Nothing groundbreaking, but a fun and heady plot that gives Jennifer Lien an opportunity to stretch her acting muscles instead of just standing serenely near The Doctor or bickering with Neelix. She's a good actor! They just don't want us to know it, for some reason. Also, Rachael Harris (Dr. Linda from "Lucifer", among many other things) is in this episode, as Kes's daughter! We love a pre-fame Star Trek cameo.
23 Reviews
Living life backwards
Tweekums31 August 2010
Warning: Spoilers
As this episode opens it is clear that something has changed; The Doctor has hair. In sickbay we see an unknown character discussing her mother's condition, then another unknown character refers to the patient as grandmother, it is only then that we learn that the patient is an elderly Kes. The Doctor treats her with something called the 'bio-temporal' chamber and she starts to jump back to previous moments in her life. She has no memories of her past but does recall things that have yet to happen to those around her. With each jump she learns more about her predicament but has to explain it to those around her again. It appears that sometime in the past, but in a time we have yet to see, Voyager went through something called 'The Year of Hell' where Janeway and B'Elanna died and everybody was exposed to Chroniton radiation, everybody was treated for it but it seems the bio-temporal bed reactivated it in Kes causing the backward time jumps. Luckily one of the jumps takes her to the time of the attack and she gets the data she needs; now she just has to get treated before she jumps too far back. As she goes back further and further in time she ultimately starts living her life from the start then jumps to the point the Doctor started to treat her when she was three. The events must have changed her in more ways than one as now she has long hair.
This was an interesting episode that presaged events that we will see in later series; it is just a pity that Jennifer Lien was dropped from the cast soon after this episode meaning the events involving her won't happen as predicted. This can be justified within the story by Tuvok's comment that the future could be changed by the fact that Kes knows what is to come.
This was an interesting episode that presaged events that we will see in later series; it is just a pity that Jennifer Lien was dropped from the cast soon after this episode meaning the events involving her won't happen as predicted. This can be justified within the story by Tuvok's comment that the future could be changed by the fact that Kes knows what is to come.
Almost Clever
alexwoolcott25 August 2010
Warning: Spoilers
An episode that flirts with the being clever, "Before and After" suffers from the usual problem of Star Trek stories that involve trips to the future: if you change the show's mythology too much, you force the show to go into a certain direction. The dangers of this become apparent during Season 4 when Kes (Jennifer Lien) leaves the show, thus creating a paradox: the entire future she experienced is now impossible, rendering the entire episode rather moot.
The reason this episode is "almost" clever is that in Season 4, the writers do return to the very events that Kes experiences (in the episodes "Year of Hell Part 1 and 2") Had the writers been able to stick to ALL the events that Kes experiences (Janeway's death, B'lanna's death, Kes and Tom's marriage etc) then "Before and After" would have been a rather revolutionary piece of television: an episode that told the audience everything that would happen in the next four seasons (they could have even brought back the same actors to play Kes' daughter and grandson). Whether or not this would have worked isn't the point; it would have been one hell of an experiment (and we can already see that these sort of Flash forwards have come into use in shows like Lost, Dollhouse and, well, Flash Forward).
Sadly, this never happens. The episode ends with the usual bit about Kes experiencing "a possible future", thus freeing future seasons from any constraints. We are left, then, with an episode that is a slightly amusing stand-alone; telling a story backwards is always an engaging narrative device (see Harold Pinter's "Betrayal")and it's fun to see the Voyager crew engaging with each other in different ways. However, the episode does suffer from the fact that we as an audience figure out what's going on long before the characters do, and there's a bit of lag time while we wait for them to catch up.
Of course, this episode opens up the usual question about inter species mating. For one, even if Tom and Kes could have a child, chances are the kid would be sterile (as is often the case when animals intermingle). And even if kids were possible, Tom's daughter is 1/2 Ocampa, which means her kid will be 1/4 Ocampa - which means the grandson would probably not be aging according to the Ocampa's usual life cycle and would not be nearly as old as he seems to be.
The reason this episode is "almost" clever is that in Season 4, the writers do return to the very events that Kes experiences (in the episodes "Year of Hell Part 1 and 2") Had the writers been able to stick to ALL the events that Kes experiences (Janeway's death, B'lanna's death, Kes and Tom's marriage etc) then "Before and After" would have been a rather revolutionary piece of television: an episode that told the audience everything that would happen in the next four seasons (they could have even brought back the same actors to play Kes' daughter and grandson). Whether or not this would have worked isn't the point; it would have been one hell of an experiment (and we can already see that these sort of Flash forwards have come into use in shows like Lost, Dollhouse and, well, Flash Forward).
