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Nevertheless, season five could also be characterized as having a darker, more brooding atmosphere than had gone before, with several of the principal characters facing extremely dark moments in their development. None more so than in the season premiere {{e|Night}} which sees ''Voyager'' attempting to traverse a dark region of space, devoid of all matter and energy. It is during this episode that Janeway is forced to confront her unceasing guilt over the initial decision she made to destroy the [[Caretaker (Nacene)|Caretaker]]'s array at the beginning of the series, and strand ''Voyager'' in the [[Delta Quadrant]];
  
Nevertheless, season five could also be characterized as having a darker, more brooding atmosphere than had gone before, with several of the principal characters facing extremely dark moments in their development. None more so than in the season premiere {{e|Night}} which sees ''Voyager'' attempting to traverse a dark region of space, devoid of all matter and energy. It is during this episode that Janeway is forced to confront her unceasing guilt over the initial decision she made to destroy the [[Caretaker (Nacene)|Caretaker]]'s array at the beginning of the series, and strand ''Voyager'' in the [[Delta Quadrant]];
   
−
"''I made an error in judgment Chakotay. It was short-sighted and it was selfish, and now all of us are paying for my mistake!''"
 +
"''I made an error in judgment, Chakotay. It was short-sighted and it was selfish, and now all of us are paying for my mistake!''"
   
−
Other similar crises of confidence are played out throughout the season. [[B'Elanna Torres]], racked with grief over the death of her friends in the [[Maquis]] begins to self-harm in {{e|Extreme Risk}}, [[Seven of Nine]] becomes overwhelmed by the voices of the Collective in {{e|Infinite Regress}}, [[Tom Paris]] faces demotion and incarceration in {{e|Thirty Days}}, [[The Doctor]]'s decision-making skills are tested as he revisits the greatest threat to his program in {{e|Latent Image}}, and [[Harry Kim]]'s spotless record receives a dent for the first time when he continues a sexual relationship against orders in {{e|The Disease}} (according to Garrett Wang in an interview for the Season 5 DVD set, the episode was titled "Alien Love Story"). Arguably Captain Janeway experiences dark traits in Season 5, most notably in her getting angry with Tom Paris, Harry Kim and the Doctor in the episodes "Thirty Days," "The Disease," and "Latent Image," respectively.
+
Other similar crises of confidence are played out throughout the season. [[B'Elanna Torres]], racked with grief over the death of her friends in the [[Maquis]] begins to self-harm in {{e|Extreme Risk}}, [[Seven of Nine]] becomes overwhelmed by the voices of the Collective in {{e|Infinite Regress}}, [[Tom Paris]] faces demotion and incarceration in {{e|Thirty Days}}, [[The Doctor]]'s decision-making skills are tested as he revisits the greatest threat to his program in {{e|Latent Image}}, and [[Harry Kim]]'s spotless record receives a dent for the first time when he continues a sexual relationship against orders in {{e|The Disease}} (according to Garrett Wang in an interview for the Season 5 DVD set, the episode was titled "Alien Love Story"). Arguably Captain Janeway experiences the most of the dark traits in Season 5, most notably in her getting angry with Tom Paris, Harry Kim and the Doctor in the episodes "Thirty Days," "The Disease," and "Latent Image," respectively.
   
 
This sombre bleakness arguably reaches a crescendo with two episodes mid-way through the season. In {{e|Bliss}}, a bio-plasmic lifeform uses neurogenic fields to induce illusions amongst the crew, convincing them to enter what they believe is a wormhole leading directly to the [[Alpha Quadrant]]. Once inside the creature, the audience is treated to shots (for the first time since the series began) showing ''Voyager''{{'}}s return to [[Earth]]. The fact that the images are merely telepathic delusions makes "Bliss" one of the darkest episodes of the season. And in {{e|Course: Oblivion}}, in a throw-back to season four's {{e|Demon}}, the crew realize they are nothing but bio-mimetic copies of the original crew and slowly, one by one, succumb to radiation poisoning from ''Voyager''{{'}}s enhanced warp drive. The episode closes with the entire ship and crew reduced to a cloud of dichromate particulates, with no record of their existence surviving. "Course: Oblivion" marks a departure from the usual style of Star Trek (and American) story-telling in general with no "happy ending", no moral at the end, and nothing to redeem the crew's struggle as being ultimately "worth it".
  
