“Year of Hell, Part II” does a pretty good job of wrapping up the two-parter, and hey, if you’re going to use the reset button, may as well make it as literal as possible. Then, in “Random Thoughts”, Torres punches a guy.
Trekabout Episode 284: Year of Hell, Part II/Random Thoughts
Cliffy
-I can’t get over the reset button at the end of Year of Hell. Normally I’m ok with that sort of thing, but erasing the whole adventure like a reused VHS tape is just too much. This is especially true as VOY’s forgetfulness is an annoying facet of the Taylor-led show that’s always in the back of one’s mind but which you (or at least I) can usually ignore in light of what’s good. But here they’re just rubbing our noses in it. In that light, I’m very glad they kept it to two episodes — erasing a four-episode arc would be twice as bad.
Re: Janeway, I think her bullishness developed over time because of inconsistency, and I agree it’s never clear to what extent the show engages with this critically (and asks how this attitude affects her ship differently than other captains’ would). There are a couple exceptions to come (one of which isn’t too far away now).
Eric Brasure
-I don’t think the show engages critically with it, but I’ll be curious to see if my memory is faulty.
Anon
-I LOVE your podcast! I found you originally through your “appearance” on The Pensky Podcast and have been devouring your back catalog ever since I found you guys.
Have you listened to that podcast recently? He’s made some concerning off-handed remarks recently about race and diversity and has (not coincidentally) been praising Sam Harris a lot recently. I presume you don’t agree with his views. Are you still planning on doing his podcast again? Sorry to put you on the spot. I was just curious about your takes.
Keep up the great work!
Eric Brasure
-Hey there! We’re glad you found our show. Because of personal and work commitments we don’t have any plans to appear on the Pensky Podcast. Keep enjoying Trekabout! š
mchan
-I’ve always found Year of Hell’s end to be a mystery. I think it was cued by reading the Memory Alpha piece, but Menosky’s comment later on in that article about a fan letter implying that Janeway and Annorax were indeed changed at the end of the episode has been curious. Since both episodes are written by the same team, it’s difficult to ascribe the usual carelessness with particularly Janeway’s character that stands out, unless Braga and Menosky were super super careless with both halves of the crossover. But upon rewatchings I’m choosing to believe that was intentional (though it doesn’t explain Janeway’s initial brash reaction to the Krenim). It doesn’t obviate the frustration over the reset button, but I can make a little more peace with it as a whole.
I’d have been open to this as a multi-episode arc, but I think that imagining it this way really points to the ways in which Voyager has played with continuity and “succeeded” (loosely, in The Gift) and failed (how long does it take between “Deadlock” (49548.7) and “Innocence” (49578.2) in actual time? And the ship is back to pristine condition?). It’s clear, as you guys have discussed in previous episodes, how uninvested Voyager is in anything but a sort of status quo television in the context of what the TV lineup was in 1997, and that laziness, more than the reset button, is what really makes these episodes fall flat.
As a side note, despite my complaints, I would have liked to see Jennifer Lien guest star here, like Denise Crosby in Yesterday’s Enterprise. I think the proximity to The Gift is too close for them to have considered it, but seeing departed characters return is part of the fun of these timey-wimey episodes.
Eric Brasure
-Good points! I too would have liked to have Kes appear in these episodes, but I suppose they were trying to get away from that era of the show.