Distant Origin

Episode aired Apr 30, 1997
TV-PG
46m

IMDb RATING

8.5/10

2.6K

YOUR RATING

Christopher Liam Moore and Henry Woronicz in Star Trek: Voyager (1995)

Dinosaur Adventure Action Adventure Drama Sci-Fi Thriller

A superior race, descended from Earth dinosaurs, discovers Voyager, but living proof of the controversial Distant Origin Theory goes against widespread doctrine.A superior race, descended from Earth dinosaurs, discovers Voyager, but living proof of the controversial Distant Origin Theory goes against widespread doctrine.A superior race, descended from Earth dinosaurs, discovers Voyager, but living proof of the controversial Distant Origin Theory goes against widespread doctrine.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.5/10

2.6K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
This episode is unusual in that it is told from the viewpoint of a guest character rather than one of the Voyager crew (who don't even appear until well into the second act).

Goofs
It is stated that there are 148 lifeforms on board Voyager (plus the Doctor); however, Janeway states in The 37's (1995) that there are 152 people on board, and 11 members of the crew have died since. Even allowing for the birth of Naomi Wildman, that leaves half a dozen crew members who seem to have come back to life.

Quotes
Gegen: [examining a human skull] Did your eyes see the planet of our origin, the true home of our race? Was it... beautiful? Was it covered by oceans, by sand? Were there nine moons above your head? Were there none?

Connections
References China Beach (1988)

Soundtracks
Star Trek: Voyager - Main Title
Written by Jerry Goldsmith
Performed by Jay Chattaway

User reviews25

Review

Featured review

9/10

May be Voyager's first Truly Great Episode

Concetta Tomei's performance as Minister Odala is convincing and absolutely electrifying. This is the only TV episode of any show I think is worth watching just for one actor's performance. Even though you know everything for Voyager and Chuckles will be ok in the end, Minister Odala really makes you worry for them.

Beltran seems to play Chuckles very timidly in his Speech. I'm not sure if he's really doing that or if Tomei's Odala just makes it seem that way. Her glare alone is extremely intimidating, and that's with extensive facial prosthetics to boot. Her race could have been great ongoing antagonists for the show. Far better than that motorcycle gang they dealt with for two years.

Speaking of which, this episode also makes good use of the planet in that train wreck Basics. And while Voyager got a lot of flack for very limited continuity and consequences, this episode makes great use of prior episodes.

It's also told from a different point of view, which is nifty, a bit like TNG's First Contact episode.

Just don't watch the trailer before watching the episode. As almost always with Voyager, the trailers are terribly misleading.