Life Line (Star Trek: Voyager)

Last updated
"Life Line"
Star Trek: Voyager episode
Episode no.Season 6
Episode 24
Directed by Terry Windell
Story by John Bruno
Robert Picardo
Teleplay byRobert Doherty
Raf Green
Brannon Braga
Featured music Dennis McCarthy
Production code243
Original air dateMay 10, 2000 (2000-05-10)
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
 Previous
"Fury"
Next 
"The Haunting of Deck Twelve"
Star Trek: Voyager season 6
List of episodes

"Life Line" is the 24th episode from the sixth season of Star Trek: Voyager , the 144th episode overall. It is one of the episodes in the Star Trek universe in which characters from elsewhere in the franchise are extended by Voyager. Reginald Barclay and Deanna Troi from Star Trek: The Next Generation make appearances, and in addition Jean-Luc Picard is twice mentioned by Troi but not seen. This is also one of the few episodes where a character actually arrives in the Alpha Quadrant, and the only Voyager episode which has a cast member receiving a writing credit.

Contents

Barclay and Troi previously worked together earlier in the season in "Pathfinder" (S6E10) and this episode continues that narrative thread and further develops their characters. In addition this brings together elements established by "Projections" (S2E3) and connects them with Pathfinder. The relationship between Zimmerman and Barclay is depicted and Jupiter Station is actually shown at Jupiter in special effects shots during this episode.

Robert Picardo plays both Voyager's customized Mark I EMH and his "father" Doctor Zimmerman, and another special effect display is shown in numerous scenes together during the episode. Doctor Lewis Zimmerman was previously in "The Swarm" (S3E4) and Deep Space Nine's "Doctor Bashir, I Presume"(S5E16). [1]

Plot

Many scenes take place on the fictional Jupiter Station, located near the planet Jupiter (pictured) Jupiter and its shrunken Great Red Spot.jpg
Many scenes take place on the fictional Jupiter Station, located near the planet Jupiter (pictured)

Voyager receives a message from Starfleet Command via the improved subspace radio amplifier, stating they believe they have found a way to bring Voyager back to the Alpha Quadrant within five to six years, instead of the decades they had before them. Elated, the crew send back data regarding their journey to date. In Starfleet's reply, they learn that Lewis Zimmerman, the creator of the Doctor's Emergency Medical Hologram program, is dying and no Starfleet medical personnel can determine the reason. The Doctor expresses that because of his experiences in the Delta Quadrant, he may have more insight to Zimmerman's condition, and asks to have his program transferred via subspace to help.

After eliminating several of his extraneous subroutines to reduce the program size, the Doctor is sent to a space station orbiting near Jupiter. The station has been Zimmerman's home for the last four years, where he spent much time researching hologram technology, and the entire facility is enabled to allow the Doctor and Zimmerman's holographic female servant, Haley, free rein. The Doctor meets with Reginald Barclay, who has been assigned to help Zimmerman, before meeting his creator in person. Zimmerman quickly proves to be old and cantankerous, looking down on the Doctor as one of his earlier, outdated Mark I programs that are now all reassigned to perform menial jobs. The Doctor attempts to prove his value to allow examination, but Zimmerman ignores him, and even one point manipulating the Doctor's program to make him his pet for a few hours. The Doctor grows frustrated in trying to help, and the two stop speaking to each other.

With Zimmerman's health declining, Barclay is able to gain the help of Deanna Troi to help resolve the situation between the two. After meeting with both, she realizes that both Zimmerman and the Doctor seem to be beyond the point of reason. While discussing the situation, they realize that Haley is a far less advanced hologram program than the Doctor is, yet Zimmerman speaks openly and kindly with her. Troi suspects that Zimmerman's behavior is one of injured pride, and devises a plan where they secretly fiddle with the Doctor's files as to make it appear that his program is failing. Troi and Barclay insist that only Zimmerman can save the Doctor, just as the Doctor can only save him.

Zimmerman finally is able get past his wounded pride of the fate of his Mark Is, and fixes the Doctor's program. Zimmerman attempts to add additional programming to the Doctor, but he insists that he is good the way he is. The Doctor then examines Zimmerman, and opts to try an experimental cellular regeneration therapy he had developed while on Voyager. The process is successful, and Zimmerman is soon back in good health. Zimmerman apologizes for his behavior and tells the Doctor that he is proud of him as the only Mark I that has gone well beyond his original programming. After saying his goodbyes, the Doctor is returned to Voyager and Zimmerman continues his hologram research.