This sombre bleakness arguably reaches a crescendo with two episodes mid-way through the season. In {{e|Bliss}}, a bio-plasmic lifeform uses neurogenic fields to induce illusions amongst the crew, convincing them to enter what they believe is a wormhole leading directly to the [[Alpha Quadrant]]. Once inside the creature, the audience is treated to shots (for the first time since the series began) showing ''Voyager''{{'}}s return to [[Earth]]. The fact that the images are merely telepathic delusions makes "Bliss" one of the darkest episodes of the season. And in {{e|Course: Oblivion}}, in a throw-back to season four's {{e|Demon}}, the crew realize they are nothing but bio-mimetic copies of the original crew and slowly, one by one, succumb to radiation poisoning from ''Voyager''{{'}}s enhanced warp drive. The episode closes with the entire ship and crew reduced to a cloud of dichromate particulates, with no record of their existence surviving. "Course: Oblivion" marks a departure from the usual style of Star Trek (and American) story-telling in general with no "happy ending", no moral at the end, and nothing to redeem the crew's struggle as being ultimately "worth it".
Line 23: Line 23:
   
 
Aside from the action, it should perhaps be noted that it is within season five that the first hints of dissension in the ranks of the principal actors begins to make itself known. A closer look at the episodes reveals that season five remained top-heavy with stories centering on Seven of Nine and her relationship with Janeway, and if anything, encounters with the Borg increased as a result. The one other principal actor whose story-lines and character development appears to have suffered as a result is clearly [[Robert Beltran]] as Chakotay. With this in mind, it is perhaps not surprising that during and after season five, Beltran began to become more vocal and illustrative of his dissatisfaction with the direction the series appeared to be taking. Beltran was however not alone, as some critics of the show had begun to liken ''Voyager'' to the "Janeway and Seven of Nine show." It may be fair to say that ''Voyager''{{'}}s high-water mark had been reached with the advent of {{e|Scorpion}} and the rapturous applause for the series during season four had perhaps begun to wear off.
  
