The hologram characters of the fictitious town of Fair Haven turn against Voyager's crew. Can the ship's software developers fix the problem?
(Originally aired February 23, 2000)
| She's a Romantic Soul |
MICHAEL: My door is always open. But you're the captain of a starship. I'm a barkeep.JANEWAY: Just because we're from different worlds doesn't mean we can't care for each other. |
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Directed by David Livingston
Written by Bryan Fuller
GUEST STARS
Henriette Ivanans - Maggie
Richard Riehle - Seamus
Fintan McKeown - Michael
Ian Abercrombie - Milo
WHAT HAPPENED
Tom is in a 19th century Irish town. It must be Fair Haven, the holodeck simulation that recently blossomed into romance between Janeway and holographic bartender Michael Sullivan.
Tom's wagon has a broken wheel, delaying his journey to a local castle that may be haunted. He chats with Seamus, a portly local. But after Seamus walks away, he turns to see Tom ordering the computer to instantly fix the wheel. Shocked by this apparent sorcery, Seamus crosses himself. (more spoilers)
ANALYSIS
Much like the original purpose of the Fair Haven simulation, "Spirit Folk" serves as a pleasant but lightweight diversion.
Although it's gratifying to watch Harry kiss a cow, and to see an angry crowd throw nets over him and Tom, the episode offers little in the way of drama or intellectual stimulation. We learn little about the causes, consequences and implications of holograms attaining consciousness, or appearing to do so.
Michael Sullivan, fortunately, turns out to be more quick-witted than his plodding performance in the "Fair Haven" episode led us to believe. His reasoned approach to dealing with the Voyager crew stands in sharp contrast to the occultist hysteria that takes hold among his holographic compatriots.
As the episode closes, Michael and the other Fair Haven holograms have a new understanding of the identity of Voyager's crew. But they have an incomplete understanding of their own identity. Might a further revelation inspire metaphysical angst -- and perhaps a new rampage of unprecedented ferocity?
Or is it possible that these holograms actually know more than they're letting on? Might the Voyager crew itself be laboring under an elaborate deception about the nature of reality?
WHAT WE LEARN
The Doctor's sermons, in his role as Fair Haven's preacher, seem to carry little weight with the locals.
DANGLING PLOT THREADS
We have heard, in two episodes now, about the existence of "fairies." They may even inhabit a castle near Fair Haven. When might these entities make their appearance -- and with what consequences?
REALITY CHECK
Janeway asks Michael if he's read H.G. Wells' The Time Machine, which was published in 1895. Fair Haven's rural tranquility presumably predates that work.
TUNE IN NEXT WEEK
The dead return to walk the corridors of Voyager in "Ashes to Ashes".
What do you think? Send your comments to the
author or editor.
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