Star Trek: Voyager 05x11 - Latent Image

After a longer hiatus, I am back watching Voyager. The previous episode was not memorable, so no review for now. But this? This is a WOW episode!

Doctor learns that he performed a surgery on Kim 1,5 year ago. After an investigation, we learn that something happened then, and it was erased from his memories. After and even longer investigation it turns out that Doctor had to make a choice between saving Kim and Ensign Ahni Jetal. He has chosen Kim and Ahni dies. This causes moral dilemma powerful enough, to break Doctor’s programming and Jenwey decides to rewrite him, as he was no longer able to perform his duties as a doctor.

Impressions

Wow! I was left speechless. There are so many aspects that this episode nails.

We’ve got the basic premise of The Doctor evolving from a simple program into a person. I love they have not made it a Seven episode, as Borgs are goto when it comes to such stories. Moreover, we’ve got Jenway who made tough choice between a doctor and The Doctor. Love it!

Speaking of which - Jenway is slowly becoming my favorite captain. At first, I could not stand her - she was all knowing, perfect and deeply annoying. But it’s episodes like this that show why she is the captain. I can’t imagine Picard or Sisko in a situation like this. Yes, they all had some tough moral dilemmas - genocides and such - but none were so deeply, interpersonally involved. None had to live with the results. And Mulligan’s performance is perfect. We have a scene where Doctor confronts her. In a span of few seconds, se moves from goofy and having fun with the crew to martial tribunal level of seriousness. This is not the first time she does it, but everyone I am floored.

Doctor factor

Happiness of the highest order. It’s a not only a Doctor episode but also a Perfect Doctor Episode. The episode ends with:

In that book, which is my memory, on the first page of the chapter that is the day when I first met you appear the words, ‘here begins a new life’

I love how he is developing through the series and sure hope authors won’t forget that this episode exists!