Aside from the action, it should perhaps be noted that it is within season five that the first hints of dissension in the ranks of the principal actors begins to make itself known. A closer look at the episodes reveals that season five remained top-heavy with stories centering on Seven of Nine and her relationship with Janeway, and if anything, encounters with the Borg increased as a result. The one other principal actor whose story-lines and character development appears to have suffered as a result is clearly [[Robert Beltran]] as Chakotay. With this in mind, it is perhaps not surprising that during and after season five, Beltran began to become more vocal and illustrative of his dissatisfaction with the direction the series appeared to be taking. Beltran was however not alone, as some critics of the show had begun to liken ''Voyager'' to the "Janeway and Seven of Nine show." It may be fair to say that ''Voyager''{{'}}s high-water mark had been reached with the advent of {{e|Scorpion}} and the rapturous applause for the series during season four had perhaps begun to wear off.
  +
  +
==Credits==
  +
===Cast===
  +
;Starring:
  +
*[[Kate Mulgrew]] as [[Captain]] [[Kathryn Janeway]]
  +
;Also Starring:
  +
*[[Robert Beltran]] as [[Commander]] [[Chakotay]]
  +
*[[Roxann Dawson]] as [[Lieutenant jg]] [[B'Elanna Torres]]
  +
*[[Robert Duncan McNeill]] as [[Lieutenant jg]] [[Tom Paris]]
  +
*[[Ethan Phillips]] as [[Neelix]]
  +
*[[Robert Picardo]] as [[The Doctor]]
  +
*[[Tim Russ]] as [[Lieutenant commander]] [[Tuvok]]
  +
*[[Garrett Wang]] as [[Ensign]] [[Harry Kim]]
  +
*[[Jeri Ryan]] as [[Seven of Nine]]
  +
  +
===Crew===
  +
;Executive Producers:
  +
* [[Rick Berman]]
  +
* [[Brannon Braga]]
  +
;Supervising Producers:
  +
* [[Peter Lauritson]]
  +
* [[Joe Menosky]]
  +
* [[Kenneth Biller]]
  +
'''Co-Supervising Producer:''' [[Merri D. Howard]]<br />
  +
'''Co-Producer:''' [[J.P. Farrell]]<br />
  +
'''Line Producer:''' [[Brad Yacobian]]<br />
  +
;Creative Consultants:
  +
* [[Michael Piller]]
  +
* [[Jeri Taylor]]
  +
'''Theme By:''' [[Jerry Goldsmith]]<br />
  +
'''Co-Producer:''' [[Dawn Velazquez]]<br />
  +
'''Associate Producer:''' [[Stephen Welke]]<br />
  +
;Story Editors:
  +
* [[Bryan Fuller]]
  +
* [[Nick Sagan]]
  +
;Music by:
  +
* [[Jay Chattaway]]
  +
* [[Dennis McCarthy]]
  +
* [[David Bell]]
  +
'''Director of Photography:''' [[Marvin V. Rush]], A.S.C.<br />
  +
'''Production Designer:''' [[Richard D. James]]<br />
  +
;Editors:
  +
* [[Robert Lederman]]
  +
* [[Daryl Baskin]]
  +
* [[Tom Benko]]
  +
'''Unit Production Manager:''' [[Brad Yacobian]]<br />
  +
;First Assistant Directors:
  +
* [[Arlene Fukai]]
  +
* [[Jerry Fleck]]
  +
'''Second Assistant Director:''' [[Michael DeMeritt]]<br />
  +
;Casting by:
  +
* [[Junie Lowry-Johnson]], C.S.A.
  +
* [[Ron Surma]]
  +
'''Original Casting by:''' [[Nan Dutton]], C.S.A.<br />
  +
'''Casting Executive:''' [[Helen Mossler]], C.S.A.<br />
  +
'''Costume Designer:''' [[Robert Blackman]]<br />
  +
'''Set Decorator:''' [[Jim Mees]]<br />
