Star Trek Voyager: Season Six (www.the-usher.com)

"I've been spending time on Voyager"

Lt. Reginald Barclay

The voyage back to the Alpha Quadrant becomes even more dangerous for Captain Janeway and her crew…

Equinox (Part 2)
Concluding the season five cliff-hanger, the crew of Voyager must find a way to save Captain Janeway and Seven of Nine from Captain Ransom and his crew.

Survival Instinct
Seven of Nine discovers that she was previously freed from the collective along with a few others, and that she was responsible for their re-assimilation. They now wish to be restored to their individuality, but it may cost them their lives, as well as Seven's.

Barge Of The Dead
During a near-death experience, B'Elanna finds herself aboard the Klingon Death Barge, a spectral vessel which transports dishonoured souls to Grethnor. After seeing her mother there, B'Elanna risks her life to go back and save her mother's soul from this fate, even at the cost of her own.

Tinker, Tenor, Doctor, Spy
The Doctor programs himself with the ability to daydream. When an alien spy gains access to the Doctor's visions he mistakes them for reality.

Alice
Tom Paris persuades Chakotay to allow him to buy a shuttle from a junkyard. While repairing it, the shuttle, named 'Alice', begins to gain control over Tom's mind.

Riddles
Tuvok is attacked by an energy source, which leaves him exposed and vulnerable. He soon starts experiencing emotions he never had before.

Dragon's Teeth
The ship is placed in danger when it comes under attack from a territorial race of aliens known as the Turei. While sheltering on a planet, Captain Janeway tries to make an alliance with its inhabitants, the Vaadwaur. However, she soon begins to think that the Vaadwaur may pose a bigger threat than the enemy above.

One Small Step
Voyager searches for a long-lost Mars spacecraft that may have been taken by the Caretaker.

The Voyager Conspiracy
A data-overloaded Seven of Nine starts spreading rumours of a mutiny and insurrection when the ship encounters an alien race who have technology that can catapult the ship light-years closer to home and cut years off their journey.

Pathfinder
An obsessed Barclay tries to find a way to communicate with the starship Voyager with the use of an artificially generated micro-wormhole. He becomes so involved that he needs the help of Counsellor Troi to keep his grip on reality.

Fair Haven
As the crew enjoys time off in a holo-program created by Tom Paris, and set in an Irish village named 'Fair Haven,' Captain Janeway falls for a handsome holo-character specifically designed for her. A deadly neutrino wave approaching Voyager shortly bring the festivities to a halt as this wave may prove to be more dangerous than they first imagined.

Blink Of An Eye
Voyager becomes the target of a society it inadvertently helped to create within a short period of time.

Virtuoso
When the Doctor's singing talents are discovered by a technologically superior race, his new found popularity makes him consider resigning his commission to stay on the alien world with his millions of adoring fans.

Memorial
The crew of Voyager experience vivid memories and dreams of a battle they don't remember having, with an enemy they have never encountered.

Tsunkatse
Seven of Nine is forced into a competition for her life known as 'Tsunkatse,' when she and Tuvok are abducted from the Delta Flyer. If she refuses to fight, Tuvok will be refused the medical aid he needs to keep him from dying from the injuries he sustained from the crash.

Collective
Borg children who were rejected by the Borg as unworthy drones abduct Chakotay, Kim, Neelix and Paris.

Spirit Folk
The inhabitants of the holo-city of Fair Haven suspect the Voyager crew of having mystical powers when they witness the use of their futuristic technology.

Ashes To Ashes
Ensign Lindsay Ballard returns to Voyager after being killed during a previous away mission. An alien race known as the Kobali, whose only method of reproduction is 'resurrection' of the dead through genetic engineering had revived her and taken her as a new member of their race. When the full extent of her new Kobali genes are activated, they reach a point where she must choose between her old home on the ship and her new home with her adoptive Kobali family.

Child's Play
Seven of Nine defends a child Borg drone whose parents come to reclaim him. The boy's parents plan on using him as a secret weapon as revenge on the Borg, even if it results in his death.

