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5 Star Trek: Voyager Season 4 Episodes I Always Skip On A Rewatch

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In my view, season 4 of Star Trek: Voyager includes a few episodes that I wouldn’t choose to revisit. Generally, when I rewatch the series, I tend to bypass these. That being said, season 4 is where Star Trek: Voyager really found its rhythm. The introduction of Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine added depth and complexity to the cast, particularly in her interactions with Captain Kathryn Janeway, portrayed brilliantly by Kate Mulgrew.

I went back to watch these episodes that I typically skip over, to find out if they were as dull as I thought the first time around, or if any of them might be hidden treasures. Given that there’s less agreement among fans about which Star Trek: Voyager episodes are the best, compared to those in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

5. “Unforgettable”

Star Trek: Voyager Season 4, Episode 22

In a twist of irony, an episode titled “Unforgettable” from Star Trek: Voyager revolves around a woman named Kellin (Virginia Madsen), who is searching for shelter from her prejudiced homeworld on the USS Voyager. Interestingly enough, she had been there before and even developed feelings for Commander Chakotay. Unfortunately, Kellin herself is forgotten, a consequence of the pheromone that causes people to forget her species within hours.

In simpler terms, the situation isn’t critical since it’s clear Kellin won’t stay on Voyager for long; it’s more about the circumstances surrounding her departure. The narrative unfolds through discussions that feel uncomfortable to me, as Kellin expresses feelings towards Chakotay that he apparently can’t recall due to their forgotten past relationship.

Apart from the criticisms, there are several commendable aspects of “Unforgettable”. For instance, the heart-wrenching twist towards the end, reminiscent of “The Twilight Zone”, is impressive. Moreover, Madsen delivers a convincing, desperate performance that resonates with viewers. Additionally, the movie earns points for creatively leveraging the ‘reset button’ issue from “Star Trek: Voyager” in its plot, making it seem plausible that Kellin had appeared in an episode I might have overlooked.

Initially, I may have been too critical of the episode “Unforgettable.” It turned out to be a well-crafted portrayal of Chakotay, showcasing his empathy and benevolence, which I had overlooked. At first, I shared doubts with characters like Lieutenant Tuvok (Tim Russ) and Seven of Nine, speculating if this was a clever deception. However, upon reconsideration, it’s not a poorly-executed Star Trek episode, so I plan to include it in my future viewing list for Star Trek: Voyager.

4. “Vis à Vis”

Star Trek: Voyager Season 4, Episode 20

Instead of finding “Vis à Vis” as bland filler with a humorous concept, I was happily surprised to discover that it’s not just that. Rather, “‘Vis à Vis’ delves into the character development of Lieutenant Tom Paris, exploring his journey towards appreciating his own life.

In the realm of well-crafted body swap tales, “Vis à Vis” doesn’t exactly blaze new trails in storytelling. However, this particular episode serves to flesh out the character of Tom Paris within the broader scope of “Star Trek: Voyager,” offering glimpses into Tom’s everyday life as we follow Steth’s struggle to manage one of Tom’s typical days.

In “Vis à Vis”, Chakotay commends Tom Paris for his significant growth since their journey in the Delta Quadrant began, while B’Elanna Torres voices her dissatisfaction that Tom isn’t yet an ideal partner. These exchanges demonstrate that Star Trek: Voyager’s characters undergo transformation and development, with Tom Paris potentially experiencing the most change.

In terms of entertainment, the episode ‘Vis à Vis’ from Star Trek: Voyager is surprisingly engaging, surpassing my initial expectations. Although the storyline may seem similar to others, I appreciate how it delves into the personalities of the characters, particularly Tom Paris. If you enjoy his character, I recommend giving this episode a try—but if he’s not your favorite, feel free to pass on it.

3. “Waking Moments”

Star Trek: Voyager Season 4, Episode 13

In the episode “Waking Moments” of Star Trek: Voyager, an alien race from the Delta Quadrant finds our USS Voyager intruding in their territory. Since they are a species that primarily sleeps, they view us with suspicion as we are a “waking species.” To protect themselves, these aliens put the Voyager crew into a deep sleep.

In the Star Trek: Voyager episode titled “Waking Moments,” an alien race in the Delta Quadrant feels uneasy about our USS Voyager entering their space. These beings are primarily sleepers, and they distrust our “waking species.” As a defensive measure, they make the Voyager crew fall into deep slumber.

