Jonathan-Frakes Movie Reviews

It is "pon farr" time in the "Star Trek" universe once again with "Blood Fever" (Written by Lisa Klink, Aired February 5, 1997), Episode 57 of "Star Trek: Voyager." However, the afflicted Vulcan is not Tuvok, but an ensign named Vorik who's warped logical mind decides that he should asked Torres (Roxann Dawson) to be his mate. She rejects his overture, not only with a polite refusal but also by dislocating his jaw when he grabs her face. For those few souls who missed "Amok Time" on the original "Star Trek," the Doctor (Robert Picardo) explains that Vorik can die is he does not mate. While Vorik endeavors to get through this trying time through intense meditation, Torres joins an Away Team searching for gallicite on the planet below. The only problem is that her Klingon side seems to be making its presence known as she become more and more aggressive, even biting Paris at one point.

Of course when Vorik touched Torres' face that was enough to initiate a telepathic mating bond between them, which means now she is experiencing "pon farr" as well. Meanwhile, back on "Voyager" the Doctor has programmed a holographic Vulcan female for Vorik (which pretty much confirms what you suspected about Quark's holosuites on DS9). However, it is down on the planet where Torres is making the moves on Paris that things are getting interesting, especially for those who know where that relationship is going to end and what happens in the final episode of the series. Consequently, "Blood Fever" is a important story in terms of the entire series since it is in many ways the first significant Torres-Paris episode.

There are also some aliens on the planet who have had some major problems in what will also become a major subplot down the road, but this episode is primarily about this pon farr a trois. Just like in the original "Star Trek" show, this one comes down to a fight. Consequently, "Blood Fever" manages to do something of a homage to the original episode but ground it entirely in the context of this series and its characters. This is not a classic "Voyager" episode per se, but it is an important one in terms of what is to come.

Klingon vs Vulcan a can't miss episode

If you are a true Voyager fan, this is an episode you should not miss, I own it. It shows us all how the real relationship between Torres and Paris begin...but does so with humor and in true Klingon form...a ritual of sorts. Paris is not sure what hits him, but knows he wants more, thus the relationship truly begins. A great video. Paris and TOrres are perfect together. Don't miss this one!

"All Good Things...," the final STNG episode, finds that Jean-Luc Picard has become unstuck in time. In one of the timelines he finds himself taking command of the Enterprise, ready to head for the new crew's first adventure at Farpoint Station. Eventually he finds himself back in the postatomic war courtroom in which Q first appeared way back in that pilot episode. Apparently the trial of humanity was never officially ended, and the Q have reached their verdict. Consequently, "All Good Things..." finally brings to an end what was begun in "Encounter at Farpoint." With this set of tapes you do not have to try and remember everything that happened the first time around, you can refresh your memory with the pilot and then head on to the series finale. The producers do a nice job of bringing the show full circle in that final episode, letting us see both crew members who had left the show in the past and the possible futures of the rest in the future, while giving Jean-Luc Picard one last engagement with Q. Now, if only they would make a STNG theatrical film as good as this one.

Obviously influncened by Heidegger's notion of original temportality, and, if not, the writer was simply brilliant!

Q's whisper in Picard's ear at the end tips it - the call of conscience, also the notion of bringing past, present and future to bear in the present.

Quite simply a masterpiece - perhaps the best television show I have ever seen.

i found it to be the best Q episode ever, i like when he questions if Q is god and human existence.

In the never ending quest for power Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) leads an away team to an Alsaurian city occupied by the Mokra in Episode 28, "Resistance" (Story by Michael Jan Friedman and Kevin J. Ryan, Teleplay by Lisa Klink, Aired November 27, 1995). However, Mokra soldiers quickly capture Tuvok and Torres, and while Neelix beams back to "Voyager," Janeway is given sanctuary by Caylem (Joel Grey), an old man who believes she is his long lost daughter. The subplot of "Resistance" are the efforts by Chakotay (Robert Beltran) to get back the captured crewmembers, but all of the good scenes are between Mulgrew and Grey as the captain tries to balance the reality of her situation with the old man's fantasies while trying to rescue her officers and escape the Mokra soldiers looking for her everywhere. As an added bonus there is a scene where Janeway has to use her sex appeal to get out of one of several sticky situations, but it is the touching scenes between Caylem and the woman he believes is his daughter that are touching especially the final one that make this a great stand alone episode of "Voyager."

