Captain’s log: stardate 48892.1

Johnathan Frakes directs this Doctor (Robert Picardo) episode that was written by Brannon Braga and first aired on 11 September, 1995.

When the holographic Doctor is activated, he discovers the ship is practically deserted but for Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), Torres (Roxann Dawson) and Neelix (Ethan Phillips) after a Kazon attack.

With the help of some new holo-emitters The Doctor has access to more areas of the ship, but soon, the hologram will have to decide what is real and what is not, when evidence suggests that he is in fact Lewis Zimmerman (a nice little nod to art director Herman Zimmerman), working at Jupiter Station within a holographic representation of Voyager.

The episode features an appearance by Next Generation fan favorite Reginald Barclay (Dwight Schultz).

With Barclay at his side, the Doctor struggles to figure out what is going on. Is he trapped in a simulation? Is there something else going on?

Eventually it is revealed right at the last moment, that he is on the holodeck. Not really a surprise, it’s just funny how often the simplest thing can cause a holodeck problem. They really should work on that technology before incorporating them into starships.

I like seeing Barclay and the Doctor together, there is some really nice chemistry between the pair, one hopes it may not be the only time they get to be play together.

Captain’s log: stardate 48921.3

Kenneth Biller and Jeri Taylor pen the teleplay for this episode from a story by Jimmie Diggs and Steve J. Kay. It first aired on 18 September, 1995.

It was fairly obviously from the start of the series that the writers didn’t know what to do with the Ocampan alien, Kes (Jennifer Lien). She serves as an assistant to the Doctor, and is Neelix’s love, and serves as a triangle between herself, Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill) and Neelix.

But while other characters on the series have already developed, the short life span of the Ocampa alien hasn’t been explored. Getting an overdue episode doesn’t do tons for the character either.

As the Voyager draws near a swarm of strange space-faring lifeforms their proximity has an affect on Kes’ reproductive cycle, spurring a discussion between she and Neelix over whether to have children.

The episode also shows more crew members starting to pair off, Chakotay (Robert Beltran) catches a pair of officers sharing an intimate moment, and such things are becoming more frequent.

The episode also introduces Ensign Wildman (Nancy Hower) and her bit of news.

The Human Adventure continues next week with explorations of Deep Space Nine and Voyager The Complete Series on DVD from Paramount Pictures continues…