This is a really touching episode. The unflappable Seven is suddenly made aware of her mortality. She begins to have fears of leaving the earth unloved and worthless. Ichab is her salvation, but unfortunately she has quite the ego and falls into depression. For all practical purposes, she gives up. She can't ask for help because her Borg heritage is still holding on to her. The final scenes are very dramatic and uplifting.
7 Reviews
Awfully good.
planktonrules4 March 2015
This episode makes very good use of the Borg kids--specifically Icheb. When the show begins, one more of the Borg kiddies is reunited with their parents and Seven is seen crying. Unfortunately it's NOT because of a sudden appearance of emotion but because an important part of Seven's Borg implants is malfunctioning. It's a problem because without it, she will die. An attempt to replace it with a Borg node doesn't work so there is only one possible option--but the Doctor and Seven are loathe to try it. Icheb offers to give her his node. This probably won't kill him, as apparently he wasn't fully assimilated since he's a kid and his body SHOULD be able to survive without it.
This is a very emotional and enjoyable show. I liked the moral quandary in this one and the show is quite memorable.
This is a very emotional and enjoyable show. I liked the moral quandary in this one and the show is quite memorable.
Seven malfunctions
Tweekums30 April 2010
Warning: Spoilers
After three of the four Borg children leave Voyager Icheb notices that Seven of Nine is crying, she claims that it is due to her ocular implant malfunctioning and initially the Doctor believes she is just trying to cover the fact that she showed emotion at saying good bye to the children but a check up reveals that there was indeed a malfunction. Initially Seven wants the Doctor to keep her problem secret but when she collapses it becomes apparent that her cortical node is failing and that if it isn't replaced she will die. Not being able to replicate the part Janeway leads an away mission in the recently repaired Delta Flyer to a destroyed Borg cube to retrieve the part from a dead drone. Unfortunately simulations show that the part is of no use and they need the part from a live Borg. When a possible solution is suggested neither Seven nor the Doctor are initially enthusiastic.
While not as exciting as the season opener this episode had a good action scene where the captain retrieves the part of the dead drone and some nice moral ambiguity when Janeway suggests finding a live drone and taking its node.
While not as exciting as the season opener this episode had a good action scene where the captain retrieves the part of the dead drone and some nice moral ambiguity when Janeway suggests finding a live drone and taking its node.
Seven Of Nine faces death.
RikerDonegal8 August 2010
Voyager. Season 7, Episode 2. "Imperfection" Seven Of Nine faces death.
Absolutely superb.
There are many, many things to love here.
1. Most of the screen time is devoted to the show's three best characters: Seven, Janeway and The Doctor. But it's not just that they get lots of screen time, it's that they get lots of good screen time. For instance, there's a wonderful, emotional moment between Janeway and Seven that is a huge step forward in their relationship/friendship (and it's perfectly played by Jeri Ryan and the amazing Kate Mulgrew). Impossible to watch this exchange and not feel tears forming. And it's a scene that is typical of many in the story.
2. It's an emotional episode, all round. Seven's scene with Janeway is probably the best, but the final scene with Icheb is also a killer and the scene with B'Elanna is another one likely to generate a tear or two. And there's more. It's a very powerful episode, very sad and affecting. Uplifting and wonderful in the way that this show frequently is. Voyager's skill, indeed the gift that the Star Trek legacy gives it, is the ability to write on-the-nose about big topics and make it palatable. Seven might die. And it gives her pause to think and, eventually, talk about it. And it's epic stuff.
3. There's some cool Janeway action. The episode (wisely) takes a break from all the stuff likely to make you cry and drops Janeway, Tuvok and Paris into the middle of a battle where Janeway jumps an imposing alien and holds him at gunpoint (sorta). It's fun stuff. Typical of Janeway when she chooses to wear her bad ass hat.
4. It's funny. After seven seasons is there any need to say it? But, anyway... Robert Picardo is worth his weight in gold. Many of The Doctor's utterance's are hilarious. Usually, in scenes with Seven e.g. Seven's joke about her 'last meal'.
5. The core values of Star Trek are in display in spades, here. Janeway's attempt to head off on a dangerous mission alone is scuppered by Tuvok and Paris in fine style, and once again we see that these people are a team through and through.
6. Manu Intiraymi is a curious performer. Sometimes I find his delivery stilted and over-earnest. Yet, in all the scenes where it really mattered he totally nailed it. Totally. All his scenes from the last third of the episode are A+ material. It's taken 5 episodes, but I really like the guy now.
ABriefingWithMichael.blogspot.com
Absolutely superb.
There are many, many things to love here.
1. Most of the screen time is devoted to the show's three best characters: Seven, Janeway and The Doctor. But it's not just that they get lots of screen time, it's that they get lots of good screen time. For instance, there's a wonderful, emotional moment between Janeway and Seven that is a huge step forward in their relationship/friendship (and it's perfectly played by Jeri Ryan and the amazing Kate Mulgrew). Impossible to watch this exchange and not feel tears forming. And it's a scene that is typical of many in the story.
2. It's an emotional episode, all round. Seven's scene with Janeway is probably the best, but the final scene with Icheb is also a killer and the scene with B'Elanna is another one likely to generate a tear or two. And there's more. It's a very powerful episode, very sad and affecting. Uplifting and wonderful in the way that this show frequently is. Voyager's skill, indeed the gift that the Star Trek legacy gives it, is the ability to write on-the-nose about big topics and make it palatable. Seven might die. And it gives her pause to think and, eventually, talk about it. And it's epic stuff.
3. There's some cool Janeway action. The episode (wisely) takes a break from all the stuff likely to make you cry and drops Janeway, Tuvok and Paris into the middle of a battle where Janeway jumps an imposing alien and holds him at gunpoint (sorta). It's fun stuff. Typical of Janeway when she chooses to wear her bad ass hat.
