Star Trek: Voyager (TV Series) Prototype (1996) User Reviews

Robot Wars!

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 14 July 2010]

When Voyager finds a broken robot floating in space B'Elanna is determined to get it working again, at first she can't think what to do, as its power supply is very different to anything she is used to dealing with. After a late night she discusses it with the Doctor and comes up with a solution. Once working again the robot seems grateful and explains that only 'The Makers' can create or repair power cells. He tells her how their makers are now extinct so he, and robots like him, can't be repaired when their power units fail. He asks B'Elanna to help them create a prototype for a new robot that they will be able to repair themselves. She is keen to help but Captain Janeway refuses as it would be a breech of the Prime Directive. When told the Robot kidnaps B'Elanna and takes her to its ship where it demands that she builds the prototype or they will destroy Voyager. While Voyager is making repairs after an engagement with the Robot ship another ship come and attacks the first. Robots also man this one; it turns out that the two groups of robots have been fighting ever since they killed their creators because they had tried to end the war. When B'Elanna realises that she has created a robot that will give one side the ability to create as many robots as they wish she must destroy her work.

This was a pretty good episode with plenty of action and some moral dilemmas. I quite liked the robots' primitive appearance; it gave then a classic sci-fi look one might expect in a film from the '50s. Roxann Dawson but in a good performance as B'Elanna, making the viewer empathise with the choices she had to make.

War without meaning

[thevacinstaller · 8/10 · 5 April 2020]

I found it to be a fascinating episode with a clever and depressing twist at the end. The development of a robot as a wartime beast of burden that ultimately betrays/eradicates the civilization that created it is poetic in a dark way. Now the war of the builders continues on long after the reasons for the war have turned to dust. You could look at our own history to see continual conflicts between societies without any tangible reasons ---- the mindset of war/conflict eventually devours reason.

Random thoughts:

• Useful neelix advice on the benefit of sleep. This was a clever moment and this is what I enjoy about Neelix when he is used effectively --- Useful/Practical advice.
• Janeway's instinct to follow the prime directive proves to be the way to go in this episode. Janeway in early Voyager is definitely wrapping herself in the Starfleet flag.
• I enjoyed the journey of B'Elanna fighting for the chance to help 3947. Overcoming a mechanical problem is what should fire up a good engineer.

Review of Prototype; Star Trek: Voyager

[InfiniteJesterII · 8/10 · 11 January 2021]

A gem in the mostly-mediocre season 2 of VOY, Prototype presents an unforgettable race of Robots, called Pralors, and their adversaries. Voyager picks up a robot adrift in space and Torres manages to repair it. However, the robot, upon waking up, does not see that that is enough, and kidnaps Torres so that she can construct a new Automated Unit, so that the Pralor can build an army against their golden enemies.

This episode feels very much like a classic sci-fi story, the design of the Pralors evocative of a 50's or 60's robot from the golden age of sci fi.

A great episode in a great series. 9/10.

Real Science Fiction

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 16 August 2018]

Torres takes on a huge job. A non-functioning robot is found and taken on board. She decides to bring it "back to life." After succeeding, her prodigy kidnaps her and takes her to his ship, forcing her to create prototypes. The point of all this is revealed. Also, an explanation of why those who originally produced these robots no longer existed. i found this to be a very entertaining episode because it had complex issues.

Intriguing idea, not fully exploited

[Ar_Pharazon_the_golden · 8/10 · 23 January 2019]

Star Trek as a whole has dealt surprisingly little with AI (even Data was most of the time a substitute Vulcan), perhaps because the franchise's Prime Directive has always been to speak mostly of contemporary issues in thinly veiled Sci-fi metaphors.

So it is good to see Voyager tackle a more classical sci-fi issue, when the crew recovers and revives a damaged android. Torres manages to repair and upgrade it, which leads to the robot requesting her help in solving its people problem: they cannot build more of themselves. The Captain forbids it, as it would constitute a violation of the prime directive. Now, to be honest, I am at times buffled - I thought the directive was specifically meant for species that have not achieved warp technology, otherwise any interference with any species that is not already in the Federation would be forbidden? I don't know. Anyway, in Voyager's case we can say that being lost in the D Quadrant the consequences of intervention are greater and leave it at that.

