5 Voyager Season 2 Episodes You Can Skip for Better Viewing

Season 2 of the series Star Trek: Voyager, led by Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), delves into the bizarre aspects of the Delta Quadrant as the show’s writers took more risks. This year offers episodes like “Threshold”, where Lieutenant Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill) and Captain Janeway transform into salamanders, and “Tuvix”, where Lieutenant Tuvok (Tim Russ) and Neelix (Ethan Phillips) combine into one entity, played by Tom Wright. Additionally, in “The Thaw”, Captain Janeway confronts her own fear. While these episodes are unusual, they leave a lasting impression. However, I wouldn’t advise skipping these unique Voyager tales from the second season.

Unlike some exceptional episodes from Star Trek: Voyager’s second season, certain episodes that can be skipped fail to meet the mark. I’d never blame the Star Trek writers for attempting something innovative, as taking risks often leads to significant rewards. However, not all risks yield positive results. Sometimes, a writer’s intended storyline gets lost during the production process or is hurriedly told to fulfill the 26-episode season requirement. At this early stage of the series, the main characters might not be fully developed, leading to instances where they act out of character. Generally, these episodes are forgettable and it’s best to skip them.

5. Star Trek: Voyager Season 2, Episode 2 – “Initiations”

The Kazon Just Didn’t Work As Voyager’s Villains

What stands out in ‘Star Trek: Voyager’ season 2, episode 2, titled ‘Initiations’, is the appearance of Aron Eisenberg, famously known as Nog from ‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’. He portrays Kar, a young Kazon who menaces Commander Chakotay (Robert Beltran) in a ritualistic challenge. This episode delves into the intricacies of Kazon culture and the trials faced by Kar to gain acceptance. However, the focus on violent rituals serves to underscore the fact that the Kazon resemble Klingons in a somewhat generic manner within the ‘Star Trek’ universe.

The portrayal of “Initiations” seeks to depict Chakotay as a compassionate and thoughtful leader, always considering the welfare of Kar, but unfortunately, the young Kazon are unresponsive to Chakotay’s diplomatic efforts during negotiations. However, it’s important to note that Star Trek: Voyager creators realized they couldn’t fully develop the Kazon as a race, leaving room for Chakotay to demonstrate his leadership skills further. By the end of the second season, Star Trek: Voyager shifts focus, and the Kazon from the series become less prominent. If you’re interested in seeing Eisenberg in Voyager, feel free to check it out, but otherwise, “Initiations” might not be worth your time.

4. Star Trek: Voyager Season 2, Episode 3 – “Elogium”

Neelix And Kes Definitely Shouldn’t Have A Baby

In the TV series “Star Trek: Voyager,” season 2, episode 3 titled “Elogium,” highlights an awkward dynamic between characters Neelix and Kes (played by Jennifer Lien). For various reasons, their relationship makes many viewers uncomfortable. During this episode, Kes encounters an early onset of the elogium, which is the Ocampa mating period. This puts her in a difficult position as she must decide whether or not to have a baby with Neelix, and time is of the essence because the elogium usually occurs only once in an Ocampa’s nine-year lifetime.

In most episodes focusing on Kes in Star Trek: Voyager, the character Lien does her best with the storyline provided, but this particular episode strays significantly from our familiar portrayal of Kes. The elogium plotline, much like an early sign of Vulcan pon farr among Ocampa, strips Kes of her agency and concentrates solely on her mating needs. From a storytelling perspective, “Elogium” seems to go against the grain by needlessly elaborating on why Kes’ elogium is occurring prematurely, when it doesn’t have to be explained at all. As a new species in Star Trek: Voyager, the Ocampa are unfamiliar territory, and it’s as if this event was supposed to happen at a later time according to their established lore.

Concerningly, the story “Elogium” seems to idealize the problematic dynamic between Neelix and Kes from Star Trek: Voyager. Given their characters’ ages in relation to their lifespans, Kes is a young adult who had a secluded upbringing, while Neelix is a seasoned middle-aged individual. It strikes me that Neelix exploits Kes’ limited life experiences to avoid loneliness, and Kes clings to the first person who fuels her thirst for understanding the world beyond hers, labeling it as love. However, “Elogium” fails to scrutinize this relationship, likely because Kes lacks the capacity for critical thought.