Sadly, this never happens. The episode ends with the usual bit about Kes experiencing "a possible future", thus freeing future seasons from any constraints. We are left, then, with an episode that is a slightly amusing stand-alone; telling a story backwards is always an engaging narrative device (see Harold Pinter's "Betrayal")and it's fun to see the Voyager crew engaging with each other in different ways. However, the episode does suffer from the fact that we as an audience figure out what's going on long before the characters do, and there's a bit of lag time while we wait for them to catch up.
Of course, this episode opens up the usual question about inter species mating. For one, even if Tom and Kes could have a child, chances are the kid would be sterile (as is often the case when animals intermingle). And even if kids were possible, Tom's daughter is 1/2 Ocampa, which means her kid will be 1/4 Ocampa - which means the grandson would probably not be aging according to the Ocampa's usual life cycle and would not be nearly as old as he seems to be.
This review comes to you ... FROM THE FUTURE!
A_Different_Drummer13 March 2014
Warning: Spoilers
This review penned (keyed) in 2014. Over a decade and a half after this episode aired, an award-winning director would do a theatrical release entitled ABOUT TIME (also reviewed here) which essentially imparted the very same life-message (Carpe Diem) although with a slightly different story. I much prefer this approach, the notion of being forced to live one's life backwards, instead of having the ability to jump through time at will, simply by looking like you are about to have a bowel movement. In re-watching this episode (again from the far future, known in my time as 2014, we have mobile devices, there is "an app for everything" except it seems, common sense; and the politicians have all gone barking mad) I began to appreciate that this series, arguably the very last wide-audience Star Trek before channel stratification, seems to have produced some of the best time travel stories of the last 100 years. Good writers. Really good writers. If you are interested in re-watching this series, suggest you either purchase a time travel license (assuming you are reading this from the year 2183 or later) or, in the alternative, get the DVD set.
kaerF mutnauQ
XweAponX9 June 2013
In a lot of ways, I agree with "Quantum Freak" but the things they cite that made it non-enjoyable for them, I enjoyed.
But I will not refute what they have said, because they are correct in everything they said about not only this Ep, but the state of the show at this time, and the Main Producer of the show, one Brannon Braga.
Voyager did not have the Braintrust which Next Generation had for the first 6 years, nor the Writing Team which turned Deep Space Nine into a full Universe-Spanning Epic.
And it does seem that for the first 2 1/2 years, Voyager was lost not only in the Delta Quadrant, but in a mist of lagging and non progressive story lines.
It was as if - As much as Janeway is loathe to avoid neglecting The Prime Directive, so too were the Writers of Voyager, being way too careful to avoid breaking the Prime Directive for the first two and a half seasons. Janeway's response to situations was inflexible and religious- Not at all Like Picard, who would not act UNTIL he had heard all of the options laid out on the table. But Janeway would never call for conferences of this sort, and she had only one rule, never BREAK the Prime Directive. This is a recipe for bland story lines and lack of progress.
Usually, a show takes a full season of episodes (or less) just to establish itself. Why Voyager took two and a half, could be assigned a number of reasons: UPN was an Infant Network, and Voyager was a Network Show. This Infant Network (Now a Deceased Network) went from being "Dramatically Different" to being nothing but off colour ethnic comedy in One Season.
Look at the shows which came and went: Legend, a Western Macgyver (With John Delancey)- Marker. Deadly Games. And the best - Nowhere Man. All GONE in the second year of UPN's existence, and all great shows, all replaced with lame comedies which themselves would not last a whole season Like "Moesha". It was as if Paramount was BET-Mount for a while. So every other Non Voyager show was a Race show. Now I love Martin Luther King Jr as much as anyone, as a human, but I'm for balance, not complete assimilation- Which is what happened to UPN.
It was as if some universe-upheaval shook down the offices of UPN and did a Major Universe-Alteration from one season to the next. From the second year of UPN on, UPN only offered Ethnic Comedies, and Voyager. It was not that the Ethnic Comedies were Ethnic comedies, it's that they were BAD Comedies.
So Voyager stood alone in this vast wasteland of television dren. Not only was Voyager a Trek show, it was Also a NETWORK show - It was no longer Syndicated. And due to this flaw, it could now be micromanaged - AND, Threatened with Cancellation.
So while Next Generation and Deep Space Nine enjoyed a full seven years unhindered by Network Executives, Voyager was probably henpecked by these infestations from the start. Ergo, there was NO Straight Line Voyager took from Delta Quadrant to Alpha Quadrant.
This is why I like this episode - It Established a FUTURE HISTORY. We know now, The Kremin and The Year of Hell is on the horizon, and soon.
We also see microscopic changes in the timeline - Kes no longer has her Pixie haircut, she now has long flowing Tresses, and looks much better like that.
Really, Kes was a good character, we only got to know her fleetingly. She was unceremoniously KICKED off the show, despite Strong performances- And she never worked again after Voyager instead actually becoming a real Doctor in real life.
