Death Wish (19 Feb. 1996)

While Voyager investigates what appears to be a typical comet, the crew of Voyager accidentally releases a member of the "Q continuum" who has been imprisoned in it for over 300 years. He ... See full summary »

Director:

James L. Conway

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (creator), Rick Berman (creator),

Stars:

Kate Mulgrew, Robert Beltran, Roxann Dawson

Cast

Episode credited cast:
Kate Mulgrew	...	Captain Kathryn Janeway
Robert Beltran	...	Commander Chakotay
Roxann Dawson	...	Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres (as Roxann Biggs-Dawson)
Jennifer Lien	...	Kes
Robert Duncan McNeill	...	Lieutenant Tom Paris
Ethan Phillips	...	Neelix
Robert Picardo	...	The Doctor
Tim Russ	...	Lieutenant Tuvok
Garrett Wang	...	Ensign Harry Kim
Gerrit Graham	...	Quinn
Peter Dennis	...	Isaac Newton
Maury Ginsberg	...	Maury Ginsberg
John de Lancie	...	Q
Jonathan Frakes	...	Commander William T. Riker
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kevin Marshall Brady	...	Guard

Storyline

While Voyager investigates what appears to be a typical comet, the crew of Voyager accidentally releases a member of the "Q continuum" who has been imprisoned in it for over 300 years. He was confined by the continuum for the sole purpose of stopping him from committing suicide. The "Q" then claims asylum on Voyager leaving Captain Janeway to decide whether he should go back in to confinement or whether to grant his request for asylum on Voyager, giving him endless opportunities to commit suicide.

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Plot Keywords:

euthanasia | 24th century | omnipotence | assisted suicide

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 February 1996 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Network Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original script featured Geordi LaForge, but LeVar Burton became unavailable, so the part was changed to Commander Riker. The original script also included a line where Q told Tuvok "Without me you'd be Chief Engineer of the Enterprise" - an in-joke referring to Tim Russ auditioning for the role of LaForge.

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Goofs

Riker is wearing the old-style com-badge, which suggests that he has been "abducted" from a time before 2370, i.e. before Voyager was launched and got lost in the Delta Quadrant. Therefore he should have no knowledge of Janeway being captain of that vessel. Janeway took command in 2371.

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Quotes

Quinn: You mustn't think of us as omnipotent, no matter what The Continuum would like you to believe. You and your ship seem incredibly powerful to life-forms without your technical expertise. It's no different with us. We may appear omnipotent to you, but believe me, we're not.

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Connections

References Star Trek: The Next Generation: Déjà Q (1990)

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Soundtracks

"Star Trek: Voyager - Main Title"
(uncredited)
Written by Jerry Goldsmith
Performed by Jay Chattaway

User Reviews

Chemistry & Juice

Star Trek: Schizophrenic rolls on, this time with an out-of-left-field episode devoted to Q and Q2, a bad Q who wants to do things that the good Q don't usually do. Mainly, killing himself, with the help of Suicidal Sue.

Okay, I made up that part about Sue but the rest is all true. I can't stop rhyming, and neither can you! Don't worry, I'm slapping my own face. There, that's better.

John DeLancie is back as the ultimate effeminate community theater playhouse performer, the kind of guy who gives you his home number after rehearsal and tells you to call him anytime, and as usual he brings an energy and life that's oddly missing from ALL of the Trek series, even in their best episodes. Here he demands that the escaped Q2 be returned to his prison cell in the tail of a comet (don't ask) and be denied the right to die like a mortal.

The high points here the trial, in which Q2 pleads for his right to die and brings to mind classic TOS Trek. Also great is the look inside the Q continuum in a metaphoric representation that we humans can understand. It's full of just the right amount of surreal imagery and disconnect that we can almost comprehend that which we know is incomprehensible. Also good is the romantic, erotic relationship Q develops with Janeway, who seems to be getting sexier and more moist with every episode. She also seems to be in desperate need of a good bang, which only makes her more hot and desirable. Sometimes she whispers her lines like a mother to a baby and sometimes she hisses them like a snake protecting her den... either way it's a sultry, sensual experience and I can definitely see the attraction.

The episode is thought-provoking, featuring a forgettable cameo by Johnathan Frakes as William Riker, and we're left wondering yet again what the mission of the Voyager series really is... getting home? Fighting the Kazon? Dusting off old Next Generation scripts like this one? Boldy going where no man has gone before or hurrying home? No answers here... but an interesting diversion.

GRADE: A-