As a movie enthusiast, I’d rephrase that as follows: In the opening scene of Voyager, there’s a sprinkle of humor found in the crew’s dreams, which is reminiscent of “Schisms” from Star Trek: The Next Generation. However, “Waking Moments” doesn’t quite deliver on the comedic or creepy front; instead, it maintains a balanced and consistent tone throughout.

The solution to the enigma of who’s causing the crew to sleep is revealed quite quickly in the episode, and the remedy to this predicament turns out to be rather straightforward. However, the plot doesn’t delve deeply into character development, which prevents it from carrying much emotional impact. Moreover, while “Waking Moments” isn’t bizarre enough to stand out as particularly bad in a lasting way, it falls short of reaching the level of notoriety achieved by Star Trek: Voyager’s season 2 episode “Threshold”.

As a devoted fan, I found that the episode titled “‘Waking Moments’” seems to be an amalgamation of two exceptional episodes from Star Trek: The Next Generation that I believe you should watch instead. The first is “Schisms”, where the crew experiences unsettling shared dreams, and the second is season 6, episode 21, “Frame of Mind”, which offers a far more chilling portrayal of questionable realities. You’ll find both episodes to be more engaging than “Waking Moments”.

2. “Nemesis”

Star Trek: Voyager Season 4, Episode 4

In this scenario, it can be rephrased as: “Chakotay’s empathy proves to be his undoing,” as he identifies with a band of extraterrestrial soldiers. This connection arises from their heartrending narratives, reminding him of the Maquis battling the Cardassians in Star Trek. Portraying compassion as a vulnerability that can be exploited seems unusual for the context of Star Trek.

The soldiers’ peculiar language appears to have been processed through several interpretations. Their word choices are recognizable enough for understanding, yet strange enough to create unease. Using this language is intended to convey that Chakotay is adapting to the soldiers’ society, as he absorbs their biased views and misconceptions about their “enemy.

As a devoted Star Trek: Voyager enthusiast, I can appreciate the underlying theme of “Nemesis” – the subtle danger of propaganda, which seems even more relevant in today’s world where distinguishing truth from misinformation on social media can be challenging. However, personally speaking, I find “Nemesis” rather unexciting.

Although it has an engaging concept and a strong message, “Nemesis” struggles due to its puzzling presentation. The military language used is thick and hard to decipher, making viewing “Nemesis” feel like trudging through mud. If you’re looking for Star Trek tales that explore the intricacies of alien languages, I’d recommend “Darmok” from Star Trek: The Next Generation or “Lost in Translation” from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds instead.

1. “Retrospect”

Star Trek: Voyager Season 4, Episode 17

Instead of skipping the “Star Trek: Voyager” season 4 episode “Retrospect” due to its lack of interest, I bypass it because it’s unsettling. In this particular episode, the local trader Kovin, played by Michael Horton, is confronted by Seven of Nine, who appears to have acted without provocation. However, Seven maintains that she defended herself as Kovin had attempted to forcefully extract Borg nanoprobes from her against her will. The question of whose account is accurate remains unclear in the episode.

The episode seems to focus on the topic of hypnosis leading to fabricated memories, yet it inadvertently appears to imply a problematic message: “Retrospect” might unintentionally reinforce the notion that survivors of assault should remain silent. This is due to the fact that allegations of rape, regardless of their truth, can have devastating effects on a man’s life. Indeed, Seven’s memories are found to be flawed, influenced by the Doctor’s (Robert Picardo) innovative recovery method, but Captain Janeway isn’t aware of this when she requests Seven to retract her accusation.

Instead, Seven – a woman who has previously suffered assault due to her past with the Borg – is labeled as difficult. However, Seven is still in the process of finding her voice and asserting herself, only to be silenced again by Captain Janeway, which seems out of character for a leader known for her crew support. This action also seems inconsistent with the usual values and themes presented in Star Trek.

It’s tough to endure Seven of Nine recounting the assault, and even more distressing to contemplate that her accusations may have led to the unjust execution of an innocent man. “Retrospect” is one of the rare Star Trek episodes I find difficult to revisit, so I’ll continue to bypass it during my Star Trek: Voyager rewatches.

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2025-07-07 15:59

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