If you are a Kate Mulgrew fan, don't miss this episode. Janeway is at her best. Stuck on a hostile planet, JANEWAY is befriended by a man who believes she is he deceased daughter. Very touching all around, and although Mulgrew steals the show, Tuvok and Torres are also great in the smaller parts they play in this episode. A must see for any Mulgrew fans..and in general if you are a true Voyager fan.

A FAST PACED, TENSE STORYLINE WITH HUMAN DRAMA. TORRES LEARNS, TUVOK SUFFERS, AND JANEWAY IS ABLE TO GIVE BACK TO A MAN, UPON HIS DEATH, HIS WHOLE LIFE.

At the start of "Ex Post Facto" (Episode 8, Story by Evan Carlos Somers, Screenplay by Somers & Michael Piller, Aired February 27, 1995) Ensign Kim (Garrett Wang) returns from the homeworld of Banean and reports that Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill) has been convicted of murder. What makes this fascinating is that his punishment is to relive the crime from the perspective of his supposed victim every 14 hours. This is done through the use of memory engrams implanted by the Baneans in his rain. What had happened? On the planet Paris and Kim met a scientist, Tolen Ren (Ray Reinhardt), who needed help repairing some equipment. Paris was interested in Ren's young wife, Lidell (Robin McKee). When Ren turned up dead, Paris was the prime suspect and the damning evidence is the murder seen through the eye's of the victim.

The Baneans allow Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) to evaluate Paris (after all, no matter where he goes, every 14 hours he relives the murder) and the Doctor discovers Paris is suffering brian damage from the implant. Tuvok (Tim Russ) plays detective and to gather information does a Vulcan mind meld with Paris. "Voyager" is then attacked by the Numiri, who are at war with the Baneans, and as we all know, even in the Delta Quadrant of the "Star Trek" universe there are no such things as coincidences. Besides having the interesting alien system of crime and punishment "Ex Post Facto" offers some pivotal character development for both Paris and Tuvok. Paris is the hotheaded irresponsible young pilot who needs to be better grounded, and this episode serves as something of a major reality check. Tuvok has had little to do in the series so far and this one gives him an opportunity to actually do some substantial. In the outstanding first season of "Star Trek: Voyager" this is the third first rate episode in a row.

As with the DS9 episode "Necessary Evil," there's a good film noir feel to this story. While Tuvok doesn't really come off as a good PI figure like Odo did, there still exists the old noir trademarks like the dispassionate, chain-smoking mystery woman, marital infidelity, and a whole slew of differing flashbacks on what really happened. There's also a good space battle sequence to keep it from getting too mired in the noir genre.

To me, this episode is the best of all the Voyager episodes either before or after. The reason being the interesting method of punishing murder and the Holmesian manner of Tuvok's investigation. Tuvok has never been as good as in this episode and the intriguing cultural differences have never been as imaginative.

In "Tattoo," two episodes before this particular "Star Trek: Voyager," Chakotay (Robert Beltran) confronted his past in terms of his relationship with his father and the heritage of his people. Chakotay made peace with certain aspects of his past, which is a good think because in Episode 27, "Maneuvers" (Written by Kenneth Biller, Aired November 20, 1995), a more recent part of his past history comes back and messes with both his present and his future. When the crew of "Voyager" picks up a Federation signal, Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) follows the trail to the source only to be attacked by a Kazon vessel, which has no problems penetrating the ship's shields. A party beams aboard, grabs a transporter module, and beams away. Janeway tells the Kazon leader that the module can be used only with Federation technology, but that is not a problem since one of the members of his crewmembers is Seska (Martha Hackett), the Cardassian spy who was part of Chakotay's Maquis before they were forced to join "Voyager" in the Delta Quadrant.

