Body and Soul

There has always been a character in every Star Trek series that is restrained emotionally and therefore somewhat limiting to the actor who plays him or her: Spock, Data, Tuvok, Seven of Nine. Thankfully the writers find ways to occasionally set the actor free with plot devices such as emotion chips for Data, viruses that overcome Vulcan logic or in this case, a body switch between the Doctor and Seven.

Jeri Ryan has always done a fantastic job with the Seven character and in this episode where she plays the Doctor, her acting skills are even more on display. She plays the Doctor's mannerisms and voice inflections to perfection and it's great fun. The Doctor is running amok in his human/Borg body and stirring up all kinds of trouble while saving the day in his haphazard way.

Loved this episode and I hope Seven/Jeri gets more chances to break out of her Borg shell.

When the show begins, a shuttle with Seven, Harry and the Doctor is set upon by an alien species. It seems that these folks HATE holograms and detected the Doctor's presence on the ship. However, due to some quick thinking, Seven sticks the Doctor in a file within her Borg implants. This way, they can save him. Despite not finding the holo man, these folks take Harry and Seven prisoner. But with the Doctor inside, often Seven behaves a lot like him--and Jeri Ryan did a great job impersonating his manner. It's a bit confusing when the Captain of this ship, a guy, falls for Seven. And, a bit later, the Doctor finds himself falling for one of these aliens. All in all, very confusing but funny--and a great chance to see that Ms. Ryan really can act. Well worth seeing for this as well as Captain Janeway's unusual style of diplomacy in this particular show. A real treat.

This is an episode that brings in a sense of humor. When Kim, Seven, and the Doc find themselves grabbed by a crew that hates holograms (photonics), they are put in the brig. The Doc, to keep from being discovered, becomes part of Seven. Their talents get them an active role on the ship, treating casualties and illnesses. There are some comic moments when the beautiful Seven exhibits the Doc's overbearing personality. The Captain of the ship begins to put moves on him/her. They play it well and it is quite entertaining.

Seven of Nine: And the massage you got from Lieutenant Jaryn?

The Doctor: Entirely therapeutic!

Seven of Nine: You became sexually aroused in my body!

Ha! The best line of the series!

Ever notice that the non humans have the best role.

Seven Doc Data T'Pol K-2SO ok he was from Rogue One but you get the point.

As if we needed another reason to love Seven of Nine and the actress playing her. Fantastic performance by Jeri, stole the show, and showed you what she was capable of as an actor.

The addition of Seven as a character provided the writers with fertile ground for new stories. I don't blame the other actors for resenting Jeri/Seven. I wish the writers focused on the other characters as much as they focused on Seven (and on the Doc), Voyager would have been a more balanced show toward its characters. I love them all, by the way, and I love the show--to me it's like comfort food.

A few episodes before this, Seven was given another chance to shine, it was the episode in which she thought she was going to die.