Nits for Star Trek: Voyager episode
In The Flesh
1. The Maquis collar.
Considering only the Maquis wear the rectangular collar pin I wonder why no one thought to ask him about it?
Nit Value: 0.25
2. Sampling DNA
In the brig the Doctor was going to use a hypo spray injector to sample the security officer's DNA. However, to prove Chakotay is a human he waves the medical sensor while holding a medical tricorder. Why are we faced with two different procedures when it comes to determining species?
Nit Value: 0.25
3. Sampling Janeway
Although Janeway is standing in the examination room with Chakotay and the Doctor she isn't tested and actually leaves the area. Wouldn't the Captain insist on being tested first so as to allay any doubts about her amongst the crew and wouldn't this be a good time for her to be tested?
Nit Value: 0.25
4. Phasers that fire Borg nanoprobes
Technology stretched to the limit here. Does the phaser have a little hole in the emitter and an air compressor to push them out like a spray? And how are they keeping the little beggars neutralized while in the phaser and then activating them when they are released? Why call this device a "phaser"? And why the flash of phaser light if the thing is firing off nanoprobes? And why don't we see the nanoprobes take over the prone form of the Star Fleet officer Chakotay shoots?
Nit Value: 0.75
5. Transporting through shields
When the Delta Flyer arrives at the dome Chakotay orders shields raised before he beams to the dome. So how is he supposed to beam there unless shields are dropped?
Nit Value: 0.25
6. Sensors, what sensors?
Apparently species 8472 is a rather stupid species. Without cloak or any other means of preventing detection the Delta Flyer hangs off the station at transporter range undetected.
Nit Value: 0.50
7. Humans invaded fluidic space?
Perhaps I was snoozing but I don't recall Voyager entering fluidic space, yet Valerie claims "they invaded our realm". She also jokingly suggests that Chakotay's résumé to the real Star Fleet would read "alien from distant galaxy", which when combined with Tom's comment about not dating women from other "galaxies" suggests some confusion about what "fluidic space" is supposed to be.
Nit Value: 0.25
8. "Drain the nanoprobes from your bloodstream"
Say what??? is this Captain Bligh...er...Janeway once again ignoring those directives they adhere to that grant sentient life forms the right to choose?
Nit Value: 0.50
9. Transporter lock <snicker>
Once again the all-encompassing all-protecting transporter lock fails to do what it's supposed to do. Just how many times does Trek expect us to fall for this reassurance. It's like knowing a redshirt from TOS is beaming down to the planet's surface...you just know he won't make it back.
Wouldn't it be nice, just once in the history of a Trek series, if the "keep a transporter lock" reassurance actually worked? Instead it's the latest version of the redshirt running joke, a cliche for "we're going to be losing you so make out your will before you go".
Nit Value: 0.50
10. Boothby's questions.
While interrogating Chakotay Boothby suggests that Voyager has contacted Star Fleet Command and that a fleet is on its way. If he is so sure they've simulated Star Fleet Command and its systems then he must know the Federation has no way of communicating over such a huge distance or traveling such a distance quickly. This is compounded in the meeting between the two sides onboard Voyager. Kathryn tells them to look at the Starfleet database they've been using and they'll note there isn't any mention of Species 8472. This is brushed aside with a claim the information was classified. yet no one suggests they look at the communications systems to see how long such a message would take to arrive, and no one suggests they look at the propulsion systems to see how long a mission would take to arrive.
No one thinks to tell Boothby the premise of the entire series, that they are on their way home and expect to spend the next fifty to sixty years doing it.
Nit Value: 0.75
11. "We adhere to our directives."
As Boothby said: "Targ manure."
Remember the refusal to grant Tuvix sentient life status? How many alien cultures have they interfered with, starting with the destruction of the Caretaker array? And see #8 above.
Nit Value: 0.50
12. Who started the war between the Borg and 8472?
Someone must know the name of the episode where Voyager was lured to a Federation ship that was supposed to be capable of getting them to the Alpha Quadrant, only to find out it was created by someone who had made an alliance with 8472 to destroy the Borg because the Borg had destroyed the species the ship's creator belonged to. In the Borg episodes species 8472 was supposedly invading Borg space.
Yet Janeway claims the Borg started the war with 8472.
Nit Value: 0.50
13. "Your galaxy will be purged"
As I recall, Kes read the thoughts as "Only the strong will survive." And though the 8472s onboard are now claiming they were trying to defend themselves, nothing of this was transmitted to Kes.
Nit Value: 0.50
14. The Date.
During the meeting on Voyager Chakotay suggests they believe Valerie when she explains 8472's mission is to infiltrate Star Fleet as a reconnaissance mission "unless everything you said on our date was an act". Valerie denies this, yet everything from Boothby's discussion with Valerie just before the date to her checking Chakotay's DNA was obviously done under the belief he wasn't an 8472.
So either Valerie was revealing classified information to a suspected human or she made it up; either way she shouldn't be trusted.
Nit Value: 0.25
15. Janeway risks the welfare of the galaxy...again.
Handing over nanoprobe technology to the 8472s has ensured any invasion of Earth will succeed. Kathryn stated flatly that they are the only hope of stopping 8472 and now she's given away that secret.
What does she pin her hopes on to save the galaxy from someone even the Borg feared?
"Faith".
Even Boothby wasn't convinced his government would adhere to the truce. He said "a few" might see the light. Reassuring? Ha! Yet Kathryn is delighted because Boothby gave her a rose. Seven was showing remarkable perception and foresight when she asked the Doctor if the 600,000,000 humans who died in the Third World War were "looking on the bright side." Kathryn's roll of the dice once again puts the galaxy at risk.
Whatever happened to the Prime Directive that dictates you do not give superior technology to other species who don't have it?
Nit Value: 1.00
16. Blue matches her eyes so nicely.
Oh yes, nice new outfit, Jeri. It shows your 'assets' well. TPTB wouldn't want you to pull on a proper uniform that might hide them like they hide Kate Mulgrew's, would they?
Can you say "sexist pandering"...? Sure, I knew you could.
Nit Value: 1.00 (I do expect better from Trek than this)
Summary:
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Nit Value for "In The Flesh": 7.00
Wulf's Nitpicker Rating: 3.00
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10 - Nit Value = Wulf's Nitpicker Rating
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