Think Tank

In this episode Janeway, George, Seven, and Chakotay find themselves entangled with a mysterious group of problem solvers, led by none other than George's doppelgänger, Kurros (played by Jason Alexander). The group, known as the "Think Tank," offers to solve any problem for a price. Naturally, hilarity ensues.

Act I: Janeway's apartment. She is puzzled over a broken air conditioner. George bursts in, complaining about a new job where his boss expects him to solve impossible problems. Seven enters, frustrated with a new project at the J. Peterman catalog that involves deciphering ancient texts. Chakotay slides in, announcing he's joined a "Think Tank" that promises to solve all their problems.

Act II: The gang visits the Think Tank's headquarters, a sleek, futuristic office. Kurros, who looks suspiciously like George, offers to fix Janeway's air conditioner, solve George's work issues, and help Seven with her project. The catch? They need something valuable in return. Chakotay offers up his collection of rare Cuban cigars, but Kurros wants something more... unique.

Act III: Kurros reveals he wants Seven's prized manuscript, Neelix's secret lasagna recipe, and Janeway's favorite Superman comic. The gang reluctantly agrees, but soon realizes they've been duped. The Think Tank's solutions are overly complicated and create more problems than they solve. Janeway's air conditioner now makes the apartment unbearably cold, George's job becomes even more stressful, and Seven's project is now a mess of conflicting translations.

Finale: In a classic Voyager twist, the gang decides to outsmart the Think Tank. They stage a fake meltdown, with Janeway pretending her apartment is uninhabitable, George faking a nervous breakdown, and Seven claiming her project is ruined. Chakotay, meanwhile, uses his newfound "Think Tank" skills to create a diversion. The Think Tank, overwhelmed by the chaos, agrees to return everything they took and leave the gang alone.

Closing Scene: Back at Janeway's apartment, the gang reflects on their adventure. Janeway's air conditioner is finally fixed, George quits his job, Seven's project is back on track, and Chakotay has a new scheme involving a "Think Tank" for pets. As they sit down to watch TV, Janeway quips, "You know, sometimes the best solution is no solution at all."

Voyager is attacked by the Hazari--bounty hunters who are a very formidable and who will most likely capture the ship sooner or later. Almost as if by miracle, the Captain is contacted by a being named Kurros (Jason Alexander) who offers to intervene and spare the ship...for a price. It seems that Kurros and his friends on his ship are a think tank--rather amoral beings who will do things to help various species if they are willing to meet their demands. In this case, they want a few things that seem trivial*--as well as Seven of Nine! It's not selling into slavery, exactly--they want to make her a part of their group. But there is definitely an interesting hidden agenda.

I liked the twist--even though I had anticipated it in this one. The show also ends extremely well and is quite satisfying. My only complaint is a minor one, as the speaking style of Alexander's character was mildly annoying.

Voyager enters a dangerous area of space and Janeway is offered help to overcome its predators.

Certain aspects of the story work, such as the manipulations and deceptions used by individuals that use knowledge as power to exploit others. I find this relatable to real world. What does not quite hold together is the portrayal of certain characters as super-intelligent. They are clever because we are told they are, but nothing we see evidences it.

Seven of Nine is not really put in much of a dilemma as it is a straightforward decision for her given how nefarious the guest characters appear. They could have made the offer feel more attractive if the baddies were less one dimensional. Jason Alexander acting creepy and arrogant for the majority of an episode in alien makeup is hardly tempting.

The resolution to Voyager's problem is a good example of the Trek theme of using intelligence to win the day, but as a story it could have been done better. Key aspects of the plan are explained before they happen, which takes all the intrigue out of the situation.

Visually it is pretty impressive. I especially like the alien/creature designs of non humanoid characters.

Jeri Ryan stands out for me, giving another likeable performance of deadpan delivery and using facial expressions perfectly.

The writers missed an obvious solution. It is never mentioned in the episode, but Voyager's "problem" that needs solving isn't the Hazari, it's ultimately that they need to get home. It's like if you found a genie's lamp while lost in a cave, and you wished for the spiders to leave you alone. If Janeway or Seven O'Nine renegotiated so that Voyager could be shown the shortest way to the Alpha quadrant, it might've made a more serious dilemma for them to consider, and a much more interesting episode.

I don't blame him, though. If I was Kurros, I would've conspired to acquire Seven and have her body grace my tank, too.

This episode could have been outstanding if it had followed its originally exciting direction. Instead, in my opinion, the plot took a turn in the wrong direction and thereby lost its actual charm.

When Voyager is threatened by an armada of bounty hunters and there seems to be no way out, a stranger appears on the ship out of thin air and offers to help Janeway. As it turns out, he is part of a group of highly intelligent aliens whose mission is to solve complex and seemingly hopeless problems of alien civilizations, planets or spaceship crews. You could describe them as futuristic nerds who are no longer satisfied with just solving crossword puzzles and wordles and playing Kal-toh or Tongo with the best of the best. They seek great challenges - planetary catastrophes, intergalactic conflicts, civilizations on the brink of annihilation - in order to expand their intellect and hone their skills by solving virtually unsolvable cases. However, this group is far from acting out of altruistic motives or out of pure charity. Each time they demand an individual, unique reward as a price for their willingness to help. Here, they demand that Seven joins their think tank because the stranger has recognized her potential. She would be a worthy addition to their motley crew.

This setup could have made for an exciting and interesting episode. However, we learn that the stranger himself hired the bounty hunters under a false identity to capture Voyager. Basically, what we have here is a mafia organization that first threatens its victims with violence and then blackmails them with protection money in order to ensure their well-being. In the end, Janeway teams up with the bounty hunters to work together against this crime syndicate.

It would have been much more interesting if this think tank had actually been what it claimed to be: a bunch of nerds who, out of an arrogant fascination with puzzles and paradoxes, helped people out of trouble in order to boost their own egos. Seven and Janeway, together with the crew, should have found a way out of the predicament themselves instead. They would have proven that their team cohesion, their individual skills and their experience as a Starfleet crew would not let them down and that they can win this "game" too. In the end, the stranger could have appeared again on the ship to pay his respects to Janeway and Seven with the cliffhanger that one day they will need his help and their think tank will then be ready to negotiate a price again - only to disappear into nothingness again.

But as it is, it's just a story about an arrogant mafia organization that blackmails alien species and has now been taught a lesson.