Trying to figure out when the guys became excessively negative towards Neelix. I remember them talking about Neelix in Season 1 and 2 and saying how they didn't understand the Neelix haters and that they didn't feel Neelix was that annoying. Then suddenly this season they seem to be constantly making fun of him, rolling their eyes, and irritated by anything Neelix says or does. And I don't know why. Season 3 Neelix is no more annoying than Season 1 or Season 2 Neelix... in fact, I would suggest that he is less annoying in Season 3. Sure, there have been some less than flattering scenes where it's clear the writers/directors are intentionally trying to highlight his quirkiness. But it's not excessive or completely taking over the character. So why so negative??

I love the one-word call back from Neelix, I don't know if you guys caught it. Janeway, "You've got a high fever, fluid in your lungs." Neelix, "Lung". This is a fun episode. Sort of Voyager's version of "Operation -- Annihilate!". TOS's creature -on-a-string effects were better!

I was thinking Lara Croft

If you liked this one, then I'm excited for what's to come later on down the line for you guys.

Finally a great Episode for Season 3. Just took them 12 Episodes. ^^

At around 12 minutes there's a good deep cut callback that I never noticed before this rewatch, Janeway says "you have fluid in your lungs" and Neelix corrects her by saying "lung", referencing back to the videans and how he lost his lungs and now just has one lung from Kes. Other comment, I think it was stupid they brought down the force field for the doctor to inject the macrobug, pretty sure they established in an earlier episode he can just walk through force fields, but even if that isn't true at the very least he should have set up a bigger force field containing him and the bug that they switched to. But small nitpick aside, fun enough episode, Janeway did a lot of damage with her 3 guns.🔫💪💪

one of the few S3 episode that I saw back in the 90s and I liked it. And now I even really enjoyed the rewatch. The cgi is really not bad for a 90s tv show

Alex, you are starting to develop a case of CRS. I have a chronic case of it.

I feel like if you were stuck on the one ship for potentially decades you'd have phases - someone creates a cool bar in the holodeck; everyone rushes to hang out there. Eventually people get bored of it, so someone creates a cool beach resort - the cycle repeats itself. Everyone still has their own private programs but there's the popular new public hangout spot as well.

Going up against the producers of their own show. In Voyagers case this was actually true with many writers and actors. I'm a little surprised even though you had the tribute you didn't mention Stewart with this being the first episode ater his death but I guess it has nothing to do with this epsiode in particular and i dont think you mentioned Koenig's (Chekov) death earlier in the week, maybe you missed ths one, it wasn't as much announced. Of course reading obituaries is also risky from a spoilers vantage point, like for example how some that went into more detail described Stewart's return as Picard in "Picard" and the differences between that and him playing the character on TNG.

They have phaser rifles in TNG and DS9 but the voyager ones are a different model I think - they have a barrel grip.

Apparently this episode was meant to have more action and be less cerebral and talky, hence there was no "tuvix type stuff". You are right, they thought the cgi was cool. The effects people were actually disappointed but the producers loved it, felt the effects were getting better, and apparently this episode convinced the, they could do more CGI aliens in the future. Showing non-humanoid aliens via cgi was actually cheaper then practical effects. It was definitely an era when people went all in on CGI before it was ready and just looked bad. Arguably there's still some of that today. See Star Wars prequels, the Matrix movies, Voyager. DS9's use is far better where they use cgi to enhance practical models and for ships in the background and small effects, not to create primary characters

Rick Berman (who is considred by the fans one of trek's behind the scenes "villians") was the executive producer for the entire run of the show and had a lot of input, control, and kept things on a relatively tight lease based on his preferences of seemingly keeping a formula for a relatively successful show and not taking any risks. Not sure where you guys got the idea he left. It seems maybe you mistook Taylor's role being increased for Berman leaving. He doesn't unfortunately. Voyager was very much his and Braga's baby and those two were the ones who had the studio's ear and were responsible for the "big vision" of Voyager. The frquency of high concept sci fi is clearly Braga. Berman seems to just want to cash a steady paycheck and not buck the ride. It's possible this is a reaction to his breal from Behr, that since DS9 was not as good in the ratings he wanted to distance himself from Ira and make "by the books trek" as he saw it, which to me gave it that very "corporate product" feel to voyager, like it was trek but just the superficial aspects and not understanding what made it good. Voyager does have fans, and it seems like many of them who prefer it simply have it as their first trek and an inferiro trek as your first experience could be the best to you. It seems Janeway did inspire many people. But I feel the way people feel about so called "new trek" which isnt as bad as you might think, people these days are over critical and wary of new things. New trek has its strengths and weaknesses.