Good Shepherd
Captain Janeway takes three crewmen with poor performance records on an away mission in the Delta Flyer in an attempt to bring them to Starfleet standards. However, an unexpected collision with a Dark Matter comet leaves the crew in a perilous situation.

Live Fast And Prosper
A group of con artists impersonate Captain Janeway and the crew of Voyager. The crew must find the impostors soon, or they, themselves will be punished for the con artists' crimes.

Muse
An alien poet discovers an unconscious B'Elanna Torres after her crash landing in the Delta Flyer. However, this poet intends on using her in a play based on her life on Voyager to win favour with his Warlord.

Fury
Kes returns to Voyager in a state of rage, blaming Captain Janeway for her past. Using her expanded Ocampan powers in a fit of revenge, she travels through time to deliver the crew to the Vidiians.

Life Line
News reaches Voyager through the up-and-running Pathfinder project that the Doctor's creator, Lewis Zimmerman, is critically ill. In an attempt to save his life, the Doctor's program is transmitted to the Alpha Quadrant, but once there, he finds Zimmerman does not want to be examined by an 'obsolete' EMH program.

The Haunting Of Deck Twelve
When Voyager encounters some engineering problems, Neelix keeps the Borg children entertained by telling the story of an adventure that the crew experienced several months ago, with the ghost that lives on deck twelve.

Unimatrix Zero (Part 1)
Seven of Nine is led to a place known as Unimatrix Zero where, unknown by the Borg Queen, Borg Drones are individuals for a short period of time during their regeneration. However, once their regeneration is complete, all recollection of the event is erased. Captain Janeway uses this to form a plan of attack that would create a mutiny from within the collective.

Star Trek's third spin off series enters it sixth season but can it keep travelling at warp drive or is it stuck on impulse?

Like many of Voyagers seasons, this one is a bit of a mixed bag. Again there are some standout episodes that would hold up against the best of The Original Series, The Next Generation or Deep Space Nine but there are also some forgettable ones. The problem of consistency plagued the series for its entire run but while the show was never the most original of the series, revisiting many themes that had already been explored in the Star Trek Universe, it still had some good stories to tell.

It is the cast that made the show so memorable, as it included a few classic characters. Chief amongst these is one of the all time great Star Trek characters, The Doctor, played brilliantly by Robert Picardo. Some may argue that the premise for the character is too similar to Data from the Next Generation but Picardo made him unique and one of the most watchable and entertaining characters to grace the Star Trek universe. The sixth season gives him another chance to shine. In the episode 'Tinker, Tenor, Doctor, Spy', Picardo takes centre stage as the Doctor incorporates daydreaming into his program with disastrous results. 'Virtuoso' highlights Picardo's showmanship as his singing takes centre stage again. It is 'Life Line' that really shows what a great actor Picardo is. Playing multiple roles, all with different, distinct personalities, the story is a touching family drama with a holographic twist.

For a character that only joined the series in season four, Jeri Ryan's Seven of Nine has become a strong character and a fan favourite. Much of this is down to considerable acting talent as well as her stunning good looks. Season six sees Seven at the forefront again in some good episodes that showcase the depth of the character. 'Tsunkatse' sees Seven take on WWE superstar turned actor 'The Rock' in a fight to the death. The season also sees the introduction of the Borg children in 'Collective', these reoccurring characters bring a mothering instinct to the forefront.

Other season highlights include 'Pathfinder' with Reginald Barclay and Deanna Troi from 'The Next Generation' making guest star appearances. 'One Small Step' shows you a possible future Mars mission. 'Fury' sees the return of Jennifer Lien as a super powerful Kes, bent on revenge. Cliffhanger 'Unimatrix Zero' sees the return of the Borg Queen and a possible Borg rebellion.

There are also a few forgettable episodes like 'Muse', 'Fair Haven' and 'Alice' but you have come to expect a few substandard each season.

