Well, this episode is of course good. Like almost all Shmullus episodes. It's of course funny. But there's also a serious core behind the story: excessive fandom and what it does to fans and celebrities. It's a perfect episode for our pompous, attention craving Doctor. (Seven's red alert moment is hilarious too). And of course it's again about the aspirations of the Doctor. He explores another option to become more than just a hologram and again tries to escape the lack of appreciation he always felt from the crew. Which brings up another question: can he just pursue his own life as an individual or is he an asset of Star Fleet? Though I don't really understand why the aliens don't see him as what he is: a glorified tape recorder. I mean, he's a technological masterpiece and perhaps a true self-conscience AI, but as far as singing goes, he's certainly not a better singer than any other hologram of a professional opera singer.
It's a funny look at fandom, something we Star Trek fans know well. The Doctor always had a tendency to, how did B'Elanna put it, arrogance and self-absorption. And quite frankly he became really annoying here. Which was the intention of course. The episode ran along those lines and I was beginning to get bored when we reached an essential part. The moment the Doctor wanted to resign we were back at the point of the Doctor's status. Has he that right or is he property of Starfleet and thus hasn't. Sounds familiar ? It should, we once were at that point with Data.
While I understand, and in a way am glad, they didn't do a remake of "Measure of a Man" from TNG, I think the whole issue was not satisfactoy resolved. But in the end it is a good character building story as the Doctor comes to realise that he's more appreciated on Voyager than he thinks.
Funny how this whole think also reminds me of all those casting shows and competitions we have for years now. Which back than probably wasn't a point they wanted to make. But it is true, your fame holds only as long as the next one comes along.
Voyager doesn't seem to have in its DNA the ability to consistently make impactful episodes concerning contact with new alien species, but this is Voyager doing what it does best, and doing it well. It's all about the Doctor in this one, it has a decent amount of humor, and it works very well, and the dramatic beats almost all work. The relationship between the Doctor and his "girlfriend" needed more time to breathe, so it really doesn't count as a proper romance for the character, unfortunately, but the character drama works well in the other capacities, mainly with Janeway and Seven. Not perfect, and not a TNG-level treatment of the type of plot, but Picardo is great, and so is his character.
Shout by AnonymousseBlockedParent2022-11-28T16:29:13Z
Such a cute ending, the writers really know how to use interpersonal relationships.