Voyager Flashback: Natural Law

In my last few reviews of Star Trek: Voyager episodes, I noted that the series seemed to be making moves toward its impending finale. But now comes "Natural Law" -- a decent installment, but one that feels like "just another another episode."

Chakotay and Seven of Nine crash-land on a planet populated by a primitive alien race, and an energy shield prevents their rescue. They must struggle to interact with these aliens without doing irreparable damage to their society. Meanwhile, Tom Paris has received a citation for his piloting, and is forced into remedial classes as Voyager remains in the area to work on the away team's recovery.

You might have supposed that this episode would push us closer to the series finale by forcing Chakotay and Seven of Nine together in a situation that might create romantic sparks. But no reference is made at all to Seven's recent holodeck experimentations, nor does anything hint at where we'll find these two in just a few more episodes: mid-relationship.

Instead, a lot of this episode feels like typical Voyager character regression: ignoring the experiences and growth they've had over the years to instead use them as though they'd only recently been "removed from the package." For Seven, this is yet another episode to learn that people can be worthy and distinct whether they have something technological to offer or not -- an only slightly different take on a lesson she's really learned many times over. For Chakotay.... well, I'm not quite sure what his arc is here. He starts out emphatically against interacting with the aliens in any way, and then seems to take an "in for a penny, in for a pound" position: once the aliens have spotted them, he's all in for living among them and seemingly unconcerned about any cultural contamination.

But even though this story line features a lot of "been there, done that" (and "huh?"), it's still a story line that fundamentally works. If you set aside whether Seven should have already learned this lesson, the lesson she learns here is pretty compelling. The aliens themselves are more interesting too, using sign language instead of spoken word to communicate. Even the trappings of the environment feel more clever than usual; for example, instead of rubbing sticks together to start a fire, one of the natives squeezes some sort of combustible juice from a local plant.

What also works really well is the realization that the energy shield protecting these aliens was actually put in place by other aliens, who basically share Federation ideals that cultures like this should not be interfered with. The episode makes enough time for a colonization parable; when the shield comes down, interlopers are there immediately to harvest resources and threaten the locals. Our heroes must restore the status quo. (And wisely, the episode doesn't do anything crass to call attention to Chakotay specifically being in this story, and any "ancient Earth history" involving his ancestors. He's simply present in the story, working to restore balance.)

Then there's the comedic B-plot of the episode, which is really quite fun. It's great seeing Tom Paris have to swallow his pride and go to "traffic school," with an officious instructor who's having none of it. (The instructor even hurls insults at Paris' beloved Delta Flyer.) Not only are Robert Duncan McNeill and guest star Neil C. Vipond an effective comedic duo, but the subplot pays off in the end with actual relevance in the main story, as Tom Paris must blow off his lessons to hot rod in and save the day.

Other observations:

• When Seven of Nine first materializes on the planet, she suddenly has a sort of pouch/pocket on her trademark catsuit where she can store her tricorder. It's kind of hilarious.

• Given whatever futuristic material a communicator badge must be made out of, these aliens must be really strong to smash one with a rock. (Or maybe it's just one hell of a rock.)

• I know that the fact the aliens can treat Chakotay's wound with local plants is supposed to show us that knowledge and technology aren't the same thing. But it's a hell of a leap that aliens this primitive would have much medical knowledge that transcends superstition, and especially that any knowledge they have would work on an alien.

• Seven loses her tricorder and then becomes lost, wandering in circles. You'd think her Borg implants would help prevent that sort of loss of direction.

If this story were coming earlier in Seven of Nine's time on the show -- if we didn't feel like we were already past this -- I think this would be a much stronger episode. But it's still decent, with a light subplot that really works. I give "Natural Law" a B.