Of all the episodes prior to this one in the first two seasons, this is the closest to classic Star Wars that Voyager comes in visual style, story elements, and emotional heft. The guest performance by Joel Grey as the broken and deluded Caylem is an unforgettable gem, and Kate rises expertly to the occasion presented by the script and Grey's beautiful work. In fact, the entire cast elevates their game; Tim Russ and Roxann Dawson share an excellent scene as prisoners, and Robert Beltran steps gamely into the captain's chair aboard Voyager. Alan Scarfe is also excellent in his guest role as Augris, the Mokra bossman. (Neelix, the Doctor, and Kes are all gratefully set aside for an episode.) Winriche Kolbe's direction is superbly cinematic. It's a beauty of an episode and for me a perfect 10/10, even though it contains none of the philosophy 101 fun of so many other episodes. It's a simple tale that feels like it takes place a long time ago, in a galaxy far far away.