'The Omega Directive'

Stardate: 51781.2
Written By: Jimmy Diggs and Steve J Kay
Directed By: Victor Lobl
Rating: *** (out of 5)

I don�t know whether to like this episode or not.  It has intrigue, it had some suspense, and while it tries to be a Janeway episode, it evolves into a Seven episode.

The crew�s speculation was ridiculous.  Species 8472?  A way to get home?  These are supposed to be really clever space faring scientists who spout technobabble from here to Talaxia, not Baldrick�s descendants from �Blackadder�!  Couldn�t they think of something clever to come up with?

Anyway, that�s nothing very big in terms of the plot.  The intrigue just isn�t too intriguing.  The reason being by the way it unfolds.  I would�ve liked some more mystery about the Directive, instead of finding out at the beginning when Janeway accesses her files, I would�ve preferred not to know, and wait until the rest of the staff found out.

At the same time, I wasn�t convinced that Omega was a huge threat and I�m not sure why I thought that.  Here the crew where running around like mad, but it all seemed over reacted to me, by Janeway and by Starfleet.  I know the molecule is devastating, but for some reason I didn�t really care.  If this is such a large threat, than this is something anybody could no about.  Starfleet tried to suppress its knowledge after it destroyed a Space Station, isn�t that enough? 

I think the reason why I�m not all that enthused about the story is that it opens up on huge can of worms.  What�s stopping the Romulans, for example, from knowing about it and using it?  Nothing, they could just waltz on in and BOOM!  And the Borg have been experimenting with it . .  . the Borg!  Even Voyager uses it as a weapon. 

I can�t believe that such a molecule outweighs the Prime Directive.  What if an innocent race lives near a planet with the molecule near it and they see Voyager taking it and blowing it up.  If it�s primitive they could take it the wrong way.  Or what if an alien race is using the molecule to power their cities?  Starfleet can�t just come along and take it away?  (Actually, that�d make a good story)

Well, anyway, when Voyager discovers that the molecules are coming from a research station on a moon, well the remains of the research station, she takes an away team down.  Why didn�t the alien race help their people and mount a rescue mission of their own?  Voyager isn�t even thanked, the aliens instead try to get the molecules back.  It�s never said what the molecules are used for though.

On the other hand, we have Seven of Nine believing the Omega Molecule to be perfect.  One of the Borgs only belief�s, and an interesting one at that.  Typically, the Borg would want to harness its power, because, like the Borg, the molecules have billions of parts working together in harmony.  And according to Seven they tried to stabilize it, and managed to at a great, but irrelevant, cost of hundreds of drones.

In the climax of the episode, Voyager must jettison the Molecule, and just before Seven leaves the Cargo Bay, the molecule stabilizes itself, Seven peering at it in wonder.

Other than that, the episode plods along at quite a slow pace.  �The Omega Directive� has the occasional good scene, some nice SFX and I liked the score, except at the end when Seven sees the molecule stabilizing, it sounded like a cartoon!

I liked the scene where Harry is complaining to Chakotay about the way Seven is running the project and giving the crew designations, telling Harry to adapt!  I also liked Harry�s �Wait a minute. You're demoting me? Since when do the Borg pull rank?� to which Seven replies, �A Starfleet protocol I adapted. I find it most useful� and soon after Seven�s remark, �The crew can be quite efficient, when properly organized�

The main problem: The whole Omega Directive idea.  But ignoring that, even if that is the story, we do find scattered nice scenes, mainly about Seven�s new found God and the intrigue that is sometimes present.  A good try though.