I think "corporate mindset" product definitely describes Voyager. I think the observation from the last episode that the characters just arent as compelling is key. I dont like janeway, I feel she's written too much for the needs of what ever epsiode she is in and they try to hard to make her "a tough" female leader instead of constructing a character like Kira. You didn't mention the Doctor who is the best character so far.

One for the Red Dwarf fans. 

“Captain! They’ve taken Mr. Neelix, they’ve taken Mr. Neelix! "

“Well, let’s get the hell out of here before they bring him back!” 

In fairness, when Janeway gears up is pretty much how I prepare when I go on holiday to anywhere that’s hot and humid and there’s lots of bugs. I’m extremely tasty to most insects in the tropics, apparently. Good episode (although, I'm not the biggest fan of the flashback element, however, I'm not sure how they'd fill in the narrative otherwise). I know I can be rather critical of Voyager overall but it doesn't mean I don't enjoy it when it's done well.

"This is a visual representation of what Rick Berman wants the Voyager cast to do." I did a spit take on that! Great reaction guys. This episode is way better than I remembered. Janeway gets to be an action hero, the Doctor does a great job of being our exposition, and Neelix is out of it before act 1 is over. It's a win all the way around! Great reaction, guys!

There actually is a voyager FPS game. i remember it being quite good! I'll not give any spoilers!

Gotta say though i like the opening scene. Neelix' knowledge of the area is useful. There should be tons more scenes like this.

Yeeeah. Rick Berman is not as well loved among the fandom. If not out right hated. I will defend him, but only so far. He's essentially the liasion person between the production and the studio. That means he lives in both worlds. Which also means his choices are sitting at a 50/50 average. I respect him for trying to follow Roddenberry's rules, even if he doesn't understand them - bending them with caution when appropriate. I appreciate that his music edict stopped the show from having really overwrought music in scenes were actors emotions carry the moments - yet I don't like he killed all the tension music too. His decisions about wardrobe and plotting based on general audience interest was questionable at best - but how much of that was him navigating studio demands?

Well, you guys ARE in the era of bad CGI... The Phantom Menace is still 3 years away, and even some of that didn't always land. And it was always hurt more by having to interact with living elements. Scenic stuff could get away with more. But, this is no, "The Scorpion King."

So far, I’ve only watched about half of the watch along, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a watch along before where the guys basically just sat there and watched it.

the bottom of the barrel for star trek. right next to run along home. Writer1: "you know..... micro organisms..... what if we had those *hits blunt* but B I G.." Writer2: "Duuuuuuuuude......"

I think what I'm noticing is, 90's kids loved action. I know my generation mostly....doesn't. So episodes like this are gonna be generation-divisive. Same with First Contact. It's interesting culturally. The 80s and 90s had much MUCH more action movies. But you don't really get that as much. (i mean raw action. Not Marvel/DC superhero type action if one can even classify that as "action movies"). Now that I think about it, the genre barely exists anymore. If a videostore existed today, there probably wouldn't be a dedicated Action section at least with new movies, when 30 years ago it was probably one of the biggest Blockbuster sections maybe aside from Comedy. So I can see why these things when focused on in Star Trek lowers the rank as newer fans binge the series. Streaming is going to definitely change fan-favorites over time. Its just interesting to me as someone who is interested in cultural zeitgeists and paradigm shifting and all that fun stuff that bores people. Long story short: Things get reevaluated with every generation and their social and cultural norms.

Anyone else find themselves, every time the guys mention Genesis, just flashing back to the dude from Star Trek 3 going, "Genesis?!?!?" :)

Man, is Voyager really so terrible right now that THIS feels refreshing for them? The plot is ridiculous, the writing is awful, the execution falls waaay short When the best part is 'what could have been' we've got a problem

Good episode for me, the CGI didn't bother me.

"Ambassador Neelix? I like the sound of that. I'm taking command of Voyager. If you check your regulations, you'll find that my orders get priority."