Characters

Voyager forms part of The Next Generation TV series "trilogy", and extends many elements from that Universe including characters that appeared from elsewhere in the franchise. Barclay, Troi, and the Doctor played by the same actors also appear in feature films.

Major characters in the episode:

There are also several scenes back on Voyager that include the usual primary Voyager crew members. [1] There is also a scene by an Admiral Hayes that plays as a recording for Janeway and Chakotay. [2]

Setting

The episode takes place in two previously introduced locations in the fictional Star Trek universe. [1]

Reception

The episode was noted as one of the top twenty funniest episodes of the Star Trek franchise. [3] (The franchise had over 700 plus television episodes at that time)

In 2017, Den of Geek included this on their abbreviated watch guide for Star Trek: Voyager, picking out this episode on their cross-overs roadmap pointing out the role of Barclay. [4]

In 2020, Gizmodo ranked this one of the "must watch" episodes from the series. [5]

In 2020, The Digital Fix said it was enjoyable to see Troi and Barclay, and they said Robert Picardo delivered "two terrific performances as both characters" playing both the Doctor (EMH) and Doctor Zimmerman. [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

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

The Doctor, an Emergency Medical Hologram (EMH), is a fictional character portrayed by actor Robert Picardo in the television series Star Trek: Voyager, first aired on UPN between 1995 and 2001. He is an artificial intelligence manifest as a holographic projection, and designed to be a short-term adjunct to medical staff in emergency situations. However, when the USS Voyager is stranded on the far side of the galaxy without medical personnel, he is forced to act as the starship's permanent chief medical officer. In an example of the Star Trek franchise's exploration of artificial intelligence, a simple software program becomes a major character in the show.

Star Trek: Voyager is an American science fiction television series created by Rick Berman, Michael Piller and Jeri Taylor. It originally aired from January 16, 1995, to May 23, 2001, on UPN, with 172 episodes over seven seasons. It is the fourth series in the Star Trek franchise. Set in the 24th century, when Earth is part of a United Federation of Planets, it follows the adventures of the Starfleet vessel USS Voyager as it attempts to return home to the Alpha Quadrant after being stranded in the Delta Quadrant on the far side of the galaxy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deanna Troi</span> Fictional character from Star Trek

Deanna Troi is a main character in the science-fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and related TV series and films, portrayed by actress Marina Sirtis. Troi is half-human, half-Betazoid, and has the psionic ability to sense emotions. She serves as the ship's counsellor on USS Enterprise-D. Throughout most of the series, she holds the rank of lieutenant commander. In the seventh season, Troi takes the bridge officer's examination and is promoted to the rank of commander, but continues as counsellor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reginald Barclay</span> Recurring Star Trek character

Reginald Endicott Barclay III is a fictional engineer from the Star Trek media franchise. On television and in film, he has been portrayed by Dwight Schultz since the character's introduction in the Star Trek: The Next Generation third season episode "Hollow Pursuits." Schultz played the character for five episodes and one feature film of The Next Generation, as well as six episodes of the series Star Trek: Voyager. Barclay also appears in non-canon Star Trek novels and video games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Picardo</span> American actor

Robert Alphonse Picardo is an American actor. He is best known for playing the Cowboy in Innerspace, Coach Cutlip on The Wonder Years, Captain Dick Richard on the ABC series China Beach, the Doctor on Star Trek: Voyager and Richard Woolsey in the Stargate franchise. He is a frequent collaborator of Joe Dante and is a member of The Planetary Society's Board of Directors.

<i>Star Trek: Titan</i> Book series

Star Trek: Titan is a series of science fiction novels set within the Star Trek media franchise, which detail the adventures of the USS Titan under the command Captain William T. Riker, who was part of the main cast the 1987-1994 TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation and its spinoff films. The series was published by Simon & Schuster imprints Pocket Books, Pocket Star, and Gallery Books from 2005 to 2017. The novels are set after the events depicted in the 2002 film Star Trek: Nemesis.

