Star Trek: Voyager (TV Series) Extreme Risk (1998) User Reviews

:Self destruction:

[Foreverisacastironmess123 · 8/10 · 18 January 2013]

I don't get at all why this episode has such a relatively low rating, not that it really means anything. I think how much you enjoy character-centric episodes such as this depends on how much you care for the character in question, and I get quite a lot out of this one. It's quite a distinct entry for the series, due to the deep emotional themes of self-harm involved. Although a lot of the time I think her character can come off as a little cold, I thought Roxann Dawson gave a pretty amazing performance here. She had a knack for reaching emotional extremes that I think would have left any other cast members looking over the top and amateurish. There's just know no way I could see any other regular going to such an intense dark place and portraying the emotions-or lack thereof-so convincingly or honestly. I've seen tons of stuff over the years and I can honestly say this is one of the best portrayals of this kind of damaging behaviour I've ever seen. She's so excellent in several powerfully tense scenes where she's completely freezing out any attempts to get through to her and completely avoiding having to confront and deal with anything with this, invisible wall of cold distance. You may not see it, but this atmosphere is very palpable, it's written on the wall, written right on her forehead! I find her calm sullen detachment far more disturbing than any screaming melodrama. To better understand this story you've really had to have seen a specific scene in the season 4 episode "Hunters" in which B'elanna receives some very bad news from Chakotay. It's true that they don't exactly give a strong build up to B'ellana's problems here, nor do they touch upon them all that much later. But it's not as if they can focus on her this much every single time-we don't know what's going on with her in between the shows. Perhaps in such cases we should just fill in the blanks for ourselves a little, maybe? Just a thought. I also actually like Chakotay a lot in this which was a surprise, as I usually find the man to be very bland and unimpressive as a character, although he does have his place. I like him in the capacity of his trying to aid B'elanna. I like the way he forces her to reveal what's wrong. The two of them have a certain chemistry that only ever comes up in the rare scenes when it's just the two of them. I do "buy" him as her old friend and comrade. There's another of the weird sporadic appearances of ensign Vorik. Why didn't they ever make him a fully-fledged character? I thought he was much more interesting and likable than the pathetic Garrett Wang. Guess there was just room enough on Voyager for only one vulcan, hmm? I just loved Alexander Enberg, he was the sexiest little thing! There's also something of a secondary plot with the crew racing against the clock to beat the greasy Malons to retrieve a "probe" from a gas giant, but all that part is just really lame and thoroughly unengaging. Everything culminates in Torres saving the day with this hastily made phaser forcefield thingy, which I also found rushed and tacked-on. I believe those who believe the final scene indicates that all of B'ellana's issues have been wrapped-up and resolved in the span of one episode with a quick fix banana-pancake happy ending are mistaken. That is not the case at all, it's merely a turning point and step in the right direction for her, a little light beginning to shine through, as they say. I grant you it is a bit schmaltzy, but I love it, I think it's a most sweet and uplifting moment. It worked for me. It's a bit of a quaint simple kind of episode, everything plot-wise that's nothing to do with B'Elanna's plight feels superfluous and thin-but whatever, to me it's still a great character driven episode with a brilliant B'Elanna Torres story at its core. One of her very best.

Great emotional episode

[kd_ohaire · 8/10 · 22 May 2017]

Like others I don't know why this episode gets such bad reviews. I think it's a unique take on how depression can affect people and it's well acted by everyone. Instead, it gets a score that's almost as bad as Once Upon a Time. It's really quite good and one of the more memorable episodes in my opinion. The only bad point is the plot device techno-babble B'Elanna uses with the phaser to save everyone at the last moment.

Building a new shuttle

[Tweekums · 7/10 · 18 February 2010]

Since learning that the Maquis has been wiped out back in the Alpha Quadrant B'Elanna has been endangering her life by engaging in dangerous programs on the holodeck with the safety protocols deactivated, until now however nobody has realised what she was up to. When Voyager launches a probe to a nearby gas giant they are not pleased when the Malon attempt to steal it, they manage to prevent them from getting it by taking it into the gas giant's atmosphere. While it can't be acquired by the Malon it is also impossible for Voyager to retrieve. Tom believes this is an ideal time to build a new improved shuttle which he as dubbed the Delta Flier, it would take a week to build but would be able to enter the atmosphere which regular shuttles couldn't. As they set to work building the flier a scan reveals that the Malon are also building a shuttle so the race is on to see who can finish first. When B'Elanna's reckless activities come to light she is taken off the project and Chakotay tries to establish just why she is endangering herself. When it is time to launch the flier B'Elanna asks to accompany the others on the mission, not too surprisingly she ends up saving the day.

This was a decent episode and Roxann Dawson did a good job as B'Elanna Torres although it is a pity we weren't given any hints about her problems in previous episodes. That said it gave her character a bit more depth.

You'd think psychotherapy in the 24th century would be better than this....

