I should have known not to expect much out of a second half episode. "Basics," "Future's End," "Scorpion," "Equinox," "Killing Game," "Year of Hell," I could go on, but every two-parter that Voyager has ever done, the first half was great, and then the second half paled in comparison. And the writers have yet to correct that. This one was plodding and not nearly as interesting as the first part, or as interesting as it could have been.
LIKES:
As the Borg queen was telling Janeway that she would just destroy all the cubes with resistors (so to speak) on them, I sat there and went 'Do it. You'll have to destroy all of your ships to find them all.' Thankfully Janeway picked up on this same thought.
The Tom/Chakotay scene in the ready room was a nice parallel to the Janeway/Chakotay scenes in the first half. They were both wonderfully concerned, and Tom still managed a quip or two as well. Bravo.
"I don't compromise with the Borg." Well, I could make an argument that she has, however I still liked this line anyway. True Janeway.
As was the scene in Sickbay. Recovering with a computer, stack of PADDs and jumbo cup of coffee. I'm surprised the Doc let any of those in the door. And just as a point in note, I heard a comment about how she's not wearing any make-up here, but I beg to differ. None of these actors would ever go on stage without make-up, not because of vanity, but because it don't happen in Hollywood. Here it's just pale enough to seem like she's not wearing any.
DISLIKES:
The gratuitous backstory. I don't remember exactly what this refers to, but I think it was either Seven/Axum or the Borg Queen somehow. Probably the former. When I finally get around to reading Jim's review I'll try to figure this note out.
Seven's dream lover. This is worse than a holographic lover, and we all know my opinion on that subject. The scenes with Seven and Axum were boring and pointless. I'd have preferred less of this and more of...
There were far too many loose ends from the first half that weren't tied up, or at least not well enough to be satisfying. The ramifications of being 'assimilated,' the ramifications to the Borg, continuation of the J/C and P/T threads, the Borg queen's line "I'll see you soon, Harry," as well as Harry line about getting a promotion. None of these were broached at all. The last two were the most grievous, since they should never have been in there if they weren't going to be followed up.
Gratuitous Neelix. If there's no decent point in having a character appear in the episode (other than just to get them in), then don't include him or her. Period.
MINI-QUIBBLES:
Hair. B'Elanna and Tuvok are passable bald, but Janeway desperately needs her hair!
Tuvok's birthday. According to the custom of 1000 stardates = 1 year, his stated birthdate makes him only 15, which I know is at least 85 to short.
J/C QUOTIENT:
Hmph.
Apparently the kiss again ended up on the cutting room floor. That'll teach me never to get my hopes up.
Can I have just a little? Please?
On a side note, I did like how Chakotay was able to read between the lines in Sickbay and know what she wanted him to do. Even the Doc took her words at face value, but Chakotay didn't. In case you didn't notice, that was also the only time they got a scene together, and they weren't even in the same room.
