Caretaker

With Deep Space Nine established. The Next Generation coming to an end and about to hit the big cinema screens.

Star Trek bosses needed another replacement show. This time with a female captain and a ship's crew that were at odds with each other.

Voyager was the answer and it would be set in a different part of the galaxy.

A Maquis ship hits a strange wave and disappears inside a plasma storm in the Badlands. The Starship Voyager led by Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) leads the search. Inside the Maquis ship was a Federation undercover agent.

However they too are whisked away by the strange wave. Stranded in the Delta Quadrant, over 70 light years from home. Captain Janeway has to unite with Maquis captain, Chakotay (Robert Beltran) to find out just who this mysterious caretaker is. Why has he brought them here and can he send them back home?

Although different and for the time with some cutting CGI. The first half of Caretaker is intriguing and involving. The second half is pretty standard fare as the crew have to deal with the Kazon.

There is enough here to make Voyager watchable but also signs that this version of Star Trek is not going to be as radical as promised. There was something bland about it all and this was not a strong pilot episode.

As a pilot, Caretaker works reasonably well. Each new character is introduced adequately and also familar settings and characters are thrown in to support the plot.

Introducing the Kazon's was always going to be a bad move. However, the Neelix/Kes relationship was strong from the very start, and Mulgrew convinces as a new captain.

As he does throughout the series, the Doctor provided the humour elements which have become a trademark of ST: Voyager over the years. Its a shame Chakotay had to replace the demised 1st officer as he looked just right for the part.

Caretaker does not however grip you like the pilots for the other three Trek series', and although I think as a whole ST: Voyager outshines the lot of them put together, this TV movie demonstrates how they had to scrape away the mud before reaching the gold.

January 1995 Star Trek Voyager the first of the series with a Female Captain in the lead role. The anticipation for all Trek fans was incredible and Kate Mulgrew did extremely well and even excelled in the role of Captain Kathryn Janeway.

The first episode Caretaker set the series on it's path of a long, but very exciting Voyage home!

Voyager's pilot episode is just as great and gripping as The Next Generation's pilot Encounter at Farpoint, but the Caretaker earns an extra brownie point because it establishes each character's basic traits clearly to the viewers. When all the principal characters' crossed paths at the Ocampan underground tunnel, you really feel that the show is really off to a great start on creating an ensemble show (well until Seven of Nine comes in halfway in season four, then the show becomes a rather one-sided affair). Bon Voyage, it has been a great seven seasons and all of its characters will be sorely missed.

After watching this episode of Star Trek Voyager I knew that this series of Star Trek would be one of the best. In this episode (the pilot) all the main characters are introduced. Kate Mulgrew plays a convincing role as Captain Janeway who is generally nice but when it is needed, which it mostly is, Janeway can also be a real bad-ass! The other characters have their good points and their bad points, Chekotay has his general knowledge of the outdoors and how to get in touch with his spirit guide. Tom Paris has his knowledge of 20th century history and Harry Kim has the knowledge of music (what good that will do on a star ship 75,000 lightyears from home we dont know). Tuvok being a vulcan the most knowledgeable species of them all has knowledge of well everything, constantly offering the logical way out to the rest off his crew. B'Ellana has knowledge of enginnering and is able to always have good suggestions on how to keep the ship in ship shape!! The Doctor or EMH has knowledge of medicine and how to treat anything from a stubbed toe or acute stomach pain from Mr Neelix's cooking! (One of the many jokes from Voyager's EMH). Neelix has knowledge of cooking and how to make lettuce in to a decent meal. Kes well she knows a bit of everything and is always willing to learn! Lets not forget the computer voice who has been with the Voyager crew through thick and thin always willing to answer their questions no matter how stupid or annoying they can be. So basically watch this series its full of fun and enjoyment!