‘THE CLOUD’ (VOY)
Please feel free to comment on my review.
This ‘Voyager’ episode is well-known for Captain Janeway saying that famous line of dialogue, “There’s coffee in that nebula.” An astronaut tweeted that line from the International Space Station.
That was in 2015 and the astronaut in question was Samantha Cristoforetti. The line was even used to title Kate Mulgrew’s convention panel at ‘Destination Star Trek Birmingham’ in October 2018. 😀
‘The Cloud’ as an episode is pretty mundane. It’s not great, but it’s not that memorable. The titular cloud in space doesn’t appear much in the story. Other subplots involving characters get in the way.
In the episode, it’s been several weeks since Voyager got lost in the Delta Quadrant. Janeway considers forming close connections with the Voyager crew. They have become an ‘extended family’.
Neelix has also been serving special recipes of his to the crew in order to help save replicator power. Janeway has been cut off from her regular coffee and Neelix’s alternative is not altogether palatable.
Very soon, Voyager encounters a strange nebula with signs of omicron particles. I know this episode was made before the Covid-19 pandemic happened, but hearing the word ‘omicron’ sounds surreal.
The Voyager crew hope to utilise the omicron particles to supplement the rapidly depleting energy reserves. Janeway orders the ship into the nebula and she says her “There’s coffee in that nebula” line.
As the ship goes into the nebula, Janeway and Chakotay discuss the lack of a ship’s counsellor and the effect it could have on morale. It prompts Chakotay to help Janeway to find her ‘animal guide’. 🙂
I don’t think the subplot where Janeway receives help from Chakotay to find her ‘animal guide’ goes anywhere in ‘Voyager’, but I did like the character building set up between Janeway and Chakotay. 🙂
Going through the cloud, Voyager comes across a natural energy barrier that keeps them 7,000 kilometres from the particles they need. Harry Kim engages thrusters to breach the energy barrier. 😐
This results in trouble, as Voyager’s shields begin to drop in power, reserves begin to fade, and the impulse drive triggers a dangerous reaction. Naturally, Voyager tries to leave the cloud in an instant.
The Voyager crew use a photon torpedo to breach the barrier. They manage to escape the nebula, though the ship has sustained damage. There’s also unidentified material attached to the ship’s hull.
B’Elanna Torres and the Doctor examine the nebula material and discover that it’s organic. Realising that the nebula is a living organism and they breached the barrier, the crew conclude they injured it.
They soon find a way to help the nebula, offering a helping hand, due to the fact that it has a regenerative power. Janeway takes Voyager back inside the nebula in order to repair the damage. 🙂
There’s a lot of technical stuff that happens with the Voyager crew repairing the nebula. Thankfully, they get to heal the nebula and they’re soon on their way out into space, leaving the nebula behind.
In terms of the other side-stories that go on in this episode, Neelix appoints himself as the ship’s morale officer. Sometimes, I think Neelix exceeds his authority when interrupting delicate operations.
This is when Neelix and Kes are serving snacks to crewmembers whilst the Voyager crew are trying to repair the nebula. He also argues with Janeway for her decision to re-enter the nebula and heal it.
There’s also the side-story where Tom Paris takes Harry Kim to the holodeck where they enjoy the Chez Sandrine, a French bistro where he frequented on Earth during his days at Starfleet Academy.
In the holodock simulation, we meet characters like Luigi Amodeo as the Gigolo, Angela Dohrmann as Ricky, Judy Geeson as Sandrine and Larry Hankin as Gaunt Gary. Some of these can be eccentric. 🙂
Incidentally, Judy Geeson was in the 1970s BBC drama series ‘Poldark’, didn’t you know. After the mission with the cloud, other crew members relax at the Chez Sandrine, including Janeway herself. 🙂
‘The Cloud’ is a decent ‘Voyager’ episode in the series. I wouldn’t call it great, but it was enjoyable to watch. It’s also interesting how Janeway attempts to form bonds with some of her crewmembers. 🙂
‘The Cloud’ (VOY) rating – 7/10
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