At this pace VOY is going to end up with a higher average score than TNG! I suspect that isn't true, but this is the third decent episode in a row. I would even venture to say this is a good episode. It even has a minute or two of Neelix and those are by far the worst parts of the episode. I feel like I may have to start taking a point off of every episode that Neelix is consulted and contributes nothing. Hopefully like Luwaxana he ends up find a place in the show, but I have my doubts at this point. One of my favorite parts of this episode is that even this early in the show it builds on what we already think about Paris, namely that he is a ladies man not afraid to bend the rules. It is also the first episode where Tuvok does anything character wise other than scold Kim over the intercom.
We open with Paris watching himself stab another man in the stomach through the eyes of his victim and learn that he has been convicted of the murder and his sentence is the experience the murder every 14 hours for the rest of his life. Back on the ship Kim has been returned with the news of Paris' conviction. He admits that while he was there working on the science mission Paris and the scientists wife did seem to be involved with each other. The woman ended her marriage and her husband was killed apparently by Paris the following night. Janeway decides it is time to enter the system to investigate despite the population of another planet in the system being at war with the people who convicted Paris. Sure enough they are confronted by the belligerent race, but they promise no aid to the other race and are allowed to pass. Janeway beams down to meet with Paris who denies the charges against him. The memory implant is causing him problems though and he passes out after experiencing the memories. This allows Janeway to get him taken aboard Voyager.
Tuvok begins his investigation by visiting the scene of the crime questioning the only living witness. The widow is pretty dispassionate about the whole thing. While questioning her he gets a message from the ship that Paris is awake again and returns. He questions Paris using a truth scanner and determines that Paris at least truly believes he is innocent. While he is questioning him the ship is rocked by an attack. The belligerents are back and Chakotay has to use an old Maquis trick to defeat them. Tuvok decides the only way to investigate further is to mind meld with Paris as he experiences the murder. It gives him all the answers he needs. He has Janeway contact the court and say that Paris will be coming back via shuttle. As soon as the shuttle launches the belligerent aliens show up and attack but Janeway beams Paris and Kim out safely and tells them there is a bomb on board after they seize the shuttle. On the planet Tuvok explains that first the man who did the murder was much shorter than Paris. Second there are numbers and characters in the memory that are state secrets being leaked to the enemy which is why they attacked immediately. Finally he accuses the doctor who did the implantation and proves he has been with the widow but letting in the family dog which greets him enthusiastically. In the closing Paris tells Tuvok that his help has made the two friends which Tuvok isn't quite sure how to take.
Review: Voyager can keep making episodes like this as long as it wants and I will be ok with it. I am not doing an official point subtraction for Neelix yet, but honestly it would probably be a point higher if her weren't in it.
6 out of 10
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