The Doctor falls in love with a hologram image of a woman suffering from a terrible disease. This is a nicely done episode about accepting people for what they are. The Doctor is a really interesting character. There are two other focuses that continue. Paris has turned into a complete ass. And we are continuing to see the traitor who is sharing information with the Talaxians.
10 Reviews
Star Trek: Voyager - Lifesigns
Scarecrow-887 January 2017
Warning: Spoilers
To get the less interesting (although it was a designed story arc) subplot out of the way: Lt Paris is arriving to the Bridge late over and over, disrespecting Chakotay's authority, and just being an ass. Why is he being so insubordinate? Well, when he pushes Chakotay down on the Bridge and sent to Brig by Janeway! Earlier, Chakotay tried to find out what is wrong with him and Paris stands up to embarrass him regarding his duties as Janeway's second in command. Also Jonas in Engineering is in contact with the Kazon, particularly Seska, as they want him to damage the warp coils.
Now the main story follows the Doctor and how he develops romantic feelings for the holographic form of a patient going through cell / tissue death due to the Phage. Her name is Danara Pel (Susan Diol), a Vidiian physician helping her people through the Phage. Seeing herself fully healthy and feeling so, Danara finds this form alluring and soon desires not to return to the diseased body that is considered so ugly. Doctor even gets a name in this one, given to him by Danara, "Shumulla". Doctor tries to understand these new feelings and adapt accordingly. Kes is such a wonderful character, and her involvement in helping both Doctor and Danara gain clarity in their progressive romance is a highlight of the episode. Good chemistry between Picardi and Diol really helps enhance the whole episode. Their bond is organic and pleasant. How holographic programs can "adapt" is of great concentration in this episode's overall story to allow Picardi to take this character and move him beyond just medical dialogue and doctor speech is necessary so that we can ourselves adapt to him and care about his continual growth. This episode does that splendidly. The Vidiian disease and how certain among them fear others is commented on as Danara laments about her current situation and what it is like to walk around in her holographic form not repulsive and diseased. Diol is humane, kind, and undeserved of her lot in life but she's needed and even though she attempts to poison herself, much to Doctor's chagrin, he urges her to think of her worth to others combating similar disease. Doctor and Danara's visit to Paris' French Bistro and "parking on Mars" are definite highlights. But just the moments where they find comfort in each others company, and their tender dialogue scenes lift this episode substantially. Poignant and rewarding.
Now the main story follows the Doctor and how he develops romantic feelings for the holographic form of a patient going through cell / tissue death due to the Phage. Her name is Danara Pel (Susan Diol), a Vidiian physician helping her people through the Phage. Seeing herself fully healthy and feeling so, Danara finds this form alluring and soon desires not to return to the diseased body that is considered so ugly. Doctor even gets a name in this one, given to him by Danara, "Shumulla". Doctor tries to understand these new feelings and adapt accordingly. Kes is such a wonderful character, and her involvement in helping both Doctor and Danara gain clarity in their progressive romance is a highlight of the episode. Good chemistry between Picardi and Diol really helps enhance the whole episode. Their bond is organic and pleasant. How holographic programs can "adapt" is of great concentration in this episode's overall story to allow Picardi to take this character and move him beyond just medical dialogue and doctor speech is necessary so that we can ourselves adapt to him and care about his continual growth. This episode does that splendidly. The Vidiian disease and how certain among them fear others is commented on as Danara laments about her current situation and what it is like to walk around in her holographic form not repulsive and diseased. Diol is humane, kind, and undeserved of her lot in life but she's needed and even though she attempts to poison herself, much to Doctor's chagrin, he urges her to think of her worth to others combating similar disease. Doctor and Danara's visit to Paris' French Bistro and "parking on Mars" are definite highlights. But just the moments where they find comfort in each others company, and their tender dialogue scenes lift this episode substantially. Poignant and rewarding.
Doctor's got game
ragingrei10 August 2021
Doctor in love
Tweekums22 July 2010
Warning: Spoilers
When a Vidiian woman is beamed to sick bay The Doctor transfers her consciousness to a holographic body as her own is rapidly deteriorating and he needs her help to treat her body. When she is awakened she is delighted to find that instead of being in her scarred and diseased body she looks and feels healthy for the first time since she was a child. During the course of their working together the Doctor grows close to her and eventually tells her how he feels but his approach is so matter of fact that she is turns him down. Believing that nobody would be interested in her if she was back in her real scarred body she attempts to poison it but the Doctor makes in clear to her that it is her personality not her body that he is interested in. In secondary plots Tom Paris is continuing to turn up late for shifts and when told he isn't needed till he can turn up on time he knows Chakotay to the floor, interestingly this storyline is not resolved; I suspect it is building up to a story which will be the main plot in an upcoming episode.
