Body and Soul (Star Trek: Voyager)

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"Body and Soul"
Star Trek: Voyager episode
Episode no.Season 7
Episode 7
Directed by Robert Duncan McNeill
Teleplay by
Featured music Dennis McCarthy
Production code255
Original air dateNovember 15, 2000 (2000-11-15)
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
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"Inside Man"
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"Nightingale"
Star Trek: Voyager season 7
List of episodes

"Body and Soul" is the 153rd episode of Star Trek: Voyager , the seventh episode of the seventh season. This television episode is one installment of a science fiction series involving a spacecraft trying to get back to Earth from the other side of the Galaxy. The show aired on the United Paramount Network on November 15, 2000. It is focused especially on two characters, Seven of Nine (a former Borg drone) and the holographic medical program called the Doctor (played by Jeri Ryan and Robert Picardo respectively). The episode was noted for its humor and acting performances in reception.

Contents

Plot

Aboard the Delta Flyer , Seven of Nine, the Doctor, and Ensign Harry Kim, encounter the Lokirrin species. The Lokirrin experienced an insurgency by their holograms, and therefore harbor prejudice against all photonic beings. The Lokirrin detect the Doctor and board the Delta Flyer; they capture Seven and Kim, but the Doctor is nowhere to be found. Seven reveals to Kim that she is the Doctor—Seven downloaded his program into her Borg implants, and he controls Seven's body. As Seven, the Doctor interacts with several Lokirrin crew, and their captain Ranek is attracted to her.

The Doctor temporarily grants Seven possession of her own body. Seven protests his indulgence in food and sexual arousal while controlling her body, but the Doctor argues such sensations and emotions make life worth living. Meanwhile, Voyager encounters a different group of Lokirrin and Captain Janeway agrees to shut down holodeck activities while in Lokirrin space; unfortunately this interrupts Tuvok's holodeck treatment for pon farr.

The Doctor (in Seven's body) sedates Ranek during a date and contacts Voyager. In the ensuing conflict with Voyager Ranek is injured. The Doctor reveals he is a hologram and treats Ranek, showing the Lokirrin that not all photonic beings are villainous.

Back aboard Voyager, the Doctor and Seven enjoy a meal together, while Tuvok has completed his holodeck treatment.

Production

Robert Picardo is the Voyager EMH "The Doctor", in this episode noted for its humor and acting performances Robert Picardo by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Robert Picardo is the Voyager EMH "The Doctor", in this episode noted for its humor and acting performances

"Body and Soul" was one of four episodes of Star Trek: Voyager to be directed by cast member Robert Duncan McNeill, who portrays Tom Paris in the series. He liked the story itself, and praised the guest stars Megan Gallagher and Fritz Sperberg. He said that "I just had such fun on that. It was a real treat." [1] Specifically of Jeri Ryan's performance, he said that she did a "great job" in duplicating the mannerisms of Robert Picardo; [1] "Jeri nailed Bob's gestures, his eye rolls, everything." [1] He also felt that the comedy in the episode translated to viewers who were not necessarily fans of the show but that Ryan's performance added an extra layer for fans. [1]

Gallagher had previously appeared twice in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine prior to her Voyager appearance, first in the episode "Invasive Procedures" and then in the fan favourite "Little Green Men". She was visiting her husband Jeff Yagher on the set of the Voyager episode "Flesh and Blood", and was asked by Merri Howard if she was free to appear in the series as Howard and McNeill were preparing for "Body and Soul" at the time. She was not required to audition, and instead was cast as Lt. Jaryn for the episode. [2]

Reception

In 2012, Den of Geek listed this as an honorable mention for their ranking of the top ten episodes of Star Trek: Voyager. [3]

In 2017, this was ranked as one of the funniest Star Trek episodes of the franchise. [4] They also praised actress Jeri Ryan's acting performance as the uploaded EMH personality with such lines as enjoying cheesecake. [4]

