“Eye of the Needle” 30th-anniversary reflections

The discover of a wormhole gives the Voyager crew hope that they might soon be home. But there's a catch: the wormhole is just 30 centimeters in diameter. Determined to make use of the anomaly, they figure out how to send a message in a bottle and hope for a response. The answer surprises them. Not only is it from the Alpha Quadrant, it is from a Romulan. Eventually, Janeway convinces the adversary to help them. But their hopes of being rescued are dashed by one more scientific twist.

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 “Eye of the Needle,” the story's scientific underpinnings, the crew's hopes of getting home, and the unexpected twist.

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) She Blinded Me with Science (00:02:31) Inner Thoughts (00:07:03) Jeri Taylor's Janeway Influence (00:13:42) Size Matters (00:15:48) No Doctor Left Behind (00:23:01) Message in a Bottle (00:35:54) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:44:52) Closing (00:50:20)

Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

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

“The Cloud” 30th-anniversary reflections

Several weeks into their journey home, both Janeway and Voyager find their energy reserves running low. For the captain, a simple trip to what used to be her private dining room for a cup of Neelix’s even better than coffee substitute might be all that’s needed. For the ship, however, a trip into a mysterious nebula is required. Voyager is hungry for omicron particles, and there seems to be a rich supply just ahead. But this cloud is not what it seems, and Janeway may need to turn to her animal guide to save the crew.

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 “The Cloud” and how the science-heavy plot wraps a character-focused story.

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) How Do Starfleet Ships Run? (00:03:03) We Are Family (00:12:05) How Many Torpedoes? (00:18:29) Back to Family (00:21:25) Tiptoeing around Chakotay (00:23:34) A Poor Man's Quark? (00:35:02) Strange New Life Form (00:43:17) Sandríne‘s (00:47:27) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:54:44) Closing (00:57:24)

Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

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

“Phage” 30th-anniversary reflections

Chakotay, Kim, and Neelix beam into caves on a rogue planetoid to search for dilithium; but they come back empty-handed. Not only do they have no dilithium, Neelix left something even more important behind: his lungs. With these vital organs now in the possession of mysterious aliens, the ship’s new self-proclaimed chef will have to postpone the opening of his kitchen and stay in sickbay, where the Doctor has fitted him with holographic lungs. As the crew search for the aliens and try to retrieve Neelix’s organs, Janeway is confronted with an unexpected moral dilemma. After being stalked by Vidiians, you may never listen to that famous song by The Police the same way again.

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 “Phage” and the introduction of a fascinating alien race in a story that hits right at the heart of Star Trek.

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) A Species with Depth (00:02:52) A Neelix Problem? (00:08:34) Cooking Up Storytelling (00:17:01) Ripe for Serialization? (00:21:07) Real-Life Science (00:25:30) Wrath and Compassion (00:28:05) The Doctor and AI Evolution (00:36:02) Kes Finds Purpose (00:42:44) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:44:26) Closing (00:48:22)

Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

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

“Time and Again” 30th-anniversary reflections

A planet orbiting a red dwarf presents a mystery that Janeway cannot resist, so Voyager makes a pit stop to investigate. She and Tom Paris beam to the surface and discover a timepiece that has stopped working, seemingly indicating the moment that an explosion destroyed all life. Believing there is nothing left to do, they prepare to return to the ship when the world around them suddenly changes. They’ve jumped back in time one day before the disaster, to a place where a singular color palette rules.

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 “Time and Again” and whether another trip to the well of time is the best way to help viewers get to know the series in its third outing.

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Going to the Well Too Many Times? (00:02:20) Budget Constraints (00:11:43) Why Are They There?! (00:16:30) Is the Mandate Clear? (00:21:35) Meeting Fan Expectations (00:27:20) Kes, Tom, and Developing Characters (00:32:57) The Technobabble Crutch (00:42:30) One World, One Outfit (00:44:47)   Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:48:38) Closing (00:52:28)

Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

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

“Parallax” 30th-anniversary reflections

Caught in a galactic escape room, the newly merged Starfleet and Maquis crews must work together to find a way out while fighting with each other. Meanwhile, the Doctor experiences shrinkage and Neelix does wonderful things with vegetables. Can Voyager become one big happy family and continue making their way home or will they remain trapped inside the event horizon of a quantum singularity?

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 “Parallax” and how the story advances the early concepts of the series. We also dive into Jerry Goldsmith's theme and musical mastery.