  +
'''Visual Effects Producer:''' [[Dan Curry]]<br />
  +
;Visual Effects Supervisors:
  +
* [[Mitch Suskin]]
  +
* [[Ronald B. Moore]]
  +
'''Scenic Art Supervisor/Technical Consultant:''' [[Michael Okuda]]<br />
  +
'''Senior Illustrator/Technical Consultant:''' [[Rick Sternbach]]<br />
  +
'''Make-Up Designed and Supervised By:''' [[Michael Westmore]]<br />
  +
'''Art Director:''' [[Louise Dorton]]<br />
  +
'''Set Designer:''' [[Greg Berry]]<br />
  +
;Assistant Editors:
  +
* [[Jacques Gravett]]
  +
* [[Keith Dabney]]
  +
* [[David A. Koeppel]]
  +
;Visual Effects Coordinators:
  +
* [[Arthur J. Codron]]
  +
* [[Elizabeth Castro]]
  +
'''Visual Effects Assistant Editor:''' [[Paul Villasenor]]<br />
  +
'''Visual Effects Associate:''' [[Chad Zimmerman]]<br />
  +
'''Script Supervisor:''' [[Cosmo Genovese]]<br />
  +
'''Special Effects:''' [[Dick Brownfield]]<br />
  +
'''Property Master:''' [[Alan Sims]]<br />
  +
'''Construction Coordinator:''' [[Al Smutko]]<br />
  +
'''Scenic Artist:''' [[Wendy Drapanas]]<br />
  +
'''Video Supervisor:''' [[Denise Okuda]]<br />
  +
'''Hair Designer:''' [[Josee Normand]]<br />
  +
;Make-up Artists:
  +
* [[Suzanne Diaz]]
  +
* [[Tina Hoffman]]
  +
* [[Scott Wheeler]]
  +
* [[James Rohland]]
  +
;Hair Stylists:
  +
* [[Charlotte A. Gravenor]]
  +
* [[Gloria Montemayor]]
  +
* [[Viviane Norman]]
  +
'''Wardrobe Supervisor:''' [[Carol Kunz]]<br />
  +
'''Sound Mixer:''' [[Alan Bernard]], C.A.S.<br />
  +
'''Camera Operator:''' [[Douglas Knapp]], S.O.C.<br />
  +
'''Chief Lighting Technician:''' [[Bill Peets]]<br />
  +
'''First Company Grip:''' [[Randy Burgess]]<br />
  +
;Key Costumers:
  +
* [[Tom Siegel]]
  +
* [[Matt Hoffman]]
  +
* [[Kimberley Shull]]
  +
* [[Erin Regan]]
  +
'''Music Editor:''' [[Gerry Sackman]]<br />
  +
'''Supervising Sound Editor:''' [[Bill Wistrom]]<br />
  +
'''Supervising Sound Effects Editor:''' [[Jim Wolvington]]<br />
  +
;Sound Editors:
  +
* [[Masanobu Tomita]]
  +
* [[T. Ashley Harvey]]
  +
* [[Dale Chaloukian]]
  +
'''Production Coordinator:''' [[Diane Overdiek]]<br />
  +
'''Post Production Coordinator:''' [[Monique K. Chambers]]<br />
  +
;Production Associates:
  +
* [[David Rossi]]
  +
* [[Maril Davis]]
  +
* [[Michael O'Halloran]]
  +
'''Pre-Production Coordinator:''' [[Lolita Fatjo]]<br />
  +
;Assistants to Producers:
  +
* [[Christopher Culhane]]
  +
* [[Robert J. Doherty]]
  +
'''Stunt Coordinator:''' [[Dennis Madalone]]<br />
  +
'''Science Consultant:''' [[Andre Bormanis]]<br />
  +
;Main Title Design by:
  +
* [[Santa Barbara Studios]]
  +
* [[Dan Curry]]
  +
'''Post Production Sound by:''' [[4MC Sound Services]]<br />
  +
'''Filmed with [[Panavision]] cameras and lenses'''<br />
  +
'''Motion Control Photography'''<br />
  +
  +
'''Digital Optical Effects:''' [[Digital Magic]]<br />
  +
'''Special Video Compositing:''' [[CIS]], [[Hollywood]]<br />
  +
'''Editing Facilities:''' [[Four Media Company]]<br />
  +
;Computer Generated Effects:
  +
* [[Foundation Imaging]]
  +
* [[Black Pool Studios]]
   
