Interstellar con artists impersonate
Voyager officers to bilk hard-working aliens out of their property.
(originally aired April 19, 2000)
Directed by LeVar Burton
Teleplay by Robin Burger
ADDITIONAL CREDITS
Kaitlin Hopkins - Dala
Greg Daniel - Mobar
Francis Guinan - Zar
Dennis Cockrum - Orek
Ted Rooney - Varn
WHAT HAPPENED
An alien city. It's Telcius, a mining
colony. Aliens with bald, ridged heads are awaiting visitors, who promptly
beam in. The visitors are a man and woman dressed in Starfleet uniforms;
they introduce themselves as Janeway
and Tuvok
-- but, despite a vague resemblance, that's not who they are. (more spoilers)
ANALYSIS
"Live Fast and Prosper" is a clever,
fast-paced episode that adeptly mixes action and wit. There is considerable
entertainment to be had watching Janeway and Tuvok interact with their
con-artist counterparts, as well as in observing the psychological dynamics
among the crooks themselves.
Tom
and Neelix
react to the situation in an intriguing way; they are upset not only at
having been duped, but at the apparent waning of their own skills at con
artistry. Their subsequent trickery against the Doctor
raises the question of how far these two might go to restore their self-esteem.
WHAT WE LEARN
The arts of deception are useful and
prized aboard Voyager.
DANGLING PLOT THREAD
Has Tuvok gotten over his anger at
those who tamper
with his favorite holodeck programs?
REALITY CHECK
The con artists claim (falsely) that
they will deliver "bolomite" to the miners. Bolomite apparently is a real
substance in the Star Trek universe, but it doesn't exist in ours.
TUNE IN NEXT WEEK
Nothing can prepare the crew for the
loss of two of their own when an alien fan starts writing interactive fiction
about B'Elanna
Torres in "Muse".
What do you think? Send your comments
to the critic or editor.
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