Voyager 6.3 FAQ
What’s it called?
“Barge Of The Dead.”
Who’s responsible?
Teleplay is credited to Bryan Fuller (“Dead Like Me,” “Wonderfalls,” “Pushing Daisies,” “Hannibal”), who adapts a story by Fuller and Ronald D. Moore (“Battlestar Galactica,” “Outlander”).
Ronald D. Moore worked for “Voyager”?
Moore’s time on “Voyager” was exceedingly brief. The only “Voyager” episode on which he received a teleplay credit was the Sept. 29, 1999 episode “Survival Instinct,” which aired the week before “Barge of the Dead.” Moore co-wrote two successful Star Trek movies and scores of “The Next Generation” and “Deep Space Nine” episodes, but “Barge of Dead” marked the last “Star Trek” project on which Moore would get any kind of writing credit.
What says UPN?
“A comatose B'Elanna Torres experiences a crisis of faith when she seems to witness her mother in transit to the Klingon version of Hell.”
How does it start?
As B’Elanna’s very shaky shuttle approaches Voyager’s position, an ion storm blows out her deflector shield.
Does B’Elanna believe her mother is long dead or newly deceased?
Newly.
This is the sixth season; is Voyager not close enough to Federation space to allow communication with those who could confirm the death of B’Elanna’s mom?
It seems not.
The name of Klingon Heaven is Sto-Vo-Kor, which sounds like Stove O’ Core, and really hot and hellish. How can Klingon Hell be worse than a place full of sweaty Klingons spoiling for fights?
A good question. Gre'Thor, the Klingon Hell, is not what B’Elanna (or I) expected.
The big news?
It turns out B’Elanna Torres, the engineer, is a giant atheist who regards Gre’Thor as a myth.
What else is UPN not telling us?
We learn B’Elenna’s mother was probably a little too into into Klingon culture, even going so far as to send her half-human daughter to a Klingon monastery.
What’s good?
Roxanne Dawson as B’Elanna. Kate Mulgrew as Capt. Janeway. Eric Pierpoint (remember George Francisco on Fox’s “Alien Nation”?) as Kortar, who captains The Barge. Robert Picardo as The Hologram. The personal failing Seven of Nine decides to mention. “I inherited the forehead and the bad attitude.” “Computer, end program.” “There are things here worse than death.” “I’m not going to let you turn this into a debate about freedom of worship.” “I’d like her to know me the way you do.” “I should have known you’d choose the easy way.” “Or maybe when you get home.”
What’s not so good?
B’Elanna and Janeway both decide to put the ship’s engineer at risk -- choosing to ignore the incredible coincidence that B’Elanna’s mom happens to “die” on the 10th anniversary of their estrangement? Neelix, currently having sex with Hannah’s father over on HBO’s “Girls,” is every bit as annoying as I remember.
How does it end, spoiler boy?
“Welcome back,” says Janeway, hugging her engineer.
Oct. 6, 1999. UPN.
