Voyageur discovers a nebula that should burn itself out but doesn't because a dampening field extinguishes every strand that ignites. Janeway wants to learn how the dampening field works so that they can improve containment of warp plasma. But Voyageur gets caught in the Nebula and can't leave.
Meanwhile, Harry has fallen in love with a holodeck character (Marayna) which, albeit a little humorous, feels like it will be boring and predictable B plot. But surprise, when Tuvock finds that Marayna to be extremely perceptive and intelligent, it is likely clear to most viewers that she will be the A plot and is likely due to the nebula -- an alien or an natural interaction with the nebula. Of course, Tuvok doesn't realize this until Maryana steals the Doctor's portable holo emitter, appears in his quarters and shows that she can control the ship.
They manage to find the alien who controls the nebula and Tuvok predictably convinces her to let Voyageur go. So, "poof", they leave immediately.
Voyageur is supposedly a ship of exploration, but whenever they meet a new people who they can learn from, they don't. Here, they could easily have stayed while Marayana helped them to install a dampening field in their ship, and explained how to protect themselves from another Marayana while Tuvok helps Marayana. They don't need to show all of that but could simply state it and then find a transition to end the show, but the formula is that they need to be seen resuming their journey on each episode. Less time in the formulaic trying to troubleshoot why they can't leave and more time in discovery after the crisis is averted.
Meanwhile, Harry has fallen in love with a holodeck character (Marayna) which, albeit a little humorous, feels like it will be boring and predictable B plot. But surprise, when Tuvock finds that Marayna to be extremely perceptive and intelligent, it is likely clear to most viewers that she will be the A plot and is likely due to the nebula -- an alien or an natural interaction with the nebula. Of course, Tuvok doesn't realize this until Maryana steals the Doctor's portable holo emitter, appears in his quarters and shows that she can control the ship.
They manage to find the alien who controls the nebula and Tuvok predictably convinces her to let Voyageur go. So, "poof", they leave immediately.
Voyageur is supposedly a ship of exploration, but whenever they meet a new people who they can learn from, they don't. Here, they could easily have stayed while Marayana helped them to install a dampening field in their ship, and explained how to protect themselves from another Marayana while Tuvok helps Marayana. They don't need to show all of that but could simply state it and then find a transition to end the show, but the formula is that they need to be seen resuming their journey on each episode. Less time in the formulaic trying to troubleshoot why they can't leave and more time in discovery after the crisis is averted.