‘PARTURITION’ (VOY)
Please feel free to comment on my review.
This is an interesting ‘Voyager’ episode to check out in the series. It’s the episode where Tom Paris and Neelix settle their differences over their feelings for Kes. I found the episode satisfying to watch.
‘Parturition’ is also the second of three ‘Voyager’ episodes to be directed by ‘TNG’ cast member Jonathan Frakes. The first one was ‘Projections’. It’s nice that he’s directing this particular episode. 🙂
In the episode, Tom becomes Kes’ instructor during a flight simulation. This is when they have to dodge some Jem’Hadar ships in space. I assume Voyager got some Jem’Hadar holograms from ‘DS9’.
Seasons 2 and 3 specifically. Neelix isn’t happy with Tom being around Kes at times. Even Tom admits to Harry Kim in his quarters that he has feelings for Kes, as he struggles to keep them a secret. 🙁
The relations between Neelix and Tom end up on a new low when they have a food fight in the mess hall. Mind you, Tom must be partly thankful, as the tomato-filled-like pasta had some hairs in it. Ugh!
During their food fight, Janeway calls them to her ready room for an assignment. She’s surprised to see them in their messy state and enquires whether there’s some personal problem between them.
Neelix admits that there is and Janeway cautions them to put aside their differences when going out on a mission. Tom and Neelix try to behave like professionals, but it’s not easy during the mission. 🙁
Incidentally, Janeway has let her hair down in this episode. Her look is more from Seasons 4 to 7 of ‘Voyager’. I got confused by that, wondering whether we had jumped ahead a season or two here. 🙂
Apparently, Voyager’s food supplies are low and scans of a nearby planet have detected proteins. Neelix is chosen for the mission to investigate the new planet because of his role as chef on Voyager.
Paris was chosen because he’s Voyager’s experienced pilot. When they make their way to ‘Planet Hell’, as some of the crew have called it, their shuttle craft ends up crashing due to the atmosphere.
‘Planet Hell’ is coated in a poisonous trigemic vapour. Once they’re on the planet, Tom and Neelix are forced to seek shelter. They find a cave and they blast the rock in order to cover the entrance. 😐
They hope to be rescued soon. Eventually, they discover a nest of eggs. One of them hatches, revealing a lizard-bird-like creature. Tom and Neelix debate on what to do with the young hatchling.
Tom is wanting to leave the hatchling whilst Neelix feels they have a responsibility to take care of it. Meanwhile, Voyager gets attacked by an alien ship. It places itself between Voyager and their planet.
I like how Tom and Neelix find a way to care for the creature, as it’s about to die and won’t eat Starfleet rations. They discover the vapour outside might be the source of food the hatchling needs.
They blast open the walled-up entrance they blasted in in order to take the hatchling outside to get it its proteins. They use the medicine dropper to feed the vapours and thankfully, the hatchling lives.
I like how Tom and Neelix resolve their differences over Kes. Tom admits that he is attracted to her, but he respects her choice to be with Neelix. I like how the two becomes friends in the episode here.
Meanwhile, Voyager disables the weapons aboard the alien ship, moving into the planet’s atmosphere to rescue Neelix and Tom. But the two refuse to be transported and leave the hatchling.
They hide and wait until the adult of the hatchling’s species (presumably its mother) comes to collect it. Thankfully, the mother accepts the hatchling and Neelix and Tom are transported out by Voyager.
Back aboard Voyager, Kes reunites with Neelix and is surprised that he and Tom have formed a friendship with each other. Earlier, Kes was concerned about Neelix and Tom’s fight in the mess hall.
She has scenes to express her frustration of Neelix’s jealously over Tom to the Doctor in sick bay and to Harry in her quarters. Hopefully, there’ll be good scenes between Tom and Neelix in the future. 🙂
‘Parturition’ has been an enjoyable ‘Voyager’ episode in the series. It resolves the friction between Tom Paris and Neelix in a satisfying manner. I’m pleased their relationship has progressed this way. 🙂
‘Parturition’ (VOY) rating – 8/10
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