Repression

This episode could have been interesting and exciting if the plot had at least been plausible. But why a Bajoran would send a subliminal message to Tuvok, who is traveling 35,000 light-years away from home, so that he can then start a Maquis uprising on Voyager simply makes no sense. What would he gain if Voyager came under Maquis control? Given the distance it still has to travel to get home, he would have to assume that the ship will still need decades.

In addition, some viewers don't seem to have fully understood who Teero actually made into a "Bajoriun candidate", so to speak. He didn't brainwash all members of the Maquis, just Tuvok. Using his special psychic abilities, Tuvok then transmitted his own manipulated thoughts through the attacks on the Maquis members of the crew using mind meld.

What's particularly bad about this episode is that you're left completely in the dark about what actually happened afterwards when all the Maquis members were in control of their own senses again. Janeway does not warn Starfleet about Teero - after all, more such messages could be sent - nor do there appear to have been any consequences for any crew member. From one minute to the next, Chakotay, for example, became the ringleader of a ship-wide rebellion. But in the end everything is forgotten and Janeway trusts him as her number one again. Anyone who can be so easily manipulated into falling back into the old Maquis traditions seems to have never really given up on their criminal past. As soon as the attacks on the Maquis members started, distrust was seen growing not only among Chakotay but also among the other Maquis members and Chakotay himself spoke of the Starfleet crew members of "Janeway's crew". Apparently most Maquis crew members have not really internalized the fact that they are now all serving on a Starfleet ship and are just one crew.

And please, dear science fiction authors: stop constantly including late 20th century and early 21st century references in your stories that take place hundreds of years in the future. I understand that as a viewer of today you build up a kind of emotional bond with the characters. But it is unrealistic and ridiculous. That would basically be like someone working on 17th century horse carriages in their garage and then driving them through a city of today - but in tails and frills, just like back then. And imagine if holodeck technology existed today and the first thing someone would program was an authentic 17th century theater. And then he would invite friends and colleagues to an authentic theater performance of that time, including food and drink of that era. Ridiculous. These references to the here and now are also constantly present in The Orville - from Kermit the Frog to Dolly Parton. Or does anyone remember Demolition Man with Stallone and Bullock?

Repression starts quite promisingly. We have an enjoyable scene in the holodeck that sets up for a bit of mystery and intrigue. Then the plot twists in a good way before it goes downhill, and events unfold in a series of implausible situations.

I can imagine the writers scratching their heads for ideas and then: 'Eureka! Let's do a sort of Sherlock Holmes meets The Manchurian Candidate tribute.' 'Cool, what happens?' 'Ah, details, details, we'll figure that out later.'

The actors do a good job considering their characters are being used to unnecessarily resurrect the Marquis story. It might have worked with suspense or excitement in the closing scenes, but it all resolves itself in a pretty uninteresting way.

So many plot holes. Such a ridiculous premise. This two bit Manchurian Candidate plot goes nowhere. When we FINALLY get to the climax, most people would already be asleep. The old Maquis rebellion rears its head. Of course, Tuvok using only Vulcan evidence to solve a murder mystery (where no one has been murdered) is kind of interesting. I can't think of anything to say. Just awful.