To The Journey: A Star Trek Voyager Podcast

“Initiations” 30th-anniversary reflections

While on a solo shuttle trip to perform a quiet ritual for his late father, Chakotay wanders into Kazon-Ogla space and finds himself face-to-face with his would-be executioner: a teenager named Kar. Overcoming the boy is not a problem, but Chakotay’s refusal to kill him is—at least among the Kazon. Death would give Kar’s life meaning (don’t think about that for too long). Back on the Kazon ship, they both get chastised by First Maje Razik as total failures for not doing their killing duty properly. After escaping the ship and becoming stranded together on a Kazon training moon, Chakotay and Kar continue their standoff until Chakotay finally stages his own death so that Kar can both live and earn his name.

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Initiations,” another attempt to make the Kazon work, a chance to explore Chakotay’s background, Aron Eisenberg on Voyager, and more.

Chapters

Intro (00:00:00)

Neelix Does Way More Than Cook (00:02:30)

Fleshing Out Chakotay (00:06:23)

Based on Gang Research (00:12:17)

Aron’s Performance (00:21:12)

Indoctrination (00:25:16)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:26:44)

Closing (00:30:45)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“The 37's” 30th-anniversary reflections

Rust in space leads Voyager to one of the strangest finds in Star Trek history: a 1936 Ford pickup truck. Janeway decides to bring the ancient "ground vehicle" aboard, and Tom Paris—suddenly an expert on 20th-century automotive tech—starts playing with its AM radio and picks up an SOS from a nearby planet. On the surface, the crew discovers even more oddities: humans displaced in time, including aviator Amelia Earhart, who famously vanished. Solving one of Earth's great mysteries turns out to be the easy part, however. After 400 years, humans have built a community on the planet, and they invite Voyager's crew everyone to stay. Will they?

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we jump into season 2 as we discuss “The 37's,” how the story works as a season opener, its intended role as the season 1 finale, the TOS flavor, conflicting creative visions, and more.

Chapters

Intro (00:00:00)

A TOS Tone (00:02:25)

Intended Finale (00:06:46)

Again with People from the Past (00:09:25)

Janeway Meets a Hero (and Lands the Ship) (00:13:16)

Should I Stay or Should I Go? (00:17:34)

Conflicting Concepts (00:21:38)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:30:38)

Closing (00:33:12)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“Learning Curve” 30th-anniversary reflections

When four Maquis crew members refuse to adapt to Starfleet protocols, Tuvok is handed the unenviable task of whipping them into shape. But while he struggles to understand why his time-honored methods and Vulcan charm aren't working, a more immediate threat is taking hold in Neelix's kitchen: cheese. In his efforts to delight Ensign Ashmore with a taste from home, the self-proclaimed chef has been cultivating bacteria just below a vent that feeds into the ship's bio-neural circuitry. Now the gel packs have a cold and systems are failing one by one. It's time to get the cheese to sickbay!

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Learning Curve,” Tuvok's impossible mission, the cheesy concept, how it ends the first season, and more.

Chapters

Intro (00:00:00)

Meet the Burleighs (00:02:38)

Addressing the Maquis Problem (00:08:17)

Does Tuvok Have Amnesia? (00:14:56)

Chakotay's Character Development (00:20:33)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:22:08)

Closing (00:32:31)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“Jetrel” 30th-anniversary reflections

When a Haakonian shuttle hails Voyager and asks to speak with Neelix, the ship's cook and guide is shocked. The caller is Dr. Ma'Bor Jetrel, and they have a past. Jetrel designed the Metreon Cascade, a weapon that killed more than 300,000 Talaxians, including Neelix's entire family, and left him without a home. It turns out the scientist is dying from a disease caused by the Cascade, and Neelix may be as well. Jetrel says he has come to offer medical help. Neelix wants nothing to do with him. But after Jetrel comes aboard, both men discover that the secrets they have been carrying go deeper than they want to admit.

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Jetrel,” a serious moment for Neelix, the story's historical parallels, and more.

Chapters

Intro (00:00:00)

The Right Time for a Neelix Episode? (00:02:19)

Historical Parallels (00:09:19)

Does It Work? (00:15:51)

Digging into Neelix (00:19:00)

Living Up to the Series Promise (00:22:28)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:24:45)

Closing (00:31:09)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“Faces” 30th-anniversary reflections

In search of alien DNA that could be used to create a cure for the Phage, the Vidiians kidnap B'Elanna Torres and split her into separate human and Klingon halves. The human B'Elanna finds herself frightened and vulnerable while the Klingon B'Elanna leans on strength and confidence to begin planning an escape. It's only by working together, however, that they are able to return to Voyager. Once back, B'Elanna must face the reality that she will be merged back into an individual with conflicting personas battling inside.

