‘HEROES AND DEMONS’ (VOY)
Please feel free to comment on my review.
This is an enjoyable ‘Voyager’ episode to focus on the holographic Doctor’s character, who goes on his first mission to save some of the Voyager crew from the holodeck. I found this very entertaining.
In the episode, the Voyager crew encounters a protostar in space. Janeway decides to have samples beamed aboard for use as a potential power source. However, a problem occurs when they do that.
Janeway suggest B’Elanna Torres has Harry Kim help her out with working on the samples they beam from the protostar onto Voyager. But Harry is reported missing, as he was meant to be in the holodeck.
The holodeck program he was in is still running and Chakotay and Tuvok investigate to find out what’s going on. The holodeck problem is based on the epic poem ‘Beowulf’, which was intriguing. 🙂
Some have compared to this episode to having elements of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ in it. I can see that being the case, especially since the kingdom of Rohan has elements of ‘Beowulf’ in their culture.
Chakotay and Tuvok meet Marjorie Monaghan (not related to Dominic Monaghan by the way 😀 ) as shieldmaiden Freya in the forest. She brings them to meet the king – Michael Keenan as Hrothgar. 🙂
There’s also Christopher Neame as Unferth. Christopher Neame is well-known to ‘Doctor Who’ fans for playing Skagra in the original ‘Shada’ with Tom Baker. It was nice to see him appear in ‘Voyager’.
When Chakotay and Tuvok learn more about what happened to Harry Kim from the holodeck characters, they soon confront the monstrous Grendel who ‘devours’ them and takes them away. 😮
With Chakotay and Tuvok now lost as well as Harry, Janeway soon decides to send in the holographic Doctor in sick bay to investigate. This makes sense, since the Doctor can’t be taken by the monster in the same way.
The Doctor is clearly nervous when he’s preparing for his first ‘away’ mission. I like the scene he has with Kes who encourages him not to be afraid as well as take a name to establish his own identity. 🙂
Apparently, the Doctor narrowed his choices to three but did not reveal them to Kes. He ends up with ‘Schweitzer’. What would ‘Voyager’ be like if the Doctor kept the name ‘Schweitzer’ from here?
Once in the holodeck, the Doctor soon meets up with Freya, introduces himself as ‘Schweitzer’ and is taken to meet the king in his hall. He proves himself to the others and he even fights with Unferth. 🙂
Thankfully, the Doctor is able to control his holographic matrix when Unferth slices his sword through him. Pretty soon, there’s celebratory meal where the Doctor recounts a ‘heroic’ medical story of his.
There’s a nice scene between the Doctor and Freya after everyone has retired to separate rooms. The Doctor is able to share his anxieties with her whilst Freya is able to share her anxieties with him.
Freya also grows romantically attracted to the Doctor, as she invites him to join her in her chambers at night. The Doctor is interrupted when Grendal comes. He has his arm cut off from the monster. 😮
The Doctor is saved and has his arm restored, but it’s revealed that the protostar samples beamed aboard Voyager are alien energy lifeforms. Grendal is another one of these alien energy lifeforms. 😐
It’s also revealed the missing crewmembers Chakotay, Tuvok and Harry have been converted into energy by the lifeforms. It’s presumed the crewmembers are hostages because of Voyager’s actions.
The Doctor is sent back into the holodeck to make a bargain with the aliens. After reuniting with Freya, Unferth ends up killing her when she defends the Doctor. Sadly, she dies in the Doctor’s arms.
Thankfully, the Doctor bargains with the energy lifeforms, as he releases the ones Voyager beamed aboard as samples from the protostar. Soon, Chakotay, Tuvok and Harry are returned to their original forms.
Once his mission is successful, the Doctor decides not to keep the name ‘Schweitzer’ as his memories associated with the mission, including meeting Freya, are too painful, which I guess is fair.
The music for this episode by Dennis McCarthy is good to listen to, as I’ve heard it on a ‘Star Trek’ music CD. Overall, ‘Heroes and Demons’ has been a pretty enjoyable ‘Voyager’ episode in the series.
‘Heroes and Demons’ (VOY) rating – 8/10
| The previous story
For ‘Voyager’ was |
The next story
For ‘Voyager’ is |
| Return to Star Trek | |
| Return to Sci-Fi |