20 Years of Star Trek: Voyager - S01xE07

Ensign Lestat's TV Log, 04/07/15

Ex Post Facto


I will admit that I have seen this episode several times. While admittedly not the most accomplished, I love it, a) because it's about Tom and b) because it's one of the rare Voyager episodes to emulate a police procedural. It's also an interesting take on the justice system.

It's black and white. Paris, off screen, is being asked something.

Oh whoa! Tom, what are you doing?

Wait, Tom is seeing all this with another man's eyes.

Great, he stole someone's wife.  Now he has a knife. He's stabbed... someone.

Tom in colour, is suffering. He's been sentenced to relive the last moments of his victim's life. Yikes! What's this mess he's got himself into this time.

Looks like Kes is picking up her medical lessons brilliantly. I swear the Doctor looks properly impressed.

The Doctor is still looking for a name. Interesting moral question brought up by Kes - he is making a choice, irrespective of him being programmed to make it or not. She's very logical.

Look, this episode is directed by LeVar Burton, Geordie LaForge from 'Star Trek: The Next Generation'.

Wait, so there is only one life sign aboard the incoming shuttle. Looks like it's Kim. He's dehydrated. Apparently, they told him Paris had done a murder.

Flashback time. They met Professor Wren (pardon the spellings), in an attempt to make repairs to the ship.

Kim's recounting of events sounds typically '90s. Haunted and stilted.

The Prof called them to his house. He has a ridiculously young wife who Tom can't keep his eyes off. Now Tom is shouting at the dog.

The wife is a very strange young woman.

We're following a typical family - dogged older husband, bored young wife.

Kim talking up Tom, while Tom is attempting to be modest.

She just left the table without finishing the food. She fed the food to her dog.

Back on the ship. Kim was interrogated for two days straight. Poor thing. I think they should have made him look a bit... deader. Considering what he'd been through.

Now Voyager is heading over to meet the alien world.

Cap looks frustrated and concerned about this Paris situation. She's consulting her Delta Quadrant expert, Neelix.

Neelix is at his best when he's making us laugh. But Cap is not amused that he has no info to share with her about the Numiri. He's still resourceful, he's full of knowledge, despite himself.

Now the Numiri are ahead of them. But Neelix is suspicious of them only sending out a patrol vessel, not a flagship.

Hmmm... After N talked up how scary the Numiri are, they've come across as quite civil. Or according to Neelix, that came across as down right friendly.

Captain and Tuvok are on the planet meeting the minister.

Tom has already been convicted and punished for his crime. The justice system is very speedy on this planet.

This is really interesting - the final memories of the victim is used as evidence in court. I wish something like that could be done in our time, so many horrible people would be locked up for good.

Poor Tom looks worse for wear. He still has a sense of humour, though.

Tom aptly uses the usual excuse about making moves on someone else's wife - their marriage was over.

Flashback to Tom speaking to the wife. Nice 'no smoking' message.

Well, the conversation is not going according to what Tom planned. She's not interested in him, or is she? There's a suspicious look in her eyes.

So '60s, this storyline. She married a guy old enough to be her father because he was good to her. Other men weren't.

This cycle of visions is really taking its toll on Tom. He's fainted. The minister has to be convinced to send Tom back to Voyager for examination.

Oh my goodness, the Captain looks so mad. She has 100% faith in her crew, and there's no shaking her trust in them. She is intent on proving Tom's innocence.

Back on the ship. Looks like these implants are killing Tom. The Cap is a wonderful tactician. But their options are limited. If they appeal, he could end up getting the lethal injection.

Tuvok suggests they put Tom through the lie detector.

I love this line by Tuvok, 'Paris maintains his innocence, yet the victim has identified him from the grave'. It is a brilliant 24th century use of an old-world phrase.

Tuvok has gone to question the wife.

This lady is not at all trustworthy. She is worryingly dispassionate, yet seems surprised when Tuvok suggests that's what she is.

So she ended her marriage with Wren because she was attracted to Tom. Even though Tom would be leaving soon, it was the push she needed.

Flashback again. Wow, she was all cheery once she'd ended it with her husband. She's laughing and seems content to be with Tom.

Tom is an interesting character, he openly flirts and engages with women, but holds the moral high ground when she suggests they take their relationship to the next level. Why, because she's still married to Wren.

Interesting, Tom only remembers talking to her over tea, but she mentioned they spent some time in the Atrium.

Looks like the Numiri are attacking.

Chakotay's at the helm. Looks like the Numiri are looking to board Voyager.

Chakotay and B'El share a Maquis moment.

The Captain's showing off her ability to outsmart everyone including Chakotay, I just love her.

I do like this Maquis trick - pretending the ship is badly damaged, then firing when the enemy ships close in.

Tuvok is now proposing a mind-meld. And N's reaction is hilarious. He's obviously never heard of it.

Doc seems most outraged. Truth is, Tuvok's meld might be the only way to save Tom.

Cap concedes.

Tuvok is inside Tom's mind now.

Tuvok's still standing after the cycle ended. Looks like he's hit upon the solution.

The Captain is talking to the aliens. She's suggesting they take out the implants. They've agreed.

Tom and Kim are heading back to the planet. Tom looks lovely, despite what he's going through.

Tom's words are premonitory - Harry's love life is a running joke in the show.

The Numiri are tractoring the shuttle. They've been boarded.

Right on cue, the lads have been transported out.

Captain is so badass in this episode. Fire and venom.

Tom still looks lovely. Damn you, so distracting.

We have an Agatha Christie-style round up in the dead man's house.

Tuvok suggests that it was not Paris in the vision. The missus definitely lied.

First defense - in the vision the killer was the same height as the missus. Tom is actually much taller.

Second - the killer stabbed the Prof in his heart, which is located in the stomach area. Tom would not know this.

Third - There were symbols placed in Tom's vision. These were from the Professor's work. They were implanted so that the Numiri could capture Tom and extract those symbols to gain an advantage in the war.

The planet's Doctor is being accused of doctoring the visions. He is the same height as the wife.

Another witness to the murder? Why it's the dog! She hated everybody, but is really pleased to see the doctor.

Ufff.... what a strike down by Tom to the simpering wife.

Back on the ship. Tom looks a lot better.

It's very rare to see Tom and Tuvok interact. For someone who's made friends the hard way, it's quite pleasant to see him encouraging Tuvok to do the same.

As mentioned before, I absolutely love this episode. It's thrilling and exciting. It's a procedural in space. It's works on the relationships of the crew and continues to evolve the characters. It's also an analogy about the justice system.

Next?

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