Warp Factor Trek

“Phage” introduces an alien species into Star Trek: Voyager, with a little inspiration from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. However, does that influence from one of the most significant science fiction books of all time work within the episode?

Summary

Captain Janeway finds that Neelix has messily transformed her personal dining room aboard Voyager into a galley. The ship, thanks to Neelix, discovers a planetoid with a dilithium signature. On an away mission to find the mineral, however, he becomes isolated, is attacked by an alien humanoid, and goes into shock.

Once the away team returns to Voyager, The Doctor examines Neelix and determines that both of his lungs have been removed by an advanced surgical procedure. The Doctor puts his patient into an artificial breathing apparatus, but unless his lungs are found, Neelix will die.

When The Doctor comes up with a brilliant plan of placing holographic lungs inside Neelix’s body, Paris points out that holograms are not physical matter. The Doctor slaps the helmsman in the face to prove the contrary. However, if they proceed with the operation, Neelix will never be able to leave the breathing apparatus (or sickbay) ever again.

Led by Janeway, another away team to the planetoid discovers a lab containing various organs. The team ends up pursuing an alien through a series of tunnels, but the individual beams up to their ship and goes to warp before the team can catch them.

Although the procedure succeeds, Neelix begins to feel afraid and sorry for himself. He becomes jealous of the relationship between Paris and Kes. Neelix also expresses a desire to be left to die. After Voyager’s pursuit of the enemy ship leads it into an asteroid, Neelix starts to hyperventilate but is sedated by The Doctor.

While Voyager encounters decoys set up by the aliens, Kes arrives in sickbay. She speaks with The Doctor, who confesses he is upset about being the permanent medical officer on Voyager, feeling inadequate for the job. Kes reassures him that he will learn to develop like a flesh-and-blood doctor.

Identifying the real alien ship, Janeway has its two occupants beamed aboard Voyager. The leader of the pair, Dereth, explains that a disease known as “the Phage” has been ravaging their species, the Vidiians, for two thousand years. To combat the disease, the Vidiians have been harvesting biomatter from other species. Furthermore, one of them has already genetically altered Neelix’s lungs and implanted them into the other’s body. Janeway faces a tough decision – either A) kill the Vidiian who now has Neelix’s lungs, in order to save Neelix, or B) let the pair go.

Since Janeway chooses to release them and they possess advanced technology, the Vidiians offer assistance with Neelix’s condition. Despite The Doctor ruling out a transplant from any of the crew, the Vidiians can use their advanced medical tools to facilitate such a procedure. Kes offers one of her lungs. After the surgery succeeds and the aliens depart, The Doctor offers to train her as a medical assistant, and she accepts.

Analysis

“Phage” succeeds on many levels, giving a much-needed boost to the show compared to the previous two episodes. I found my attention being held as the story unfolded. The emotional journey throughout the story ranks alongside other strong episodes of the Star Trek franchise. I believe this is the first time since “Caretaker” that I sensed a promise of things to come.

Kes, in particular, develops in this episode. It’s great to see her on an exciting new trajectory.

I appreciated Neelix’s scenes where he tries to cover up his fear. Ethan Phillips is at his best here, even though he only acts from the mouth up for most of the episode.

Something that continues to strike me is Janeway’s passion for protecting her crew while not compromising her principles. Her scene with the Vidiians showcases a caring captain at her wit’s end. In a less experienced actor’s hands, the scene quite possibly could have lapsed into them chewing the scenery. It’s a testament to Kate Mulgrew’s solid acting that it does not.

I’m also pleased with the treatment of the Vidiians – one of the most interesting alien species in Voyager up to this point – as characters, not one-dimensional villains. The first thing that struck me was their disfigured look. It reminded me of Frankenstein’s monster, a collage of body parts (writer-producer Brannon Braga has stated in interviews that Frankenstein partly inspired the race). Cully Fredricksen’s performance as Dereth even comes off as a combination of Doctor Frankenstein and the monster. While I worried about Neelix getting his lungs back and living a normal life again, I came around to being a little bit sympathetic toward the Vidiians’ predicament, despite their questionable methods. Star Trek is always at its best when the antagonist has their own motives that make the story not black-and-white but grey.

I know I’ve mentioned Voyager’s funny dialogue in other reviews, but “Phage” ups the ante in this area. The Doctor’s aforementioned slap to Paris’ face is an awesome moment of physical comedy, and I am not being hyperbolical when I say I had to pause the episode to calm myself from laughing so hard.

Overall, “Phage” hits a groove that I hope Voyager can keep up, going forward. Yes, I’m aware not every episode is going to be a gem, but the quality of the story, acting, and emotional impact in this episode proves Star Trek: Voyager can deliver strong narratives.