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Voyager’s on their way to pick up Durst, Torres, and Paris from a planetary geological survey, but they’ve been captured by the Viidians.

We’re introduced to Sulan, the Dr. Frankenstein Vidiian whose separated Torres’ genetic structure into separate Klingon and Human beings. Sulan suspects that Klingon DNA can create antibodies to combat the Phage, the disease tormenting the Vidiian species. The human Torres is sent to a work camp barracks along with Paris and Durst. After Klingon Torres flirts with Sulan, he gets the idea to graft Durst’s face onto his own so that she might find it more appealing. She uses that opportunity to escape, and saves Human Torres from the work barracks. They work together to use a security console to contact Voyager. Meanwhile, Chakotay is altered to appear Vidiian and can transport into their cloaked lair. They come together for the final rescue, but Sulan fires a phaser at Human Torres, which Klingon Torres jumps in the way of right before transport. Klingon Torres dies on the transporter pad, but the the Doctor explains that Torres will have to have her Klingon genome restored, or else she would die. The episode ends with Torres approaching an understanding and acceptance of her Klingon identity.

The Vidiians just want to cure their Phage, but Torres faces a crisis of her upbringing. By this I mean, it could have been a simple high-octane plot of “rescue the hostage crew,” and worked just as much like that, but the goals of the antagonist clashed with Torres’ identity, resulting in a story that went over and above its premise. Dawson’s range as each of her separated selves shows incredible mastery of the character so impressively early into the show. The way these interweaving concepts and themes connect is just so interesting to me, and I loved every minute of it.

This was originally posted on Jan 12, 2021. Transported to neocities on Oct 20, 2025.