OVEG: Waking Moments

Description: The secrets that you keep when you're talking in your sleep.

Ah, the Voyager crew shows us that even unconsciousness is a danger to them. God only knows what happens when they try to use the bathroom. Anyway, everybody starts having nightmares, including the viewer, because of the interference of these ridged aliens. Harry and several other crewmen that apparently no one cares about are unable to wake up, despite the Doctor's best efforts. Chakotay decides to induce a lucid dream, one in which he can control the dream and awaken at will. So, after chasing deer through the ship with a spear, he sees the moon which makes him realize he's dreaming. He then shouts at the alien/deer and it tells him to change course to another planet to leave.

Well they go there and it turns out the aliens invade the ship. Voyager is unable to stop the freaky aliens and are rounded up and put into the cargobay. Seven then beats Harry up (no this not one of his dreams, but it's probably pretty typical). Chakotay realizes that he's still dreaming and wakes up. Well, it turns out that everybody is asleep and having the same dream. So, he and the Doctor try to find the aliens in the waking world. Meanwhile, Janeway decides that a perfect plan includes standing next to the warp core during a breach. Insert joke here. So they no longer have to worry about the aliens, but they're still asleep.

Chakotay finds the aliens in the real world, beams down, and screws up, endangering everyone. (Idiot) Fortunately, the Doctor is prepared to lanch photon torpedoes at the planet and not only kill his commanding officer, but commit genocide. Yes, apparently those EMHs don't have to worry about any stupid old medical oath. Anyway, the aliens let Voyager go free, and we all learn that extortion is the only way to get things done.

Comments: Ah, Harry Kim. I have a feeling that that dream we saw him in is just the tip of a BDSM iceberg that would make the Marquis de Sade weep with envy.

Tuvok's dream, of course, was rather amusing, but overall these nightmares weren't particularly nightmarish. I mean, where's the big monsters? Where's the being trapped in your own coffin buried alive type stuff? Oh no, everyone's covered in spider-webs, how awful! These are the diet coke of nightmares. Just one calorie, not even enough. (thank you Dr. Evil)

Special Silvermoose Commentary: The thing I found to be fascinating is perspective. One man's nightmare can be another person's ecstasy. Take, for example, Neelix's nightmare. He dreamed he was being boiled alive in his own food. Now most crew members would say, "Is this a nightmare? I just had that dream last night and I feel like a million bucks."

Another thing, Chakotay has the worst hunting technique I've ever seen. Because he crouches when he runs he's being "stealthy". I found it fascinating that the deer couldn't see him when he crouched. Too bad they can't put the crouching technology on the ship, it's better than a cloaking device and a whole lot cheaper. And his statement that killing a deer is something he would never do is pretty strange. It's true, but it's like me saying "I'll never have sex with Pamela Anderson." True, but not for the reasons I think, just because the situation will never happen.

Finally, how irresponsible is it for a captain to test out one of her "theories" by risking her own life. Send in Neelix or something. There's a win-win situation. Really though commanding officers would never jeopardize their lives in such a reckless manner. My theory, Janeway hates her own life as she comes crashing down from a caffeine high. (coffee anyone?)

Rating: 6

Best Moment: I should call this the bizzare moment: watching a deer run through the corridors. I would've loved to see Neelix chasing it with a cleaver like some cartoon.

Seven of Nine Moment: Creating a diversion by kicking Esn. Kim's butt.

Stupid Neelix Moment: Giving Paris a cup of cooking oil. Mm, mm, I think I'll wash that down with a big glass of hotdog water.

Continuity Question: What sustains the sleeping aliens? Why don't they die? How do they reproduce? And a dozen other questions about them.

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