After an away team mission, the crew experiences terrible memories of combat.
| That Wacky Starfleet |
| HARRY: Why couldn't they just do what they were told?NEELIX: We had no right to be there!HARRY: It was for their own good. |
CHAKOTAY: We killed 82 civilians that night. No one was left alive. |
JANEWAY: The obelisk at Khitomer. The fields at Gettysburg. Those wereother people's memories too, but we don't honor them any less. |
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(Originally aired February 2, 2000)
Teleplay by Robin Burger
Story by Brannon Braga
Directed by Allan Kroeker
WHAT HAPPENED
Chakotay, Harry, Neelix and Tom return by shuttle from an away mission. Harry is irritable. All are tired -- they've visited 15 planets in 14 days -- but their mission was a success: The shuttle's cargo hold is filled with dilithium ore.
Aboard Voyager, B'Elanna has a surprise for Tom -- a 1950s-vintage television set, assembled from replicated parts. Moreover, she's gotten appropriate content from the archives. They sit down to watch. He is engrossed by old movies, cartoons and more.
B'Elanna thinks commercials were called "jingles." He hardly listens to her, and she dozes off.... (more spoilers)
ANALYSIS
Despite an imaginative premise, "Memorial" turns out to be, ironically enough, a forgettable episode. The idea of a highly "interactive" monument is interesting, but the content of the interaction fails to inspire.
We never see enough of the alien soldiers or colonists to be much affected by their situation. The discussions of atrocity and remembrance evoke subjects more weighty than the episode can bear.
Amid the hysteria and despair aboard Voyager, one can be thankful that Seven, Tuvok and the Doctor retain their aplomb. And B'Elanna's imperfect understanding of mid-20th century culture adds some needed levity.
WHAT WE LEARN
The psychological stability of the crew can be undermined more readily than even a disgruntled viewer might have supposed.
DANGLING PLOT THREADS
Will the memories continue to affect the behavior of the crew?
Whatever happened to the civilization that built the monument?
REALITY CHECK
The neurochemistry of post-traumatic stress disorder is not fully understood, but elevated levels of norepinephrine have been correlated with the condition in real life, as well as on the show.
TUNE IN NEXT WEEK ...
That's right, the time has come! Seven of Nine fights wrestlers in "Tsunkatse". Don't believe it? Check out this UPN trailer, which originally appeared on the Mr. Video Productions site.
What do you think? Send comments to the reviewer or editor.
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