I remember thinking the first time I watched VOY that Janeway was the most unhinged captain we have seen. Up to right around now I haven't been able to figure out why I thought that. Sure Janeway likes to shoot first and ask questions later sometimes, but no more so than Kirk. To start with I think it is important to remember that she literally kidnapped Seven of Nine from the Borg at this point only a few months earlier. Seven was essentially raised by the Borg and not only doesn't understand individuality, she doesn't understand how an officer is supposed to act on a starship. This is totally aside from her unwillingness to acknowledge that Seven saved all their lives in the incident she is being punished for. I also understand that Janeway as a captain is right to be outraged by someone disregarding orders like that, but as I said, Seven was just kidnapped by this captain and while that used to be a thing in navies I feel like that isn't exactly the starfleet way. Also, WTF is up with being so compassionate for species 8472 all of a sudden?
We open with two Hirogen tracking a Species 8472 ship to an asteroid field. It leaves its ship and they pursue on foot and seem to kill the creature. On Voyager Seven is taking lessons in dealing with people from the Doctor which at first seemed silly, but he faces many of the same challenges as her so I guess it makes at least some sense. They come across a badly damaged Hirogen ship and Seven immediately assumes it is a trap but Janeway ignores her and sends Chakotay over. He and Paris find one dead Hirogen, ripped apart too, and one badly hurt. The beam him to sickbay behind a forcefield and the Doctor is able to stabilize him. Suddenly the ship is ripped open, seemingly for no reason. But it wasn't no reason, 8472 isn't dead and manages to make its way to engineering before fleeing into the Jeffrey's tubes.
They agree to work with the Hirogen to hunt 8472 on Voyager but Janeway insists they use nanites designed to disable but not kill 8472 which is clearly a terrible idea. When they track the thing down not shockingly the Hirogen ignores the no kill rule and has to be put down by Tuvok. They now have both aliens in forcefields and a bunch more Hirogen ships are on the way. All of a sudden Janeway decides she needs to get 8472 instead of just throwing it into space or onto a planet or something. Seven refuses to help and is relieved of her duties for it. Eventually the Hirogen show up and start beating on Voyager badly. Voyagers weapons can't damage their armor and they have her totally surrounded. They take damage and loose forcefields allowing the Hirogen to knock out or kill the guards in sickbay before attacking 8472. Janeway demands nanites from Seven so she is already with 8472 when the Hirogen arrives and they start wrestling so Seven beams them both to a Hirogen ship and the Hirogen break off the attack and leave. Janeway is super pissed and confines Seven to her cargobay and astrometrics since she still apparently needs Seven.
Review: Not a bad episode, but one where I lost a lot of respect for Janeway. She has been a generally good captain so far. Well, not always, but still generally competent and sane. This one has me questioning both those assessments.
5 out of 10
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