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Faces,” what the story does for B'Elanna's early character development, and how Roxann Dawson pulled off playing distinct human and Klingon halves.

Chapters

Intro (00:00:00)

My (Not Evil) Twin (00:02:09)

Early B'Elanna/Paris (00:08:53)

Getting to Know B'Elanna (00:11:00)

Pulling It Off (00:17:58)

Welcome to My Nightmare (00:25:27)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:28:28)

Closing (00:30:33)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“Cathexis” 30th-anniversary reflections

While Captain Janeway shacks up in ancient England, Chakotay has an out-of-body experience. There's been an attack on the shuttle he was riding around in with Tuvok, and while the Vulcan suffered only a concussion, all of Chakotay's bio-neural energy has been drained and he has fallen into a coma. The Doctor says he can keep him alive, but nothing more, since his brain is dead. That's when B'Elanna turns to a medicine wheel to save her old friend.

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Cathexis,” the writers' attempt to add depth to Chakotay's Native American heritage, the twist, and, of course, that holonovel.

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

"Heroes and Demons" 30th-anniversary reflections

Harry Kim's disappearance draws the Voyager crew into a medieval mystery as a holodeck recreation of the Old English epic Beowulf starts converting people into energy. There's just one person on the ship who can safely venture into the holographic forest to find the young ensign: the Doctor. That trip into the unknown leads to many firsts for the man briefly called Schweitzer, and reveals a very Star Trek story.

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss "Heroes and Demons," how tapping into elements unique to the series creates a story true to the core of Star Trek, how it sets the stage for The Doctor's character, and what we think of his choice of name.

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) The Setting (and the Sets) (00:02:11) A Doctor's Tale (00:13:03) Tapping into the Promise of Voyager (00:17:36) T'Pol Sidebar (00:24:27) Schweitzer! Schweitzer! (00:27:04) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:31:04) Closing (00:32:53)

Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“Heroes and Demons” 30th-anniversary reflections

Harry Kim's disappearance draws the Voyager crew into a medieval mystery as a holodeck recreation of the Old English epic Beowulf starts converting people into energy. There's just one person on the ship who can safely venture into the holographic forest to find the young ensign: the Doctor. That trip into the unknown leads to many firsts for the man briefly called Schweitzer, and reveals a very Star Trek story.

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Heroes and Demons,” how tapping into elements unique to the series creates a story true to the core of Star Trek, how it sets the stage for The Doctor's character, and what we think of his choice of name.

Chapters

Intro (00:00:00)

The Setting (and the Sets) (00:02:11)

A Doctor's Tale (00:13:03)

Tapping into the Promise of Voyager (00:17:36)

T'Pol Sidebar (00:24:27)

Schweitzer! Schweitzer! (00:27:04)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:31:04)

Closing (00:32:53)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“State of Flux” 30th-anniversary reflections

A scouting expedition to an alien planet leads to a game-changing discovery. Surprisingly, it's not leola root. Nor is it mushrooms; though these are all pretty tasty finds. Even the Kazon can't lay claim to the title, despite turning out to have Starfleet technology aboard their ship. But we're getting warmer. How did the Kazon get their hands on the tech? It looks like the Voyager crew have a traitor in their midst. As Janeway, Chakotay, and Tuvok set out to solve the Case of the Cream of Mushroom, the trail leads them to a shocking revelation.

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “State of Flux,” Seska's big secret, how the story questions Starfleet ideals, and why establishing characters before plot twists matters.

Chapters

Intro (00:00:00)

Playing with Promise (00:02:35)

Playing with Loyalties (00:06:37)

Playing with Chakotay and Seska (00:10:49)

Building Character for the Reveal (00:18:18)

Questioning Starfleet Ideals (00:22:47)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:26:58)

Closing (00:30:53)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

"State of Flux" 30th-anniversary reflections

A scouting expedition to an alien planet leads to a game-changing discovery. Surprisingly, it's not leola root. Nor is it mushrooms; though these are all pretty tasty finds. Even the Kazon can't lay claim to the title, despite turning out to have Starfleet technology aboard their ship. But we're getting warmer. How did the Kazon get their hands on the tech? It looks like the Voyager crew have a traitor in their midst. As Janeway, Chakotay, and Tuvok set out to solve the Case of the Cream of Mushroom, the trail leads them to a shocking revelation. In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss "State of Flux," Seska's big secret, how the story questions Starfleet ideals, and why establishing characters before plot twists matters.

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Playing with Promise (00:02:35) Playing with Loyalties (00:06:37) Playing with Chakotay and Seska (00:10:49) Building Character for the Reveal (00:18:18) Questioning Starfleet Ideals (00:22:47) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:26:58) Closing (00:30:53)

Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)