Of course, the robot disagrees with the Captain's decision, and makes the logical choice to kidnap the potential saviour, leading to a standoff. The rest of the episode plot wise is pretty generic, with a mumbo jumbo way of eventually rescuing Torres from the robot ship thanks to a convenient attack by another vessel, but the essence is elsewhere. Namely, in the machines' dark background, as it is revealed that they killed their makers when they realised their usefulness would soon be over, and in Torres' pained decision to terminate her creation. There is a bit of Frankenstein's pride and audacity there, as she recalls how it was alive.

Exactly because of the interesting dilemmas and ideas, I think this is exactly the story that needed a resolution not based on "gap in the shields, rescue attempt, beam us out", but on dialogue. I am not sure how that would happen, but the robots' background could use more detail.

PS: the androids here look like they came from a 1950's film. It doesn't matter since the story is good, but given that the individual parts shown during the construction phase are more convincing, something could have been done better.

I'll build your damn prototype

[snoozejonc · 7/10 · 26 August 2022]

B'Elanna Torres attempts to restore a damaged robot's energy source.

This is a reasonably good episode with a decent sci-fi concept and good context for the prime directive.

The plot has some good ideas, particularly the backstory we eventually learn about the robots and how this affects the Prime Directive issue that Janeway raises with Torres.

Generally though I find the storytelling to be pretty flat as it generally moves from one dialogue exchange to the next, with lots of exposition and technobabble. Even the action scenes are just more dialogue with characters being shook about in the midst of battle.

Visually it's not bad. The robot characters resemble nothing other than men in suits, but for an old time Trek fan it's not problem. In fact if this was made in 1966 with the original crew it would probably be considered a classic. I like the Robocop tribute introduction scene.

I am a big Roxanne Dawson fan but I do not think this is her most consistent performance. She is good in some scenes but other lines come out a bit halfhearted. That being said you can hardly blame her with how bland the dialogue is at times.

It's a 6.5/10 for me but I round upwards.

Torres is kidnapped by some really crappy looking robots.

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 13 February 2015]

When this show begins, the crew of Voyager finds a robot in space. Torres and Kim try to revive this unit but are frustrated by their lack of progress. Eventually, however, the dogged Torres is able to solve the puzzle and the robot is now 'alive'. She then learns that it was made long ago by an extinct race it refers to as 'the Builders'. And, since it also sees Torres as a new Builder, it decides to kidnap her and make her create a new prototype robot. So, it disables her and transfers to a ship run by other robots like it. When the Captain tries to rescue her, the robot ship easily overpowers Voyager and will destroy the ship unless Torres agrees to work with them. What's next?

As I watched, my oldest daughter looked at the screen and commented about what a crappy looking robot they used in the show. She said he 'looked like someone covered in aluminum foil'! Well, even if this is the case, the Builders might have cared little about aesthetics---so I don't necessarily see this as a flaw in the program.

So is the show any good? Well, the plot is VERY unique and the twist near the end is great. Because of this, I strongly recommend you see it--and mostly because the show is among the best of an otherwise sub-par second season.

Nobots

[Bolesroor · 8/10 · 2 February 2011]

A very good episode. Finally what Voyager is supposed to be: the wide-eyed sci-fi premise from TOS without the PC liberalism of TNG... moral complexity in the face of the unknown.

B'Elanna becomes obsessed with a robot found floating in space and restores it to working order. The robot is from a race of robots whose creators no longer exist, and he asks B'Elanna to help him create a new prototype so that the droids can "reproduce" and perpetuate. When she refuses the robot reveals his true nature by kidnapping and demanding her assistance, and B'Elanna soon learns that robots- innocent but amoral- can be just as dangerous as living people. When the prototype reveals its capacity for evil, posing a legitimate threat to humanity she destroys her own creation, and the dark and strange moment had me wondering how TNG would have handled the same storyline without chickening out.

I see Picard handing out Enterprise coffee mugs and sending the 'bots on their way, wishing them good luck and continued success in their travels and conquest of the galaxy. "Voyager" has the balls to face the situation's inevitable dark conclusion, and it makes for a very good episode.

GRADE: B+

Identifying with machines

[loyalcitizenship · 13 January 2020]

I never cease to be amazed and shocked at the downward spiral of human philosophy. Its approach to science has all but erased the fundamental spirit and morality every human once knew was contained in the core of its being.

