2.7 — “Parturition”

2.7 — “Parturition”

Plot: Neelix’s previously established jealousy of Tom Paris escalates to blows just at the moment Voyager gets into a spot of trouble that impels Janeway to assign the two rivals to share a shuttle and away mission on a dangerous planet.

Thoughts: This episode was designed to put the jealousy triange subplot between Neelix, Kes, and Paris to bed. And good riddance. Perhaps, since we will never hear of it again, I don’t need to say much about it, except to observe, again, that this subplot seems to have never been about love, but about control of Kes as if she were a possession and not a person. This plot has not aged well in 23 years; I can’t imagine how the producers thought it would be a suitable storyline for the year 2372.

Otherwise, “Parturition” seems to be built around the opportunity to rent and film a remarkable puppet lizard baby. Great puppet, dodgy story. An alien lays eggs and then leaves the planet? Neelix and Paris happen to show up right outside the cave right at the time he is returning because why?

Basically, this episode is terrible.

I got some chuckles out of the dialogue in EMH’s scene with Kes (“You’ve always been interested in autopsies”). I also like the moment in Janeway’s briefing with Neelix and Paris where she tells them crisply “Solve it. You leave at 1400.” She seems more like a Captain than Picard, who was like everyone’s dad, not their commanding officer.

1.5 of 5 eggs.

http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Parturition