Workforce (Star Trek: Voyager)
"Workforce" | |
---|---|
Star Trek: Voyager episodes | |
Episode nos. | Season 7 Episodes 16 & 17 |
Directed by | Allan Kroeker (part I) Roxann Dawson (part II) |
Written by | Kenneth Biller (part I) Bryan Fuller (part I) |
Story by | Kenneth Biller (part II) Bryan Fuller (part II) |
Teleplay by | Kenneth Biller (part II) Michael Taylor (part II) |
Featured music | Dennis McCarthy |
Production code | 262 & 263 |
Original air dates | February 21, 2001 February 28, 2001 |
Guest appearances | |
| |
"Workforce" is a two-part episode from the
"Workforce Part I" aired on the United Paramount Network (UPN) on February 21, 2001, and "Workforce, Part II" aired February 28, 2001.[1]
Plot
Part I
On an alien planet,
After being shown to her work station, Janeway meets a man named Jaffen, who intervenes when Janeway inadvertently misconfigures her console and sets off an alarm. They soon run afoul of Annika Hansen (Seven of Nine), the plant's stern new "efficiency monitor". Tuvok, a fellow employee, approaches Janeway in apparent confusion, though neither Janeway, Tuvok, or Seven of Nine recognize one another. Tuvok claims that they do not belong there, which attracts the attention of a doctor and mystifies Janeway and Jaffen.
A doctor diagnoses Tuvok with "dysphoria syndrome" and begins treatment. Tuvok shows signs that he has recalled his time on Voyager and attempts several more times to contact the others.
Tom Paris, who was employed at the plant with Janeway and Tuvok, is fired despite there being a labor shortage. He takes a job at a bar, and befriends B'Elanna Torres, a pregnant woman who also works at the energy plant.
Meanwhile,
Chakotay has himself surgically altered to resemble the planet's native race, and beams down to the planet, masquerading as "Amal Kotay." After following Torres for several minutes, he assists Neelix in abducting and transporting her to Voyager (where the Doctor reverses the mental conditioning). Chakotay is unable to be beamed back to the ship, but avoids capture.
Part II
With Neelix's help, Torres begins to remember her life as a starship engineer. On the planet, Chakotay (who has managed to escape capture thus far) approaches Janeway, but is unable to overcome her skepticism.
A young doctor begins to become suspicious of so many people of the same species having the apparently rare "dysphoria syndrome," and almost all of them getting jobs at the energy plant at the same time, and none of them having any previous file references. After gentle inquiries result in an official "hands-off" warning from local law enforcement, the doctor approaches Annika Hansen, who is initially skeptical, but begins taking Tuvok's rants seriously.
What the Efficiency Monitor discovers breaks the spell: the workers at the plant were diagnosed with dysphoria syndrome (and treated with mind-altering drugs), specifically so they could be placed in the plant to alleviate a labor shortage. Examining the files of the plant's newest "employees," she discovers they are all Voyager officers and crew, and begins to launch a deeper investigation.
Meanwhile, Chakotay, Kim and the Doctor discover the planet's own government is unaware of the kidnappings. Working with the plant's doctor, Annika unmasks the conspiracy and frees Voyager's crew, and the planetary government pledges to end the forced-labor practices begun by plant staff.
Reception
Den of Geek included this in their abbreviated Star Trek: Voyager watching guide, along with several other season seven episodes.[2] CBR notes that in this episode, the cast can play characters that are a little different from their normal characters.[3]
In 2016,
In 2021, The Digital Fix said this one of the "good episodes" from season seven, praising its character development and narrative.[5]
Home media releases
On December 21, 2003, this episode was released on DVD as part of a Season 7 boxset; Star Trek Voyager: Complete Seventh Season.[6]
Related pages
- Stargate SG-1 season 4#ep76 Beneath the Surface episode with similar plot
References
- ^ "Star Trek: Voyager - TV Guide". TVGuide.com.
- ^ "Star Trek Voyager: an episode roadmap". Den of Geek. 15 September 2017. Retrieved 2019-06-11.
- ^ "Every Star Trek Season of TV Ever, Ranked from Worst to Best". CBR. 2019-01-04. Retrieved 2019-06-12.
- ^ Roth, Dany (2016-02-29). "Every Bryan Fuller Star Trek episode, ranked". SYFY WIRE. Archived from the original on 2021-06-02. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
- ^ "Star Trek: Voyager Revisited - Season Seven". Television @ The Digital Fix. 2020-09-02. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
- ^ "DVD Talk // Star Trek Voyager: Complete Seventh Season // Paramount // Unrated // December 21, 2004". www.dvdtalk.com. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
External links
- "Workforce, Part I" at IMDb
- "Workforce, Part II" at IMDb
- Workforce, Part I at Memory Alpha
- Workforce, Part II at Memory Alpha
- Workforce, Part I at Wayback Machine (archived from the original at StarTrek.com)
- Workforce, Part II at Wayback Machine (archived from the original at StarTrek.com)