This episode ends with Janeway ordering Tuvok to not mildmeld again without her permission, and honestly that seems like a good rule for all Vulcans in Starfleet. Doubly so since this episode proves that it can cause them to lose control of their violent tendencies and try to start killing. I do like the idea of a Betazoid without the ability to sense others emotions and his own lack of them plus that seems like it might be what makes him a psychopath. I don't know enough about psychopathy to know if serving in the Maquis would really let someone live fairly normally, but it is true that Chakotay calls him out as maybe a bit over the line as soon as the topic comes up. We begin with the B story, Paris is setting up a betting pool on some random particle density and of course skimming off some replicator rations off the top. I think we are supposed to see how immoral this is, but honestly it seemed like a good time to me. Why not let the crew have some fun to pass the time. Tuvok meanwhile is being pestered by Neelix who is pleased to have learned about a Vulcan holiday and won't rest until Tuvok smiles for him. In engineering a broken EPS conduit leads to the discovery of a dead body. The body is badly burned and if not for the damage would have been vaporized. Also, the Doctor points out a wound at the base of the skull indicating the man was struck from behind, in other words, murder.
Suspicion immediately falls on crewman Suder, a former Maquis who his colleagues noticed had a bit too much glee in killing Cardassians. Tuvok questions him but he denies everything. However the Doctor discovers some of Suder's DNA in the wound and he confesses. He even gives up the murder weapon, but will give no motive. This continues to bother Tuvok and he comes back several times seeking answers. Eventually he decides the only way to find out what he needs is to mindmeld with Suder. Afterwards he claims to be fine, but in a discussion with Janeway he pushes really hard to execute Suder claiming it is what he wants. Janeway instead opts to confine him to quarters for the rest of the trip which openly upsets Tuvok.
Next we see Tuvok in the mess hall only when Neelix comes over to bother him Tuvok grabs him and crushes his neck against the wall. And then ends the holodeck simulation. He then visits Suder who seems to have had the opposite reaction, he is much calmer than normal. Tuvok freaks out and confines himself to his quarters under a lockout he cannot release. Chakotay shows up on the holodeck as Paris is about to announce the days winner and declares the game over and puts Paris on report. Janeway visits Tuvok who can barely resist attacking her. She convinces him to let the Doctor treat him and he is sedated. The Doctor finds that if he suppresses the Vulcan emotion suppression system in the brain Tuvok should snap back afterwards and return to normal. Tuvok freaks out and tries to talk them into letting down the forcefield so he can kill Suder but they don't listen. That night though he breaks out but instead of killing Suder he mindmelds again and collapses. Suder call for help and soon Tuvok returns to normal and Suder spends the trip in his quarters.
Review: More of a thriller than a mystery, but a good episode never the less. I always enjoy seeing them probe into the Vulcan mind and see what lies beneath the calm surface.
6 out of 10
No comments:
Post a Comment