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Synopsis

We open the episode at a market on an alien planet. Torres, Tuvok, Neelix, and Janeway are there making deals to obtain tellerium. After a terrorist attack, Neelix escapes, Torres and Tuvok are captured, and Janeway loses her combadge but is saved by a local. The episode then follows the plots of the two captured parties and Voyager dealing with the local government.

Torres and Tuvok are imprisoned and don’t know the fate of Neelix, Janeway, or the tellerium they were meant to acquire. Tuvok is removed from the cell for further questioning. As Torres tries to find a flaw or some kind of escape from the cell, she hears what she suspects to be Tuvok screaming. When he is returned, he is badly injured, and it’s confirmed he was the one in agony. They discuss the differences in Vulcan and Klingon philosophies of emotion, and Tuvok sees a man named Darod brought into the prison.

Voyager is dealing with the Mogra, the name of the government in control of the area the crew were attacked. By Starfleet protocol, they allow their officers to be tried by local laws and customs, but their requests to speak with their crew members in custody are denied by a politician named Augris. We learn Voyager has earned a reputation in this sector of space. This back and forth of diplomatic scenes escalates to action when the crew manages to find a way to transport Paris into the prison compound.

Our main story is the one between Janeway and Caylem, the man who saved her during the terrorist attack. Caylem believes Janeway is his daughter, Ralkana. Janeway delicately waves his stories aside as she tries to get any sort of answer as to what’s going on, and if she can get access to a communicator. She learns about the prison and that Torres and Tuvok were taken there, as well as Caylem’s wife. Afterward, Caylem gives Janeway his wife’s dress, her necklace, and the letters he wrote to her while she’s been locked up. He asks Janeway to write him a new letter, and we hear the most endearing story. It’s nearly interrupted by armed guards, but the two escape through a tunnel Caylem’s crafted. Caylem takes her to the rebel with a communicator, Darod, but he isn’t home. Instead, Darod is being captured by soldiers. Caylem creates a distraction, making a fool of himself, in order for Janeway to reach Darod. Darod tells them how to get further into the prison compound, and they make a deal to trade Caylem’s necklace for weapons in a few hours. The contact, in a blue vest, has been compromised, and thus their access to weapons are squandered. Janeway uses sex appeal to get past the guards and leaves Caylem past a force field for his protection.

Janeway opens up all the cells, reunites with Darod and Caylem, and then her crew, including Paris. She ushers them to safety but vows to remain behind to help Caylem find his wife. They’re caught immediately by Augris who exposes Caylem as delusional. The two men grapple, and Caylem stabs Augris, but is shot by another soldier. Caylem dies in Janeway’s arms, and she says she’s his daughter, and that she and his wife are fine, she’s received all his letters, and that they both forgive him. The episode ends with Janeway distracted while Kim gives a status report, and she we see that she’s kept the necklace.

Thoughts

What was cool on the ship was Kim taking control of the bridge when they were in dire need. He’ll later go on to take the conn at the nightshift, and this might be the first seed. Paris essentially volunteers himself for a possible last mission, which is quite the heroic act! Otherwise, these scenes are well shot and active, just a delight to watch.

The moments between Tuvok and Torres, them playing off of what it’s like to experience pain, is fascinating to me. Comparing physiologies in conversation world builds in a way that simultaneously develops their relationship. They’re still the only Vulcan and Klingon to serve on a bridge simultaneously on screen and pairing them together is such a great choice. I wish they would do more of those, fleshing out Vulcan more – but I guess there was Enterprise.

I’ve arbitrarily decided to write about every seven episodes since “Eye of the Needle” and I was so delighted that I’d be watching and writing about “Resistance.” It’s an episode I can rely on for a good cry. Janeway helping Caylem due to his perceived needs, and him helping her, out of her perceived role in his life, is a fantastic premise for a tearjerker. She could have so easily taken advantage of him, but she takes every pain to not do so, even hesitating selling the necklace for weapons. Janeway delicately navigates an unpredictable situation in her own, wonderful way. It’s so nice to be reminded of the goodness that’s possible in others, and this high-stakes story makes it so satisfying at the conclusion.

I hope the necklace makes an appearance in Prodigy!

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