Voyager encounters a Klingon ship that's been traveling space for generations in search of a fabled Messiah who is said will lead them to a new land. The captain, Kohlar, seems to be a fanatic who identifies B'Elanna Torres' unborn daughter as that Messiah. But to Janeway, he reveals that he's simply a weary leader seizing on an opportunity to end his people's hardship. But there's much more to the story. The Klingons have hidden an important and dangerous secret from the Voyager crew, and there may actually be some truth in their ancestors' prophecy.
Larry Nemecek became one of Star Trek's more noted fans when he published multiple reference books on the original series. He was given the chance to attend a story pitch meeting for Star Trek: Voyager before the pilot, "The Caretaker," had even aired. One of his ideas involved Voyager encountering a generational Klingon ship far from home in the Delta Quadrant. That idea was bought... but shelved for over six years, when it was surprisingly revived for this final season episode.
In tweaking the story to fit the show Voyager had become by its seventh season, four writers would ultimately share story credit, and two others script credit. That sort of soup of writers is often the hallmark of an uneven, Frankensteined episode of television, but "Prophecy" bucks the trend. Still, it is perhaps a bit overstuffed: these Klingons from an "at war with the Federation" era get over that prejudice quite quickly, no one ever talks about the Klingons maybe being here to stay (and say, integrating with the crew as the Maquis did).
And yet, what is packed in here is pretty fun. I've never been the biggest fan of Klingons on Star Trek, but absence on Voyager has indeed made the heart grow fonder. Captain Kohlar coaching B'Elanna in the ways of Klingon braggadocio is amusing, seeing Tom Paris thrown into a classic Klingon duel (mostly; it's non-lethal) is a blast, and the element of spirituality woven throughout ultimately feels "just right." We get to see an old-style Klingon ship, and a big phaser shoot-out on the bridge. What's not to like!
There are a few good laugh lines spread to other main characters. Tuvok dryly speaks of the "significant security threat" of 200 Klingons. Neelix bellows a Klingon drinking song (originally established on Deep Space Nine, I believe). Janeway has to warn the Doctor to step back and let an unborn child take credit for his work.
Some more serious moments land well too. B'Elanna is really shown the good aspects of her Klingon heritage, and is truly moved by the bat'leth she receives as a gift in the end. Roxann Dawson is particularly good in the scene where her character half-remembers a traditional prayer for her grandmother.
But there are a few subplots here I don't love. It's a terrible episode for Harry Kim, who spends all his time running from an amorous Klingon, before being stupid enough to show a different Klingon exactly how to use the transporter (so they can then try to take over the ship). The "odd couple" relationship of Tuvok and Neelix wears thin when Neelix crashes Tuvok's quarters and then destroys it in a wild sex-capade. (You can't put a sock on a doorknob if there is no doorknob.)
Other observations:
- Actor Sherman Howard has popped up before on The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine. This time, he's well covered up in Klingon makeup.
- Neelix has (I think) a new outfit in this episode. Or if it isn't new, its upholstery-like qualities caught my eye in a way they never did before.
"Prophecy" is a nice blend of Star Trek lore with character-based story. I give it a B+.
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