The Void

This episode is directly related / based on the story events of the PC game "Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force". The events are for the most part mirrored with the exception of in-depth game details. Great story, and fun to play!

In the episode, Voyager is attacked by a graviton pulse that transports them inside a void area of space where they cannot escape on their own power without an energy dampening field that is constantly draining the ships warp drive resources. They must band together with other, friendly and hostile, forces in order to escape.

Whereas in the game, Voyager is attacked by a probe that, upon destruction by Voyager in efforts simply to defend themselves, it emits a field that transfers Voyager and it's crew to an area of space that has a space station with an energy dampening field that drains ships of their warp energy, preventing their escape. Many other types of ships are in this area, including TOS mirror generation Enterprise ship(s?), Klingons, Borg and 8472.

In the episode, unlike the game, there is no Elite Force tactical squad (aww!!) and no final end boss. ;)

Voyager finds itself stuck within a void from which it cannot escape. What's worse is that soon after arriving, they are set upon by other ships that are also within the void. In other words, to survive the various ships attack and scavenge off each other. Well, Janeway being a galactic goody-goody, she decides the best tactic is to make friends with everyone and she proposes making an alliance so that everyone can help each other. However, this isn't embraced by everyone. Some species are just jerks! And some of the jerks either want to betray their new 'friends', hold back on supplies they are about to share or take pleasure in killing off some native humanoids (frankly, I could understand as these dirty looking musical creatures did seem pretty annoying).

Aside from the Doctor continually mispronouncing 'Fantome' (it was supposed to be French but his pronunciation was WAY off) and the annoying native creatures, this was a decent episode. Modestly entertaining and worth seeing.

Voyager gets trapped in a void of space that is occupied with other ships, all of which are competing for resources.

The ships trapped in the void exist in a state of chaos where everyone is competing for resources. There are two ways of trying to survive: Look after for yourself with a complete disregard for others or try and cooperate to share resources with the aim of a solution for all. This episode is as relevant in today's divided societies as it ever was and makes you feel a bit depressed when you think what option our own leaders would actually take.

There are clashes of viewpoint all over the place and it presents the Captain Janeway character with a moment to shine. Talk about resolute, bloody-minded devotion to principles. It's a high risk attitude and not all agree (some IMDB reviewers to name a few), but you have to admit that even though she might not be the de facto star of the show, particularly when The Doctor and Seven are on form, she is well and truly the star of this episode.

It is a technically well made episode with special effects that keep things pretty exciting and when all is said and done you've got to love a montage.

This episode is a shining beacon of hope on the Olympus of Star Trek morals and values. It shows the very essence of what holds the United Federation of Planets together at its heart. Everything that Picard and Janeway have preached to us for years about a union of equals, built on the foundation of cooperation, participation and the peaceful exchange of ideas, knowledge and technology, finds its ultimate culmination in this episode. Gene Roddenberry's vision of an optimistic future and peaceful coexistence of different peoples - even on a galactic scale - is crowned with this episode. And this episode also impressively shows why Star Trek is, metaphorically speaking, the mighty pen while Star Wars is more of the crude sword (or light saber) type.

Janeway impresses with her unwavering adherence to her convictions and her firm belief in what holds Starfleet and the Federation together at their core. Even in the face of impending death, she does not abandon the path of righteousness and defies even Tuvok's logic and Chakotay's pragmatism. And her actions appear authentic, believable and convincing. While some crew members put their values aside because of the desperate situation, Janeway insists that the values of the Federation - the values of humanity - don't just apply at times when you have the luxury of affording them. Especially in times when all hope seems lost, these values are a guarantee not to lose one's own humanity through selfishness, greed and opportunism. A very strong episode for Janeway, in which she proves once again that she can compete with the great Jean-Luc Picard - at least in certain moments.

The only drawback of this episode is the annoying beeping of the PADDs that these strange speechless goblins use to communicate with each other. That took some of the seriousness away from the episode.

Another prime example among many other particular episodes where Janeway (writers) once again denote StarFleet "Principals" in usual confusion and immense frustration to the viewer!

So tired of the Star Fleet interpreting Janeway making decisions off her rationalizations. It's like find the most illogical idea and do that one. Sometimes it's to not interfere with a cultural, unless it suits her..., unless the whole crew could benefit. Then better to let the crew starve. (What?) Or take ore from a plant because a species won't trade. Or, "don't mess with Voyager" and she will blow them up to protect her crew (with advanced weapons designed not to ever be used... because is Star Fleet policy to die first before harming(?)

As in here, don't want to offend so give away the crews food. Let them starve. Unless she rationalizes a technical reason the benefits her to save them (and then act as if she would have always done so). Confront a manual, which has no credence to a new system or guidelines, just shows how unable to perceive a new situation and act accordingly. Half the series has this conflict. Don't use a tricorder on a burial site per Chakotay. Hey, what if your breathing in an organic lifeform... better put everyone in suites I guess. If going to play out the hypocrisy, then do it in all situations. And which is worse, Janeway explaining yet another inconsistently irrational situation, or that I have to listen to her do such in that fingernails on chalkboard voice.

Must be a benefit in being obtuse. You can't argue with an abstraction, and Janeway uses that conveniently. Adding to this, is the factor of the absurdity being delivered by someone trying to act tough. As if that must be a good manager and/or compensating for a female role. Or is it to gaslight everyone to be shamed if she's not in charge, And... why does she have to be if there are more competent Picard types that could do the best job (ah, but their males, so forget that whatever you do).

So, we get this frustration instead. We suppose that if someone was to stab Janeway she would probably be the one to apologize. That would make good Star Fleet sense afterall.