Warp Factor Trek

Here’s another Voyager story focusing on the crew’s attempts to get home, which is, of course, the show’s premise. Does it work?

Summary

While observing members of Voyager’s crew in the mess hall, Janeway comments to Tuvok that the Maquis and Starfleet contingents are finally connecting. Then, the bridge informs Janeway of an intercepted distress call. When contacted and asked what the emergency is, the alien says it is Voyager’s crew who are actually in distress. The alien, Gath, offers the crew shore leave, which Janeway approves.

On the planet, Janeway accepts a scarf as a gift from Gath. Kim interacts with a woman who is using an atmospheric sensor, while Janeway meets Gath’s assistant, Jaret Otel.

That evening, Eudana – the woman from earlier – reveals to Kim that Sikarians love stories. She takes him to a platform that transports them 40,000 light-years to another planet. Kim inquires about such technology and insists on returning to Sikaris, where he notifies Janeway about what happened. When Janeway asks if it’s possible for Voyager to use the equipment, Gath says the Sikarians don’t share technology for safety reasons.

Back on Voyager, the officers hold a meeting to discuss the situation. Janeway says they are “on the other side of the fence,” because the Sikarian principles are similar to the Prime Directive. Kim suggests exchanging literature from Voyager’s databanks for the technology, and Janeway agrees. She presents the offer to Gath, whose interest is piqued by the offer. He mentions he will bring it to the attention of the other Sikarian officials.

On the planet, Kim discreetly rendezvous with Otel. He proposes to authorize the exchange because he knows Gath won’t.

Back on Voyager, Kim informs Janeway and Tuvok about the deal. Afterwards, the two senior officers discuss the dilemma that Janeway is facing. She decides not to compromise her principles and thanks Tuvok.

Janeway consults Gath but realizes that the shore leave invitation was purely motivated by the Sikarians’ selfish need for pleasure. Returning to the ship, she immediately cancels shore leave.

Seska and Carey finally convince Torres to make the exchange without permission. Tuvok catches them in the transporter room and tells them he will conduct the trade-off with Otel. Later, he returns with the device but advises Torres not to engage it yet. Seska persuades Torres to install the device and run a test on it.

As Janeway orders the ship to leave orbit, things begin to go awry. Torres lies to buy time, but there’s a bad reaction with the alien technology, and she eventually uses her phaser to destroy the device. Seska wants to cover things up, but Torres insists it’s time to face the consequences.

In Janeway’s ready room, Torres tries to take the blame, but Tuvok takes responsibility. Janeway expresses disappointment in Torres and dismisses her. Tuvok explains that he did what he did for Janeway because she couldn’t disregard her principles despite her goal of getting the crew home. Janeway tells the Vulcan that, because he is a valued crew member and friend, she needs him. He agrees to never go behind her back again.

Analysis

I was initially inclined to dismiss “Prime Factors” due to it having a slow start and the fact that it’s a shore leave story. The beginning didn’t engage me, and if the episode had continued in that vein, it would likely have received my first under-three-rating review. However, the story picks up about a quarter of the way through, delivering some of the strongest scenes of the series thus far.

What I like most about the episode is that it reinvigorates the focus on Voyager’s quest to return home. Although the audience knows there will be no actual returning home, these types of stories are driven by the emotional impact from the letdown of the characters, and for the most part, it works here. Garrett Wang performs admirably in expressing Kim’s disappointment at not getting home, and viewers can see the stress it places on the rest of the crew, including Janeway – in another wonderful performance by Kate Mulgrew. I also commend Roxann Dawson for conveying Torres’ inner conflict about going behind her captain’s back.

At first, what struck me was how weak the antagonists are, this time around. I didn’t find them at all interesting. Their fascination with new stories and pleasure is acceptable, but what redeems their presence in the story is Gath’s creepiness. During a couple of the scenes between him and Janeway, he places his hands on her shoulders to demonstrate his passion. That gesture instead makes him seem like a misogynistic man trying to get what he wants without boundaries. At the end of the scene where Janeway offers him the literature, she even displays an expression of disgust.

There are several good scenes involving Kim, Torres, and even Seska. However, I want to point out one scene in particular: the ending. I love that Torres finally realizes the error of her ways and takes responsibility for what has transpired. Tuvok’s admission that he made the exchange to protect the captain from breaking her principles is especially moving. Janeway’s acknowledgement that they have been friends and comrades for the past six years adds even greater impact to it. Her anguish over having to discipline the Vulcan, her most trusted counselor, gave me pause. Despite the show having even less than ten episodes at this point, these scenes show already how strong their relationship truly is.

I’m glad that “Prime Factors” didn’t turn out to be what the beginning suggested it would be. Sometimes stories can’t recover from a slow start because it forces the audience to tune out early and stop watching or reading altogether. Luckily, “Prime Factors” quickly corrects course, providing some genuine character moments.