This episode is but another example of the warped application of mechanical science to understanding the grand Godliness of man and his elevated unique spirit.

As if, despite being a technical person, B'Elana couldn't see the enormous world of difference between a human being and a machine whose nature and functions were nothing more than the very limited programming created by a human being.

The story follows her risking human life and the prime directive to save human-created mechanisms, solely on the basis of the appeal of their simulated human characteristics and programmed self-awareness.

As if a program running on a machine - whether a human-looking graceful android, any more than a clunky mainframe computer - could ever be truly sentient and have an identity simply because of a clever program with a modicum of artificial intelligence!

Has mankind in its love of technological conveniences actually come to believe that a human-equivalent deserving of respect and human rights can be constructed out of machinery and human-written code that, at best, simulates the infinite broadness of human thought to only a miniscule degree?

Do they not realize that such a machine - even if it is made to look human - is merely electronics and motoric parts running a program that is itself human-designed, error-filled and based upon a human creator's extremely limited understanding even of himself - let alone the depth and breadth of a human soul?

Even the best actor delivering an astoundingly realistic portrayal of a character can by no extrapolation of imagination even begin to become that fictional character in his daily life. Similarly, a human-style android is a mere shadow of a human character and has no internal identity. All attempts to create such an identity are simply pre-written computer logic that simulates human style, but has no intrinsic self at its core.

What is so horrendous about this story and others like it that abound in the later Star Trek and other science fiction stories, is the degradation of true human life and its lofty moral capabilities by equating life with mechanical lifeless mechanisms.

Mechanisms have no identity and no morality - fortunately this episode at its end does, atypically, make that point to a certain degree.

One of the better episodes in this season

[fifo23 · 8/10 · 31 March 2024]

This episode is pretty good compared to others in this season. It doesn't feel forced, in feels both well-acted and well-written for the largest parts.

It finally talks about the prime directive in a more serious manner other then the whole "we need to bend the law here" trope of many episodes, and shows and movies.

If that is the baseline for this season I think I am going to enjoy it.

The negative part is that Torres character is really rather quick with her decisions even with ones that don't seem to fit her character. I think it overall helps the story, but maybe it would allow. Also for more depth.

I also enjoyed that at least the necessary context for any of story to make sense was given. I think this episode even would have the potential to create a whole story arc, both with another alien race being influenced and Torres being responsible for what happened.

Robots with turtleneck knitwear sweaters

[tomsly-40015 · 5/10 · 14 December 2023]

Ok, we know: Star Trek series never had the biggest budget. And without CGI it is hard to portray robots that move and talk. But the robots in this episode are very cheap and ugly. Even in 1950s B movies you had better looking robots. Here we just have a lifeless tin mask and the rest of the robot is covered in a sweater and trousers. I just never had the feeling that Torres is interacting with a humanoid machine. Those low budget props are killing any immersion and seriousness.

In this episode we have the typical Terminator scenario: Machines turn against their builders and destroy them. Same thing we see in The Orville with the Kaylon. Here two species obviously built robots to fight their wars. After one of the builders have been destroyed, the other builders wanted to shut their robots down and end the war. The robots though saw this as an act of aggression and in return destroyed their own builders. Now the two opposing robot factions keep waging war. But unfortunately for the robots they are about to slowly go extinct. They capture Torres to force her in developing a solution for them to be able to reproduce themselves.

And then we have the typical Prime Directive dilemma. Don't interfere with alien species and their evolution for you could change the power and equilibrium. Of course this is what the one robot faction has in mind: Overwhelm the other faction with more robots. Torres in the end stops them from being able to do so when she destroys her own creation. It is like Frankenstein and his monster. She realized she had created such a monster.

All in all a story that has been told a hundred times. The problem with Voyager in my opinion is, that the crew is lost far from home and has to find a way back - but they never really get hands on technology, information or new life forms that help them on their journey (besides Neelix and Kes). It would have been interesting if for example Torres would have taken the prototype with her and programmed it in a way, to become a member of their crew - without the urge to fight and kill. While it might be difficult to add more characters to the crew while traveling home, it could have also allowed them to spice things up and make the whole undertaking more epic in the long run.