The best Kes episode was when she gets taken over by the Warlord, that was some range revealed there. Jennifer Lien was in fact the best Actress of the whole Voyager Cast, I felt a Method approach. Also, the character showed the most growth of all of the Voyager Crew, she was innocent, left the show with a streak of Darkness.
So this episode, despite being weak in it's narrative, is in fact something that was used to put Voyager on more of a Straight Line to the Alpha Quadrant. And as we know now, the Year of Hell changed the WHOLE timeline- As well as Janeway's Haircut.
Which was a bold move, but it had to be preceded by this episode, this one poorly written episode, written by tired writers. Oh, I agree with that 100.
But if you look at the details of the episode, many of these details show up in the next 4 and a half seasons of Voyager, all the way to the end of the series. So this episode paves the way for the changes that made Voyager a much better show for the rest of the series. And, Season 3 is a look up, it is a good season, a season that ended strongly. But I still feel badly for Jennifer, she did not deserve to be treated that shabbily, and by Trek People, who are supposed to represent an "Enlightened" way of acting and treating others. The Prime Directive was Definitely BROKEN when it came to Jennifer Lien.
But I will not refute what they have said, because they are correct in everything they said about not only this Ep, but the state of the show at this time, and the Main Producer of the show, one Brannon Braga.
Voyager did not have the Braintrust which Next Generation had for the first 6 years, nor the Writing Team which turned Deep Space Nine into a full Universe-Spanning Epic.
And it does seem that for the first 2 1/2 years, Voyager was lost not only in the Delta Quadrant, but in a mist of lagging and non progressive story lines.
It was as if - As much as Janeway is loathe to avoid neglecting The Prime Directive, so too were the Writers of Voyager, being way too careful to avoid breaking the Prime Directive for the first two and a half seasons. Janeway's response to situations was inflexible and religious- Not at all Like Picard, who would not act UNTIL he had heard all of the options laid out on the table. But Janeway would never call for conferences of this sort, and she had only one rule, never BREAK the Prime Directive. This is a recipe for bland story lines and lack of progress.
Usually, a show takes a full season of episodes (or less) just to establish itself. Why Voyager took two and a half, could be assigned a number of reasons: UPN was an Infant Network, and Voyager was a Network Show. This Infant Network (Now a Deceased Network) went from being "Dramatically Different" to being nothing but off colour ethnic comedy in One Season.
Look at the shows which came and went: Legend, a Western Macgyver (With John Delancey)- Marker. Deadly Games. And the best - Nowhere Man. All GONE in the second year of UPN's existence, and all great shows, all replaced with lame comedies which themselves would not last a whole season Like "Moesha". It was as if Paramount was BET-Mount for a while. So every other Non Voyager show was a Race show. Now I love Martin Luther King Jr as much as anyone, as a human, but I'm for balance, not complete assimilation- Which is what happened to UPN.
It was as if some universe-upheaval shook down the offices of UPN and did a Major Universe-Alteration from one season to the next. From the second year of UPN on, UPN only offered Ethnic Comedies, and Voyager. It was not that the Ethnic Comedies were Ethnic comedies, it's that they were BAD Comedies.
So Voyager stood alone in this vast wasteland of television dren. Not only was Voyager a Trek show, it was Also a NETWORK show - It was no longer Syndicated. And due to this flaw, it could now be micromanaged - AND, Threatened with Cancellation.
So while Next Generation and Deep Space Nine enjoyed a full seven years unhindered by Network Executives, Voyager was probably henpecked by these infestations from the start. Ergo, there was NO Straight Line Voyager took from Delta Quadrant to Alpha Quadrant.
This is why I like this episode - It Established a FUTURE HISTORY. We know now, The Kremin and The Year of Hell is on the horizon, and soon.
We also see microscopic changes in the timeline - Kes no longer has her Pixie haircut, she now has long flowing Tresses, and looks much better like that.
Really, Kes was a good character, we only got to know her fleetingly. She was unceremoniously KICKED off the show, despite Strong performances- And she never worked again after Voyager instead actually becoming a real Doctor in real life.
The best Kes episode was when she gets taken over by the Warlord, that was some range revealed there. Jennifer Lien was in fact the best Actress of the whole Voyager Cast, I felt a Method approach. Also, the character showed the most growth of all of the Voyager Crew, she was innocent, left the show with a streak of Darkness.
So this episode, despite being weak in it's narrative, is in fact something that was used to put Voyager on more of a Straight Line to the Alpha Quadrant. And as we know now, the Year of Hell changed the WHOLE timeline- As well as Janeway's Haircut.
Which was a bold move, but it had to be preceded by this episode, this one poorly written episode, written by tired writers. Oh, I agree with that 100.
