“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)