The Thaw

Since there are well over 150 episodes of this series, isn't it kind of nice for one of them to be a bit off the path. When people get all ticked off about something tht doesn't follow the same old "us against the aliens" plot, they send out their depth charges. This is far from a perfect episode but it is creative and thought provoking and sort of frightening. And I thought the "Fear" character was a stitch. I mean, you had to hate him. Of course, if you try to apply conventional criticism to this one, you aren't going to be happy. Just be happy that the next installment will probably be what you want.

It's funny, back when this first came out, I disregarded it. I couldn't stand the clown costumes or the behaviour and acting. I remember thinking it was a cheap looking episode made in a quickly designed set in a studio. Well, maybe some of that is still true, but hey, once you overlook that and try the episode out it's actually quite good! Classic sci fi for sure... the Matrix meets a horror show. I felt like our characters took a journey to Hell... a virtual Hell. That plus there was a good use of a "fear" theme throughout the story and how it's sort of symbolic of what we all go through, and how we deal with fear, and overcome it... anyways, this turned out to be a great episode! Funny it took me twenty years to realize it.

The episode is pretty good, I liked it, it reminded me of Tranquility Lane from Fallout and I'm mostly sure they were inspired by all of this to make it, I have no doubt. The acting is very good, and the idea of being trapped by the emotion of fear is something that sounds interesting, and I feel like it could've been explored even further. Now, what I didn't quite get is how it all started in the first place, when fear takes control of everything? Also, there is not more emotions? Or only fear was creted here? But I still think it's worth it.

Even the ending creates a lot of intrigue, it's really well done.

This is worth an 11 just for the sight of Michael McKean hamming it up. A thought-provoking episode that begs the question "If it's possible to keep human minds alive in an artificially created world, isn't it statistically more likely that we're all living in such a world already."

Voyager discovers a planet with virtually all life wiped out except for 3 survivors who have been held in stasis for 19 years.

This is a strong episode that is quite cinematic and features some very good performances.

The story has an excellent premise with interesting themes about the nature of fear. Everything that happens to the characters works within the sci-fi aspect and is quite intriguing. However, certain specifics that involve threats to the lives of the main characters can never fully work in episodic television.

Visually it is one of the best Star Trek episodes. It feels like something out of the Original Series with its basic concepts and vibrant 60s colours. There are minimal space/alien related effects-driven spectacle and lots of creepy carnivalesque imagery. The cinematography is very effective at maximising the weirdness by framing certain shots with all the background characters looking quite threatening behind the Fear Clown. David McKean looks hideous as this character and his performance is excellent.

How scary is it? I guess that is in eye of the beholder. If you suffer from coulrophobia you will probably find it pretty bad, but for me the horror aspect needs to be stronger given the subject matter. There are moments when characters are shown symbolically to be killed via guillotine, but I think it would have been very effective to portray them experience their worst fears and die as a result. Understandably though, it could not be made this way given it's constraint by censorship. Easily the most disturbing moment involves Harry as an old man and also as a baby. The sight of all those actors in evil costumes passing around a real baby (who looks terrified) is very unsettling and I would never have consented to that as a parent.

For me the performances are a mixed bag. MacKean and Robert Picardo have the best exchanges of dialogue by far and Katie Mulgrew is great as always. One of the guest stars slightly overacts and Garrett Wang's limited range shows a bit.