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 25 February 2015]

When this episode begins, Lt. Torres is doing some sort of insane heart-pumping stuff in the holodeck with the safety protocols turned off! In fact, through the episode she's doing crazy stuff all because she's a sense of nothingness--feeling nothing. Her behavior obviously is odd and she's detached. You'd THINK the crew would notice but it takes a while. You'd also think that there would be some way for her to work through this. According to the show, the best thing to do is work!

As far as work goes, several crew members are working like crazy trying to build a new type shuttle that can go into the atmosphere of a gas giant. They'll need it to get one of Voyager's probes. And, they need to hurry because the $#@! Malon are attempting to get to the probe first.

This is an okay episode and nothing more. The psychological angle is a bit but otherwise not exactly one to keep your attention throughout.

Good idea, made too short.

[Floreya · 7/10 · 27 September 2023]

We see survivor's guilt and self-harm explored trough B'Elanna's behaviour and feelings. The idea for this is good, but in my opinion it should have happened over the course of multiple episodes. I understand the limits of episodic writing, but the way this is done makes it seem like there's an 'easy fix' for psychological trauma, simply by having a good conversation. You'd think that there was better psychiatric aid available in that time, but maybe it's also a bit limited due to the time it was written in. Overall it's a decent episode, I just wish it was drawn out more and/or referred back to.

Powerful idea but suffers the limitations of episodic writing

[snoozejonc · 6/10 · 16 August 2023]

Torres goes through some tough emotional problems.

This character arc comes slightly out of the blue (as is the case with episodic television), but the writers tackle issues associated with self-harming very well and it fits with the her personality.

Roxanne Dawson leads it strongly and there are some very good exchanges between her and Robert Beltran. I think the tough love moments between their characters are very well done.

For me the ending let's it down slightly as it involves contrived plotting and wraps the issues up too nicely in time for the episode to finish. For me in the final exchange between Chakotay and Torres the writers over explain and simplify her feelings for the sake of audience understanding that she appreciated his intervention and it could have been more subtle.

Imagine how much better it would have been if this aspect of her character was drip fed over a series of hints and behaviours through seasons of development. If it came to a head at a key moment in Voyagers overarching narrative where they needed her ingenuity to help get home, I think it would have been excellent.

Banana pancakes

[thevacinstaller · 7/10 · 19 December 2021]

I like this episode. It is an exploration of self mutilation and the shutting off of emotion to feel alive. I have never done the self mutilation but I have (and do) shut my emotions off from time to time and often there is no explainable reason that I can provide.

There are plenty of people in the world who have successful lives but for whatever reason they just shut down and get no joy from living. This episode resolves with Torres using her skill to save the shuttle and there is the suggestion that she is on the healing path but they present this experience as something that will take time to fully understand.

Maybe she needed banana pancakes?

An Excellent B'Elanna Ep!

[CharoleaWood · 10/10 · 22 May 2023]

I really love this episode.

It has a really cool opening with B'Elanna performing an orbital skydive in the holodeck with the safeties turned off and with a pretty cool space suit on to boot.

So what's going on here? Why risk the danger? What does she seek?

The themes of self harm and risk taking speak to my heart, I want B'Elanna to be well, I want her to enjoy the holodeck without needing to risk death, but I also understand feeling so close to death that it's the only thing which makes you feel alive.

B'Elanna is such a wonderful Trek character, I also really enjoy her story in the first season episode "Faces".

We get some excellent drama here between B'Elanna and each of Paris, Chakotay, and Janeway, and also a pointedly quiet and caring scene between B'Elanna and Nelix over a plate of banana pancakes.

Finally, I'd like to say that the season five ep "Once Upon a Time" is also excellent and that Chakotay has always been a character I enjoy seeing.

Forgettable

[Hitchcoc · 6/10 · 4 September 2018]

I know that we should care about Torres, but at times her ugly demeanor gets a bit old. Here she has two things going. One, she has slipped into lethargy and is not exhibiting her usual feistiness. Secondly, she is engaging in dangerous activities, shutting off the limitations of the holodeck. She refuses to tell anyone what is going on until Chakotay gets tough with her. Meanwhile, Tom is working with the other engineering types, trying to upgrade a shuttle system that has become stagnant. This is important because the intergalactic garbage men have grabbed a Voyager probe. Anyway, it just seems a bit disjointed and has a completely predictable ending.

