Mark Watches ‘Voyager’: S03E01 – Basics, Part II

In the first episode of the first season of Voyager, everything is Hell. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Star Trek. 

At times, “Basics, Part II” feels overloaded and overwhelming, but as a whole, it’s a strong opening to the third season, one that establishes that the Voyager crew grows closer together through every experience. LET’S DISCUSS.

On the Planet

We never discover the name of this planet, nor the name of the species or people that the crew interacts with, but I don’t think that’s as important as the experience. This specific plot shows us how this crew copes with something otherworldly and horrible. What are their strengths? Their weaknesses? What entertainment value can be derived from their struggles? A lot, apparently, as I did find myself transfixed by most of what occurred here. But I’m gonna start out by saying that Neelix fucked up. Royally. And I’m still blown away by the fact that he vocalized his theory that the bones at the opening of the cave were likely meant to dissuade people from disturbing them. AND THEN HE STILL ORDERED HOGAN TO DISTURB THEM. HOW CAN YOU BE SO AWARE AND SO UNAWARE AT THE SAME TIME.

RIP Hogan. You probably deserved better.

From this point on, “Basics, Part II” is literally one disaster after another. Hogan is consumed. Then Kes and Neelix are kidnapped. Then Samantha’s baby gets sicker and sicker. Then the planet’s surface hates everyone, then ALL MOUNTAINS BECOME FIRE MOUNTAINS, and these poor people do not get a break for a good half hour straight. I found similarities between this storyline and “Resolutions” from last season, so the whole trope of the crew surviving in a strange place wasn’t exactly the most riveting part of this episode. I just liked how relentless this all ways. The same goes for the trope of the crew being forced to interact with a primitive people who don’t speak a translatable language. “Darmok” is a much better example of what kind of story can be told. Still, it was fun seeing how creative these people got, especially that bit about using hair to start a fire. I NEVER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT OF THAT.

Recapturing Voyager

The best parts of this episode, though, follow the other plot concerning the Voyager itself. Tom Paris gets to shine a bit as he schemes with the Talaxians to disable the photon weapon systems. But the plan relies entirely on the work of the Doctor and, unknown to Paris, Lon Suder. Never would I have assumed that Suder and the Doctor’d get their own episode, AND IT’S SO GOOD. First, we’ve got the Doctor panicking because he isn’t programmed to be an insurgent. YES. YES. THIS IS VERY GOOD. It’s something I’d never thought about before!

Yet that’s precisely why this part of the episode is so exciting. Once Suder meets up with the Doctor, we are forced to consider an awful reality: What if Suder has to kill some of the Kazon to help take back the ship? It’s a disturbing thing because Suder’s entire characterization beyond his first appearance has relied on the fact that through Tuvok’s training and mind meld, he’s managed to keep his violent tendencies at bay. Even more tragically ironic, he had just hoped that he could do something for Voyager to help out. And here it is: possibly battle the Kazon to save everyone.

Aside from this being an illuminating study of Suder, though, it’s an episode that requires the audience to consider the cost of violence in general. If we swap out Suder with any other character, I bet this episode would not look the same. There’d be no rumination on this theme. That’s important, though, because then every death at Suder’s hand becomes something sad instead of a normal part of the action. When he kills, we don’t feel victorious. When he defends himself and guns down a huge number of Kazon, we don’t celebrate. We see his horrified face slip into numbness; he can no longer keep his violent side deep within him anymore, even if it was all done for the greater good. And when Suder is shot and killed while doing what the Doctor cannot, it’s a miserable tragedy. He finally found a way to contribute to Voyager, and it cost him his life.

This episode has a huge bodycount, y’all. Suder, Hogan, that unnamed crew member, and SESKA. That one surprised me, too. Is the Doctor going to tell Chakotay that he doesn’t have a son??? THAT SEEMS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT. Perhaps that’ll make him feel better, but it could also make him feel worse. He pursued a son that wasn’t even his.

Whew, what an opening. I definitely enjoyed it, and I am thrilled for more adventures in SEASON 3. I’M ALREADY AT SEASON 3.

The video for “Basics, Part II” can be downloaded here for $0.99.

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