(Originally aired October 13, 1999)

The Doctor's Song

Early in the episode, the Doctor sings Tuvok a jaunty song with the tune of "Ladonna e'immobile" from Verdi's "Rigoletto" and the following lyrics:

"Tuvok, I understand You are a Vulcan man You have just gone without For seven years about Paris, please find a way To load a hypo-spray I will give you the sign Just aim for his behind Hormones are raging Synapses blazing It's all so ve-e-ry Illogical Illogical Ill-o-gic-al"    More Stories Star Trek: Voyager -- Seasons Six and Seven Star Trek: Voyager - 'Dragon's Teeth' TV Review: Star Trek: Voyager - 'Barge of the Dead' TV Review: Star Trek: Voyager - 'Survival Instinct'    Related Links Star Trek UPN Sing along with Luciano Pavarotti belting out

Seven [after kissing the Doctor]: That was a platonic gesture. Don't expect me to pose for you.

Jay Legget -- Phlox
Googy Gress -- the Overlooker
Robert Greenberg -- Devro

"Tinker, Tenor, Doctor, Spy" is a clever, well-crafted episode that deftly balances humor and drama. The opening fantasy sequence, in which the Doctor shines as both tenor and crisis-management specialist, rises to the level of brilliance.

Moreover, the fantastical squabbles among the female officers for the Doctor's attention, along with Seven's memorable pose, introduce an element of passion witnessed all too infrequently among the buttoned-down Voyager crew.

The alien raiders and their Hierarchy make for a skillful evocation of a fear-driven bureaucracy.

Although the Doctor programs his own capacity to fantasize, it seems to be the aliens' intrusive monitoring that pushes his fantasy life out of control. Now that the aliens are gone, will he be able to daydream without harm?

Why is Seven so emphatic that her kiss is platonic?

The Doctor's malfunctioning -- when his fantasy "algorithms are no longer isolated" -- may strike a sad chord of recognition among modern-day software programmers.