Tread Perilously -- Star Trek VOY: Drone

Tread Perilously's Star Trek month continues with an episode of Voyager called "Drone." When a close call in the transporter merges Seven of Nine's nano implants with the Doctor's 29th Century holotransmitter, a future Borg gestates in the silence lab. Despite the similarities to the Tuvix incident, Captain Janeway allows it to live and assigns Seven to be its teacher. But when the drone, who self-identifies as One, starts asking difficult questions about the Borg, he defies Seven and reaches out directly. Will she be able to teach him why the Borg are wrong before they assimilate his advanced technologies? Erik and Justin face a standard issue episode of Voyager that might actually be good. They debate the merits of the story, nonetheless, with Erik pointing out four or five Next Generation episodes it emulates. Jeri Ryan continues to be the show's MVP, with Robert Picardo and Tim Russ close behind her. Janeway's choice to allow One to live is examined in light of the reappraisal of "Tuvix." The presence of Bryan Fuller in the writing credits leads to a surprising twist. Harry Kim's future as an eternal ensign becomes text. The pair try to determine which cast members are still engaged in Season 5 and a minor character leads to a larger critique of Voyager as a whole.