 
==Background information==
  
==Background information==
Line 28: Line 161:
 
* This season was broadcast concurrent with ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' [[DS9 Season 7|Season 7]], and {{film|9}} was released during its run.
  
* This season was broadcast concurrent with ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' [[DS9 Season 7|Season 7]], and {{film|9}} was released during its run.
 
* Characters which, during this season, '[[Character crossover appearances|crossover]]' from other incarnations of ''[[Star Trek]]'': [[Geordi La Forge]] ({{e|Timeless}}), two different versions of [[Boothby]] ({{e|In the Flesh}} & {{e|The Fight}}), and the [[Borg Queen]] ({{e|Dark Frontier}}).
  
* Characters which, during this season, '[[Character crossover appearances|crossover]]' from other incarnations of ''[[Star Trek]]'': [[Geordi La Forge]] ({{e|Timeless}}), two different versions of [[Boothby]] ({{e|In the Flesh}} & {{e|The Fight}}), and the [[Borg Queen]] ({{e|Dark Frontier}}).
⚫
* The Deck 1 sets, such as the bridge, suffered smoke and sprinkler damage as a result of a fire during this season (specifically, on {{d|2|October|1998}}). [[Robert Picardo]] once jokingly claimed he had started the fire with a lit cigar. {{brokenlink|url=http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/community/chat/archive/transcript/1241.html}} The blaze was actually started by one of the studio arc lamps' bulbs exploding. (''[[Delta Quadrant (reference book)|Delta Quadrant]]'', p. 281) "''One of the light bulbs popped,''" offered Tom Paris and Captain Proton actor [[Robert Duncan McNeill]]. "''I guess the spark smoldered down in the dust, and caught fire on the ceiling of the bridge.''" (''[[Cinefantastique]]'', Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 52) The sparks also set fire to the starfield backdrop curtain. (''[[Delta Quadrant (reference book)|Delta Quadrant]]'', p. 281; ''[[Beyond the Final Frontier]]'', p. 326) The fire was only a minimal one, however, and the main damage was caused by the sprinklers that doused the flames. (''[[Delta Quadrant (reference book)|Delta Quadrant]]'', p. 281; ''[[Beyond the Final Frontier]]'', p. 326) Robert Duncan McNeill remarked, "''No one was hurt, but we had a hungry crew and our lunch was on that stage.''" (''[[Cinefantastique]]'', Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 52) The small blaze occurred during a publicity photo shoot with executive producer [[Rick Berman]]. (''[[Cinefantastique]]'', Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 52; ''[[Delta Quadrant (reference book)|Delta Quadrant]]'', p. 281) According to the unofficial [[reference works|reference book]] ''Delta Quadrant'' (p. 281), Berman's presence on the bridge at the time prompted some deprecating humorists to claim that "the lightning missed." Robert Duncan McNeill also commented on the link between Berman being on the bridge and parts of the same set meanwhile igniting; "''I don't know what the connection is but I am sure there is some meaning.''" (''[[Cinefantastique]]'', Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 52) Minor repairs were required, largely owing to the water damage that the small fire had caused. (''[[Star Trek: Voyager Companion]]'', p. 284) According to ''Delta Quadrant'' (p. 281), these repairs were used &ndash; by the construction crew and the art department &ndash; as an excuse to make a few slight modifications, such as reupholstering the chairs.
  
   
−
==See also==
 +
===Fire===
  ⚫
The Deck 1 sets, such as the bridge, suffered smoke and sprinkler damage as a result of a fire during this season (specifically, on {{d|2|October|1998}}). [[Robert Picardo]] once jokingly claimed he had started the fire with a lit cigar. {{brokenlink|url=http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/community/chat/archive/transcript/1241.html}} The blaze was actually started by one of the studio arc lamps' bulbs exploding. (''[[Delta Quadrant (reference book)|Delta Quadrant]]'', p. 281) "''One of the light bulbs popped,''" offered Tom Paris and Captain Proton actor [[Robert Duncan McNeill]]. "''I guess the spark smoldered down in the dust, and caught fire on the ceiling of the bridge.''" (''[[Cinefantastique]]'', Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 52) The sparks also set fire to the starfield backdrop curtain. (''[[Delta Quadrant (reference book)|Delta Quadrant]]'', p. 281; ''[[Beyond the Final Frontier]]'', p. 326) The fire was only a minimal one, however, and the main damage was caused by the sprinklers that doused the flames. (''[[Delta Quadrant (reference book)|Delta Quadrant]]'', p. 281; ''[[Beyond the Final Frontier]]'', p. 326)
  +
  +
Robert Duncan McNeill remarked, "''No one was hurt, but we had a hungry crew and our lunch was on that stage.''" (''[[Cinefantastique]]'', Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 52) The small blaze occurred during a publicity photo shoot with executive producer [[Rick Berman]]. (''[[Cinefantastique]]'', Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 52; ''[[Delta Quadrant (reference book)|Delta Quadrant]]'', p. 281) According to the unofficial [[reference works|reference book]] ''Delta Quadrant'' (p. 281), Berman's presence on the bridge at the time prompted some deprecating humorists to claim that "the lightning missed." Robert Duncan McNeill also commented on the link between Berman being on the bridge and parts of the same set meanwhile igniting; "''I don't know what the connection is but I am sure there is some meaning.''" (''[[Cinefantastique]]'', Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 52)
  +
  +
Minor repairs were required, largely owing to the water damage that the small fire had caused. (''[[Star Trek: Voyager Companion]]'', p. 284) According to ''Delta Quadrant'' (p. 281), these repairs were used &ndash; by the construction crew and the art department &ndash; as an excuse to make a few slight modifications, such as reupholstering the chairs.
  +
  +
===See also===
  +
*[[VOY Season 5 performers]]
 
*[[VOY Season 5 UK VHS]]
  
*[[VOY Season 5 UK VHS]]
 
*[[VOY Season 5 DVD]]
  
*[[VOY Season 5 DVD]]
  +
  +
==External link==
  +
* {{startrek.com|star-trek-voyager-season-five-credits|VOY Season 5 credits}}
   
 
{| class="browser"
  