But if you look at the details of the episode, many of these details show up in the next 4 and a half seasons of Voyager, all the way to the end of the series. So this episode paves the way for the changes that made Voyager a much better show for the rest of the series. And, Season 3 is a look up, it is a good season, a season that ended strongly. But I still feel badly for Jennifer, she did not deserve to be treated that shabbily, and by Trek People, who are supposed to represent an "Enlightened" way of acting and treating others. The Prime Directive was Definitely BROKEN when it came to Jennifer Lien.
One of the best episodes of ANY Star Trek
psmaak21 October 2021
The Curious Case of Kes
brdavid-429-9627020 May 2020
This is definitely an episode that is more than worth it, and let me just say I love Jennifer Lien. I love her portrayal of a character that should be explored more, a character that gets discarded too many times. Kes should be in the forefront a lot more. This episode brings her forward again and it's definitely worth it. The best episodes of this season happen to be Kes focused: Warlord, and now Before and After.
This episode focuses on Kes as it appears she is appearing in different parts of her future, as she is apparently travelling backwards in time through her life and accumulating memories as she goes back. The ending is brilliant and her reaction to her continuing to move backwards is genuine. She is a fantastic actor and in my opinion Lien, and Dawson are the two actresses that are the most interesting of this show.
A rare time that Voyager is good and it all goes to Lien. Thank you for the good episodes!
This episode focuses on Kes as it appears she is appearing in different parts of her future, as she is apparently travelling backwards in time through her life and accumulating memories as she goes back. The ending is brilliant and her reaction to her continuing to move backwards is genuine. She is a fantastic actor and in my opinion Lien, and Dawson are the two actresses that are the most interesting of this show.
A rare time that Voyager is good and it all goes to Lien. Thank you for the good episodes!
Interesting/Frustrating
Hitchcoc27 August 2018
Warning: Spoilers
Kes is the focus. She wakes up as an older woman (nine-years old for her species). She appears to have dementia, but as the story progresses, she begins to slip back in time. Each time she slips, she learns more and more. Fortunately, the crew has seen enough weird stuff that they are willing to give her the benefit of the doubt, plus she is known for having interesting powers. That said, the whole process is hard to stay with and defies even a fantastic reality. But it is an intriguing. Ut every episode. This is speculative science fiction so at least there is an effort at creativity.
Jennifer Lien is a great actress
LifeonYgam28 July 2021
Forward to the past.
thevacinstaller27 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
One of the commenters who wrote an insightful review provided a glowing appreciation for Babylon 5's serialized arc and suggested that star trek's episodic style is not as engaging. I have to disagree ----- Babylon 5 is spectacular the first time you watch it but the big plot reveals lose the impact power on subsequent viewings and one only has to look at how long TOS/Next Gen remained in re-runs to prove that point. Have characters experience emotional serialized arc and stick to episodic with a light dusting of serialized themes.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This episode is a success because it checks off my crazy creative idea box. I enjoyed how the future versions of the crew help previous versions of the crew with diagnosing what is happening to Kes. I dig the idea that the experiences of Kes in this episode could have very real consequences in Voyager's future and that would be a way for these time traveling episodes to have a very real impact instead of generally being a bottle episode.
No major messages to be gained from viewing this episode but it certainly was an engaging watch with the ticking time bomb of Kes aging backwards acting as an effective suspense device.
I like the Doctors wig but my personal opinion is that you accept male pattern baldness with grace and just tell people that your brain has grown too big for your hair.
I have always enjoyed Kes acting performance (and all the female leads on Voyager). Maybe it's the sultry voice? She certainly successfully conveyed the sweet girl persona on the screen.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This episode is a success because it checks off my crazy creative idea box. I enjoyed how the future versions of the crew help previous versions of the crew with diagnosing what is happening to Kes. I dig the idea that the experiences of Kes in this episode could have very real consequences in Voyager's future and that would be a way for these time traveling episodes to have a very real impact instead of generally being a bottle episode.
No major messages to be gained from viewing this episode but it certainly was an engaging watch with the ticking time bomb of Kes aging backwards acting as an effective suspense device.
I like the Doctors wig but my personal opinion is that you accept male pattern baldness with grace and just tell people that your brain has grown too big for your hair.
I have always enjoyed Kes acting performance (and all the female leads on Voyager). Maybe it's the sultry voice? She certainly successfully conveyed the sweet girl persona on the screen.
Time's arrow
stephendibb7 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
One of the stories told about Merlin was that he was living his life backwards through time.
By the time of Arthur he was middle aged. Circumstances proscribed him from talking too much of the future. Instead he would hint and advise on courses of actions. Perhaps Kes is Merlin, or the writer's version anyway!
As a fun fact, this explains why Merlin was so easily caught by Morgan Le Fey in the cave. He was, in fact, actually escaping. Write that one into an episode!
By the time of Arthur he was middle aged. Circumstances proscribed him from talking too much of the future. Instead he would hint and advise on courses of actions. Perhaps Kes is Merlin, or the writer's version anyway!
