The crew of the USS Voyager find themselves trapped in the delta quadrant.
This is an enjoyable start to the show that sets the scene well.
'The Caretaker' uses its extended running time to introduce characters, send them on an adventure, explore themes and set the premise for the show. All of this it does competently.
Captain Janeway has a strong introduction from Katie Mulgrew, who nails an imposing Katherine Hepburn persona. She looks and sounds the part of a dependable commanding officer and has the charisma to lead the show.
All the Marquis characters are written cleverly into the ensemble, with Roxann Dawson standing out for me as the fiery Klingon B'Lanna Torres. Likewise Neelix and Kes are nicely worked into the setup.
Robert Picardo makes a good first impression as someone who will entertain on a regular basis from the inspired concept of his emergency holographic doctor.
As with many first episodes of TV shows, some of the exposition dumps feel quite forced to introduce characters and situations. None more so than Tom Paris. Robert Duncan McNeill does his best with dialogue that feels quite manufactured, and, for me, depicts a character merely trying to sound like badass.
What happens is mostly very good. There is plenty of excitement, drama and intrigue. Although when the big mystery the is revealed it comes from a fairly standard scene of verbal explanation. That being said it tackles some interesting subjects like playing God and the welfare state in typical Star Trek fashion. What the writers were thinking with the hillbilly scenes though, escapes me!
Visually it showcases great spectacle, particularly the space sequences and includes strong art design such as the planet's subterranean complex.
For me it is a 7.5/10 but I round upwards.
This is an enjoyable start to the show that sets the scene well.
'The Caretaker' uses its extended running time to introduce characters, send them on an adventure, explore themes and set the premise for the show. All of this it does competently.
Captain Janeway has a strong introduction from Katie Mulgrew, who nails an imposing Katherine Hepburn persona. She looks and sounds the part of a dependable commanding officer and has the charisma to lead the show.
All the Marquis characters are written cleverly into the ensemble, with Roxann Dawson standing out for me as the fiery Klingon B'Lanna Torres. Likewise Neelix and Kes are nicely worked into the setup.
Robert Picardo makes a good first impression as someone who will entertain on a regular basis from the inspired concept of his emergency holographic doctor.
As with many first episodes of TV shows, some of the exposition dumps feel quite forced to introduce characters and situations. None more so than Tom Paris. Robert Duncan McNeill does his best with dialogue that feels quite manufactured, and, for me, depicts a character merely trying to sound like badass.
What happens is mostly very good. There is plenty of excitement, drama and intrigue. Although when the big mystery the is revealed it comes from a fairly standard scene of verbal explanation. That being said it tackles some interesting subjects like playing God and the welfare state in typical Star Trek fashion. What the writers were thinking with the hillbilly scenes though, escapes me!
Visually it showcases great spectacle, particularly the space sequences and includes strong art design such as the planet's subterranean complex.
For me it is a 7.5/10 but I round upwards.