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Crew Conflict (00:02:22) Forever Stranded? (00:10:46) Depth Perception (00:16:54) Better without Technobabble? (00:23:14) Finding the Characters (00:30:35) The Incredible Shrinking Doctor (00:33:31) Goldsmith's Theme (00:38:33) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:49:33) Closing (00:53:25)

Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

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

“Caretaker” 30th-anniversary reflections

In pursuit of Maquis rebels, the starship Voyager is pulled across the galaxy and quickly becomes entangled in local affairs. Captain Kathryn Janeway and rebel leader Chakotay, whose ship was also snagged by the entity known as the Caretaker, join forces as they look for a way back to Federation space. But first they must rescue missing crew members with the help of an odd merchant and his girlfriend. Once everyone has been safely returned, Janeway is faced with a difficult decision: take her crew home and abandon a world in need or destroy the Caretaker and strand Voyager 70,000 light years from the Federation.

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing bring back our dedicated Voyager podcast in honor of the 30th-anniversary and kick off a retrospective that will take you through all of the series, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Caretaker” as well as the development of the show and its premise.

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Connecting with Voyager (00:04:18) The Premise (00:15:28) Exploring the Great Unknown (00:23:05) Giving Themselves an Out (00:32:42) Getting to Know the Characters (00:39:15) Kate Mulgrew Saves the Day (00:50:34) The Prime Directive vs. Federation Ideals (00:57:27)   Final Thoughts and Ratings (01:04:54) Closing (01:11:14)

Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

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

After 282 episodes, To The Journey is set for another transition as the current hosts disembark.

In this special episode of To The Journey, hosts Liam Smart and Suzanne Williamson aimlessly talk about things to do with Star Trek Voyager. We talk about Voyager toys, hot aliens, and a bit of fanfic.

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) It's Gonna Smell Terrible (00:04:04) It's Their Eyes (00:13:03) Divine!!! (00:16:21) Harry Dances With a Cow (00:20:29) Closing (00:38:19) 

Hosts Liam Smart and Suzanne Williamson

Production Suzanne Williamson (Editor) Liam Smart (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Bruce Lish (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Associate Producer) Patrick Carlin (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager)

With over 160 episodes of Star Trek: Voyager, you could be forgiven for thinking a few can go on the ‘meh’ pile. There are also a lot of episodes that rise to the top when it comes to thinking of the best of the best. But it is almost impossible to choose just one episode from each series that is not to be missed. 

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts Liam Smart and Suzanne Williamson attempt to whittle down each season to just ONE episode that embodies Voyager. Of course they do not agree...

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Season 1 (00:07:40) Season 2 (00:12:58) Season 3(00:17:43) Season 4 (00:21:47) Season 5 (00:27:20) Season 6 (00:32:06) Season 7 (00:36:53) Closing (00:40:30)  

Hosts Liam Smart and Suzanne Williamson 

Production Suzanne Williamson (Editor) Liam Smart (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Bruce Lish (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Associate Producer) Patrick Carlin (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager)

One of the many, many (did we say many?) episodes of Star Trek: Voyager to feature the Borg, Season 6’s Survival Instinct focuses on members of Seven of Nine’s Unimatrix that crash landed with her on a random planet a few years prior to the events of the episode. These now ex-Borg are desperate to find a way of delinking themselves from the mini-collective they were forced to form by Seven, and now require Seven to help them undo it. 

In this episode of To The Journey, hosts Suzanne Williamson and Liam Smart are joined by Christopher D Littlefield for a commentary on Season 6 Episode 2, Survival Instinct. 

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Commentary (00:11:55) Closing (00:55:38)  

Hosts Liam Smart, and Suzanne Williamson

Guest Christopher D. Littlefield

Production Suzanne Williamson (Editor) Liam Smart (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Bruce Lish (Associate Producer) Joo Kim (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Associate Producer) Patrick Carlin (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager)

Farewells in Voyager and Farewell to Zachary. 

Star Trek: Voyager had its fair share of farewells, from the departure of Kes and Neelix to some emotional farewells between the Voyager crew and their alien love interests of the week. In this episode of To The Journey, we discuss the many farewells in Voyager—even one goodbye that's more of a "good riddance" than a farewell! And, in this special episode of To The Journey, hosts Suzanne Williamson and Liam Smart say their farewells to fellow host Zachary Fruhling, departing the show for the next leg of the journey, in podcasting and in life.  

Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Good Riddance or FU? (00:08:07) Star Trek Men in Black (00:10:06) What Juicy Lungs You Have (00:22:47) Space Hemlock (00:35:29) Why Not All Three? (00:45:32) I Can Whittle You a Bath (00:56:10) To The Google! (01:02:28) Closing (01:14:16) 

Hosts Zachary Fruhling, Suzanne Williamson, and Liam Smart 

Production Suzanne Williamson (Editor) Zachary Fruhling (Producer) Liam Smart (Producer) C Bryan Jones (Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Ken Tripp (Executive Producer) Bruce Lish (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Associate Producer) Patrick Carlin (Associate Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager)