Initiations (4 Sep. 1995)

Chakotay is captured by a young Kazon who is undergoing a manhood ritual.

Director:

Winrich Kolbe

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
Aron Eisenberg	...	Kar
Patrick Kilpatrick	...	Razik
Tim De Zarn	...	Haliz
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Majel Barrett	...	Voyager Computer (voice)

Storyline

Chakotay goes off in a shuttle to honor his dead father. However, he is attacked for being in Kazon-Ogla space by a young Kazon wanting to earn his warrior name. Chakotay defeats the Kazon vessel and saves the young boy Kar by transporting him aboard his shuttle craft before Kar's vessel explodes. When Chakotay tries to return his prisoner to a Kazon vessel, Kar begs to be killed just before they're taken captive. After Kar reveals that he will now never earn his warrior name, Chakotay escapes from the Kazon vessel, and Kar goes with him. While running away, Chakotay's shuttle crashes on a planet full of booby traps used to train young Kazons. Federation and Kazon must work together, both as Chakotay and Kar seek to survive and as their respective crews seek to find them.

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Plot Keywords:

24th century

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Details

Release Date:

4 September 1995 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Vasquez Rocks, Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park - 10700 W. Escondido Canyon Rd., Agua Dulce, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Television

Did You Know?

Trivia

Aron Eisenberg who played Nog in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine makes an appearance as Kar.

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Quotes

Razik: An Ogla has no room for excuses.

User Reviews

Ugh!

Netflix (yes the now dreaded Netflix) recently added all episodes of Voyager to the streaming line up, so I'm taking advantage. I really, REALLY want to like this show but it so pales in comparison to TNG. Maybe comparing the show to TNG isn't a fair thing to do but I can't help it. After a dozen or so episodes I've seen time and time again how logic defies the writing in this show, and continuity is disregarded though the premise of the show demands it (their new and continuing mission is to get back home; done far better by Battle Star Galactica). It really bugs me how knowing they are stranded ALONE in an unknown part of space where no allies, and no standing treaties exist...they take NO precautions! I think this is just crappy writing (they make Janeway look so incompetent). This episode is an example of that. ***SPOILERS FOLLOW*** Why the heck is Chakotay left alone in a shuttle craft!!? Then at the end of the episode without any discussion as to how it came about, he is seen performing the ritual that seemingly lead him out there to begin with...IN HIS QUARTERS!!!!?

8/18/11 UPDATE

I stuck with it, and am glad I did. I am now well into season 5. The show gets WAAY better if you give it a chance. Here in Season 5 they're still making dumb tactical mistakes but you groan look past them and then get caught up by the stories. Although I still HAVE NO idea why shuttles and ship seats don't have seat belts in the well advanced Star Trek Universe. Countless crew have been injured and lost due to injuries sustained by being knocked around during an attack or rough landing. Just sayin'