Star Trek Voyager is still good science fiction and season six continues to show this. With an excellent ensemble cast and some strong storyline, Voyager isn't the poorest version of Gene Roddenberry's vision like many fans or critics say but in fact a continuation of a Sci-Fi ideal that has set the standard for all science fiction television to follow.

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in full frame 4:3 with a Dolby Digital 5.1 sound track, the transfer is very good. As the standard of special effects continues to improve with the introduction of even more CGI, the excellent picture quality shows how good they actually were. Match this with some excellent sound, especially during the battle scenes and Star Trek has never sounded or looked so good.

BONUS FEATURES

Braving the Unknown: Season 6 (16.48 mins)
Executive producer Rich Berman, producer Brannon Braga, visual effects producer Dan Curry, director David Livingston and stars Late Mulgrew, Roxann Dawson, Marina Sirtis and The Rock talk about the key episodes of season six of Star Trek Voyager. Covering 'Equinox', 'Pathfinder', 'Tsunkatse' and 'Barge of the Dead', the featurette takes you behind the scenes of these shows and talks to the cast and crew members involved at the time and what they think of those shows now.

One Small Step: A Mars Encounter (9.14 mins)
Science consultant Andre Bormanis, Planetary Society President Louis Friedman and star Robert Picard talk about how the show has influenced scientific advances and how Star Trek is actively involved in modern science endeavours.

Voyager Time Capsule: Chakotay (11.57 mins)
Kate Mulgrew, Roxann Dawson, Ethan Phillips, Tim Russ and Chakotay himself, Robert Beltran talks about the character and his part in the Star Trek Universe. Beltran talks passionately about his association with the franchise, highlighting his and the character's best episodes and the rest of the cast reveal how he is like to work with and that he is the joker in the group.

Red Alert: Amazing Visual Effects (17.10 mins)
Visual effect producers Dan Curry and Ronald B. Moore, digital effects supervisor Rob Bonchune and visual effects supervisor John Teska talk about creating the SFX for seasons five and six. Covering the episodes 'Barge of the Dead', 'Fury', 'Timeless', 'Dark Frontier', 'One Small Step', 'Blink of an Eye', 'Night', 'Bride of Chaotica', 'Thirty Days' and 'Life Line', we see all the work that goes into the outstanding visual effects for the Voyager series.

Guest Star Profile: Vaughn Armstrong (10.02 mins)
Star Trek veteran Vaughn Armstrong talks about his many appearances in the franchise. Appearing in 'The Next Generation', 'Deep Space Nine', 'Enterprise' and 'Voyager' the actor reveals that he has played Klingons, Borg, Cardassians, Vidiians, Romulans and human characters.

Photo Gallery
A collection of publicity and behind the scenes images from season six of Star Trek Voyager

Star-mapping the Final Frontier (12.52 mins)
Author Geoffrey Mandel takes you through the many star charts and maps he has created for the many incarnations of the show. From creating the four galaxy quadrants, to species planetary systems and the classifications of planets, Mandel talks passionately about his job and how detailed his maps have to be.

Star Trek Deep Space Nine DVD Trailer (4.49 mins)
An extended preview of the third Star Trek series as it hits DVD. With interviews of executive producer Rick Berman and stars Avery Brooks, Nana Visitor, Michael Dorn, Terry Farrell and Andrew J. Robinson.

Star Trek: The Next Generation DVD Trailer (1.10 mins)
A short trailer advertising the DVD release of the first Star Trek spin-off series

Star Trek: The Original Series DVD Trailer
A preview of the DVD release of the classic series with Kirk, Spock, Bones and the rest of the Enterprise crew Easter Eggs Hidden mini featurettes covering Borg makeup, Jeffery Combs in Voyager, LeVar Burton, Fair Haven and director David Livingston.

OVERALL

Paramount has continued to do an exceptional job with the Star Trek Voyager DVD releases. The presentation of the episodes is first rate and the bonus material is fun and informative. While a few commentary tracks on episodes wouldn't have gone a miss and the sets are a little expensive (Shop around), this is still an excellent package for Voyager fans to revel in.

DVD

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