*sigh* Is it possible for Voyager to find it's way out of the box?

[brdavid-429-96270 · 5/10 · 7 April 2020]

When this episodes beings we are looking through the eyes of a robot Torres rescues from space. It has an excellent pace, an excellent and rather unique fish out of water experience I was hoping was going to play out throughout the episode. Instead we get yet another "Voyager does something good only to get punished for it later" episode. A series that seems to be endless with this show.

A lot of time is spent on the energy and excitement of Torres trying to fix the machine and coming to a rather radical solution like a student with their thesis project. She solves the puzzle, the robot is fully functional and now they get to learn from the machine about who it is why it was in space.

It all starts interestingly until we see the robots are not what they appear to be, they kidnap Torres because she can build and repair them. Reminds me of the TNG episode Samaritan Snare.

this is where discovery ends for this episode and we are thrust back into the same idea Voyager has been exploring now for a while, war, war war. Everything seems to be about war with Voyager when in the end, it could be more about exploration like TNG. Voyager cannot seem to write an episode where Voyager gains something along the way. Instead they are always dealt a blow that makes you wonder why they continue to make the same mistakes over and over again. Janeway is definitely a person who gives the benefit of the doubt.

In the end, this is a shallow episode with shallow writing. Frakes is a competent director here but the material to work with is trite. It poses nothing interesting of discussion, nothing interesting is learned other than for Voyager to never rescue more things in space. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

How could it have been fixed?

First change the costume as they reminded me of the movie Sleeper and I really couldn't take them seriously. Moreso, rewrite this robot like Asimov would by making it a robot that evolved. That is, this robot gained consciousness, it feels alone, afraid, and it is praying to a God. We learn from this robot as it explores the ship and what a wonderful time for us to see the ship from this perspective. The ending could be a ship looking for it where the Robot refuses to return, kinda like Short Circuit. I think having the robot be a beacon of hope for the ship would have been a great change of pace over the dismal endings where they are trying to one up Deep Space Nine.

Who the heck designed the robots in this episode?

[wtdk123 · 3/10 · 12 July 2023]

An interesting concept for an episode, the series suffers from a poor design for the robots. They look like they were designed and built in the 1950's. Actually, some robots from the 50's look better than These. It's like they were taken from a bad low budget science fiction film.

Torres discovers a robot floating in space.she convinces Janeway to let her repair and revive it. She's then taken hostage so that she can built new robots.

With all of the care and effort taken with the visual effects for the series, it's a wonder they didm't spend just a little more care in designing the robots.

Could the episode have been improved? Absolutely. The writing isn't the best in this episode either. This plays like a bad episode of "Star Trek: The Original Series".s.

Example of why Voyager doesn't work

[romkevdv17 · 4/10 · 29 April 2022]

This is just one of many mediocre and quite boring episodes with either predictable or dull twists strewn throughout and no satisfying narrative. Following from DS9, which took Star Trek in a bold and exciting new direction, this series has been content with the most passable and bare minimum ideas. This episode if full of these predictable moments, where a friendly robot is repaired and ultimately kidnaps her when he doesn't get its way, character develops a friendship with their kidnapper, and it is revealed he has even more sinister motives. The worst part part of this episode is the ending, when B'Elanna is left with a choice. She finds out they will wage war forever and she gave just gave them their greatest weapon. Throughout the climax we hear the new prototype repeating its name, as if signalling to the audience that he is the key to solving the dilemma. But instead of a smart interesting solution to the problem, like Star Trek is known for, B'Elanna just resorts to violence and kills the prototype. That's it. That's all this episode has been leading up to, all the talk about extinction and prime directive, and she just kills the robot. It reminds me of the episode where they capture a Borg drone, and while they're so desperate to kill it, they realise he is not too different from them after all. They even discuss using it as a virus bomb to destroy the other Borg's. But in the end they leave him unharmed and hope his new perspective might infect and positively affect the Borg collective, to change them. I thought that B'Elanna would do the same, use this newborn prototype with no orders to kill anyone to maybe lead to a ceasefire, to cause a mass change in the other robots, maybe his programming could be replicated in the others where they don't have to follow Pralor Cervic orders to kill each other anymore. But no, while TNG writer think up a clever diplomatic solution, Voyager writers revert to the laziest option.