the entireStar Trektimeline . The cast has great chemistry and is fill up with some weighty hitters , the storylines , especially in later seasons , are betroth and do some neat character and relationship study , andI find like the overall premiss brought new life into the franchise in several interesting ways . However , like any show , Voyagerhad its fair share of dud episodes .
One of these duds was , in my vox populi , season 4 , installment 10 , " Random Thoughts , " which sawStar Trek : Voyager ’s cast of characterscaught up in an incident when they break at a planet of telepaths . While on the planet , B’Elanna Torres ( Roxann Dawson ) was accused of being the cause of two attack because of a violent intellection she was ineffective to operate , and almost underwent a procedure that would have left her with neurologic damage before the actual culprits were found . The episode is interesting on paper but was in reality just a rehash of two other episodes from previous season .
Star Trek : Voyager ’s beloved characters have returned in Star Trek : Picard , Star Trek : Lower Decks , and especially Star Trek : Prodigy .
“Random Thoughts” Was An Uncreative Mashup Of Two Star Trek: Voyager Episodes
“Random Thoughts” drew heavily on the premises of “Ex Post Facto” and “Meld”
If you bet nearly , the storyline for " Random Thoughts " is merely a mash - up of theVoyagerseason 1 episode " Ex Post Facto " and the time of year 2 episode " Meld . “In fact , " Random Thoughts " is almost a beat - for - heartbeat action replay of " Ex Post Facto . " Both episodes affect aVoyagercrew extremity accuse of a crime on an alien planet , andLt . Commander Tuvok ( Tim Russ)taking it upon himself to investigate the crime . " Meld " also involved Tuvok closely being taken over by tearing thoughts and urges , the same way he is in " Random Thoughts . "
" Ex Post Facto " has the advantage of using some Film Noir tactic that I always discover at least somewhat more interesting , but " Random Thoughts " has none of this appeal .
The problem is that , while " Meld " is a just instalment , " Ex Post Facto " is not , and " Random Thoughts " gained nothing by being free-base on it . I ’ve always bump " Random Thoughts " utterly forgettable , andusing the episode to reconstruct a storyline that was n’t very interesting in the first place was n’t a corking use ofVoyager ’s metre . " Ex Post Facto " has the advantage of using some Film Noir tactics that I always line up at least pretty more interesting , but " Random Thoughts " has none of this appeal . The sorry thing is that it could have been a great sequence if deal properly .
Custom image by Yailin Chacon
How Star Trek: Voyager’s “Random Thoughts” Could Have Actually Been Great
“Random Thoughts” has potential that was squandered
collapse its capable subject and character focus , I think that " Random Thoughts " had the potential to be an interesting episode with a more unique storyline . The idea of " thought crime " that was explored in the episode is actually one of its stronger parts and a construct that could have fallen intoStar Trek ’s discussion of veridical - worldly concern issue through the lens of science fiction . Obviously , real life has no telepaths , butthe idea of a society that policies citizenry ’s thoughts while being incognizant of a grim grocery store for violent remembering is a good metaphor for certain aspects of innovative spirit .
Along with this , thehalf - Klingon B’Elanna Torreswas a keen eccentric to base " Random Thoughts " on , as her struggle with the more violent side of her personality was an ongoing plot line for her . B’Elanna also did n’t get many opportunities to shine in episodes , at least not as many as she , in my notion , should have . This is whywasting her potential in an episode like " Random Thoughts " have the episode ’s failures all the more tragic . Ultimately , " Random Thoughts " had the making of a greatStar Trek : Voyagerinstallment but relied too intemperately on a previous game to differentiate its story .
Cast