The Kazon leader intends to use the stolen module to build alliances with other sects in attacking "Voyager" and getting his hands on even more Federation technology. But Janeway is more worried about Seska aiding the Kazon since she has experience with the Cardassians, Maquis, and Starfleet. Chakotay feels responsible for Seska since he recruited her in the first place, so he beams aboard the Kazon ship intending to destroy the transporter module. However, he is captured, and now Seska has a new toy with which to play. The situation is a bit contrived, but Biller does create a situation, which brings Chakotay and Seska together to rehash old differences in a pretty good scene between Beltran and Hackett. However, "Maneuvers" is not a coda to their troubled relationship but a key transitional episode where the denouement offers up some significant implications for Chakotay down the road, which is why this ends up being an above average "Voyager."

I really enjoyed this episode of Voyager and think that it is one of the key episodes of season two.

In this episode, former Voyager crew member and "all-around evil one" Seska reappears with the Kazon - and they are bent on taking over Voyager and stealing the Starfleet technology contained therein. Of course, Janeway and crew go through some action-packed moments during their ensuing struggle with the Kazon...but another plot layer involves the personal betrayal felt by Commander Chakotay, who had recruited Seska and been her captain during her time in the Maquis.

I like the way the writers juiced up this episode: in 46 minutes, this episode develops a major second season storyline, gives us lots of action, and gives us some excellent insight into the character of Chakotay. Plus, it gave us about a million reasons to develop a healthy hatred of Seska - the primary "villan" of season two. Not bad for a single episode!

I give this episode 5 stars and consider it a "must see" among season two Voyager episodes.

Kazon forces attack Voyager capturing a vital piece of technology that unites the sects and who is master mind behind this strategy?????

You guessed it, our favorite traitor, Seska. You know...... the ex Voyager crew member who was a former Maquis, disguised as a Bajoran , who really is Cardassian spy...Yeah, Seska and she is EVIL...Oh yes.... A great villain. Did I mention she's Chakotay's ex flame???? She's back.

Chakotay takes all of this very personally and sets out to recover the technology, alone and soon he finds himself in the hands of the enemy.

The action is great and tensions are high. A plot driven episode with plenty of "maneuvering" going on.

A 5 out of 5

Just knowing that Q (John de Lancie) makes his way to the Delta Quadrant is going to be enough to sell most of you on watching "Star Trek: Voyager" Episode 30, "Death Wish" (Story by Shawn Piller, Teleplay by Michael Piller, Aired February 19, 1996), but this is also a solid episode that actually explores the life of the Q. "Voyager" accidentally beams board a member of the Q Continuum (Gerrit Graham) who was imprisoned inside a comet. The grateful Q (okay, really Q2) tries to go on his merry way, but all of the male members of the "Voyager" crew disappear instead of him. Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) wants her crew back, but instead the "original" Q arrives to "help." He tells Janeway that Q2 had been imprisoned in the comet for 300 years because of repeated attempts to commit suicide. Q2's demands asylum and then proceeds to hurtle the starship around the universe in an attempt to lose Q. Janeway ends the fun by agreeing to hold a hearing to consider Q2's request. Because of her decision either Q2 will be returned to his prison or will become mortal so that he can end his existence.

Tuvok (Tim Russ) represents Q2 at the hearing while Q makes the case for the continuum. Q2 is bored with being immortal and Q is worried about what happens when immortal beings shed their immortality. Witnesses who have been affected by the Q are called, including one very familiar bearded face. Of course, Q tries to persuade Janeway to see things his way by telling her he will send "Voyager" home if she rules in his favor. But you know Captain Janeway and her overly developed sense of justice. The ending is not without it twists and in terms of Q episodes across the "Star Trek" universe "Death Wish" is certainly different, and not just because Q takes has a different reaction to Janeway than he did to Picard or Sisko. This is an excellent episode that introduces the "Voyager" crew to the joys of Q without getting the series off track.

