'Revulsion'

Stardate: Unknown
Written By: Lisa Klink
Directed By: Kenneth Biller
Rating: ***1/2 (out of 5)

One thing about the opening stretch of Season 4, the continuity has been wonderful.  Apart from forgetting Chakotay�s anguish in �Nemesis�, (Why is Chakotay always forgotten?) the season has so-far been tightly plotted.  Well done to The Powers That Be.

�Revulsion� develops from the events in past episodes while having the on-its-own A-story about a murderous hologram.  I enjoyed watching Doc�s enthusiasm for seeing another hologram, and talking with him.  Holograms have different views on the organics that created them.  And Dejaren despises all organic beings, even though it�s these beings that created him.  Dejaren was treated so badly by his crew that he murders them.  Of course he doesn�t tell that too B�Elanna and Doc, he says they all contracted a disease.

It was an obvious plot device with the cable that disrupts holographic imagery, and the fish.  I knew that the fish was going to be used to know whether Dejaren was still active, and the cable was going to be used to disrupt him.

The A-story was cliched in some ways, but I thought it was fun to watch.  Holograms have to be taken seriously because they can become more than just tools.  And Dejaren was surprised that Doc was considered an equal, and that he can leave his confines.  For a hologram the things we take advantage of, like eating and walking outside, are things that awe them.

I loved it when Doc and Dejaren where fighting Doc said, �This could get tedious!� which was wonderfully put across.  I noticed a small can of beans opened up here too, Dejaren reaches inside of B�Elanna and grabs her heart.  I understand that holograms are projections of photons, force fields, light and energy, but if they can interact with non-holographic objects and beings, than how can he reach inside of someone?

Another hologram discrepancy is when the Doc is showing Dejaren how to operate his vessel, can�t the Doc download the information into his memory?

The B-story involved a developing relationship between Harry and Seven.  I�m glad Sevens story took to the sidelines this week.  Jeri Ryan has unfortunately not shown the best of acting skills as yet.  Maybe it�s just the material she�s getting.

There where some amusing scenes here though, like when Seven calibrates the device wrong she makes the excuse: �It must have been my humanity reasserting itself!�  And when she tells Harry to take his clothes off was amusing too, if totally un-needed.

There was also a C and D-story here.  Paris left in charge of sick-bay, which was amusing, especially Docs �Bring a Tricorder and a smile!�  It was great seeing the Doc worried about leaving Tom in charge of sickbay, and how he gripes about the mess Paris left it in.  And finally the Tom and B�Elanna relationship carrying over from �Day of Honor.�

There is a lot here in terms of plot.  None of the plots where really combined and generally stayed away from each other, but without bringing the episode down.  There were a lot of funny moments, and the main story was good, if cliched.  �Revulsion� isn�t perfect, but it�s a pleasurable hour of entertainment.