{| class="browser"
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| class="next" | Next Season:<br />[[VOY Season 6]]
  
| class="next" | Next Season:<br />[[VOY Season 6]]
 
|}
  
|}
−  
⚫
[[Category:Star Trek]]
  
   
 
[[cs:Pátá sezóna VOY]]
  
[[cs:Pátá sezóna VOY]]
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[[fr:VOY Saison 5]]
  
[[fr:VOY Saison 5]]
 
[[nl:VOY Seizoen 5]]
  
[[nl:VOY Seizoen 5]]
  +
[[sr:ВОЈ: Сезона 5]]
 
[[sv:VOY, säsong 5]]
  
[[sv:VOY, säsong 5]]
  ⚫
[[Category:Star Trek seasons]]

Revision as of 19:20, 22 March 2015

Template:Realworld

Episodes

Title Episode Production number Stardate Original airdate
"Night" 5x01 195 52081.2 1998-10-14
"Drone" 5x02 196 Unknown 1998-10-21
"Extreme Risk" 5x03 197 Unknown 1998-10-28
"In the Flesh" 5x04 198 52136.4 1998-11-04
"Once Upon a Time" 5x05 199 Unknown 1998-11-11
"Timeless" 5x06 201 52164.3 1998-11-18
"Infinite Regress" 5x07 203 52356.2 1998-11-25
"Nothing Human" 5x08 200 Unknown 1998-12-02
"Thirty Days" 5x09 202 52179.4 1998-12-09
"Counterpoint" 5x10 204 Unknown 1998-12-16
"Latent Image" 5x11 206 Unknown 1999-01-20
"Bride of Chaotica!" 5x12 207 Unknown 1999-01-27
"Gravity" 5x13 205 52438.9 1999-02-03
"Bliss" 5x14 209 52542.3 1999-02-10
"Dark Frontier" 5x15/16 211/212 52619.2 1999-02-17
"The Disease" 5x17 210 Unknown 1999-02-24
"Course: Oblivion" 5x18 213 52586.3 1999-03-03
"The Fight" 5x19 208 Unknown 1999-03-24
"Think Tank" 5x20 214 Unknown 1999-03-31
"Juggernaut" 5x21 215 Unknown 1999-04-26
"Someone to Watch Over Me" 5x22 216 52648.0 1999-04-28
"11:59" 5x23 217 52840 1999-05-05
"Relativity" 5x24 218 52861.274 1999-05-12
"Warhead" 5x25 219 Unknown 1999-05-19
"Equinox" 5x26 220 Unknown 1999-05-26

Summary

With Brannon Braga taking up the showrunner's role after Jeri Taylor's retirement, season five saw the franchise settle into what was to become a familiar pattern of story-telling following the changes made during the latter half of season three, and the tumultuous events of season four. A desire to return to Earth remained the Voyager crew's singular mission, but the themes of "family" and of Voyager as "home" introduced in seasons three and four meant that the series paradigm gently shifted in season five, evidenced best by Janeway's remark at the end of Voyager's 100th episode, "Timeless";

"It no longer seems a case of if we get home, but when!"

Nevertheless, season five could also be characterized as having a darker, more brooding atmosphere than had gone before, with several of the principal characters facing extremely dark moments in their development. None more so than in the season premiere "Night" which sees Voyager attempting to traverse a dark region of space, devoid of all matter and energy. It is during this episode that Janeway is forced to confront her unceasing guilt over the initial decision she made to destroy the Caretaker's array at the beginning of the series, and strand Voyager in the Delta Quadrant;

"I made an error in judgment, Chakotay. It was short-sighted and it was selfish, and now all of us are paying for my mistake!"

Other similar crises of confidence are played out throughout the season. B'Elanna Torres, racked with grief over the death of her friends in the Maquis begins to self-harm in "Extreme Risk", Seven of Nine becomes overwhelmed by the voices of the Collective in "Infinite Regress", Tom Paris faces demotion and incarceration in "Thirty Days", The Doctor's decision-making skills are tested as he revisits the greatest threat to his program in "Latent Image", and Harry Kim's spotless record receives a dent for the first time when he continues a sexual relationship against orders in "The Disease" (according to Garrett Wang in an interview for the Season 5 DVD set, the episode was titled "Alien Love Story"). Arguably Captain Janeway experiences the most of the dark traits in Season 5, most notably in her getting angry with Tom Paris, Harry Kim and the Doctor in the episodes "Thirty Days," "The Disease," and "Latent Image," respectively.