SPOILER ALERT!!
his is probably the best ST:VGR episode I have seen yet.
Q(John DeLancie) is exceptionally funny.
While investigating an asteroid, a visitor beams up claiming to be Q (here referred to as Q2), who explains that he is not the same Q The Enterprise encountered.In an attemp to magically commit suicide, he makes all voyager's male crew members dissapear. Suddenly, the Q that trekkers are familiar with arrives.He restores all the male crew members and explains to the crew that Q2, fed up with experiencing everything, is in favour of self-terminition, and therefore the Q continuum considers him a mental case. Q transports all the people whose lives have been changed by Q2 to Voyager, and explains that Q2 should not commit suicide, considering all the wonderful things he's done.The voyager senior staff ask to see the living conditions of the Q continuum that depressed Q2. As it turns out, nothing is new, and everything possible has been,said,done and learned.
Q later becomes influenced by Q2 and grants him mortality.

My favorite lines:
Q2: And you only live nine years!
Kes:That's right
Q2: Oh, how I envy you!

Okay...I absolutely loved this episode and consider it to be one of the high points of Voyager Season 2 - and this is saying alot because I'm not usually a big fan of the Q episodes, in any of the Star Trek series.

The reason I enjoyed this episode so much is because it made me think. What *would* it be like to be immortal? Would existence become boring once I'd seen everything and done everything there was to do? Interesting questions to ponder, especially for a person who believes in the after-life!

Additionally, in this episode I found the character of Q to be quick-witted and interesting rather than just immature and annoying...which is how I have historically felt about Q episodes. John DeLuncie does a good job here, as does the actor who plays the "other" Q (Quinn).

Plus, as an added bonus for all you Riker fans...Will makes an appearance in this episode. Sorta nice to see him after all these years!

All in all, a "must see" for Voyager Season 2.

Synopsis:

A space anomaly generates a parallel universed U.S.S. Voyager and crew, but only one ship can survive an assault by Vidiian invaders.

As the U.S.S. Voyager enters a plasma cloud to evade approaching Vidiian ships, Ensign Wildman goes into labor and delivers a baby girl. But as the crew emerges from the cloud, a series of astounding events occur: the warp engines stall, the antimatter supplies drain, and proton bursts cause a hull breach. What's more, Kim is sucked out into space, Kes vanishes in a mysterious void, and Wildman's baby dies.

As the hull breach widens, the ship is forced to run on emergency power. Another proton burst hits and Chakotay orders everyone off the bridge. To her surprise, Janeway sees herself walk across the bridge, which she assumes is a spatial fluctuation caused by their passage through the plasma cloud. Janeway visits Wildman in Sickbay and admires her newborn baby, who appears to be fine. The crew also beams aboard an unconscious patient who's identical to Kes.

This Kes "double" reports the same series of astounding occurrences, which leads Janeway to speculate that there's another U.S.S. Voyager nearby. Apparently, a divergence field has caused all sensor readings and every particle on the ship to duplicate. Unfortunately, there isn't enough antimatter to sustain both vessels. Janeway alerts the other U.S.S. Voyager crew, led by a duplicate Janeway. After a merger of the ships fails, Janeway decides to go over to the other ship through the void Kes disappeared into.

The two Janeways meet and strategize their options. The captain of the more heavily damaged U.S.S. Voyager proposes to self-destruct her ship and crew to save the other U.S.S. Voyager. With the Vidiians closing in, the two captains know they must act quickly or both ships and crews will be destroyed. Meanwhile, the Vidiians board one of the U.S.S. Voyagers.

