Nits for Star Trek: Voyager episode
Night
1. The holodeck
The biggest problem with "Night" was its use of the holodeck. After the dampening field shuts down the ship's power the holodeck is darkened, despite the fact it runs on an independent power source which Seven reports is working fine. In fact it is working so fine that all of the props for the holodeck program remain in place and the black-and-white special effect continues to function. Even the flashlight works and Seven is able to instruct the computer to disengage the safety protocols.
Yet neither Seven nor Tom order up a flood light for the room and the lights that were operating are no longer operating.
This is, of course, to prevent them from discovering the alien intruder that has managed to beam in with them until they can arrange for its surprise appearance and attack.
Why would the flashlight work but not the lights that lit up the program to begin with? How can the black-and-white effect continue to operate but not the lights?
And how can Seven unilaterally disable the safety protocols? As of TNG's "Descent Part I" holodecks have required two command officers to release the safety protocols. Seven isn't a command officer and no other command officer agrees to release the controls.
And why are Tom and the Doctor fighting over controls in the holodeck. As we see the holodeck responds to voice command (in fact every episode we see involving a holodeck shows it being configured by voice command)?
Nit Value: 2.50
2. Voyager under the dampening field.
This is indeed a problem for Voyager. The dampening field takes out the warp core and all other systems except the holodeck and life support. Even the holodeck's flashlight works, as do all the wristband lights used by the crew, as does the portable power cell. So why doesn't Voyager use the same kind of shielding it uses on the power supplies for the holodeck and wrist lights for the warp core?
Nit Value: 1.50
3. 200,000 km to go and still nothing.
On the other side of the vortex Voyager still can't see stars despite the fact they are within 200,000 km of the border of the void. Obviously sensors are having a problem as they can tell where the edge of the void is without being able to see stars on the other side of the border. A neat trick. What happened to its 2500 light year range while well within the void?
Nit Value 1.00
4. Smoke filled rooms.
After the dampening field has turned out the lights and other power sources we find Chakotay walking through a hallway where the air illuminates his light due to particles floating (dust, smoke, vapour, take your pick). Yet Seven reported that life support was unaffected by the dampening field. So why did the air filters, a part of life support, stop functioning?
Nit Value: 0.50
5. 2500 light years from anything.
Seven reports there is nothing within 2500 light years of their position. Beyond that the sensors cannot see due to the theta radiation. So how does Chakotay know it will take two years to travel the void? To know this he'd need to know how far away the other side of the void is, yet it is obviously not within the 2500 light year radius reported by Seven.
If, however, his two year estimate is for the time it will take to traverse 2500 light years, then Seven's report should have shown the stellar systems they left behind two months ago, as they would be well within the 2500 light year radius. Looking back along the ship should show those stars.
Nit Value: 0.50
6. Emck's isolation suit.
While in the Transporter Room we are told Emck's suit is leaking theta radiation which is why they want to keep him there. Yet when Emck returns he wanders the ship while presumably still leaking theta radiation and no one expresses any concern over this.
Nit Value: 0.50
7. Voyager's quick repairs.
As the ship enters the vortex both warp engines are off-line due to weapons damage. Yet as it leaves the void on the other side at least one engine shows it is operating by the blue light that shines from the nacelle. Total elapsed time is something less than a minute since the nacelle went down, and at least 15 seconds or more of that was spent riding the vortex. So do we assume the damage was just barely enough to kick the thing off-line?
Nit Value: 0.25
8. Tuvok's oversight.
Despite Tuvok's reassurance that one direct hit to the cargo bay by a phaser will render the Maylon ship helpless, all of the phasers and photon torpedoes and quantum torpedoes can't dent the Maylon shield. Why didn't Tuvok mention this little problem before they engaged the Maylon?
Nit Value: 0.25
9. Yet another 20th century holodeck program.
I won't assign a value to this nit, as it's a strictly personal and subjective one. But I for one am sick and tired of every creature who ever uses a holodeck programming yet another 20th century (or pre-20th century) Earth program. Has history been so absolutely dull since the 20th century that no one finds another time frame of any interest whatsoever? DS9 does the same thing but at least has the good grace to keep it off the screen and not waste time showing us these programs.
Nit Value: 0.00
10. Kathryn's "short-sighted and selfish" brooding.
Here's another nit I won't assign a value for. Kathryn complains that her decision to destroy the Caretaker's array was "short-sighted and selfish", yet decides to indulge in another short-sighted and selfish act: brooding and isolating herself from the crew. Once again Chakotay is shown to be the person who should be captain of the ship as he is aware of his responsibilities to the crew and despite his own feelings conducts himself admirably. Kathryn sulks. Why hasn't the Doctor relieved her from command or even inquired as to the state of her mental health?
Nit Value: 0.00
11. Attitude.
And there was lots of it in "Night". Kathryn sulks, Tom is a selfish and pushy individual, B'Elanna explodes at Emck. And these are senior officers. Yet the crew seem to remain passive and friendly or at least keep their emotions in check. Why are these people in control of the ship and others who have a better sense of self-discipline kept in the lower ranks?
Nit Value: 0.00
Summary:
--------------
Nit Value for "Night": 7.00
Wulf's Nitpicker Rating: 3.00
------------------------------------
10 - Nit Value = Wulf's Nitpicker Rating
All episode summaries and nits copyright © 1999 Wulf
Site design and graphics copyright © 1999 Holotech Enterprises
All rights reserved
Star TrekTM, VoyagerTM and Deep Space NineTM
are trademarks owned by Paramount Pictures Corporation.
Design and Hosting by