As a fun fact, this explains why Merlin was so easily caught by Morgan Le Fey in the cave. He was, in fact, actually escaping. Write that one into an episode!
An Episode Obsessed With Hair
Elmer_Cat3 November 2011
Warning: Spoilers
This is a strange episode that explores some aspects of the Ocampan physiology and life cycle. The IMDb synopsis explains the basic story premise involving Kes moving backward in time at the end of her life, but it's one of those episodes where the viewer is dumped into the middle of things and explanations have to slowly unfold as to what led up to it. It's pointed out that Kes' future life, her husband, offspring, etc. is just one of many possible paths that may occur.
A most disturbing aspect of this episode is the underlying obsession with not just Kes' hair, but the Doctor's hair as well. With absolutely no explanation, the Doctor has a full head of hair when Kes is "old". A while later when she's "younger" the Doctor's familiar male-pattern baldness has returned. Although Kes comments on this, it's brushed aside with no further discussion.
Even more unfortunate are Kes' own hairstyles. A few episodes prior, she was lamenting, "Why does everyone still treat me like a child? I'm three years old now!". But when depicted at the elderly age of nine, Kes has the hair of a ninety year old woman. I realize Ocampans age rapidly, but does their sense of style necessarily have to become "old fashioned" too?
The worst thing of all, is that at the end of this episode, Kes' attractive short, straight hairstyle has become inexplicably very long and curly; not at all becoming of her! And it STAYS that way in subsequent episodes!!! Very bizarre.
A most disturbing aspect of this episode is the underlying obsession with not just Kes' hair, but the Doctor's hair as well. With absolutely no explanation, the Doctor has a full head of hair when Kes is "old". A while later when she's "younger" the Doctor's familiar male-pattern baldness has returned. Although Kes comments on this, it's brushed aside with no further discussion.
Even more unfortunate are Kes' own hairstyles. A few episodes prior, she was lamenting, "Why does everyone still treat me like a child? I'm three years old now!". But when depicted at the elderly age of nine, Kes has the hair of a ninety year old woman. I realize Ocampans age rapidly, but does their sense of style necessarily have to become "old fashioned" too?
The worst thing of all, is that at the end of this episode, Kes' attractive short, straight hairstyle has become inexplicably very long and curly; not at all becoming of her! And it STAYS that way in subsequent episodes!!! Very bizarre.
Unnecessary Tangent
ShogaNinja19 December 2008
Warning: Spoilers
This episode is kind of whack because it comes from out of the blue. It seems so separate from the series, yet affects it so much. I fail to see the point of it. The future that they created in this episode OBVIOUSLY has nothing to do with where the series was going or in fact went. This appears to have been written by a writer who doesn't work for the show very often. The fact that the show runs for 7 seasons only further produces the plothole that if allowed to go to the end of the series in real time, Kess would be all but dead by then, and that would just be stupid. Ocampas (sp?) are a cool idea and everything but it's safe to say that since no Star Trek has run more than 7 seasons, that you could make her live to say 14 and that would be more believable. If you only live to 9 like most large breed dogs, you would be gray and wrinkly within 4-5 years ( 3 of which have already passed, plus, she was at least 1 when they found her so technically she is pushing 4 by the time this airs).
There are more wigs in this episode than in a drag queen's dressing room. Seeing the Doctor with hair was fun. B'elanna had some pretty bad hair in the episode as well, but KESS? It looks like real hair but it flows like a wig in the wind... I fail to understand how we are supposed to believe that she time traveled all over the place and magically ended up where she started but now with long hair? Were the crew just sitting there and BAM! Kess has girl hair instead of boy hair? It's strange. I know the wig she wore before was kind of silly looking, but it was HER look. I would go so far to say that in NO Star Trek has anyone ever changed their looks so drastically in one episode, or even one season. Furthermore, because we have seen the end of the series and know this storyline to be a dead end, what is the point of the stupid episode? These are the kind of series changes that usually occur at the beginning of a new season, or perhaps in the middle where they take time off for the holidays, but at the end of season? It feels weird and ill timed. I actually thought I put in the wrong disc for a while, that I was watching a couple of seasons in the future or something.
The actors must have had some time off because for the most part it feels like they are running lines as if reading the script or cue cards. They really let the facade down in this episode and for the first time you really feel like you are on the set, and that this is the footage that should have been cut. Poor acting, poor story, poor wardrobe, poor directing, and poor story continuity. That is what this episode brings to the Voyager table. Epic FAIL. This sucks too because I actually started to like the series for the first time in the season and now with the crazy changes already. This appears to be the least stable Star Trek from a story standpoint. Star Trek has a lot to learn from Babylon 5 which was written from beginning to end before the first second of film was shot. This "problem of the week" formula, although it worked for the original, is amateurish and leads to writers having to scramble and constantly patch plot holes. The continuity of the story as a whole entity is ruined by this manner of production. I really wished they had moved past that by the 4th run through.