Desperate to steal healthy organs to help battle a plague known as the Phage, the Vidiians begin attacking crewmembers. One of the Janeway captains decides to act. She sets her ship on self-destruct and orders the duplicate Kim to take Wildman's baby through the void. The Vidiians are destroyed when the duplicate U.S.S. Voyager explodes, while Kim, the baby and the other U.S.S. Voyager crew are saved.

Episode 37, "Deadlock" (Written by Written by Brannon Braga, Aired March 18, 1996) is the "Star Trek: Voyager" episode where a space anomaly generates a duplicate Voyager (sooner or later in the Star Trek universe there has to be more than one captain). Pursued by Vidiian ships, "Voyager" enters a plasma cloud just as Ensign Wildman (Nancy Hower) gives birth to Naomi. But when the ship comes out of the cloud the ship starts falling apart, several crew members are lost when the hull breaches, and Wildman's baby dies. When the bridge is evacuated Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) thinks she sees herself and when she goes to sickbay she admires Wildman's healthy new baby girl. It is only when "Voyager" beams aboard an unconscious woman who looks just like Kes (Jennifer Lien) that Janeway begins to suspect what is happening and that there is another "Voyager." Meanwhile, the Phage ravaged Vidiians are closing in, eager to make the crews of both "Voyagers" part of their organ donor program.

"Deadlock" is one of the better "Star Trek" episodes dealing with doubles, mainly because both Janeways cut through the nonsense and get to the heart of the problem quickly. The episode is more about the search for a solution than it is about catching on to what is happening. The other strength is that it manages to kill off some characters and still have them survive in a way that is both effective and affective. "Deadlock" also shows once again that "Voyager" had a clear conception of Captain Janeway's character from start to finish with her peculiar but compelling combination of pragmatism and idealism. Does this have something to do with her gender or simply because she was written in a way that would make her clearly different from Kirk, Picard, and Sisko? You decide. This is an episode where the long range impliactions end up being primarily the birth of Naomi Wildman, although it should send Harry Kim (Garret Wang) to talk to the EMH's psychoanalysis program for a while. An excellent episode that might not be part of the classic canon but definitely a personal favorite.

This is one of the better Voyager episodes I have seen, very intriguing and thought-provoking, with non-stop action. The concept of space-time is explored, along with the possibilities of parallel universes.

Though this episode of Voyager isn't one of my favorites, it was interesting to watch. Mulgrew and Picardo excel, with the rest of the cast lending a hand at Janeway's "memorial service." It is quite similar to Waking Moments in the way the sequences air-you think they are the real parts of the episode, but it turns out that they are only fiction. The idea of the Devil coming in the form of Janeway's father is intriguing, and it reveals about Janeway after her father died. If you are a fan of Captain Kathryn Janeway, then I would recommend buying this episode.

If I had to pick one particular type of "Star Trek" story that rarely disappoints, it would be stories involving time loops (not to be confused with time travel stories). In support of this particular claim would be "Star Trek: Voyager," Episode 58, "Coda" (Written by Jeri Taylor, Aired January 29,1997). The shuttlecraft carrying Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) and Chakotay (Robert Beltran) is shot down by the Vidiians and crashlands on a planet. The Vidiians show up on the planet and kill the two officers--at which point Janeway and Chakotay find themselves back on the shuttlecraft, under attack by the Vidiians. This time the shuttle explodes--at which point Janeway and Chakotay find themselves back on the shuttlecraft.

Since they remember what has happened, the two officers contact "Voyager" and manage to make it back to their ship. However, at that point Chakotay does not know what Janeway is talking about when she explains about the time loop. Now it is Janeway alone who is caught in the time loops that take her back and forth to the ship and the planet. However, things get really interesting when Janeway is confronted by Admiral Janeway (Len Cariou), who died several years earlier and tries to convince his daughter that she is now dead as well.

As a time loop episode "Coda" achieves both of the important goals. Most importantly, each loop serves to make the story more interesting, especially if you are trying to figure out some common denominator to what is happening. However, that proves impossible to do. Secondly, the explanation as to what is really going on is more than satisfactory. The result is not a classic "Voyager" episode per se, but certainly an extremely engaging one. The encounters between Janeway and her father also provide a level of depth to both the episode and Janeway's character.

