Changes: Persistence of Vision (episode)

Revision as of 23:26, 18 January 2007

Voyager crew members experience disturbing and violent hallucinations.

Summary

A very stressed Captain Janeway is ordered to take some time off in a holodeck by The Doctor. While she's there running Janeway Lambda one, the plot diverges from the original story, and Lord Burleigh professes his undying love for her.

Back on the bridge, a Botha vessel is approaching. Janeway is called to the bridge, where Neelix explains that the Botha are not very welcoming to visitors. The alien ship hails them, and they are confronted by a figure obscured by bright light. He demands to know their intentions, what types of weapons they have and their defensive capabilities. Tuvok interrupts the conversation with a warning that two cloaked ships have been detected flanking Voyager. The vessels de-cloak and start firing on Voyager.

In sickbay, the Captain tells the Doctor that she's been seeing images from the holodeck around the ship, mostly of the little girl from her holonovel. While she's there, she experiences another hallucination, but this time Kes sees it too; the little girl appears, but then seems to travel towards and into the Captain.

Ensign Kim notices that the other vessels are being controlled by the lead ship. Voyager's shields are penetrated, and the Botha being orders their surrender. The Captain demands to see who the alien really is, and is confronted by an image of her fiancé, Mark. The other bridge staff, however, are surprised to see close relatives instead. Tuvok sees his wife (T'Pel), Tom Paris sees his father. Tuvok becomes unresponsive and carried away by his hallucination, and very soon everyone on the bridge is affected, including the Captain.

Lieutenant Torres is in Engineering, attempting to discover the cause of the hallucinations. Her theory involves creating a symmetric warp field to block the effects. However, she is carried away by a hallucination concerning her hidden affection for Lieutenant Commander Chakotay before she manages to finish the work.

Soon, everyone on the ship is catatonic, apart from Kes and the Doctor. They decide to attempt to finish Torres' work. Kes heads to Engineering, and is almost diverted by a hallucination of Tom Paris with heavy plasma burns. However, she focuses on the job, and continues on her way.

In Engineering, she manages to communicate with the Doctor, and they attempt to create the warp field. However, a hallucination of Neelix arrives, and tries to stop her, first with reasoning, then with painful hallucinations about her face blistering and burning. The Doctor tells her to concentrate, and look at Neelix to send the hallucination back to him. This works, and the fake Neelix falls to the ground in agony, and reverts back to his real form (the Botha alien).

Kes is successful in establishing the warp field, and everyone is woken from their catatonic state. The Botha recovers, but then vanishes, along with the other ships, leaving the crew wondering if he was ever with them or not.

Log Entries

Captain's log, supplemental. We have no explanation for the mysterious disappearance of the telepathic alien. We can't even be certain that he was actually here. He seems to have left us with any number of unanswered questions.

Background Information

According to the IMDb, MTV's Lisa "Kennedy" Montgomery was an extra in this episode.

The Botha alien used a Kazon ship as one of his illusionary vessels.

Lindsey Haun, who played Beatrice Burleigh in this episode and "Learning Curve," would later play Belle in "Real Life."

"Persistence of Vision" was the working title for the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season two episode "Shadowplay".

This is the only episode of the series to address B'Elanna's attraction to Chakotay, however the issue was raised in the novel Pathways by Jeri Taylor who also wrote this episode.

Links and References

Guest Stars

Co-Stars

Majel Barrett as Computer Voice
Steve Carnahan as William McKenzie (uncredited)
Tarik Ergin as Ayala (uncredited)

References

Ashmore (male), biogenic field, Botha, Bothans, coffee ice cream, cucumber sandwich, Janeway Lambda one, Davenport, Lucie, Engineering, Lieutenant Hargrove, holonovel, holo-projector, Mark Johnson, Kazon, Libby, magnetic plasma constriction, Mithren, Molly, Mozart, murt cake, niccel strips, piano, psionic field, Seltin pâté, Seltin wood fungus, Starfleet's interactive database, telepathy, vegetable bouillon, Vulcan, Vulcan lute, wood throk

Previous episode:
Parturition

Star Trek: Voyager
Season 2

Next episode:
Tattoo

@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 ==Summary==
-A very stressed [[Captain]] [[Kathryn Janeway|Janeway]] is ordered to take some time off in a [[holodeck]] by [[The Doctor]].  While she's there, the plot diverges from the original story, and the master of the house announces his undying love for her.
+A very stressed [[Captain]] [[Kathryn Janeway|Janeway]] is ordered to take some time off in a [[holodeck]] by [[The Doctor]].  While she's there running [[Janeway Lambda one]], the plot diverges from the original story, and [[Lord Burleigh]] professes his undying love for her.
 Back on the [[bridge]], a [[Botha]] vessel is approaching.  Janeway is called to the bridge, where [[Neelix]] explains that the Botha are not very welcoming to visitors.  The [[alien]] [[ship]] hails them, and they are confronted by a figure obscured by bright light.  He demands to know their intentions, what types of [[weapon]]s they have and their defensive capabilities.  [[Tuvok]] interrupts the conversation with a warning that two [[cloak]]ed ships have been detected flanking ''Voyager''.  The vessels de-cloak and start firing on ''Voyager''.