In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss the first season of Star Trek: Voyager and how it lived up to their expectations. Is this the best first season of any Star Trek series? Or are we just jaded from having recently watched the second season of Star Trek: Picard?
Category: VOY Season 1
Learning Curve
Tuvok conducts a training session for Maquis personnel. Meanwhile, Voyager’s bio-neural gel packs are mysteriously failing.
In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss “Learning Curve” as they close out the first season of Star Trek: Voyager. Plus! The guys chat about running with backpacks, sinister children, and low energy.
Jetrel
The scientist who developed a weapon that killed three hundred thousand of Neelix’s people in a war fifteen years ago boards Voyager, claiming that Neelix is terminally ill.
In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss “Jetrel” and other famous atomic bombings. Plus! The guys chat about Neelix’s round face, chasing yourself in a dream, and keeping your motivations a mystery.
Faces
The Vidiians capture B’Elanna Torres and split her into two people, one fully Klingon, and one fully Human.
In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss “Faces” and revolting alien designs. Plus! The guys chat about Klingons as metaphors, Chakotay’s very special mission, and Vidiians not recognizing each other.
Cathexis
Voyager attempts to investigate the force that made Chakotay brain-dead, while an unknown entity keeps turning them back.
In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss “Cathexis” and sleepy understandings. Plus! The guys chat about Tuvok in the background, perfect star maps, and famous brain dead people from history.
Heroes and Demons
When several crew members disappear inside Harry Kim’s “Beowulf” holodeck program, the holographic Doctor is the only one who can rescue them.
In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss “Heroes and Demons” and Star Trek: Voyager going metal af. Plus! The guys chat about the Doctor and other holograms, negotiations with aliens, and holo-novels of choice.
State of Flux
An unknown Voyager crew member secretly sends information to the Kazon.
In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss “State of Flux” and the origin of a recurring antagonist. Plus! The guys chat about melted troll dolls, the hidden dangers of replication, and Voyager’s ending scenes.
Prime Factors
The crew of Voyager discovers a planet that has the technology to send them more than halfway along their journey home. However, the planet’s inhabitants are more than reluctant to share this technology with Voyager’s crew, as doing so would violate one of the society’s own prime directives.
In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss “Prime Factors” and building an episode with distinct plot threads. Plus! The guys chat about masturbatory hedonism, being annoyed by the Prime Directive, and the decision of Tuvok.
Emanations
Investigating mineral deposits on an asteroid, Harry Kim is trapped on an alien planet.
In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay are joined by Voyager Super Fan Sean to discuss “Emanations” and the proper way to disrespect ancient burial grounds. Plus! The guys chat about letting the ensign speak, a tough day at the transporter, and knowing the facts of your own demise.
Ex Post Facto
Tom Paris is convicted of murder. He denies having committed the crime, even though the images extracted from the victim’s own memory seem to prove his guilt.
In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay talk about “Ex Post Facto” and the passionate adventures of Detective Tuvok. Plus! The guys chat about the sins of Tom Paris, unnecessary characters, and Vulcan detectives.
Eye of the Needle
Voyager makes contact with a Romulan ship through a wormhole that leads back to the Alpha Quadrant.
In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss “Eye of the Needle” and getting the timing right. Plus! The guys chat about the year 2002, Maquis uniforms, and contaminating the timeline.
The Cloud
With energy reserves nearly depleted, Voyager investigates possible resources inside a nebula, which – as it turns out – is not really a nebula.
In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss “The Cloud” and the sexual proclivities of Tom Paris. Plus! The guys talk about the Star Trek formula, the emptiness of Neelix, and body language from the captain’s chair.
Phage
Neelix’s lungs are removed by a race that suffers from a deadly phage that is slowly destroying their population prompting them to harvest replacement organs and tissues from other species.
In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss “Phage” and why robbing Peter to replace Paul’s lungs is never a good idea. Plus! The guys chat about the nature of Kes, itches you can’t reach, and melty-faced villains of dubious quality.
Time and Again
While investigating a massive explosion that destroyed all life on a planet, Janeway and Paris are swept back a day in time, where they must prevent the explosion.
In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss “Time and Again” and how it makes a powerful, yet flawed, defense for the Prime Directive. Plus! The guys chat about generic sci-fi cultures, varieties of timepieces, and making a statement by killing an entire planet.
Parallax
Investigating an apparent distress call, Voyager becomes trapped inside the event horizon of a quantum singularity.
In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss “Parallax” and why it’s the second-best (or is it best second?) episode of Star Trek. Plus! The guys chat about getting excited for science, guessing the right ship, and insulting people for their ignorance regarding temporal mechanics.
Caretaker
The newly commissioned starship Voyager and a Maquis raider are flung into the far reaches of the remote Delta Quadrant by a powerful entity known as the Caretaker.
In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay discuss “Caretaker” from Star Trek: Voyager and how it compares to their most recent podcast conquest, Star Trek: Enterprise. Plus! The guys chat about Star Trek: DS9 being too cerebral, the wild west of the Delta Quadrant, and the impotence of Chakotay.
Introduction to Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager is the fifth Star Trek series. It was created by Rick Berman, Michael Piller, and Jeri Taylor, and ran on UPN, as the network’s first ever series, for seven seasons in the USA, from 1995 to 2001. In some areas without local access to UPN, it was offered to independent stations through Paramount Pictures, for its first six seasons. The series is best known for its familial crew, science fiction based plots, engaging action sequences, and light humor. The writers often noted that many episodes had underlying themes and messages or were metaphors for current social issues. This is the first Star Trek series to feature a female captain in the main cast. However, Kathryn Janeway is not the first female captain. Additionally, the show gained in popularity for its storylines which frequently featured the Borg. Voyager follows the events of Star Trek: The Next Generation and ran alongside Star Trek: Deep Space Nine during its first five seasons.
In this episode of the podcast, Wes and Clay give an “Introduction to Star Trek: Voyager” and explain how their coverage of the new series is going to work. Plus! The guys chat about giving up on concepts, being semi-familiar with the crew, and where to find their coverage of the second season of Star Trek: Picard.