Captain Kathryn Janeway is caught in the face of death. She is in a sort of trap. On an away mission Captain Janeway dies because she was choked. But then they show it all over again. Except this time, she was killed by a shuttle crash. She is caught between afterlife and present life. Her dad comes to her trying to convince her to come to the expanse of afterlife. Janeway finds out that her dad is truly an alien. She has to agree to come to the afterlife, because she can't be forced to go there. In the meantime she is a spirit and is seeing her entire crew go around about their lives. She does not like seeing all of this. She disagees to go with the alien and he left. She woke up on the planet that the shuttle crashed on. Me being a Janeway Fan, it was hard to see this episode without shedding a tear.

Although Chakotay (Robert Beltran) has been wearing his tribal tattoos since the beginning of "Star Trek: Voyager" it was not until Episode 21 "Initiations" (Written by Kenneth Biller, Aired September 4, 1995) that the series really explored his beliefs in any detail. The ship's First Officer receives permission from the Captain to borrow a shuttlecraft in order to perform a ritual commemorating the death of his father. But then the ship accidentally ends up in Kazon space and Chakotay becomes the target of Kar (Aron Eisenberg, a.k.a. Nog on "Star Trek: Deep Space 9"), a Kazon youth who will become a warrior and earn a new name by killing the Starfleet officer. However, it is Chakotay who destroys Kar's ship, beaming the youth aboard at the last moment. Chakotay tries to return Kar to his people, but is captured and learns that Kar will never earn his warrior name because of this disgrace.

However, all of this turns out to be the set up for a series of moral choices which confront both Chakotay and Kar and what makes "Initiations" an above average "Voyager" episode is that it avoids making the conventional choices each juncture in the narrative. Of course, there is a certain affinity between Chakotay's tribal traditions and the Kazon manhood rituals, at least enough for the First Officer to have empathy for Kar's position. But what makes this episode work is that Kar does not become a convert to Chakotay's way of thinking. Ultimately, there is no meeting of the minds here but at best a tentative and limited understanding. The result is that "Initiations" rings more true than other "Star Trek" stories like this one that we have seen. This would be because of both Biller's script and the performances of Beltran and Eisenberg (it was nice to see the latter given a chance to do something besides play the first Ferengi in Starfleet).

Granted, INITIATIONS plays out like a classic formula, but its construction is much closer to the tinkerings of TOS (The Original Series) ... and that fact alone elevates this Chakotay adventure to a level rarely met throughout STAR TREK: VOYAGER's entire run.

His shuttlecraft destroyed a Kazon warship, Chakotay manages to escape in the company of his Kazon agressor, Kar (Aron Eisenberg from DS9). It turns out that the attack was Kar's 'rite of passage' into warriorhood, but, foiled by Chakotay, he faces execution. Before you can say "where's Kirk when you need him?" the two escape custody, flee to a nearby moon, and bridge their differences in order to survive and return safely to their respective societies.

Well done on all fronts, INITIATIONS is a great jumping on point for viewers who didn't see earlier outings of the show, and it's a great testament to the kinds of morality tales best told by Trek.