Exceeding their grasp

[GreyHunter · 5/10 · 31 December 2019]

In theory, dealing with B'elanna's sense of survivor's guilt could make a fantastic episode in the latter day 1990s Trek continuum of TNG (later seasons), DS9, and Voyager. This is the sort of issue that makes for prime intense delving into real-world sorts of problems. Where this episode failed, however, was in being far too pat, as if the showrunners and writers were on a deadline and needed a B-plot post-haste. It had a promising enough start (though one does wonder how a safety protocols-less holodeck would simulate crashing into the ground at terminal velocity...push the holographic ground up with extreme acceleration to it reaches terminal velocity before it hits the holodeck ceiling 18 feet above?) But it never really tried to explore the issue with any particular insight. B'Elanna is apathetic. B'Elanna is withdrawn and defensive. B'Elanna is showing little regard for her safety. Yadda yadda. Then Chakotay has an extremely shallow conversation with her (basically "I understand how you feel, now shape up and play along") and B'Elanna, who seemed unmoved and unconvinced (rightly, really, seeing as Chakotay was about as deep and insightful as a Springer episode, including the manhandling of the guest) but suddenly decides she's back to caring and wants to risk her life. And Chakotay takes very little convincing to send a seemingly-suicidal woman onto a ship with three of the most important people on the ship, presumably on the assumption that his cheap pop psychology must have gotten through to her after all.

Concept? Intriguing. Execution? Mediocre and lazy. The concept deserved better, and more time spent on it.

How B'elanna knew what Chakotay was doing is an open question, since she wasn't on the bridge when Paris made the request for another hand or when Janeway sent Chakotay down there. (And since she kicked the Vulcan off the Delta Flyer when she arrived, that completely defeated the purpose of having an additional pair of hands...the net gain was zero.)

The brightest of gems can be found in the darkest of places

[supafly-98200 · 10/10 · 13 January 2024]

I've watched this episode twice. The inital viewing a few years ago echoed the thoughts of many others in this section - a somewhat 'meh' Torres whingefest that made her difficult to warm to. A slow pace and a little drama centered around an annoying character who is given the opportunity to open up but frustratingly fails to do so.

Then I stumbled upon it again today and it made so much more sense after recently having a recent life-chaging experience that gave me an insight into depression. The feeling of numbness, of no longer enjoying the things you used to, of creating scenarios that might just spark the fun of being alive again. Torres's desire to self-harm, her withdrawal from social interaction (even to those closest to her) coupled with her not caring enough to even get her injuries fixed up properly and losing interest in virtually everything will speak to many who have been visited by the dark dog.

This episode is backed by the amazing acting performances of the main cast, from the brilliant Roxann Dawson's Torres carrying the bulk of the weight to fantastic supporting roles from Janeway and Chakotay, right through to brief, but important interactions with Nelix in the mess hall and the Doctor in sick bay. The final corridor scene with Chakotay wrapped it up nicely, with a more realistic, believable outcome instead of the "Hey! You're all cured now B'Elanna" happy ending.

All this backed up by the introduction of a new ship. An absolute gem of an episode and now one of my favourites of the series.

I'm TIRED of B'Elanna pity fests

[dkmauws · 4/10 · 28 March 2023]

They really need to change the name of the B'Elanna character to. Waah'Elanna. Every episode centered around her is another pity fest. Whoo is me, I'm sooo hard done by.

Picard was assimilated by the Borg and went through other dramatic situation and you didn't hear him constantly crying about it. No, they had to right back in command of the Enterprise.

Is this just an issue with the Star Trek writers. They just can not write a good female character. Outside Janeway, and that I attribute more to the actress than the writers, you have two types of female characters. The emotional wrecker, B'Elanna or the eye candy that can't act, 7 or 9.

Maybe, by the time we make it to the 24th century, maybe the Star Trek writer will figure out how to write a female character.

The eco mobsters are back again

[tomsly-40015 · 5/10 · 3 January 2024]

We encounter the waste dumpsters again, this time they want to salvage a probe from Voyager that is stuck in the atmosphere of a planet. Voyager, too, is about to get to the probe. A space race starts in which both teams build a spacecraft that is able to fly into the atmosphere.

This waste dumping aliens are quite boring for my taste. I just don't buy their motives. There has to be more to this species. Didn't the crew want to give tech to eliminate thoron radiation to their leaders? What happened to this part of the story?

Anyhow, the Voyager crew is able to build a new shuttle craft and with B'Elanna back on tracks, they manage to salvage the probe.

The other plot is about B'Elanna. She is depressed by the deaths of her Maqis friends and starts playing dangerous holodeck scenarios with the safety protocols disabled. She needs this thrill to be able to feel anything at all lately. She has less and less interest in her job and in socializing with the crew. But of course, when the crew needs her skills on the shuttle craft, she gets herself together and is back in her old form and tinkers a force field with a phaser and other stuff which saves the shuttle from falling apart - I wonder why they didn't build in this technology in the first place, knowing that the hull is prone to micro fractures from the pressure in the atmosphere.

All in all a rather uneventful episode.

This episode though is an answer to those that claim that the crew just replicates shuttles after Paris and the others crash them on a daily basis. Here several crew members have to work extra shifts for a week to get this shuttle ready just with bare minimum technology included. It would take them weeks to build just one shuttle working under standard shift rotations.