This sombre bleakness arguably reaches a crescendo with two episodes mid-way through the season. In "Bliss", a bio-plasmic lifeform uses neurogenic fields to induce illusions amongst the crew, convincing them to enter what they believe is a wormhole leading directly to the Alpha Quadrant. Once inside the creature, the audience is treated to shots (for the first time since the series began) showing Voyager's return to Earth. The fact that the images are merely telepathic delusions makes "Bliss" one of the darkest episodes of the season. And in "Course: Oblivion", in a throw-back to season four's "Demon", the crew realize they are nothing but bio-mimetic copies of the original crew and slowly, one by one, succumb to radiation poisoning from Voyager's enhanced warp drive. The episode closes with the entire ship and crew reduced to a cloud of dichromate particulates, with no record of their existence surviving. "Course: Oblivion" marks a departure from the usual style of Star Trek (and American) story-telling in general with no "happy ending", no moral at the end, and nothing to redeem the crew's struggle as being ultimately "worth it".

Other developments of note in season five include the use of a new multi-spatial probe, which makes its first appearance in "Extreme Risk", and the construction of a new and improved shuttle. Christened the Delta Flyer, the new ship would take center stage during away missions for the remainder of the series. A tentative resolution to the conflict with Species 8472 is negotiated during "In the Flesh", and Kate Mulgrew's favorite episode "Counterpoint" makes an appearance towards the middle of the season. Leading protagonists include the Borg who appear in multiple episodes throughout the season, most notably in Voyager's first movie length episode "Dark Frontier". Marketing at the time trumpeted this episode as featuring the return of the Borg Queen, first introduced in the Star Trek movie, Star Trek: First Contact.

The Malon are introduced as polluting industrialists and another species for Voyager to contend with, during the season premiere, "Night". Although the Malon make only two more appearances in season five, namely "Extreme Risk" and "Juggernaut", and a passing reference in "Think Tank" and season seven's "The Void", they could perhaps be considered alongside the Kazon, the Borg, the Hirogen, the Vidiians and the Hierarchy as being stalwart species of the series as a whole, and contributing greatly to Voyager's overall journey.

The season finale (the first cliffhanger season finale since season three's "Scorpion," in 1997) sees Voyager make contact with their first Federation starship, the USS Equinox, under the command of Captain Ransom (John Savage). Initial celebrations at finding kindred spirits quickly turn sour however when it is revealed that Ransom and his crew have all but abandoned the Prime Directive by killing innocent lifeforms in an attempt to get home faster. The tension between Janeway and Chakotay (begun as far back as the season three finale, "Scorpion"), is heightened to a mutinous fever-pitch, as Janeway's vendetta against Ransom drives a wedge between her and her crew as the sixth season begins.

Aside from the action, it should perhaps be noted that it is within season five that the first hints of dissension in the ranks of the principal actors begins to make itself known. A closer look at the episodes reveals that season five remained top-heavy with stories centering on Seven of Nine and her relationship with Janeway, and if anything, encounters with the Borg increased as a result. The one other principal actor whose story-lines and character development appears to have suffered as a result is clearly Robert Beltran as Chakotay. With this in mind, it is perhaps not surprising that during and after season five, Beltran began to become more vocal and illustrative of his dissatisfaction with the direction the series appeared to be taking. Beltran was however not alone, as some critics of the show had begun to liken Voyager to the "Janeway and Seven of Nine show." It may be fair to say that Voyager's high-water mark had been reached with the advent of "Scorpion" and the rapturous applause for the series during season four had perhaps begun to wear off.

