Voyager's 'Memorial' Excels As One Of The Best Star Trek War Exploration Episodes
The Raw Reality Of War Is Visited On The Crew Of Voyager
America celebrates Memorial Day weekend. We reflect on our men and women who give up family, personal time and energy for service to our country. It’s an occasion with the potential for not only memories, but a potential for building bridges between each other in considering the high price we pay when we find ourselves in conflict.
Sci-fi adventures often employ the inclusion of war - Star Wars, of course, being the most famous example. Stargate, both the movie and TV shows, depict soldiers in battle - both human and alien squaring off against the backdrop of the entire galaxy. Gene Roddenberry’s Star Trek showed us Starfleet officers, who while never regarded as actual military, a quasi space force they certainly acted as time and again.
Trek’s 3rd spin-off show, Star Trek: Voyager, has distinction of producing one of the best episodes exploring the stress - both physical and psychological - of war’s many casualties. Entitled, Memorial, from Season Six, the powerful story offers an unflinching look into how the savagery of the battlefield impacts and even permanently changes those who sacrifice so much to protect family and their nation.
An Alien Planet’s Memorial Mystery
After a long away mission on an alien planet, a landing party returns to Captain Janeway’s (Kate Mulgrew) starship in an unsettled state. Ensign Kim, Commander Chakotay, Tom Paris and Neelix all begin exhibiting strange behavior patterns and even engage in violent outbursts. Doc diagnoses the men with real memories of a battle - not hallucinatory in nature nor psychological delusions, as far as his tech and tests can accurately determine.
It’s time for answers.
Going back to investigate the planet of the group’s away mission reveals an enormous obelisk - a memorial structure which contains far more than simple engravings or tribute plaques. The investigation deepens and the shocking answer is finally revealed to the crew.
The action and main cast acting is first rate, as always is the case with Trek, however, the serious nature of this story’s subject matter is punctuated by an impressive sense of authenticity. Seeing the usually playful Neelix (Ethan Phillips) take a young girl hostage at knifepoint may be one of the most disturbing scenes in all of Trek’s history.
In the end, you’ll experience the installment first hand. It’s as they say, it’s much like appreciating the taste of tea. You’ll have to watch the episode yourself to get the full, jarring effect and see how this unnerving mystery is resolved. Star Trek has many tales which deal with the high costs of brutal battle and the hardship of being a warrior. This haunting one stays with you.