“Heroes and Demons” 30th-anniversary reflections

Harry Kim's disappearance draws the Voyager crew into a medieval mystery as a holodeck recreation of the Old English epic Beowulf starts converting people into energy. There's just one person on the ship who can safely venture into the holographic forest to find the young ensign: the Doctor. That trip into the unknown leads to many firsts for the man briefly called Schweitzer, and reveals a very Star Trek story.

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Heroes and Demons,” how tapping into elements unique to the series creates a story true to the core of Star Trek, how it sets the stage for The Doctor's character, and what we think of his choice of name.

Chapters

Intro (00:00:00)

The Setting (and the Sets) (00:02:11)

A Doctor's Tale (00:13:03)

Tapping into the Promise of Voyager (00:17:36)

T'Pol Sidebar (00:24:27)

Schweitzer! Schweitzer! (00:27:04)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:31:04)

Closing (00:32:53)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“State of Flux” 30th-anniversary reflections

A scouting expedition to an alien planet leads to a game-changing discovery. Surprisingly, it's not leola root. Nor is it mushrooms; though these are all pretty tasty finds. Even the Kazon can't lay claim to the title, despite turning out to have Starfleet technology aboard their ship. But we're getting warmer. How did the Kazon get their hands on the tech? It looks like the Voyager crew have a traitor in their midst. As Janeway, Chakotay, and Tuvok set out to solve the Case of the Cream of Mushroom, the trail leads them to a shocking revelation.

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “State of Flux,” Seska's big secret, how the story questions Starfleet ideals, and why establishing characters before plot twists matters.

Chapters

Intro (00:00:00)

Playing with Promise (00:02:35)

Playing with Loyalties (00:06:37)

Playing with Chakotay and Seska (00:10:49)

Building Character for the Reveal (00:18:18)

Questioning Starfleet Ideals (00:22:47)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:26:58)

Closing (00:30:53)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“Prime Factors” 30th-anniversary reflections

Having heard stories about Voyager—a ship of aliens from another part of the galaxy, lost in a world so far from home—the Sikarians decide to assist. Drawing in Voyager with a distress signal, their leader, Gath, offers a helping hand. He ain’t got a clue how to get them out, but he does think he knows what they need: a little pleasure.

When Janeway accepts the offer of shore leave for the crew, Harry quickly finds a girl who’s hot for stories and then finds himself miles and miles from nowhere, on the planet Alastria, 40,000 light years away. It turns out the Sikarians have a spacial trajector that can zip them around the quadrant. And with everyone on the planet hot for stories, the crew might just be able to trade all the Federation’s literature for a quick ride home.

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Prime Factors” and how the story challenges the principles of the crew while bringing opposing views together as it leverages the promise of the series premise.

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Not Entirely Pleasurable (00:02:13) On the Other Side of the Fence (00:13:00) Conflicting Priorities (00:16:49) Can't Tech That Tech (00:25:23) Can't Flirt with Harry (00:29:25) Desperately Seeking Stories (00:31:55) Tuvok's Betrayal (00:37:45) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:48:23) Closing (00:52:53)

Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“Emanations” 30th-anniversary reflections

Having failed to learn their lesson about roaming around in strange caves, a landing party from Voyager investigates an asteroid when they think they’ve discovered an unknown element. Instead of minerals, they find bodies—18 of them—and lose one of their own: Harry Kim. The eager ensign finds himself trapped in a coffin on an alien planet. What’s worse is that the planet is nowhere near the asteroid. In fact, it’s in another dimension. How will he get back? And what secrets of life, the universe, and everything will Janeway and her crew reveal to the poor alien woman who woke up on Voyager?

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Emanations,” the exploration of aging and death, disregard for the Prime Directive, and cocoons.

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Why Are We Here?! (00:02:07) How We Deal with Death (00:08:28) Other Dimensions, Other Realms (00:14:34) The Prime What?! (00:20:13) Elders and Euthanasia (00:28:51) A Shallow Exploration (00:33:31) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:38:44) Closing (00:43:39)

Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“Ex Post Facto” 30th-anniversary reflections

While on the planet Banea, Tom Paris and Harry Kim visit the home of a scientist and are greeted by his young wife, Lidell. When the scientist is killed, Paris is accused of the murder and sentenced to relive the victim’s final moments every 14 hours for the rest of his life. The Baneans believe that Lidell and Paris had an affair, and lust led to murder. But Janeway isn’t buying it, and Tuvok vows to find out the truth … one memory at a time.

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Ex Post Facto,” the story's film noir foundation, the core science fiction concept, and whether the portrayal of Paris fits the character … to say nothing of the dog.

Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“Eye of the Needle” 30th-anniversary reflections

The discover of a wormhole gives the Voyager crew hope that they might soon be home. But there's a catch: the wormhole is just 30 centimeters in diameter. Determined to make use of the anomaly, they figure out how to send a message in a bottle and hope for a response. The answer surprises them. Not only is it from the Alpha Quadrant, it is from a Romulan. Eventually, Janeway convinces the adversary to help them. But their hopes of being rescued are dashed by one more scientific twist.

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Eye of the Needle,” the story's scientific underpinnings, the crew's hopes of getting home, and the unexpected twist.

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) She Blinded Me with Science (00:02:31) Inner Thoughts (00:07:03) Jeri Taylor's Janeway Influence (00:13:42) Size Matters (00:15:48) No Doctor Left Behind (00:23:01) Message in a Bottle (00:35:54) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:44:52) Closing (00:50:20)

Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“The Cloud” 30th-anniversary reflections

Several weeks into their journey home, both Janeway and Voyager find their energy reserves running low. For the captain, a simple trip to what used to be her private dining room for a cup of Neelix’s even better than coffee substitute might be all that’s needed. For the ship, however, a trip into a mysterious nebula is required. Voyager is hungry for omicron particles, and there seems to be a rich supply just ahead. But this cloud is not what it seems, and Janeway may need to turn to her animal guide to save the crew.

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “The Cloud” and how the science-heavy plot wraps a character-focused story.

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) How Do Starfleet Ships Run? (00:03:03) We Are Family (00:12:05) How Many Torpedoes? (00:18:29) Back to Family (00:21:25) Tiptoeing around Chakotay (00:23:34) A Poor Man's Quark? (00:35:02) Strange New Life Form (00:43:17) Sandríne‘s (00:47:27) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:54:44) Closing (00:57:24)

Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“Phage” 30th-anniversary reflections

Chakotay, Kim, and Neelix beam into caves on a rogue planetoid to search for dilithium; but they come back empty-handed. Not only do they have no dilithium, Neelix left something even more important behind: his lungs. With these vital organs now in the possession of mysterious aliens, the ship’s new self-proclaimed chef will have to postpone the opening of his kitchen and stay in sickbay, where the Doctor has fitted him with holographic lungs. As the crew search for the aliens and try to retrieve Neelix’s organs, Janeway is confronted with an unexpected moral dilemma. After being stalked by Vidiians, you may never listen to that famous song by The Police the same way again.

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Phage” and the introduction of a fascinating alien race in a story that hits right at the heart of Star Trek.

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) A Species with Depth (00:02:52) A Neelix Problem? (00:08:34) Cooking Up Storytelling (00:17:01) Ripe for Serialization? (00:21:07) Real-Life Science (00:25:30) Wrath and Compassion (00:28:05) The Doctor and AI Evolution (00:36:02) Kes Finds Purpose (00:42:44) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:44:26) Closing (00:48:22)

Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)