This probably marks the beginning of the end of a series often regarded as the least favorite Star Trek. So much potential wasted.
There are more wigs in this episode than in a drag queen's dressing room. Seeing the Doctor with hair was fun. B'elanna had some pretty bad hair in the episode as well, but KESS? It looks like real hair but it flows like a wig in the wind... I fail to understand how we are supposed to believe that she time traveled all over the place and magically ended up where she started but now with long hair? Were the crew just sitting there and BAM! Kess has girl hair instead of boy hair? It's strange. I know the wig she wore before was kind of silly looking, but it was HER look. I would go so far to say that in NO Star Trek has anyone ever changed their looks so drastically in one episode, or even one season. Furthermore, because we have seen the end of the series and know this storyline to be a dead end, what is the point of the stupid episode? These are the kind of series changes that usually occur at the beginning of a new season, or perhaps in the middle where they take time off for the holidays, but at the end of season? It feels weird and ill timed. I actually thought I put in the wrong disc for a while, that I was watching a couple of seasons in the future or something.
The actors must have had some time off because for the most part it feels like they are running lines as if reading the script or cue cards. They really let the facade down in this episode and for the first time you really feel like you are on the set, and that this is the footage that should have been cut. Poor acting, poor story, poor wardrobe, poor directing, and poor story continuity. That is what this episode brings to the Voyager table. Epic FAIL. This sucks too because I actually started to like the series for the first time in the season and now with the crazy changes already. This appears to be the least stable Star Trek from a story standpoint. Star Trek has a lot to learn from Babylon 5 which was written from beginning to end before the first second of film was shot. This "problem of the week" formula, although it worked for the original, is amateurish and leads to writers having to scramble and constantly patch plot holes. The continuity of the story as a whole entity is ruined by this manner of production. I really wished they had moved past that by the 4th run through.
This probably marks the beginning of the end of a series often regarded as the least favorite Star Trek. So much potential wasted.
Another divisive but memorable episode
RogerBorg7 January 2022
Love it or hate it, you know you're watching this episode.
Much of that is down to Jennifer Lien's compelling performance as Kes. It's so sad that Lien's substance abuse resulted in her being written out and dropping out of acting altogether, as she was a phenomenally watchable and nuanced actress, and she gets to really showcase that here.
Credit also goes to star Jessica Collins for slotting right into the milieu with a winning guest performance, and there's even a surprise appearance from the delightful Rachel Harris, who can turn a single vocalisation into an Emmy winning scene.
The living-backwards plot itself isn't massively original, but it's confidently and tightly written. With hindsight, it's also bold in its foreshadowing of future episodes and seasons, something that you rarely see in this calibre of writer-of-the-week show.
Overall this is a pivotal episode that's compelling, enjoyable, significant, and worth your time.
Much of that is down to Jennifer Lien's compelling performance as Kes. It's so sad that Lien's substance abuse resulted in her being written out and dropping out of acting altogether, as she was a phenomenally watchable and nuanced actress, and she gets to really showcase that here.
Credit also goes to star Jessica Collins for slotting right into the milieu with a winning guest performance, and there's even a surprise appearance from the delightful Rachel Harris, who can turn a single vocalisation into an Emmy winning scene.
The living-backwards plot itself isn't massively original, but it's confidently and tightly written. With hindsight, it's also bold in its foreshadowing of future episodes and seasons, something that you rarely see in this calibre of writer-of-the-week show.
Overall this is a pivotal episode that's compelling, enjoyable, significant, and worth your time.
Solid episode. Especially the first 4/5th
brianjohnson-2004310 August 2021
Some people seem to be somewhat confused by this episode from start to finish because it traveling backward in time from the end of Kess' life to the beginning. But I think that Kess having to relearn everything along the way helps out a bit and makes it fun to see what happens up until the last 10 minutes or so of the episode. I found the end confusing. I guess the audience is supposed to accept that other timelines are resolving issues even though Kess is no longer living within those timelines, or we are supposed to come to realize that she had to go all the way to the beginning before she can go forward again. A premise that they never really scientifically tried to explain, but seemed to go with more than the other option. I think the writers wanted us to be worried that Kess wouldn't be saved in time, but decided that she had to go all the way backward to her beginning before going forward again. I wish they had more clearly made up their mind and shown how the issue was resolved. They could have shown Kess after she traveled forward and the gang trying fix the problem while the other Kess was running out of time in the other timeline. I would have preferred that. But overall I still enjoy this episode more than most. Even if the thing with Kess's race living for such a short period of time is kind of odd and awkward. But sci fi is often all about odd and awkward stuff. So overall I accept it.
