Meld (Star Trek: Voyager)

Last updated
"Meld"
Star Trek: Voyager episode
Episode no.Season 2
Episode 16
Directed by Cliff Bole
Story by Michael Sussman
Teleplay by Michael Piller
Featured music David Bell
Production code133
Original air dateFebruary 5, 1996 (1996-02-05)
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Threshold"		Next →
"Dreadnought"
Star Trek: Voyager season 2
List of episodes

"Meld" is the 32nd episode of Star Trek: Voyager , the 16th episode of the second season. In this science fiction television show, a crewman is murdered aboard starship Voyager . Tuvok investigates and the character Suder is introduced. However, when Tuvok conducts a Vulcan mind meld, things go further awry.

Contents

The episode aired on UPN on February 5, 1996. [2]

Plot

A crewmember named Darwin is found dead and an investigation soon uncovers a murder. It is discovered that Lon Suder, a Betazoid, killed him, because he did not like the way Darwin looked at him.

To discover the reasoning behind Suder's admittedly senseless act, Tuvok initiates a mind meld with Suder. This causes Suder's violent impulses to be transferred to the Vulcan, giving Suder a sense of calm by causing Tuvok to experience uncontrollable violent urges himself: he even attacks a holographic form of Neelix. Eventually, Tuvok confines himself to quarters, and removes himself from duty as he is unable to control his violent urges. The Doctor attempts to cure Tuvok of his urges by forcing his emotions into the open. This fails, and Tuvok is able to escape. He finds Suder with the intent of executing him, hoping this will satisfy himself. Tuvok is convinced by Suder not to kill him and instead mind melds in an attempt to get his emotional control back. This meld renders Tuvok unconscious, allowing Suder to notify the crew. Later, the Doctor watches over Tuvok, hopeful that since he controlled himself enough to not kill Suder, he is recovering.

Reception

Nielsen rating was 5.1 in 1996. [3]

In 2017, Den of Geek included this episode, along with "Lifesigns", "Death Wish", and "Deadlock" from Season 2, for their abbreviated viewing guide for Star Trek: Voyager. [4]

In 2019, Screen Rant ranked "Meld" as one of the top five episodes of the series, commending it for tackling "tough questions of human nature" but noting its similarities to The X-Files episode "Beyond the Sea" which also cast Brad Dourif. [5]

In 2020, Gizmodo listed this episode as one of the "must watch" episodes from season two of the show. [6]

In 2020, The Digital Fix said that Tuvok's confrontation with Suder was the best scene in season two, and praised Brad Dourif's acting performance as Suder. [7]

Related Research Articles

Vulcan (<i>Star Trek</i>) Fictional extraterrestrial species in Star Trek

Vulcans, sometimes referred to as Vulcanians, are a fictional extraterrestrial humanoid species in the Star Trek universe and media franchise. In the various Star Trek television series and films, they are noted for their attempt to live by logic and reason with as little interference from emotion as possible. Known for their pronounced eyebrows and pointed ears, they originate from the fictional planet Vulcan. In the Star Trek universe, they were the first extraterrestrial species to make contact with humans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuvok</span> Fictional character in Star Trek: Voyager

Tuvok is a fictional character in the Star Trek media franchise and a main character in the television series Star Trek: Voyager. Tuvok is a Vulcan who serves as the ship's second officer, Chief of Security, and Chief Tactical Officer. He was portrayed by Tim Russ throughout the show's run from 1995 to 2001, as well as in subsequent portrayals.

"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.

Flashback (<i>Star Trek: Voyager</i>) 2nd episode of the 3rd season of Star Trek: Voyager

"Flashback" is the 44th episode of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: Voyager airing on the UPN network. It is the second episode of the third season.

"Stigma" is the fortieth episode of the television series Star Trek: Enterprise, the fourteenth of the second season. This science fiction episode has a story about a spacecraft crew in the 22nd century, dealing with an alien disease, and also a morality play about sexually transmitted diseases.

"Repression" is the 150th episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Voyager, and the fourth episode of the seventh season of the series. The storyline revisits the potential for Starfleet and Maquis conflict explored in "Worst Case Scenario" at the end of season three.

"Ex Post Facto" is the eighth episode of Star Trek: Voyager. In this science fiction television show episode, the 24th century spaceship USS Voyager is trying to make its way back to Earth, after being stranded on the other side of the Galaxy. In this episode, one of its crew, Tom Paris, is convicted of murder by aliens.

