Nits for Star Trek: Voyager episode
Once Upon A Time
1. Tom "ran into an ion storm".
How does one do this? Ion storms are slower than light speed phenomena and judging from the special effects we're shown this doesn't just sneak up on someone. Anything faster than 33,000 kmh can out run an ion storm so just how did this crisis come about?
Nit Value: 0.50
2. A Rescue Meeting?
Why did the entire senior staff decide to take a break from their duties and walk into the ready room to listen to a distress signal from Tuvok? Isn't the usual protocol for the captain to immediately order a course change to render assistance? Was it necessary to have a meeting to decide what to do? Was the situation that vague?
Nit Value: 0.25
3. Seven giving orders to crewmembers?
Why is Seven giving orders to two ensigns when she isn't in the command structure?
Nit Value: 0.25
4. Painting the wounds on.
Samantha's head wound looks very painted. It doesn't change though a day and some hours pass and apparently there are no bandages or even rubbing alcohol to clean it up. There is also no sign of bruising or discoloration around the wound, despite the passage of time.
Nit Value: 0.25
5. The cavern is flooded with fluorine gas.
Inexplicably this wasn't a problem for the rescue teams when they cracked through the all the rock surrounding the Delta Flyer. And is the Delta Flyer not equipped with respirators, etc. for emergencies?
Nit Value: 0.25
6. They tracked the Delta Flyer?
Through two ion storms and the wake in the atmosphere? Yet they can't seem to locate the DF based on the impact crater it left when it hit the surface or the angle of trajectory of the disturbed material it created as it penetrated the rock.
Nit Value: 0.50
7. Harry's attitude towards children on Voyager.
Not a nit I'll assign a value to. I just felt he was far too dismissive of the dangers for children. Especially since he rescued little Naomi from the Vidiians who had killed everyone on board including Naomi's real mother: the duplicate Samantha.
Nit Value: 0.00
8. Neelix's speech to his sister.
A nice touch. Just the wrong place to be having it. For someone who wants desperately to keep the information from Naomi, why does he have to mention the fact that Naomi might lose her mother in the next room 30 seconds after tucking her in to bed and without any door to her room being closed?
Nit Value: 0.25
9. Astrometrics.
Why is it Seven can map caverns 37 kilometres underground yet not find the DF 3 kilometres down,despite the fact that the impact crater and trajectory should both be obvious?
Nit Value: 0.25
10. Kathryn's decision to tell Naomi.
Argh! Kathryn's heartlessness and my problem with it shouldn't be a secret. Kathryn never gives a good reason for telling Naomi now rather than a day or two days from now. Neelix's reasoning is sound. No need to worry Naomi or put her through the emotional turmoil of wondering whether her mother will be alive or not for an unknown amount of time while there is hope of her mother being found alive. Once again Kathryn ignores her "expert" advisor who, she admits, is "closer to her than anyone."
A godparent by human custom is someone who will act as guardian for a child if the parents are unable to function in that role. If Neelix feels the information needn't be shared with Naomi yet then who is Kathryn to decide otherwise, and for no better reason than an arbitrary deadline she imposes? And to force Neelix to tell by use of an ultimatum is nothing more than Voyager's insistence that "Kathryn knows best".
I'm with Neelix: "You Don't Have The RIGHT!"
There are times when I really hate Janeway. This is one of those times.
Nit Value: 1.00
11. Naomi's trip through the ship.
Why is this child roaming the ship? Why doesn't she put a call through to Neelix using the communications system?
Nit Value: 0.25
12. Janeway orders the Sick Bay to expect "heavy casualties".
Since when does "heavy casualties" mean three people?
Shouldn't she be warning them about "serious injuries"?
In fact, why does Sick Bay need to be informed at all? Isn't it always ready for injured people?
Nit Value: 0.25
13. Escape through the turbolift.
Can't these things be told to reverse course, stop, wait for security, etc?
Nit Value: 0.25
14. Naomi's comm badge.
This was a good one. Naomi is never shown wearing it. Yet Neelix appears to never notice this, since he asks the computer to locate her, which it can't do if she never wears it. The one and only time we see her badge is on the Flotter doll. Yet when she left her room the Flotter doll wasn't wearing a badge. Did she return to her quarters, take her badge out of her drawer and put it on the doll? Why?
Nit Value: 0.50
15. That annoying computer voice.
Doesn't it make more sense to mute the voice while recording your last message. Do you think it will make it easier for your loved ones to watch when the computer announces you've got ten minutes till you suffocate?
Nit Value: 0.25
16. Holodeck controls have been encoded?
This shouldn't be a problem. Kathryn can override whatever lockout has been established. In fact, why didn't Neelix end program when he arrived so Naomi could be found immediately?
Nit Value: 0.25
17. Holodeck safety protocol.
No value to this nit, but was anyone else wondering whether Naomi could also override the safeties as have been shown repeatedly this season? Voyager's holodeck episodes have been less than reassuring in this regard.
Nit Value: 0.00
18. Naomi's reaction.
She isn't upset or worried about her mother. She's angry with Neelix for "lying". This doesn't seem like a very realistic response from a little girl who has no father and might have lost her mother.
Nit Value: 0.25
19. An ion storm 6 minutes away.
That would be 3,300 kilometres away when Janeway first mentions it. This is another example of those fickle sensors and scanners that can trace caverns 37 kilometres under rock but cannot pick up an ion storm more than 3,300 kilometres away in space.
Nit Value: 0.25
20. Shields and Transporters.
Transporters beam people and the DF through the edge of an ion storm as well as shields? Amazing.
Nit Value: 0.50
Summary:
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Nit Value for "Once Upon A Time": 6.25
Wulf's Nitpicker Rating: 3.75
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10 - Nit Value = Wulf's Nitpicker Rating
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