Credits

Cast

Starring
Also Starring

Crew

Executive Producers
Supervising Producers

Co-Supervising Producer: Merri D. Howard
Co-Producer: J.P. Farrell
Line Producer: Brad Yacobian

Creative Consultants

Theme By: Jerry Goldsmith
Co-Producer: Dawn Velazquez
Associate Producer: Stephen Welke

Story Editors
Music by

Director of Photography: Marvin V. Rush, A.S.C.
Production Designer: Richard D. James

Editors

Unit Production Manager: Brad Yacobian

First Assistant Directors

Second Assistant Director: Michael DeMeritt

Casting by

Original Casting by: Nan Dutton, C.S.A.
Casting Executive: Helen Mossler, C.S.A.
Costume Designer: Robert Blackman
Set Decorator: Jim Mees
Visual Effects Producer: Dan Curry

Visual Effects Supervisors

Scenic Art Supervisor/Technical Consultant: Michael Okuda
Senior Illustrator/Technical Consultant: Rick Sternbach
Make-Up Designed and Supervised By: Michael Westmore
Art Director: Louise Dorton
Set Designer: Greg Berry

Assistant Editors
Visual Effects Coordinators

Visual Effects Assistant Editor: Paul Villasenor
Visual Effects Associate: Chad Zimmerman
Script Supervisor: Cosmo Genovese
Special Effects: Dick Brownfield
Property Master: Alan Sims
Construction Coordinator: Al Smutko
Scenic Artist: Wendy Drapanas
Video Supervisor: Denise Okuda
Hair Designer: Josee Normand

Make-up Artists
Hair Stylists

Wardrobe Supervisor: Carol Kunz
Sound Mixer: Alan Bernard, C.A.S.
Camera Operator: Douglas Knapp, S.O.C.
Chief Lighting Technician: Bill Peets
First Company Grip: Randy Burgess

Key Costumers

Music Editor: Gerry Sackman
Supervising Sound Editor: Bill Wistrom
Supervising Sound Effects Editor: Jim Wolvington

Sound Editors

Production Coordinator: Diane Overdiek
Post Production Coordinator: Monique K. Chambers

Production Associates

Pre-Production Coordinator: Lolita Fatjo

Assistants to Producers

Stunt Coordinator: Dennis Madalone
Science Consultant: Andre Bormanis

Main Title Design by

Post Production Sound by: 4MC Sound Services
Filmed with Panavision cameras and lenses
Motion Control Photography

Digital Optical Effects: Digital Magic
Special Video Compositing: CIS, Hollywood
Editing Facilities: Four Media Company

Computer Generated Effects

Background information

Fire

The Deck 1 sets, such as the bridge, suffered smoke and sprinkler damage as a result of a fire during this season (specifically, on 2 October 1998). Robert Picardo once jokingly claimed he had started the fire with a lit cigar. Template:Brokenlink The blaze was actually started by one of the studio arc lamps' bulbs exploding. (Delta Quadrant, p. 281) "One of the light bulbs popped," offered Tom Paris and Captain Proton actor Robert Duncan McNeill. "I guess the spark smoldered down in the dust, and caught fire on the ceiling of the bridge." (Cinefantastique, Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 52) The sparks also set fire to the starfield backdrop curtain. (Delta Quadrant, p. 281; Beyond the Final Frontier, p. 326) The fire was only a minimal one, however, and the main damage was caused by the sprinklers that doused the flames. (Delta Quadrant, p. 281; Beyond the Final Frontier, p. 326)

Robert Duncan McNeill remarked, "No one was hurt, but we had a hungry crew and our lunch was on that stage." (Cinefantastique, Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 52) The small blaze occurred during a publicity photo shoot with executive producer Rick Berman. (Cinefantastique, Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 52; Delta Quadrant, p. 281) According to the unofficial reference book Delta Quadrant (p. 281), Berman's presence on the bridge at the time prompted some deprecating humorists to claim that "the lightning missed." Robert Duncan McNeill also commented on the link between Berman being on the bridge and parts of the same set meanwhile igniting; "I don't know what the connection is but I am sure there is some meaning." (Cinefantastique, Vol. 31, No. 11, p. 52)

Minor repairs were required, largely owing to the water damage that the small fire had caused. (Star Trek: Voyager Companion, p. 284) According to Delta Quadrant (p. 281), these repairs were used – by the construction crew and the art department – as an excuse to make a few slight modifications, such as reupholstering the chairs.

See also

External link

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