In 2019, CBR noted this episode as one of the top 20 funniest episodes of the Star Trek franchise, which at the time included more than 700 installments. [5] They stated "Ryan and Picardo are obviously having pure fun with this...", especially remarking how Jeri Ryan impersonated the other character, which due to the story's plot elements had been uploaded to her cybernetic storage. [5]

Home media releases

On December 21, 2003, this episode was released on DVD as part of a Season 7 boxset; Star Trek Voyager: Complete Seventh Season. [6]

Related Research Articles

The Doctor (<i>Star Trek: Voyager</i>) Fictional character from Star Trek: Voyager

The Doctor, an Emergency Medical Hologram, is a fictional character portrayed by actor Robert Picardo on the television series Star Trek: Voyager, which aired on UPN between 1995 and 2001. He is an artificial intelligence manifesting as a holographic projection, designed to act as a short-term supplement to the medical staff of a starship during emergency situations. However, when the starship Voyager is stranded on the far side of the galaxy with no surviving medical personnel, he is forced to act as the ship's chief medical officer for several years. In an example of the Star Trek franchise's exploration of artificial intelligence, a simple software program becomes a major character in the show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chakotay</span> Character from Star Trek: Voyager

Chakotay is a fictional character who appears in each of the seven seasons of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: Voyager. Portrayed by Robert Beltran, he was First Officer aboard the Starfleet starship USS Voyager, and later promoted to Captain in command of the USS Protostar in Star Trek: Prodigy. The character was suggested at an early stage of the development of the series. He is the first Native American main character in the Star Trek franchise. This was a deliberate move by the producers of the series, who sought to provide an inspiration as with Uhura in Star Trek: The Original Series for African Americans. To develop the character, the producers sought the assistance of Jamake Highwater who falsely claimed to be Native American. Despite first being named as a Sioux, and later a Hopi, Chakotay was given no tribal affiliation at the start of the series, something that was later resolved in the episode "Tattoo".

Kes (<i>Star Trek</i>) Star Trek character

Kes is a fictional character on the American science fiction television show Star Trek: Voyager. She is portrayed by actress Jennifer Lien. Set in the 24th century of the Star Trek universe, the series follows the crew of the starship USS Voyager, stranded far from home and struggling to get back to Earth. Kes is a member of the Ocampa who joins the crew in the series' premiere episode along with her Talaxian boyfriend, Neelix. She subsequently works as the Doctor's medical assistant and develops her mental abilities with Tuvok's assistance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seven of Nine</span> Fictional character in Star Trek franchise

Seven of Nine is a fictional character introduced in the American science fiction television series Star Trek: Voyager. Portrayed by Jeri Ryan, she is a former Borg drone who joins the crew of the Federation starship Voyager. Her full Borg designation was Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct of Unimatrix Zero One. While her birth name became known to her crewmates, after joining the Voyager crew she chose to continue to be called Seven of Nine, though she allowed "Seven" to be used informally.

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Harry Kim (<i>Star Trek</i>) Character from Star Trek: Voyager

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<i>Star Trek: Voyager</i> season 4 Season of television series

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Spelling, Ian (March 2001). "Last Days of Paris". Starlog. 1 (284): 19–22. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  2. "EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: DS9 & Voyager Guest Star Megan Gallagher". StarTrek.com. September 27, 2013. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
  3. "Top 10 Star Trek: Voyager episodes". Den of Geek. 3 October 2012. Retrieved 2019-06-06.
  4. 1 2 Stape, Will (2017-07-31). "Star Trek's Funniest Episodes: From 'The Original Series' to 'Enterprise' and Beyond". TREKNEWS.NET. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
  5. 1 2 "The 20 Funniest Star Trek Episodes". CBR. 2019-01-18. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  6. "DVD Talk // Star Trek Voyager: Complete Seventh Season // Paramount // Unrated // December 21, 2004". www.dvdtalk.com. Archived from the original on 2010-10-10. Retrieved 2021-02-25.