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Tom Paris tries to break the transwarp “Threshold” but it ends in disaster. Then in “Meld”, Tuvok tries to help a sociopath and it ends in disaster. Plus! Always good to see Brad Dourif.
Trekabout Episode 253: Threshold/Meld
Christopher Rollins
-First off, happy 4th of July, guys! Second, i just found SFDebris’ old blog with a Janeway character bio and text review of Caretaker if you’re interested. Word of caution: both are pretty old (reposted 2013-2014) and there may be some spoilers for later in the series, so don’t let Richard read too much.
Eric Brasure
-Sure! I’ll take a look.
Lev
-Pretty mindbending to have one of the worst-ever episodes of a series followed by one of the best. (Sorry, Threshold doesn’t reach Spock’s Brain levels of transcendent insanity. It’s just kind of a slog, though there are certainly less watchable episodes of Voyager than Threshold.)
Re: Eric’s issues with Tuvok’s motivation: what I like about Meld is that it’s not actually an episode about a sociopathic killer. Suder is definitely that but he’s really the instigator of the plot, nothing more. What the episode really is about is Tuvok’s obsession with understanding illogical mindsets, and the insane lengths he’ll go to in order to try to figure it out. It’s the first Voyager episode I think is actually a classic (though State Of Flux is quite well constructed) because I feel like this is a character story that nails it and wouldn’t work for the other series. It wouldn’t even work for Spock, who seemed pretty bemused by the illogic of humans overall. It’s sort of a warning about trying to find The Answers when, ultimately, there aren’t any satisfying answers to be found. Then again, obsession is one of my favorite themes to see in stories, so YMMV.
Eric Brasure
-I’ve heard so many people say that they think “Meld” is a classic, which is weird, because I don’t see it, although it is quite good.
John Wielgosz
-‘Threshold’ actually prompted myself to write an email to the Voyager producers. I kept it polite but snarkier than I would if I were writing it today. I actually received a reply along the lines of “Sometimes we reach for stuff that doesn’t make it.” Wish I still had my copy of it.
Eric Brasure
-Hahaha, that’s awesome. 🙂