This was a good episode as most ones centred on the Doctor are, Robert Picardo is very good in the role, Susan Diol made a welcome guest appearance as the Vidiian Dr. Danara Pel, her scenes with the Doctor were very touching. I also liked the fact that the secondary story was left unresolved, it made me curious to learn how it will be resolved and why Tom has started to act out of character lately.
This was a good episode as most ones centred on the Doctor are, Robert Picardo is very good in the role, Susan Diol made a welcome guest appearance as the Vidiian Dr. Danara Pel, her scenes with the Doctor were very touching. I also liked the fact that the secondary story was left unresolved, it made me curious to learn how it will be resolved and why Tom has started to act out of character lately.
The Doctor falls in love.
planktonrules15 February 2015
Warning: Spoilers
When the episode begins, Voyager finds a small Vidiian vessel with a faint life sign. The passenger, Dr. Danara Pel, is dying and the holo Doctor works on trying to save her. However, she's awfully far gone so he does something radical--and transfers her consciousness into a hologram version of her--one that is healed and beautiful. However, over the course of the show something strange happens--the Doctor finds himself drawn to Dr. Pel and it's soon obvious that he's in love. Naturally, this relationship is unconventional....but is it even possible? And, if so, will she reciprocate?
There are two other plots running throughout this episode. First, Paris continues behaving like a nasty butt-head--particularly towards Commander Chakotay. And, when Chakotay tries to find out what's happening, Paris is extremely rude and combative. Second, the weasel, Lucas, is still working for the Kazon and these baddies are trying to get him to damage Voyager. Interestingly, in the near future, both these subplots will converge.
This episode clearly gives the Doctor the greatest opportunity to express himself, grow as a character and become more human. As always, it's great seeing him open up as a character. The other plots are also quite good but these are things you'll need to just accept and wait for their eventual resolution. All in all, one of the better episodes of season two--well worth seeing.
There are two other plots running throughout this episode. First, Paris continues behaving like a nasty butt-head--particularly towards Commander Chakotay. And, when Chakotay tries to find out what's happening, Paris is extremely rude and combative. Second, the weasel, Lucas, is still working for the Kazon and these baddies are trying to get him to damage Voyager. Interestingly, in the near future, both these subplots will converge.
This episode clearly gives the Doctor the greatest opportunity to express himself, grow as a character and become more human. As always, it's great seeing him open up as a character. The other plots are also quite good but these are things you'll need to just accept and wait for their eventual resolution. All in all, one of the better episodes of season two--well worth seeing.
Doctor Love
Bolesroor2 February 2011
Warning: Spoilers
"Love, exciting and new
Come aboard, we're expecting you
"
"Star Trek: The Love Boat" this week features a dying female stranded in space and beamed aboard Voyager, at which point Doctor builds her a brand new holo-body, transfers her brain waves into the new form, and is able to interact with the newly-vitalized, healthy patient while her scarred, dying, Phage-infected body lies on the gurney at the opposite end of the room.
Well, as usual in Voyager, we're playing fast and loose with science here, even with science-fiction: this is holo-technology taken to its absurd extreme. If we can synthesize substitute bodies and successfully transfer our brains into them haven't we achieved immortality? Why wouldn't the Federation be staffing starships with all-hologram crews and keep the humans safe at home while their immortal, invincible counterparts brave the galaxy with no chance of death or destruction? Why is the hologram Doctor on board Voyager having romantic feelings in the first place? Who programmed into him the ability to love a woman? And why? I guess the writers do it whenever the script calls for him to have a love-themed episode.
I'd like to take a moment here to reflect on how the concept of holo-technology has helped to ruin the Star Trek franchise. Week after week we're treated to decoy scenes and scenarios that are revealed to be only holodeck simulations. Science is distorted and ignored, like the dying woman's rental body or the stupefying shuttlecraft flight simulator in "Threshold." The holodeck and its offshoots have become an excuse for lazy writers to bridge any gaps between fantasy and reality, and what was once fascinating and thought-provoking for the fan has now become numbingly predictable. Take, for example, the date on which the holo-Doctor takes his holo-girlfriend. They sit in their holo-57 Chevy, in the holo-desert overlooking a holo-canyon and holo-sunset. The entire experience just left me... hollow.