One of the best episodes
mr-jpallen18 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I love the year of hell and this prequel sets it up brilliantly. The pacing is excellent and the mechanic of her jumping through time just as she's getting closer to solving the puzzle of her time travel keeps you on the edge of your seat. Love the concept and it's a great episode for a character that largely took a back seat in season 3.
Great sci fi
geffers21 March 2011
Warning: Spoilers
It's always been one of my criticisms of shows like Star Trek that they don't often enough set the scene for future episodes. Here, this episode makes a valiant attempt to predict one possible future, and mentions "the year of hell". You'd wonder if they'd got that story lined up already, and although there are notable discrepancies, nevertheless those events do transpire. It's certainly not a typical episode, and what a contrast from the horrible earlier episodes of this series - the 'Q' one being a stand out low point of Voyager. It's kind of a shame that Kes's hair style changes at the point she returns to its new style, rather than that being an event that follows in an episode or two. Good work on makeup too, and another great performance from Jennifer.
One of the best Kes episodes
snoozejonc9 February 2023
Kes appears to be dying of old age before going back in time to earlier points in her life.
This is a solid episode with good foreshadowing and character moments.
If you haven't grown fatigued by time travel stories you should enjoy this story as it allows the writers to put the crew in different circumstances. The various moments in time we are shown all have their own entertainment value such as drama, humour, and foreshadowing of future episodes and character arcs.
The problem with this type of story is that it relies on technobabble and exposition dialogue to make certain aspects of the plot coherent. For me there is a little too much of these factors and it kills the flow at times.
It is a great episode for the character Kes and others like Tom, B'Elanna, Harry, and The Doctor are all used very well by the writers.
Visually it is very strong, with a great mixture imagery from the various points in Kes' life.
For me it's a 7.5/10 but I round upwards.
This is a solid episode with good foreshadowing and character moments.
If you haven't grown fatigued by time travel stories you should enjoy this story as it allows the writers to put the crew in different circumstances. The various moments in time we are shown all have their own entertainment value such as drama, humour, and foreshadowing of future episodes and character arcs.
The problem with this type of story is that it relies on technobabble and exposition dialogue to make certain aspects of the plot coherent. For me there is a little too much of these factors and it kills the flow at times.
It is a great episode for the character Kes and others like Tom, B'Elanna, Harry, and The Doctor are all used very well by the writers.
Visually it is very strong, with a great mixture imagery from the various points in Kes' life.
For me it's a 7.5/10 but I round upwards.
Memento in space
tomsly-4001524 December 2023
Why does Kes suddenly have long hair from one episode to the other? This had nothing to do with this time phenomenon. Have the showrunners finally realized how dumb this pixie haircut of Kes looks like? And also the doctor now has hair - with them he looks like 20 years younger.
While I am not a fan of Kes as a character, this is the best episode so far featuring her. I like time travelling and time paradoxon episodes anyhow.
In this episode Kes jumps backwards in time to certain points in her life starting as an old woman about to die. She keeps the memory of the future jumps but cannot remember why she is in that new time and what happened before. Step by step we see what Kes' life will be like in future (and who she will be married to and who her son in law will be). This episode is a little bit like the movie Memento. You also know what will happen, but don't know which events lead to the outcome. Quite an interesting puzzle actually.
While I am not a fan of Kes as a character, this is the best episode so far featuring her. I like time travelling and time paradoxon episodes anyhow.
In this episode Kes jumps backwards in time to certain points in her life starting as an old woman about to die. She keeps the memory of the future jumps but cannot remember why she is in that new time and what happened before. Step by step we see what Kes' life will be like in future (and who she will be married to and who her son in law will be). This episode is a little bit like the movie Memento. You also know what will happen, but don't know which events lead to the outcome. Quite an interesting puzzle actually.
What's the Point?
edward-vkanty-673-6477282 October 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This episode "Before and After" really irritates me! Let me explain:
The episode revolves around Kes moving forwards and backwards through her life on Voyager. This allows her to see into Voyager's future and she tells Janeway & Co. about a coming temporal war that nearly destroys the crew & ship. Janeway says they'll make a note of it. That's it.
Later in season 4, the two-part episode "A Year in Hell" covers this war. There's no mention of Kes' information and they make no indication that they even remember what they were told. They don't try to change or avoid the events and they just let everything happen to them, reacting & crying about their misfortune. I can't muster up one ounce of pity for the crew of Voyager, because I feel like they brought this all on themselves. WTH were these writers thinking?
If I hear the phrase 'temporal flux', I think I'm gonna puke!!
planktonrules19 February 2015
When the show begins, Kes is inexplicably and old lady who is experiencing dementia-like symptoms. However, what really is happening is that she's bouncing back in time--starting as an elderly woman and ending up a pre-embryo by the end of the show.