Hey guys, i'm back after a wee while away, actually I came back with first contact but this is my first comment since signing back up. Before restarting this voyager journey with you guys I had it in my head that the show picks up at s3 like tng but actually rewatching it I see now that S3 is basically an exact copy of S2; Incredibly tedious first half then rollercoaster of ups and downs in the second half. At least the rollercoaster should be more interesting than what we've been through so far. S4 is a definite marked improvement though I promise.

Wanna see bad CG? Ever seen Hercules Legendary journeys

"Fluid in your lungs" "LUNG!" Lmao love that delivery from Neelix.

Ngl, love this episode, but hard to get motivated to watch trek with no Picard in the world.

Firstly, RIP sir Patrick and Walter Koenig, it's been a very sad week. Thanks TA for this early present. You make some great points about the directorial change in the Doc's flashback segment, what could have worked better is if Janeway was playing back a POV video log from the Doctor on his away mission, that would have been a perfect opportunity for some Silent Hill-level horror shit. Who cares if it's showing at 6:00pm, it'll toughen up those kids watching. I don't think 90's FX (CGI or practical) was capable of doing giant floating tentacle viruses, so I think the end result may have actually been Braga pushing an idea that was hard to realistically visualise.

Janeway don't need no man!

Recording next week, so the trip is off?

As someone who has a severe phobia of flying/buzzing insects, the sound effects of this episode were (and are) quite traumatizing!

Thank you for the free reaction. It sounds like maybe you have not been completely thrilled with season 3 so far? I believe that in the episodes ahead your Vulcan patience will be rewarded! 🖖

Well this was the worst episode to watch while eating pepperoni pizza

Still more believable than Genesis lol

"Stay away from The Doctor you Bitch"....oops wrong film....inspired by Picard's action sequences in First Contact, bo doubt...RIP

Fun episode. Some actual tension. Love Janeway here.

Genesis is the much better episode. Aside from that, as I said before...I have never been an action guy. I couldn't even finish Die Hard because it was boring to me. This isn't terrible. (aside from the CGI). It's just not my genre. I'll say C. It's there. It exists. But it didn't move me one way or another.

They're past the cloying Los Angeles two parter. I'm guessing they liked that about as much as Past Tense. The episode that comes after Macrocosm is one of my favorites of the season, and easily my favorite for the character that it features.

The less you see of the monster the better stories like this work. Especially when 90s CGI is involved. That said, action Janeway is plenty fun where it counts and it's a Janeway episode that doesn't have her paired with a weirdly acting guest star or hold a rock.. so thumbs up!

Have mercy, it‘s TANKTOP JANEWAY! There has to be an action figure with this outfit.

Hey look! It‘s my Mobile Emitter … Autonomous Emitter …. Portable Emitter .. Ehm, we haven‘t decided yet how to call it. Future‘s End was just two episodes ago.

It’s a good episode, but I think this one gets elevated by being around such mediocre ones. B tier.

Skipping to reaction at the end as I don't want to see gross bugs again. Like most of Voyager, nothing that happens in this episode matters.

Narrator: Will Rick Berman ever get his own redemption arc? Cut to Ira and Robert kicking back in lounge chairs, clinking their glasses together, and chuckling

target audience has an evolved sensibility and has moved beyond the need for money

I remember watching this episode during the early COVID pandemic.

The half of season 3 I like is going to start

Born and live in England, seing Sir Patrick Stewart play the captain of the Enterprise as a kid, a English captain made so proud to be British.. Both of you play a huge part in keeping his legacy alive . Proud to be a part of it.. RIP Sir Patrick Stewart x

I'm very happy you guys uploaded. Let's keep enjoying the franchise and it's legacy because doing so is one of the best ways to honor everyone involved. Even if we poke fun sometime, ultimately we do it out of love for Star Trek.

Voyager is BACK BABY. Its a good episode, and Kate Mulgrew looks incredible as an action hero.

Kate Mulgrew would have been a great Ripley

Yes!! Janeway the action hero. This is an S-tier episode for me. Memorable enough to stick in the mind the rest of the series. I think the horror and mystery are great. So is the pacing. I have a lot of fun watching this every time. I hope for once this season I align with the majority haha, but if not, I hope you all at least had fun with this one.

This is a fun episode thank you

Omg I always wait for these voyager drops then remember how bad this season was

Thank you. Wish a peaceful weekend to everybody!

Suzie Plakson truly is your Jeffrey Combs

Voyager does Die Hard!

More meaningless voyager season 3 tripe imo