State of Flux: Seska bothers me. Chakotay has earned my respect over and over again.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on Chakotay’s character, as well as what the consensus has been in the community regarding how theY portrayed Native Americans. I had thoughts on DS9’s discussion around race but this feels a little more intricate, and is just not something I know anything about. But regardless of that whole conversation, I respect the way he respects the captain, while being strong enough to insert his own opinion. He has very strong values that I personally align with.

Nucleonic particles and radiation are becoming cliches on this show very quickly. Cheers to Torres for nor letting Janeway give her unrealistic timelines.

Well at least I was right to let her bother me. She has that sickening Cardassian quality. I feel so bad for Chakotay. He cared so much about her, was very even handed with his suspicion of her while still trying to trust her character. I love Tuvok, as well. Funny that there were two spies on that ship and neither of them noticed. Also a very creative plot because I would have never guessed there would be a second spy.

We’re gonna see Seska again, aren’t we?

Heroes and Demons: I love Janeway’s understanding of science. She can figure out what’s going on, follow the stuff in engineering, and help when needed.

I don’t love holodeck episodes. I liked them in DS9 at least some of the time but really not in Next Gen. But of course, this was fantastic. The EMH is hysterical. I do find them more entertaining when I am familiar with the work they are based off, but that isn’t the case here. I’m just laughing at the EMH just trying to pick up a sword. I love the idea that the holographic program that has human limitations because his creator did. Zimmerman was scrawny, hologram based on Zimmerman is scrawny. Hologram is lonely, gets bored, is easily frustrated, has moments where he doesn’t know what to do. He doesn’t have to panic and give sedatives out all the time but he does, pretty frequently. But even the physical traits. No reason he can’t have super human strength, right? But he doesn’t! I also love his conviction. “The only reason you won’t die is because I took an oath!”

And look at Paris being a backup engineer!

Cathexis: these types of episodes are so creepy. I loved the solution, that Chakotay’s consciousness was displaced and he had been trying to save the ship. Also liked seeing Torres respecting his wishes and going through his ritual, and then the EMH encouraged it instead of dismissing it for his own medicine. Tuvok was super creepy. It also seemed like they were getting angry at each other for being possessed.

There were some really well choreographed scenes in this episode, like the one where the alien bounced between them and they were playing shoot or punch out the right person until Tuvok just shot all of them, which I didn’t know those phasers could do. That seems like a bit of a dangerous setting to have.

I just realized this show has way less episodes in a season than the other series.