4. It's funny. After seven seasons is there any need to say it? But, anyway... Robert Picardo is worth his weight in gold. Many of The Doctor's utterance's are hilarious. Usually, in scenes with Seven e.g. Seven's joke about her 'last meal'.
5. The core values of Star Trek are in display in spades, here. Janeway's attempt to head off on a dangerous mission alone is scuppered by Tuvok and Paris in fine style, and once again we see that these people are a team through and through.
6. Manu Intiraymi is a curious performer. Sometimes I find his delivery stilted and over-earnest. Yet, in all the scenes where it really mattered he totally nailed it. Totally. All his scenes from the last third of the episode are A+ material. It's taken 5 episodes, but I really like the guy now.
ABriefingWithMichael.blogspot.com
Seven of Whine
tomsly-4001528 January 2024
Another deep character study about Seven in which she has to deal with her own mortality. In Seven's words: she is damaged beyond repair and hope seems irrelevant.
The episode shows Seven's inner struggle and her big dilemma: Although she is no longer a Borg drone, she still strives for perfection - especially in herself. In addition, she is still unable to accept help from her friends and loved ones. Basically, she doesn't share her feelings with anyone and wants to solve every problem alone. Only when Icheb gives her no choice but to accept his help she reluctantly accepts it - even if, in her view, this is a sign of weakness and anything but perfection. In the end, however, she is grateful and moved to tears - without any malfunction of her ocular implant.
Seven also goes through all the phases of acceptance in processing her approaching death. At first she denies her deteriorating health and hides it from the doctor and Janeway. Then she shows anger. She accuses Janeway of being disappointed with her development and only trying to help her because she doesn't seem to have achieved what Janeway supposedly expected of her. When Janeway goes looking for a Borg replacement part and the doctor tries to implant it in holodeck simulations, Seven finds herself in a bargaining phase. She gains some hope. However, when it becomes clear that the procedure will not work, she falls into depression and refuses any further help and just wants to be alone. In the end, she accepts her approaching death and tries to get Icheb to stop clinging to her and go his own way - which he then does.
In any case, Star Trek seems to be pro-organ transplant. After Kes donated a lung to Neelix, Icheb has now donated his Borg cortical implant to Seven.
The episode shows Seven's inner struggle and her big dilemma: Although she is no longer a Borg drone, she still strives for perfection - especially in herself. In addition, she is still unable to accept help from her friends and loved ones. Basically, she doesn't share her feelings with anyone and wants to solve every problem alone. Only when Icheb gives her no choice but to accept his help she reluctantly accepts it - even if, in her view, this is a sign of weakness and anything but perfection. In the end, however, she is grateful and moved to tears - without any malfunction of her ocular implant.
Seven also goes through all the phases of acceptance in processing her approaching death. At first she denies her deteriorating health and hides it from the doctor and Janeway. Then she shows anger. She accuses Janeway of being disappointed with her development and only trying to help her because she doesn't seem to have achieved what Janeway supposedly expected of her. When Janeway goes looking for a Borg replacement part and the doctor tries to implant it in holodeck simulations, Seven finds herself in a bargaining phase. She gains some hope. However, when it becomes clear that the procedure will not work, she falls into depression and refuses any further help and just wants to be alone. In the end, she accepts her approaching death and tries to get Icheb to stop clinging to her and go his own way - which he then does.
In any case, Star Trek seems to be pro-organ transplant. After Kes donated a lung to Neelix, Icheb has now donated his Borg cortical implant to Seven.
Icheb donates a kidney.
thevacinstaller16 February 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Pretty sad times ---- You rebuild a human being only to have them die a few years down the road. It's all emotion in this episode with seven of nine putting on a noble front when facing her impeding death. Icheb handles it differently and it warms my cold heart to see him working on a solution and coming up with the noble sacrifice to save his 'mom's' life. Who doesn't enjoy a good noble sacrifice, right?
I enjoyed Janeway's discussion with SO9 in the sickbay. Kate's really good at conveying emotion while attempting to look like she is trying to control it.
This episode breaks down a few walls for SO9 ---- particularly here dislike of having to depend on anyone but herself.
I enjoyed Janeway's discussion with SO9 in the sickbay. Kate's really good at conveying emotion while attempting to look like she is trying to control it.
This episode breaks down a few walls for SO9 ---- particularly here dislike of having to depend on anyone but herself.
Good idea, great performances but a bit too melodramatic
snoozejonc31 July 2020
With Seven of Nine's cortical node failing she and the Voyager crew fight for her life.
This was an excellent idea that could have made for a classic medical thriller but unfortunately it suffers some imperfections.
The main one being the direction of the episode is more towards emotional melodrama than anything else. Whilst there is a requirement for this in an episode about someone dying I personally would have placed more emphasis on the search for a solution. This would also be more fitting for the Seven of Nine character.
On a positive note, all the emotional scenes require some of the best characters to have decent screen time and the actors to showcase their talents. There is also a good sequence involving Janeway, Tuvok and Tom on a mission to retrieve a new cortical node.
Enjoyable episode but personally I would have done it slightly differently.
This was an excellent idea that could have made for a classic medical thriller but unfortunately it suffers some imperfections.
The main one being the direction of the episode is more towards emotional melodrama than anything else. Whilst there is a requirement for this in an episode about someone dying I personally would have placed more emphasis on the search for a solution. This would also be more fitting for the Seven of Nine character.
On a positive note, all the emotional scenes require some of the best characters to have decent screen time and the actors to showcase their talents. There is also a good sequence involving Janeway, Tuvok and Tom on a mission to retrieve a new cortical node.
Enjoyable episode but personally I would have done it slightly differently.
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