I'll be blunt. While I love the "Star Trek" shows, "Star Trek: Voyager" clearly is its weakest series. While it had some very good shows, too often they were just junk---and I honestly think junk is the way to describe "Before and After". Now if you ONLY saw this one, it might not seem that bad...heck, it might even seem good. However, time and time and time again, this series obviously ran out of ideas and when this happened they did an episode involving 'temporal flux' or 'temporal shifts'. In other words, for some bull#@$% reason that they pull out of a hat at the end of the episode to explain it, folks go bouncing back and forth in time. It happened so much that it became a cliché--a very bad cliché.
If anyone thinks that the MANY temporal shift episodes are good and would like to explain it to my, go ahead. But I contend that one or two would be fine....a dozen or so simply represents laziness and contempt for the fans.
I'll be blunt. While I love the "Star Trek" shows, "Star Trek: Voyager" clearly is its weakest series. While it had some very good shows, too often they were just junk---and I honestly think junk is the way to describe "Before and After". Now if you ONLY saw this one, it might not seem that bad...heck, it might even seem good. However, time and time and time again, this series obviously ran out of ideas and when this happened they did an episode involving 'temporal flux' or 'temporal shifts'. In other words, for some bull#@$% reason that they pull out of a hat at the end of the episode to explain it, folks go bouncing back and forth in time. It happened so much that it became a cliché--a very bad cliché.
If anyone thinks that the MANY temporal shift episodes are good and would like to explain it to my, go ahead. But I contend that one or two would be fine....a dozen or so simply represents laziness and contempt for the fans.
Quantum Freak
Bolesroor2 February 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Another f--king nightmare, and another awful episode! Kes awakens as an old lady, and she's married to Tom and grandmother to Harry's son. Oh, and yes- she's dying! I won't waste time with the bullspit explanation for how all this happened, since it's only an insult to your intelligence and mine.
There are NO narrative footholds in this episode... we're as clueless about what's happening as Kes is until she slowly starts to piece the puzzle together... but by then the damage has been done- to us the audience. This is obnoxious, awful entertainment, arrogant and nihilistic, hostile to the very people the show is ostensibly trying to entertain. Why would you alienate your audience by changing the ENTIRE feel of the show EVERY SINGLE WEEK? Why would you repel casual or first-time viewers with a story that makes no sense until the fourth act? Is there nothing to be said for consistency? Is the show too cool to bother engaging the audience?
It seems to me that these burned-out writers- led by Brannon Braga, King of the Frustrated Failures- are so resentful of the Trek franchise and Voyager characters that they do their best each week to stunt, pervert and destroy everything the series stands for. We're at the end of Season 3 and we have still not found any kind of groove or rhythm.
"Let's have Kes jump around the timeline- backwards- going so far back and getting so graphic as to feature the moment of her birth and her mother's painful anal delivery... sounds good, guys- run with it!" Why are Tom and Kes married? Why is Harry their son-in-law? Why did anyone think any of this was necessary, or a good idea? Everyone involved should be ashamed.
GRADE: F
There are NO narrative footholds in this episode... we're as clueless about what's happening as Kes is until she slowly starts to piece the puzzle together... but by then the damage has been done- to us the audience. This is obnoxious, awful entertainment, arrogant and nihilistic, hostile to the very people the show is ostensibly trying to entertain. Why would you alienate your audience by changing the ENTIRE feel of the show EVERY SINGLE WEEK? Why would you repel casual or first-time viewers with a story that makes no sense until the fourth act? Is there nothing to be said for consistency? Is the show too cool to bother engaging the audience?
It seems to me that these burned-out writers- led by Brannon Braga, King of the Frustrated Failures- are so resentful of the Trek franchise and Voyager characters that they do their best each week to stunt, pervert and destroy everything the series stands for. We're at the end of Season 3 and we have still not found any kind of groove or rhythm.
"Let's have Kes jump around the timeline- backwards- going so far back and getting so graphic as to feature the moment of her birth and her mother's painful anal delivery... sounds good, guys- run with it!" Why are Tom and Kes married? Why is Harry their son-in-law? Why did anyone think any of this was necessary, or a good idea? Everyone involved should be ashamed.
GRADE: F
Weird and Pointless
zombiemockingbird18 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
It sometimes seems like the writers are just trying to screw with us. Apparently, they got together over drinks (perhaps LOTS of drinks) and said, what kind of weird story can we write that makes no sense, will leave people scratching their heads and will have no effect on the rest of the series? Then they wrote this mess. I just can't imagine what the point of this story is. I haven't seen the next four seasons yet, but I strongly doubt that Janeway and B'Elanna are going to die or Kes and Tom are going to get married. And I swear at the end, Kes looks like a different person. Or maybe after the dozen of hairstyle and age changes in this episode, I've just forgotten what she looked like.
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