‘ALLIANCES’ (VOY)
Please feel free to comment on my review.
This ‘Voyager’ episode has the Voyager team attempting to make an alliance with one or two of the Kazon factions within the Delta Quadrant. It doesn’t quite go according to plan as our heroes hoped.
Apparently, it’s stated this is the worst episode in Season 2 of ‘Voyager’ and that it was ‘a mess from beginning to end’. Some weren’t happy with Janeway’s character and how the Kazon are presented.
Are these claims correct? Well, we haven’t got to ‘Threshold’ yet, but let’s examine this episode, shall we? It begins with Voyager being attacked by a Kazon ship. Sadly, one of the crewmen is killed.
It happens to be Kurt Bendera, who was a popular ex-Maquis soldier. Chakotay was a good friend of Bendera. I’m surprised Bendera hasn’t appeared in more ‘Voyager’ episodes to establish that fact. 😐
In Janeway’s ready room, Chakotay advises Janeway that perhaps it might be better for the Voyager crew to adhere to more Maquis ways than Starfleet ways. Something that Janeway isn’t happy with.
At Bendera’s funeral, Chakotay delivers the eulogy and tells of the time he was rescued by him from some miners. Again, I think having Bendera appear in more ‘Voyager’ episodes might make his significance clearer.
Once the funeral is over, one of the crewmen, Simon Billig as Hogan, shares with Janeway how he feels. He suggests Voyager should change how they do things, such as giving their technology to the Kazon.
Now, for a while, I thought it was Hogan who became a traitor in Season 2 of ‘Voyager’, as he openly voices his opinions about the way Voyager handles things, not just to Janeway, but also to B’Elanna.
But no! Upon researching this episode, I find that it’s Raphael Sbarge as Michael Jonas who is the traitor and not Hogan. It’s amazing what you rediscover when revisiting these ‘Voyager’ episodes. 🙂
I suppose because Hogan and Jonas wear the same uniforms and they almost look similar to each other made it confusing for me. I imagine it helps when Jonas is being secretive about his treachery.
This is especially when Jonas is making secret communications with the Kazon and is trying to get in touch with Seska. This becomes a recurring thing as we progress in the rest of Season 2 of ‘Voyager’.
Chakotay later suggests to Janeway that they form an alliance with one or two Kazon factions in order to secure peace whilst journeying home. Janeway has doubts, and she soon talks to Tuvok about it.
Once she talks to Tuvok and there’s a reference to ‘Star Trek VI’ to help their discussion, Janeway is more open to the idea of an alliance with the Kazon and she decides to talk with two of the factions.
Neelix goes off to make contact with one of the lesser-known factions whilst the rest of the Voyager crew attempt to make contact with Martha Hackett as Seska and Anthony De Longis as Maje Cullah.
Things don’t go well, especially when Cullah is being difficult in following orders from a woman. I’ve heard people claim the Kazon can be annoying, but it’s what I expect a hostile alien race to be like. 😐
Neelix also gets abducted before he’s able to contact the maje of the lesser-known faction. He gets imprisoned with a race of aliens called the Trabe, who happen to be the blood-enemies of the Kazon.
The Trabe meet up with the Voyager crew when they and Neelix have been rescued. The Trabe’s leader, Charles O. Lucia as Mabus, and Janeway agree to form an alliance with each other in the story.
Mabus also suggest they find a way to form peace between the Trabe and the Kazon factions by meeting up with the majes of each faction. This meeting happens on an alien planet that Mabus suggests.
Unfortunately, whilst the meeting doesn’t go smoothly, it turns out to be a trap, as a Trabe ship fires into the conference room. Voyager attacks the ship, driving it away, and the Kazon majes do survive.
After beaming back to Voyager, Janeway is angry with Mabus for deceiving her and her crew. She sends Mabus back to his Trabe ship, before the Voyager crew continue with their journey back home.
Is ‘Alliances’ the worst ‘Voyager’ episode in Season 2 of the series? I don’t think so. It’s a shame the Voyager crew and the Kazon couldn’t form an alliance with each other, but I didn’t expect much hope on that.
‘Alliances’ (VOY) rating – 8/10
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