"Cathexis" is the 13th episode of Star Trek: Voyager, a science fiction television show that ran from 1995–2001. Part of the Star Trek franchise, it features a starship from the United Federation of Planets stranded on the other side of the Galaxy that must make its way home as it encounters aliens and various phenomena. On board a mixture of Federation, Maquis, and alien crew members live and work.

"Sarek" is the 23rd episode of the third season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, and the 71st episode overall. It was originally released on May 14, 1990, in broadcast syndication. The story for the episode was created by Marc Cushman and Jake Jacobs, with the teleplay written by Peter S. Beagle. "Sarek" was directed by Les Landau.

Basics (<i>Star Trek: Voyager</i>) 26th episode of the second season and 1st episode of the third season of Star Trek: Voyager

"Basics" comprises the 42nd and 43rd episodes of the American science fiction television Star Trek: Voyager, the cliffhanger between the second season and the third season.

"Future's End" is a two-part episode from the third season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: Voyager, the eighth and ninth of the season and the 50th and 51st overall. "Future's End" made its debut on American television in November 1996 on the UPN network in two separate broadcasts, on November 6 and 13, 1996.

"Alter Ego" is the 56th episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Voyager, the 14th episode of the third season. It was directed by cast member Robert Picardo.

"Workforce" is a two-part episode from the seventh and final season of the TV series Star Trek: Voyager. Part one was directed by Allan Kroeker, and part two by Roxann Dawson. The crew of the USS Voyager finds themselves working on a planet, but troubling memories are resurfacing.

"Random Thoughts" is the 78th episode of the science fiction television series Voyager, the tenth episode of season four. On a spaceship making its way back to planet Earth, they stop by an alien planet. However, they become entangled in a legal proceeding due to the actions of the crew, and they must resolve it before proceeding on. This has been noted as exploration of what it means to control emotions, as often shows have the format of a morality play in the context of science fiction adventure.

"Fury" is the 143rd episode of Star Trek: Voyager, the 23rd episode of the sixth season. It saw the return, for this episode only, of former regular cast member Jennifer Lien as her character Kes. As with her final regular appearances in the first two episodes of the fourth season of the show, Lien is given an "Also Starring" credit, after the opening title sequence and before the Guest Stars are listed.

"Lifesigns" is the 35th episode of Star Trek: Voyager, the 19th episode of the second season. It has an average fan rating of 4.2/5 on the official Star Trek website as of September, 2009.

"Warlord" is the 52nd episode of Star Trek: Voyager, the tenth episode of the third season. This is a science fiction television episode, part of the Star Trek franchise, that aired on UPN on November 20, 1996. This is the story of USS Voyager, a Federation starship stranded in the Delta Quadrant with a motley crew of Star Trek aliens, Maquis, and Starfleet. In this chapter the crew encounters the Ilari aliens, which commandeer Kes's body during political struggles on their homeworld. The crew works with factions of the aliens as Kes struggles to maintain control of her mind.

"Gravity" is the 107th episode of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: Voyager originally airing on the UPN network, the 13th episode of the fifth season. Lori Petty guest stars as the alien Noss. Joseph Ruskin, who played Galt in the original Star Trek episode "The Gamesters of Triskelion", is the Vulcan Master in this episode of Voyager.

"Riddles" is the 126th episode of Star Trek: Voyager, the sixth episode of the sixth season. Roxann Dawson makes her directorial debut. The episode follows a crewmember of a spaceship in the 24th century who has his mind attacked by aliens; upon his return, his shipmates try to help him recover. Set in the Star Trek universe, the episode takes advantage of previously established lore about Vulcans, to explore emotions, recovery, and friendship.

References

  1. ↑ "Catching Up with 'Voyagers Brad Dourif". StarTrek.com. April 13, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Star Trek: Voyager". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  3. ↑ "WebTrek - Star Trek: Voyager * NIELSEN RATINGS". users.telenet.be.
  4. ↑ Juliette Harrisson (September 15, 2017). "Star Trek Voyager: An Episode Roadmap". Den of Geek .
  5. ↑ "Star Trek: The 5 Best Episodes Of Voyager (& The 5 Worst)". ScreenRant. 2019-07-11. Retrieved 2019-07-15.
  6. ↑ "Star Trek: Voyager's Must-Watch Episodes". io9. 28 April 2020. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
  7. ↑ "Star Trek: Voyager Revisited - Season Two". The Digital Fix. 2020-06-18. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.