Strong direction (from Dirty Harry's own Andrew Robinson!) and good storytelling really produces a gem in this Vulcan-themed episode of Voyager. So a Vulcan officer is suffering the seven-year Pon Farr, requesting B'Elanna to be his mate, but she has no interest whatsoever. Because the Voyager is far from the Planet Vulcan, Ensign Vorik (Alexander Enberg) is undergoing the "blood fever", needing to find a way to undermine "chemical imbalance" in his biology which could kill him if he doesn't find a mate, battle someone for a mate, or meditate his way through the ordeal (which isn't easy on a starship instead of his homeworld). The Doctor attempts to appeal to Vorik to allow assistance in the fight against the blood fever, but this is a personal journey that resists the help of those not Vulcan. Vorik, not completely in control as normal, applies a telepathic link by cuffing his hands to Torres' neck, passing off the effects of Pon Farr to her. Beaming down with Tom and Neelix to a planet rich with an energy source certain to boost the warp core on the Voyager, Torres' Klingon mating desires inflame, encouraging her to act out of character, far more aggressive, animalistic, and "hands-on". When she bites Tom on the face (!), he communicates this to Janeway, learning from Tuvok that the blood fever is plaguing her as well. When Chakotay and Tuvok beam to the planet, they encounter an underground race whose civilization was obliterated in a fierce attack, leaving them paranoid, afraid, and far more alert towards any other invaders that might threaten them. But because the Federation is peaceful and wants to help the Sakarian race conceal themselves properly so no other visitors bother them, they in turn agree to provide the Voyager with the gallacite needed for advanced warp function.
The episode develops the ongoing sexual tension between Paris and Torres by having them address buried interest/feelings that might actually exist but not act on due to the blood fever influence, introduces another Vulcan to the Voyager audience, recalls Original Star Trek with a throwback to the Vulcan mating rituals and Kali Fee (although there is a fight, it isn't to the death), gives the Doctor a challenge he nearly succeeds in a holodeck program recreating Vulcan and a mate for Vorik (and inspires a research project into studying mating rituals for other races), and prepares the Voyager and its audience for an upcoming foe, the Borg. It is a busy, very active episode, but a lot of fun with almost the entire cast involved in one way or another. Torres telling Paris be careful what he asks for (more of her Klingon side) is certainly a setup for future episodes (Paris proves quite noble when he resists his urges to make love to Torres, while she pretends to brush off their time alone on the planet as "not her but the fever"). The Doctor's resistance from Tuvok and Vorik shows us that Vulcans consider their privacy of the utmost importance, not to be shared with those "who wouldn't understand". Losing their logic with the rush of intense emotion is embarrassing and frustrating to them. Seeing Vulcans vulnerable and unhinged provides insight into their "bad biology" where logic and control, key to their way of life and behavior daily, leave them; one moment has Paris sympathizing with Tuvok's biological "imperfection" every seven years, remarking he can't imagine what they must be like. To handle all these alternating subplots and keep the episode clear, concise, and held together is damned impressive work from Robinson.
The episode develops the ongoing sexual tension between Paris and Torres by having them address buried interest/feelings that might actually exist but not act on due to the blood fever influence, introduces another Vulcan to the Voyager audience, recalls Original Star Trek with a throwback to the Vulcan mating rituals and Kali Fee (although there is a fight, it isn't to the death), gives the Doctor a challenge he nearly succeeds in a holodeck program recreating Vulcan and a mate for Vorik (and inspires a research project into studying mating rituals for other races), and prepares the Voyager and its audience for an upcoming foe, the Borg. It is a busy, very active episode, but a lot of fun with almost the entire cast involved in one way or another. Torres telling Paris be careful what he asks for (more of her Klingon side) is certainly a setup for future episodes (Paris proves quite noble when he resists his urges to make love to Torres, while she pretends to brush off their time alone on the planet as "not her but the fever"). The Doctor's resistance from Tuvok and Vorik shows us that Vulcans consider their privacy of the utmost importance, not to be shared with those "who wouldn't understand". Losing their logic with the rush of intense emotion is embarrassing and frustrating to them. Seeing Vulcans vulnerable and unhinged provides insight into their "bad biology" where logic and control, key to their way of life and behavior daily, leave them; one moment has Paris sympathizing with Tuvok's biological "imperfection" every seven years, remarking he can't imagine what they must be like. To handle all these alternating subplots and keep the episode clear, concise, and held together is damned impressive work from Robinson.
