"The Case of the 2nd Witness"
The main story and conundrum here is something that was later borrowed for an episode of Stargate SG-1: "Collateral Damage" (2006). It's this concept of memory manipulation as a matter of fact, we can consider that episode to be directly based upon this Voyager episode. There are many similar plot points especially the idea of grafting memories from one person into another, also the idea that a murder was committed to steal some of this science.
Also both episodes focus on one of the main characters having an improper attraction or relationship. In this case it is Tom Paris, who else would you expect it to be? In fact this episode was very good character development for Tom, we knew already that he was weak in this regard. At this point in the series there is no other character that this unfortunate thing could have happened to. One of the most important things that Tom tells Harry is that "one of these days, it will be you", when he talks about the possibility of meeting that one person who is going to totally break protocol for... and this in fact does happen to Harry later on in the series, in S5E16 "The Disease"
Somebody also mentioned the make up department, The Baneans appear to have a combination of both hair and feathers, indicating they could have been descended from both primates and avians. This is another concept that was later explored slightly in the third season of Enterprise, where they had a race of people, the Xindi, that had six different forms: reptilian, insectioid, aquatic, arboreal, humanoid, and the extinct avians. Except in that case they were all individual races within the Xindi: same DNA, different races. The Baneans however appear to have both humanoid and avian aspects, only within one race.
In no way is this episode even remotely similar to the next generation episode "a matter of perspective". Totally different things here, except for the issue of a bridge officer being accused of a crime. "A matter of perspective" deals not with memory itself but with our perception of events: two people viewing the same event will see two different things happening. This is normal. But it has nothing to do with the events of this episode, what we have in this episode is a memory, a singular memory, that shows one particular event, inviolate, happening over and over again: taken from one person and put into another. But there is also a little bit of a mystery, there are things in this memory that should not be there.
A memory In fact put into Tom Paris' mind. Even from the beginning of this episode we know that Tom would not have done something like this. But we have the "proof" being played back every 14 hours in Tom's mind, and each time it is worse for Tom.
In the realm of things said in this episode that are extremely important, Tuvok also says this: "There is no technology that is immune from tampering". And we are finding that out today aren't we? With so many computer hackers obtaining our security, making it more and more difficult to protect our online identities? But this is a level of tampering that is well above simply stealing passwords or email addresses or data.
There is also a secondary alien race in this episode, the Numiri. A race that Neelix is familiar with. Neelix provides Janeway with what to expect from them, but the fact that they are act completely out of character to those expectations is another big hint to events in this episode. Things out of place, that do point Tuvok in a certain direction in his investigations.
The attraction of this episode are those investigations and also the courtroom scene at the end which Tuvok strategically manipulates for Tom's benefit.
We have a couple of inordinate things, for one thing evidence in the form of implanted memories which accuse Tom. How do we, the viewer, see those memories ourselves other than from Tom's viewpoint? When you think about the character of Tuvok, what is that one thing that Vulcanians can do?
Well, Vulcans can mind-meld.
And it is because of that ability that this case can actually be investigated, revisited, and solved. Tuvok's logic is impeccable, just like Perry Mason's.
But when it comes down to it, it is not really Tuvok's testimony that absolves Tom. There is that pesky, "second witness", who obliterates a lie that was being told to the courtoom by two different people.
A very interesting court case worthy of Earl Stanley Gardner, even to the point where the guilty parties must jump up and confess.
If anything, disregard the scientific conundrums and focus strictly upon Tuvok's Paul Drake and Perry Mason homages.
Oh yes I also want to dismiss the idea that there would not be any "dogs" in the Delta quadrant. There are humanoids right? Therefore there will be canines too. And remember there was a Monkey in "Resolutions". Also a big giant lizard dragon in "the basics part two"
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