VOY: Projections

         I have some objections in terms of things not making sense in this episode, but most of it is because we see the episode from the perspective of a malfunctioning hologram so anything is possible. The biggest question I have is about what kind of holonovel the Doctor could possibly have been participating in. Because if it wasn't about him being Dr. Zimmerman making the EMH why were so many elements from that forced in? And where did Barclay come from? It seems like the Doctor had never met him before and had no idea who he was so why was he there? It seems like the implication is post TNG Barclay started working with Zimmerman on my autonomous holoprograms which makes sense for him, but how did the Doctor know this? And did he make Kes into Zimmerman's wife because he actually is in love with her? But as much as some parts don't really make sense, that is ok in an episode with such a crazy premise.

         We begin with the Doctor appearing alone in sickbay. He asks the computer and it tells him he was automatically activated when the ship went to red alert (this has never happened before, but there are so many things out of place I am going to just have to let some go without comment). He asks and finds out that the ship was abandoned when the warp core went critical and that there is severe damage to many of the ships systems. He is startled then when there is a pounding on the door to sickbay but happy when the person who barges in is Torres. She tells him that they abandoned ship because of the warp core, but she and Janeway were able to save the ship. Unfortunately the life pods where captured by the Kazon. The Doctor tries scanning her with his tricorder but it doesn't work. She transfers him to the bridge to help the captain but she also doesn't show up in the tricorder. They get a desperate call from Neelix who is under attack in the mess hall and with new holoprojectors the Doctor is transferred there. 

         He finds Neelix under attack and is able to outflank the Kazon and jumps him while Neelix knocks him out with a saute pan. Surprisingly though the Doctor is injured and bleeding. He is transferred back to sickbay and shocked to find the tricorder works just fine on him showing brain patterns along with his other vital signs. He asks the computer what is going on and it casually explains that he is Dr. Zimmerman. Janeway, Torres and Neelix show up in sickbay and he tells them what is going on. Janeway doesn't believe it and tells the computer to shut down all holograms and promptly disappears along with the others other than the Doctor who is now alone. Suddenly Barclay appears and tries to convince the Doctor that he is Zimmerman and he is in a program to study the long term effects of an EMH but that holodeck is stuck running and the only way out is to finish the program. But that means either getting home or blowing up the ship.

         Suddenly they are back when the Doctor first appeared on Voyager but everyone can see Barclay too and are confused. He is then in the engine room with the captain as the caretaker makes everyone disappear. Barclay tries to convince him to destroy the warp core with a phaser but Chakotay walks in and tells him that if he does his program will be destroyed. Kes shows up on Barclay's side telling the Doctor she is his wife. He sides with Chakotay though and suddenly wakes up in sickbay telling Kes how beautiful she is. He is relieved to be back on the real ship but after everyone else leaves Kes asks him about telling her she is beautiful and gets upset when he doesn't say she is again and tells him their marriage is over. Then he sees Zimmerman on a bed in sickbay injured and talking like Janeway and then he is on the holodeck. It seems he is finally back out of the layers of simulation, but he realizes he can never really be sure.

         Review: An episode that handles ambiguity surprisingly well. I am sure some people hate this one, but I found it to be mindbending in an enjoyable way. Also to be honest I enjoyed seeing Barclay again so there is that too.

7 out of 10