Nits for Star Trek: Voyager episode
The Disease
1. Pushy Janeway.
Is there some rule that says Janeway must be arrogantly pushy? She agreed that Central Command is off limits but ignores this agreement to talk to Jippeq. Are communicators and internal ships communications offline? She is told the assembly is classified but ignores this statement. She is told "the job is done" but insists on continuing the repairs. She describes how the Varo ignored her hails yet obviously she brow-beat them till they let her 'help'. If this kind of behaviour is supposed to endear us to Janeway I have to tell you it only annoys me.
Nit Value: 0.50
2. Voyager's fate.
Janeway claims they could go through several generations before reaching the Alpha Quadrant. Given how poorly the writers keep track of the distance traveled this doesn't surprise me. However, given the fact that despite claims to the contrary the reported distances traveled places them in the Beta Quadrant and only 35 years or so away from home "several generations" is an inaccurate statement.
Nit Value: 0.25
3. More arrogance.
Janeway no sooner convinces Jippeq to let her access the warp assembly than B'Elanna and Tom walk into the Central Control area. Don't they know this area is off limits? Janeway hasn't signaled them to let them know she's gained approval, so were they listening at the door or listening through her comm badge? They don't even ask for permission to enter, let alone ask Janeway if she gained approval for work on the assembly to begin.
Nit Value: 0.50
4. Was that blanket glued on?
In Tal's quarters, a theoretically nude Tal turns to face Harry. As she moves the blanket clings to her body as if it were a dress. I understand the need for modesty in a family show, but do they need to advertise the fact this 'blanket' is actually outfitted with a strap to keep it clinging to her body and avoid any accidental exposure?
Nit Value: 0.25
5. Still more arrogance.
In the opening scene Harry is in Tal's quarters. The following scene Janeway convinces Jippeq to allow her to work on the warp assembly. It is this scene where Jippeq shows her she can access the assembly in Central Control. So when Harry leaves Tal's quarters why does he go to Central Control? Doesn't he know Central Control is off limits to Voyager crew? How did he find out that he's now allowed in Central Control?
Nit Value: 0.50
6. Dodging Tuvok.
How likely is it that Voyager cannot pinpoint the source of Harry's transmission? How much more likely is it that Tom could persuade Tuvok to let Tom do the search? And how likely is it that Tom could cut the signal without Tuvok knowing what he had done?
Is the head of security really this incompetent?
Nit Value: 0.50
7. Doctor Seven?
When did Seven become proficient with the medical equipment? When did she learn to diagnose brain activity to the point of recognizing unusual synaptic activity? I've no objection to her learning. But to step up to a console we've never seen her use, and to show proficiency without any training, so as to have her in the room stretches credulity.
Even Data wasn't this good.
Note that she is later found in Engineering and credited with discovering that the hull virus is artificially created. Omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent Seven. Is there anything this crew can do without her help?
And how is it she can learn all these skills yet still not learn to talk or interact like a human?
Nit Value: 0.50
8. Interspecies protocol.
"All Star Fleet personnel must obtain authorization from their CO as well as clearance from their medical officer before initiating an intimate relationship with an alien species".
Since when? According to this scene, Harry learned this as a cadet, at least a year before the start of Voyager. Did Doc give his medical approval for that kiss between Janeway and Kashek in "Counterpoint"? Did both Janeway and Doc approve that kiss between Valerie Archer (an 8472) and Chakotay in "In the Flesh"? And that is just this season.
Did Janeway put a reprimand for herself in her permanent record for "Counterpoint"? Or for Chakotay? Did we even see anyone mentioning this protocol? As I recall Chakotay's intimacy was a joke between Harry and Tom and Chakotay in "In the Flesh".
Nit Value: 2.00 (this concept should have been stricken from the script the minute it was read).
9.Getting help on propulsion from the Varo.
Just how likely is it the Varo have any technical knowledge to offer Voyager when they cannot fix their own warp engines?
Nit Value: 0.25
10. Harry vs. Janeway.
Janeway orders Harry to end the relationship with Tal after Harry claims the relationship isn't a "fling" and that he has "true feelings" for her. So why doesn't Harry resign Star Fleet instead of accepting her conditions? If he wants to stay with Tal doesn't it make sense to quit Star Fleet? And if he doesn't want to quit Star Fleet why defend the relationship as something more than a "fling"?
Nit Value: 0.25
11. Neelix and Tuvok.
Neelix discovers that environmental controls were used to provide an environment in a Jeffries tube. Tuvok tells him the commands were encoded to avoid detection. So why is it Neelix discovered this and not the head of security (i.e. Tuvok)? Is it time to replace Tuvok with Neelix as head of security??
Nit Value: 0.25
12. Following the bread crumbs.
Was it really necessary for the Varo stowaway to leave his food on the other side of the hatch where he was hiding? Are they really that stupid?
Nit Value: 0.25
13. Harry breaks off the relationship.
Harry enters Tal's quarters alone to tell her he must break off their relationship. Why did Janeway permit this rather than have Harry call her through communications and why didn't she re-assign Harry to some other responsibility that doesn't require him to leave Voyager?
Nit Value: 0.25
14. Keeping secrets.
At first the stowaway refuses to answer questions about the movement amongst the Varo to escape the ship. But when he is arrested by Chakotay he tells Chakotay to tell Jippeq there are hundreds more like him. Does it make sense to have this told to Jippeq, who is only going to be more on his guard as a result of this information thus making it harder for anyone to get rid of him?
Nit Value: 0.25
15. Janeway (grrrr).
While eating a meal with Chakotay she admits her decision regarding Harry is "a little extreme" but then dismisses it as Harry going through "growing pains".
They're how many light years from home? Harry has been celibate for how long?
And Janeway shows not the least bit of understanding or compassion.
She claims she applies the same standards to all her officers.
Really?
Chakotay points out she encourages him to question her orders if he feels they're wrong. She claims he's her first officer, and that Harry is just an Ensign and hasn't earned the right to question her orders. So already we have evidence that she does not set the same standards for all her officers.
Janeway kissed Kashek in "Counterpoint" without medical clearance. Did she place a formal reprimand in her own record for this? Chakotay kissed Valerie Archer, the 8472 with neither medical clearance nor Janeway's approval in "In the Flesh". Did Janeway place a formal reprimand in his record for this?
What were they thinking? Is there a reason for encouraging so much animosity towards the Janeway character??? Is this the same character who offered technology to the waterworld aliens in "Thirty Days" despite the Prime Directive, yet locked Tom up for violating the Prime Directive when he tried to save the waterworld?
Nit Value: 5.00 (I don't tolerate hypocrisy in this show very well)
16. Tal's arrival on the shuttle.
How many times have we seen people beamed onto a shuttle with their backs to the front of shuttle? We've seen people who were initially sitting beamed over in an upright position. And no matter which direction people seem to face they always end up facing forward when they arrive on the transporter pad.
So why does Tal arrive facing the back of the shuttle?
Nit Value: 0.25
17. Pulled over.
Why did Tuvok use the Delta Flyer? Why not simply send a signal ordering him to return?
Nit Value: 0.25
18. Docking clamps.
Why is it these things go offline just when they're needed most? This is like keeping the transporter lock on an away team only to discover it isn't functioning when the away team needs to be beamed away.
Nit Value: 0.25
Summary:
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Nit Value for "The Disease": 12.25
Wulf's Nitpicker Rating: -2.25
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10 - Nit Value = Wulf's Nitpicker Rating
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