Like Data in TNG, we're left to wonder what the difference is between humans and Doc Hologram, who have the same broad band of emotions. His search for love here is less tragic than it is bizarre. Why should we care if this projection gets laid or not? The Doctor- whose hook was that he was a mere hologram- becomes less remarkable the more human he becomes.
The Tom Paris-is-burning subplot again goes nowhere: Tom is late to work and gives lame excuses to Chakotay. Oooh! We better be heading for some spectacular payoff because a man who doesn't like Mondays is not the stuff of great Trek drama.
Overall, a decent episode that I never want to see again.
GRADE: B-
"Star Trek: The Love Boat" this week features a dying female stranded in space and beamed aboard Voyager, at which point Doctor builds her a brand new holo-body, transfers her brain waves into the new form, and is able to interact with the newly-vitalized, healthy patient while her scarred, dying, Phage-infected body lies on the gurney at the opposite end of the room.
Well, as usual in Voyager, we're playing fast and loose with science here, even with science-fiction: this is holo-technology taken to its absurd extreme. If we can synthesize substitute bodies and successfully transfer our brains into them haven't we achieved immortality? Why wouldn't the Federation be staffing starships with all-hologram crews and keep the humans safe at home while their immortal, invincible counterparts brave the galaxy with no chance of death or destruction? Why is the hologram Doctor on board Voyager having romantic feelings in the first place? Who programmed into him the ability to love a woman? And why? I guess the writers do it whenever the script calls for him to have a love-themed episode.
I'd like to take a moment here to reflect on how the concept of holo-technology has helped to ruin the Star Trek franchise. Week after week we're treated to decoy scenes and scenarios that are revealed to be only holodeck simulations. Science is distorted and ignored, like the dying woman's rental body or the stupefying shuttlecraft flight simulator in "Threshold." The holodeck and its offshoots have become an excuse for lazy writers to bridge any gaps between fantasy and reality, and what was once fascinating and thought-provoking for the fan has now become numbingly predictable. Take, for example, the date on which the holo-Doctor takes his holo-girlfriend. They sit in their holo-57 Chevy, in the holo-desert overlooking a holo-canyon and holo-sunset. The entire experience just left me... hollow.
Like Data in TNG, we're left to wonder what the difference is between humans and Doc Hologram, who have the same broad band of emotions. His search for love here is less tragic than it is bizarre. Why should we care if this projection gets laid or not? The Doctor- whose hook was that he was a mere hologram- becomes less remarkable the more human he becomes.
The Tom Paris-is-burning subplot again goes nowhere: Tom is late to work and gives lame excuses to Chakotay. Oooh! We better be heading for some spectacular payoff because a man who doesn't like Mondays is not the stuff of great Trek drama.
Overall, a decent episode that I never want to see again.
GRADE: B-
The choice between living and living.
thevacinstaller3 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Avoiding the ethically questionable idea of falling in love with your patient ------- This is a wonderfully executed episode about the Doctor wrestling with human emotions. I am still unclear on how the doctor (an advanced AI program) has emotion. Perhaps it is the AI's interpretation of what emotion is suitable given whatever context he is in? Well, best to not think too much about it or we will end up going down a deep rabbit hole.
I am currently watching the entire trek franchise through based on order of release. DS9 had an episode where Doctor Bashir brainwiped a fairly important character instead of attempting to find an alternative solution --- I couldn't believe it --- I just sat there with my mouth open. This episode manages to re-ignite my faith in the starfleets medical profession because the Doctor fights for Pel's life.
There's an interesting discussion to be had on whether living a holographic life free from the phage is morally right or wrong. I believe this episode would have still been a success had she been successful in her suicide.
If I was the showrunner, I would have fought for having another appearance from Pel and perhaps have her find a vaccination that would protect all viddians from the phage in the future. Have some mind bending consequences to this episode.
This is a solid episode. A lot to think over.
I am currently watching the entire trek franchise through based on order of release. DS9 had an episode where Doctor Bashir brainwiped a fairly important character instead of attempting to find an alternative solution --- I couldn't believe it --- I just sat there with my mouth open. This episode manages to re-ignite my faith in the starfleets medical profession because the Doctor fights for Pel's life.
There's an interesting discussion to be had on whether living a holographic life free from the phage is morally right or wrong. I believe this episode would have still been a success had she been successful in her suicide.
If I was the showrunner, I would have fought for having another appearance from Pel and perhaps have her find a vaccination that would protect all viddians from the phage in the future. Have some mind bending consequences to this episode.
This is a solid episode. A lot to think over.
