Written By: Geo Cameron
Directed By: Robert Duncan McNiel
Rating: ****1/2 (out of 5)
Even Deep Space 9 never tackled the issue of faith and scientific principles much because the Prophets were defined as �wormhole aliens� and I believe the Bajoran�s knew that. But here the happenings are mysterious, or so we are led to believe.
There�s a lot to cover here and I�m probably going to forget to include some of it.
The messages here are very clear but delivered very well making it interesting and fresh. The major message has to do with faith and the line between science and religious beliefs. What is the most interesting about �Sacred Ground� is that while the Nechisti Guides tells Janeway to believe that there aren�t always scientific explanations, it turns out that there was a scientific explanation for what was happening to Kes. I believe that to be the perfect way for the episode to end. Janeway finally convinces herself that scientific answers aren�t always possible, and despite the fact there was a plausible explanation she still believes what she has learnt.
I�m one of those people that believes in science and not religion. Science has proved religion wrong as far as I�m concerned. My opinion on Jesus, for example, is that he was real, and a very smart man and knew how to manipulate people, but not being a bad person. He was way beyond his time and that�s the reason he was idoled and still is. I�m also not into mysticism so I respect that it was science working here all along.
The other message is that we set ourselves challenges, which is particularly interesting given the story. Janeway spends days stretching the limits of her capacity expecting to be rewarded with an answer, yet it was never confirmed that anything would happen from the trials. Janeway simply went along, the Guide telling Janeway what she wanted to hear. I liked how the trials Janeway really didn�t resolve to nothing. It adds to the message by saying that while you may seem to have gained nothing, one thing can lead into something else and make everything worthwhile!
The two snags I mentioned earlier is that Kes is able to get near the shrine to begin with. If it�s so sacred than why allow people to go near it? One monk even saw Kes and Neelix walking towards it! The other is; what happened to Kes could�ve happened to anyone. This isn�t a bad thing but it would�ve been good if there was something more to do with Kes here than just using her as a plot device.
The only other problem with this episode, which doesn�t harm it much but it is annoying, how Harry and B�Elanna suddenly turned nasty to the Nechisti when Kes struck the field. It seemed so premature and not very Starfleet like.
Other than that episode was excellent. The acting was very good, the Guide was portrayed well. I noticed Estelle Harris (Seinfeld fans would remember her as George�s mother) was the old woman in the waiting area! Janeway was exceptionally good here and a lot of her dialogue and mannerisms really did remind me of Ellie (Jodie Foster) in �Contact.�
There was some really good atmosphere work here too. I loved the set of the shrine, and the area Janeway does her trials. One scene gave me chills; when Janeway was in the coffin and the doors shut, going to darkness.
�Sacred Ground� is an often overlooked Voyager episode that deserves much more credit than it has gotten. I think this is classic material. It�s Star Trek at its core, it�s different and it screams originality from the Voyager writing staff. This one I like a lot!