While alone on a shuttle, Chakotay is attacked by a young Kazon who must prove himself in battle to earn his Ogla name (a type of rank among the Kazon). Chakotay destroys the other ship but saves the young Kazon, Kar (played by Aron Eisenberg). The commander tries to return Kar to the Kazon but is taken prisoner. Chakotay is surprised to learn that Kar is also considered a prisoner. It seems that the young Kazon disgraced himself when he failed to kill Chakotay and now he must die. The leader of the Kazon ship, Razik, demands that Chakotay kill Kar and in return Razik will let the commander go free. Chakotay turns the tables on Razik and he and Kar escape in the shuttle. The Kazon pursue and destroy the shuttle, but right before it explodes, Chakotay and Kar transport to the surface of a moon. The moon is a training base for young Kazon warriors and the two take refuge in a cave. Meanwhile, Janeway has tracked the shuttle to the moon and discovered the two lifesigns on it. The Kazon ship has also arrived at the moon and both ships transport teams to the surface. The Kazon pretend to help Janeway find Chakotay and Kar and end up trapping the captain instead. While this is taking place, Chakotay has finally realized the Kazon way of life by talking to Kar. He tells Kar to kill him so Kar will be accepted back into the Kazon crew. He explains that it will be alright because Voyager's doctor will be able to revive him. It is the only way for both men to return to their respective ships. With Janeway held in a force field, the Kazon find the commander and Kar first. Kar is holding a phaser on Chakotay and tells Razik that he only escaped with Chakotay to earn his rank. Kar goes on to explain that you always kill your enemies and he pulls the trigger just as Janeway finally arrives at the scene.

Aron Eisenberg delivers a strong, masterful performance in this episode! Kar is torn between his Kazon way of life which demands he kill Chakotay, and the grudging respect he has developed for the commander. There is a lot of insight into the Kazon world in this show. We also get to witness Chakotay's strong, selfless personality as he tries to guide and save the troubled, young Kazon. Aron really brings Kar to life in this wonderful episode and I greatly enjoyed (as I always do) watching Robert Beltran in a show devoted to his character, Chakotay. A "must see!"

This is one of the episodes that no Star Trek: Voyager collection should be without. It's the one where Voyager finds the Caretaker's mate. Kes shines in this one and her struggles about whether to go with Telis and the others or not is very much like personal struggles we in the real world expirience, too. A real good vs. evil episode. One of the best, in my opinion.

Way back in the two-part pilot episode for "Star Trek: Voyager" the Caretaker, the alien responsible for trapping the Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) and her crew in the Delta Quadrant, made reference to the existence of a female of his kind. In Episode 26, "Cold Fire" (Story by Anthony Williams, Teleplay by Brannon Braga, Aired November 13, 1995) "Voyager" meets up with the alien being who has the power to send them home. However, this becomes a pivotal second season episode of the series for other reasons.

The first clue comes when Kes (Jennifer Lein) and the Doctor (Robert Picardo) discover the remains of the Caretaker are resonating in response to a strange energy source. Aware of how dangerous such an encounter could be, Tuvok (Tim Russ) creates a toxin that should work against the female Caretaker if she proves to be a threat. But when "Voyager" follows the energy trail back to its source they find a space station occupied by the Ocampa, who attack "Voyager." Kes convinces the Ocampan leader, Tanis (Gary Graham), that "Voyager" is not a threat and he provides information that the female Caretaker, Suspiria, has been looking over his Ocampa group for 300 years helping them to develop their psychokinetic abilities. Kes is intrigued, but when Tanis contacts Suspiria, she orders him to deliver "Voyager" to her.

What makes "Cold Fire" an above average episode is that while the lure of the female Caretaker is the hook for the episode the payoff has to do with Kes and her psychokinetic potential. After all, Kes is the clearly the least significant member of the Voyager" cast (I was going to say the "Voyager" crew but that would not be the case), and the consequences of this episode radically changes her place in the show's hierarchy. I am reminded, not without cause, the transformation of Marvel Girl into Phoenix in "The X-Men," although the upgrade her for Kes is to the initial Jean Grey level not the uber-Phoenix. The episode also deals rather pragmatically with the problems Kes faces: her initial attempt to boil water ends up boiling Tuvok's blood instead.

This is an important episode for any fan of Star Trek Voyager to see and I highly recommend it. Shown in the middle of the second season of the show, this episode finally introduces us to the female Caretaker that we've been hearing about since episode one and at the same time allows us a glimpse into the telepathic potential of Kes - very important in the plot set-up for later episodes.

Certainly this episode is a "must see" among the season two episodes.