"Pathfinder" is the tenth episode of the sixth season of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Voyager, 130th episode overall. It features the characters Reginald Barclay and Deanna Troi from Star Trek: The Next Generation. This also marks the first contact with Earth by Voyager since Message in a Bottle (S4E14).

"Message in a Bottle" is the 14th episode of the fourth season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: Voyager, the 82nd episode overall. It aired on January 21, 1998 on the UPN network.

"Living Witness" is the 91st episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Voyager, the 23rd episode of the fourth season. This episode takes place in 3100s, when an AI program called The Doctor is re-activated by aliens.

"Virtuoso" is the 13th episode of the sixth season of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Voyager, 133rd episode overall. It was aired on January 26, 2000, on United Paramount Network (UPN). USS Voyager, the fictional starship and the show's primary setting, is making its way slowly back to Earth from the other side of the Galaxy when they encounter Qomar aliens. These advanced aliens are intrigued by the singing abilities of The Doctor, indeed by music itself which despite their advanced technology they have not yet discovered.

"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 and the holographic medical program called the Doctor. The episode was noted for its humor and acting performances in reception.

"Projections" is the 19th episode of the American science fiction television program Star Trek: Voyager. Originally slated for the first season, the episode originally aired on UPN on September 11, 1995, and tells the story of Voyager's holographic doctor having an identity crisis on the holodeck regarding whether he or the world around him is the illusion.

"Tinker, Tenor, Doctor, Spy" is the 124th episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Voyager, the fourth episode of the sixth season. The title is a parody of the famous 1974 novel Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John le Carré.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doctor Bashir, I Presume?</span> 16th episode of the 5th season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

"Doctor Bashir, I Presume?" is the 114th episode of the syndicated American science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the 16th episode of the fifth season. This episode guest stars actor Robert Picardo, who played the role of the Emergency Medical Hologram on Star Trek: Voyager; in this episode, Picardo portrays the EMH's creator, Dr. Lewis Zimmerman. The episode also features guest performances by Brian George and anthropologist Fadwa El Guindi as the parents of Dr. Julian Bashir.

"Real Life" is the 64th episode of Star Trek: Voyager and the 22nd episode of the third season. This episode revolves around the Doctor dealing with his holographic family program. Robert Picardo plays a holographic AI aboard the starship USS Voyager in the 24th century.

"Author, Author" is the 166th episode of the TV series Star Trek: Voyager, the 20th episode of the seventh season. This episode focuses on the character "The Doctor" (EMH) and on impact of a novel and explores the meaning of AI.

Inside Man is the 152nd episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Voyager, and the sixth episode of its seventh season. This continues the story arc previously established in "Pathfinder" and "Life Line", Voyager episodes featuring the Star Trek franchise characters Reginald Barclay and Deanna Troi.

Several characters within the Star Trek franchise, primary and secondary, often made crossover appearances between one series and another. This included appearances of established characters on premiere episodes of new series, a few long-term transfers from one series to another, and even crossovers between Trek films and television. A few crossover appearances, such as that of Spock on The Next Generation and the time-travel of the crew of Deep Space Nine to the era of The Original Series were especially lauded by both fans and critics.

<i>Star Trek: The Next Generation</i> season 6 1992–93 season of American television series

The sixth season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation commenced airing in broadcast syndication in the United States on September 21, 1992, and concluded on June 21, 1993, after airing 26 episodes. Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the crew of the Starfleet starship Enterprise-D.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "[VOY] Jammer's Review: "Life Line"". www.jammersreviews.com.
  2. "The Trek Nation - Life Line". 3 October 2021.
  3. "The 20 Funniest Star Trek Episodes". CBR. 2019-01-18. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  4. "Star Trek Voyager: an episode roadmap". Den of Geek. Retrieved 2019-06-11.[ permanent dead link ]
  5. "Star Trek: Voyager's Must-Watch Episodes". io9. 28 April 2020. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
  6. "Star Trek: Voyager Revisited - A Look Back At Season Six | Feature | The Digital Fix". Television @ The Digital Fix. 2020-08-20. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  7. "Star Trek Voyager S 6 E 10 Pathfinder / Recap". TV Tropes.