3. Star Trek: Voyager Season 2, Episode 7 – “Parturition”

Tom & Neelix’s Argument Over Kes Is Weird And Pointless

In the heart of Star Trek: Voyager’s season 2, episode 7, “Parturition”, the main conflict revolves around Tom Paris and Neelix vying for Kes’ affections, which seems peculiar given her clear preference for Neelix. However, circumstances force them to set aside their differences when they crash-land on a planet and must collaborate to care for an egg discovered in a cave. This shared responsibility helps them understand each other better.

In the scene, Tom and Neelix share a connection through the egg hatching, reminiscent of Star Trek episodes such as “Darmok” from The Next Generation or “The Ascent” from Deep Space Nine, where adversaries on an inhospitable world find they can cooperate due to a shared objective. However, “Parturition” falls short compared to those excellent Star Trek installments.

In the context of Star Trek: Voyager, which was produced in the 1990s, the episode titled “Parturition” resolves the conflict between Tom and Neelix by Paris pledging not to court Kes romantically despite his feelings for her. This portrayal of male characters discussing a woman as if she were an object instead of a person is disappointing in a future that’s supposed to be enlightened. A more appropriate resolution would have been to involve Kes in the discussion about her own desires, but “Parturition” fails to do so. Therefore, it might be best to overlook this episode.

2. Star Trek: Voyager Season 2, Episode 12 – “Resistance”

Nothing Happens In This Forgettable Janeway Story

In the twelfth episode of Star Trek: Voyager’s second season, titled “Resistance”, Captain Janeway is abducted by an elderly freedom fighter named Caylem (Joel Grey), who mistakenly believes her to be his long-lost daughter. Simultaneously, Lieutenants Tuvok and B’Elanna Torres (Roxann Dawson) find themselves imprisoned under the rule of Mokra. The storyline follows a predictable pattern as Janeway, Caylem, and their newfound allies work to rescue Tuvok and B’Elanna from captivity, with Caylem revealing that his wife and daughter passed away many years ago. However, this plot twist doesn’t live up to its potential excitement.

Fundamentally, “Resistance” refers to something pointless or ineffective. The progression of events is slow and exasperating, with moments of tension during scenes where the USS Voyager team encounters resistance. Just like B’Elanna, I found myself questioning when someone would take action. Janeway eventually stops correcting Caylem because he becomes so convinced that Kathryn is someone else. Tuvok adheres to protocol while enduring his torture with the typical stoicism of a Vulcan. However, neither of them make significant headway, causing the episode to move at a lethargic speed.

In this rephrased version: Joel Grey delivers a commendable performance as Caylem, but his emphasis as a distinguished guest star pushes the regular characters of Star Trek: Voyager into response mode instead of driving the action. Instead of “Resistance” being a meaningful Janeway narrative, Kathryn seems more like a passive participant; she doesn’t develop much of a connection with Caylem, despite both being estranged from their loved ones. In the end, nothing significant happens to Janeway, and there are no insights gained or moral quandaries faced—making it feel less like classic Star Trek. If you ask me, it’s best to pass on this episode.

1. Star Trek: Voyager Season 2, Episode 22 – “Innocence”

Tuvok Babysits Some Benjamin Button Kids Without Realizing It

The second part of Star Trek: Voyager‘s second season becomes more engaging, starting from episode 22, “Innocence”. Captain Janeway negotiates with the prejudiced leader of the Drayans, Alcia, while the main story follows Lieutenant Tuvok being stranded on one of Draya’s moons along with three inquisitive children. Tuvok tries to repair the damaged shuttlecraft and safeguard the kids who believe they are meant to die, but it turns out to be a challenging situation. Vulcan logic has its limits when the Drayan children tirelessly probe Tuvok’s remarkable patience with endless questions.

The primary issue with “Innocence” lies in its portrayal as a mystery, yet it lacks the narrative style typically associated with one. Towards the end of the episode, Alcia unwillingly discloses an answer to a question never explicitly posed: Drayans age in reverse, which means the children are sent to the moon to meet their ends at the conclusion of their lives. This revelation seems odd, as Tuvok, who is known for his investigative skills, neither suspects the children’s true identities nor discovers any hints suggesting they were actually elderly.

In contrast to the five forgettable episodes, Star Trek: Voyager‘s second season maintains a strong foundation, albeit one where the show is still refining its approach. The blend of Starfleet and Maquis crew members is largely phased out, making way for a greater emphasis on the USS Voyager’s quest to return home swiftly. Each character gets their moment to shine, offering insights into their personalities and team dynamics. I appreciate the show’s boldness in exploring unusual ideas, and it’s intriguing to see which off-the-wall concepts prove successful compared to those five episodes that can be easily skipped over.

2025-05-19 01:30