Projections

An excellent episode which raised all sorts of of questions about what is reality. The doctor's thought processes in trying to establish what reality he is part of, resemble the stages in Descartes' arguments to prove whether or not he existed (as a basis for knowledge) in his 'Discourse on the Method' which ended with his famous conclusion 'I think therefore I am'!! As well as being a very thoughtful episode, there are touching moments with Kes, making it a thoroughly enjoyable piece of television!

While the concept of this episode is intriguing, the layers of reality when it comes to holographic technology were quite confusing. As a matter of fact, I assume that Kes walking away at the end, added another layer of confusion which we though had been solved. It was interesting to see Mr. Barclay (Broccoli from STNG) show up. I'm pleased to see the Doctor becoming more and more significant in this series.

This episode is like the movie Inception or the Matrix. Multiple layers of reality inside a holographic projection. As a viewer you ask yourself which version of reality is the real one and which is another illusion inside a holo projection. It feels like being trapped in a dream not knowing that you are dreaming.

And we meet Barclay again. He tries to convince the doctor that he is a real person inside a holographic program that is trapped inside the program because of an accident. The only way to leave the simulation is to end it as it was programmed to end: Either by returning Voyager home or by destroying it. The doctor gets dragged deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole. He tries to figure out what and who is real and what is just an illusion. But how can you prove an illusion inside an illusion? Every action while being inside a holo program is just interacting with the hologram itself.

This episode is tense until the end. And just like you think, the doctor has made it, he is just fooled by the program again.

The Doctor appears to find the ship abandoned.

This is a strong episode with enjoyable performances.

The plot is elaborately written and obviously meticulously thought out, but you never think for a second it's going to to do anything but press the reset button at the conclusion. Plus the concepts of life and reality are quite familiar from episodes of The Next Generation.

For me the main reason to watch is the Doctor's fun journey back to reality, which has some clever twists and as it unfolds the tension increases. One scene that returns to the events of an early episode is particularly good.

The entertainment provided by pairing Robert Picardo with Dwight Schultz gives an added edge, as the charisma levels are off the charts.

Visually it is very good, which helps the storytelling and the various reveals when they happen.

Given that the Voyager are in the Delta squadron with all new aliens and stories. The producers decided to hark back to those glitz in the holodeck stories. They even have Dwight Schultz as Lieutenant Reginald Barclay.

The HoloDoc finds himself alone in Voyager seemingly abandoned after an attack by the Kazons.

Reginald Barclay appears and tells him that he is Doctor Lewis Zimmerman, the person who invented the Emergency Medical Hologram programme. There is a malfunction with the other crew members who now appear to be holograms.

The only way out is to destroy the ship. Something the HoloDoc is reluctant to do.

Directed by Jonathan Frakes, it does not always live up to its promise. It could had been better if the Kazons were using a hologram of Barclay for sinister purposes.

At least it was fun as the HoloDoc goes back the events of the very first episode and a realisation of the inner workings of a character who is just supposed to be beam of lights.