Not too bad for a Star Trek romance
snoozejonc2 October 2022
The Doctor falls in love with a patient.
This is a reasonably good episode that owes a lot to Robert Picardo's performance.
As Trek romances go, the concept is not the worst, but like most of the others I never really care whether it succeeds or not. However, I do like the emphasis on the love being about the person and blind to physical appearance.
Two other positives are the performances of the lead actors. Susan Diol makes her character both sympathetic and likeable, plus she has strong chemistry with Picardo, who is excellent as always. He shows superb range as romantic lead and comic performer. His mannerisms are very natural and his verbal delivery makes the dialogue sound good.
The subplot involving the Paris/Chakotay conflict feels forced to me and I do not think it works in the midst of other narratives. Likewise the Kazon infiltration feels rather tiresome. However, there is more to come on this in future episodes which makes sense of it all. (But it's not that great)
This is a reasonably good episode that owes a lot to Robert Picardo's performance.
As Trek romances go, the concept is not the worst, but like most of the others I never really care whether it succeeds or not. However, I do like the emphasis on the love being about the person and blind to physical appearance.
Two other positives are the performances of the lead actors. Susan Diol makes her character both sympathetic and likeable, plus she has strong chemistry with Picardo, who is excellent as always. He shows superb range as romantic lead and comic performer. His mannerisms are very natural and his verbal delivery makes the dialogue sound good.
The subplot involving the Paris/Chakotay conflict feels forced to me and I do not think it works in the midst of other narratives. Likewise the Kazon infiltration feels rather tiresome. However, there is more to come on this in future episodes which makes sense of it all. (But it's not that great)
Doc feels romantically attracted to another hologram
tomsly-4001516 December 2023
This is a nice character episode for the doc. He falls in love with a female patient, whose brain has been transferred to the computer and is now projected as a hologram while the doc tries to save her real body - which is blemished by the phage and about to pass away unless the doc finds a cure.
The doc though is unexperienced (or shall we say "not programmed") in matters of love and acts quite wooden and unromantic. With a little help of Kess and Paris though, both find a way to each other and the doc shows a more empathic side of his. What I don't like about this episodic approach of Star Trek though: It is always this "Once and never again" scenario. Of course doc's love interest has to leave him after the treatment to help her people. It would have been much more interesting if the crew would make friends that enrich their own story arcs and change things on the ship.
Also what is strange: Data is said to be a sentient life form. He is aware of himself, he thinks and is able to adapt. The doc on the other hand is also aware of himself, he also thinks, is able to adapt and unlike Data obviously capable of having emotions. So he is even more human than Data! The only thing missing is a body. He is just a hologram. So, why is the doctor not treated like a sentient life form? How comes he is just forgotten, when the ship is evacuated like in another episode? Shouldn't the crew treat him like a living being, too? Just like Data? We talk about an intelligent computer program that is able to learn, evole and adapt. This is not different to a human's brain.
The doc though is unexperienced (or shall we say "not programmed") in matters of love and acts quite wooden and unromantic. With a little help of Kess and Paris though, both find a way to each other and the doc shows a more empathic side of his. What I don't like about this episodic approach of Star Trek though: It is always this "Once and never again" scenario. Of course doc's love interest has to leave him after the treatment to help her people. It would have been much more interesting if the crew would make friends that enrich their own story arcs and change things on the ship.
Also what is strange: Data is said to be a sentient life form. He is aware of himself, he thinks and is able to adapt. The doc on the other hand is also aware of himself, he also thinks, is able to adapt and unlike Data obviously capable of having emotions. So he is even more human than Data! The only thing missing is a body. He is just a hologram. So, why is the doctor not treated like a sentient life form? How comes he is just forgotten, when the ship is evacuated like in another episode? Shouldn't the crew treat him like a living being, too? Just like Data? We talk about an intelligent computer program that is able to learn, evole and adapt. This is not different to a human's brain.
Great episode - terrible ending
nmgbfmp25 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Perhaps I'm naïve about television in this time period in serial form, but this is a great episode that doesn't hit the mark for its ending. Instead of going for: she decides to continue her life through being a projected being like The Doctor, they decide to go for the: I love you so much I'll accept you in any form. This episode was a great way to introduce a new character to the show; Even if not that, they wrote it in another direction for her final wishes, she could've asked to be sent off to continue her existence as that healthy form.
I really liked it and it was done well I just think it totally went in the wrong direction and it could've been an amazing episode.
I really liked it and it was done well I just think it totally went in the wrong direction and it could've been an amazing episode.
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