An episode that disappoints on a profound level because it signaled the producers had lost confidence in the show's science-fiction premise and were grasping for other genres to goose interest in a series on the ropes.
With Fred Freiberger aboard as producer, one can fairly draw comparisons with his work on STAR TREK's third season. "Journey to Where" brought to mind "All Our Yesterdays," where a mishap similarly sends Captain Kirk into the British Isle's violent past. Kirk emerged in 17th century England, a time and place not far removed from the 14th century Scotland where Koenig and company find themselves. The drama of Helena's pneumonia was tepid at best and seemed included only to allow Barbara Bain to play Camille and to add a little urgency to the plodding, repeated proceedings. I mean, didn't we already see Alphans abducted and held prisoner by primitive tribesmen back in "Full Circle"?
Each exposition-larded scene from Texas City with handwringing by Freddie Jones and Isla Blair made me realize their talents were being squandered. Why even show Texas City? The story would have been just as effective--and arguably stronger--without any scenes from earth. Just a voice speaking from 2120 that would allow the audience to imagine what earth was like at that time. Logan and Carla's uniforms and the sparkly white setting made me wonder what the appeal would be for the Alphans, relocating to this sterile simulacrum of the earth they knew. These scenes were also dull, and even the director's having the performers walk around the table while speaking their lines couldn't spark interest. And the wig on Blair, was it an intentional evocation of Gerry Anderson's previous series UFO?
Watching this in 2023, I envisioned Logan with a smartphone in hand googling all the test questions Koenig peppered him with. Did it stretch credulity for Logan to immediately know who won the 1998 World Series, a 122-year-old event, and close to a century after competitive sports were outlawed in 2026? Yes, but it was a nice touch nonetheless.
Another nice touch was Maya transforming into Mr. Hyde after drinking Tony's "latest concoction." Being from Psychon, how would Maya even know about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde? Why ask why, right? It made me smile, at least until an irritated Tony, devoid of sensitivity, conscripts Maya's help in getting refreshments to Main Mission to celebrate their return to earth. Yeah, well, forgive Maya for not being especially thrilled as earth isn't her world.
What was unforgivable was Freiberger trying to pass counterfeit characters. Sandra and Mathias were gone, so Freiberger plugged in a couple knockoff lookalikes and assumed the audience wouldn't notice or care. We did and we do.
If "Journey to Where" has any lasting legacy, it would be my strong suspicion that Roger Bizley's portrayal of Scottish clan leader MacDonald was the model for Black Tom Cassidy in the Claremont-Cockrum X-MEN comics created around this very same time. If such was the case, it was all worth it.