Until this episode I was always a little doubtful about Jeri Ryan's acting ability, wondering if she could only do one note: Imperial bitchiness. Not that I don't like her Borgian disdain for non-scientific and imperfect humans. Or that high-minded carriage of her cat-suited Barbie-doll body. But in this episode, as her Borg implant fractures her into multiple personalities, she gets a huge range of characterizations to perform, and she handles them well. And this script has a handful of clever complications en route to her healing that make it an enjoyable installment. It ends kind of quickly, but it is one of the better episodes, IMHO.
13 Reviews
Seven has more than seven personalities
Tweekums24 February 2010
Warning: Spoilers
When Voyager comes across the remains of a destroyed Borg Cube Seven of Nine starts to exhibit alternate personalities; those of the people she assimilated in her time in the Collective. They try to give the debris a wide birth but it is clear that Seven is still effected. It appears that the only solution is to go into the debris and find the item that is effecting her and find a way to shut it down without harming Seven. When they find the part they learn that it was deliberately contaminated by another species in an attempt to save themselves from the Borg. As Seven's condition gets worse Voyager seeks this species but they can't help and insist that Voyager returns the item to them so they can use it to infect the rest of the Borg. As all the Doctor's attempts to cure Seven fail Tuvok initiates a Vulcan mind meld.
I enjoyed this episode in which Jeri Ryan gets an opportunity to show a wider range of acting skills as Seven displays various personalities including a child who plays games with Naomi Wildman, a Klingon warrior who wants to mate with B'Elanna and a Star Fleet officer looking for her daughter.
I enjoyed this episode in which Jeri Ryan gets an opportunity to show a wider range of acting skills as Seven displays various personalities including a child who plays games with Naomi Wildman, a Klingon warrior who wants to mate with B'Elanna and a Star Fleet officer looking for her daughter.
7 of...well, an awful large number
GreyHunter1 January 2020
The fun of these sorts of episodes, where one character is the primary focus of the plot and is given a chance to flex his/her acting muscles, is seeing how well the writers create opportunities with good writing, and how well the actor is up to the challenge of either doing justice to a good script or lifting a mediocre (or bad) script up. In this episode, the script was pretty decent, but not earth-shattering (see episode immediately preceding this one for an example of a great script that gave an actor a chance to match, and the actor pulled it off.) However, Jeri Ryan gave an almost-great performance. I say "almost" because her acting chops were never in question in this episode but, sadly, she doesn't really do voices. Which isn't a slam on her -- some people can do voices with amazing facility, others just aren't gifted at that particular skill, and there's only so much teaching can do to compensate for not being naturally adept at it.
In any event, Jeri Ryan absolutely does a fine job with the mannerisms and tics and behaviors of each individual personality/race. She may be eye candy, but she has the acting chops to rise above that, and the script was perfectly designed to let her show range and adaptability.
I do have a couple reservations about the script. First, once the Doctor identified the cause of the cube's destruction as a synthetic virus, every half-way awake viewer probably immediately knew that it was almost-certainly a deliberate infection designed as a weapon against the Borg, especially after hearing the history of the race involved and the nature of how the virus got aboard the ship. Yet it literally doesn't seem to even occur to any of Voyager's staff that this might be the case despite the fact that they literally helped take out Species 8472 with a similar plan, something that was referenced not 3 episodes back (presumably only weeks or possibly months ago in Voyager time) My other issues were: 1) Why did "blow that sucker up with photon torpedoes rather than beam it aboard" never seem to occur to them. It was obviously not well-shielded because they could beam it aboard, and this was prior to the Doctor declaring that it was too late to destroy it without harming 7; 2) That "can't escape because subspace" was ludicrous. If it could disseminate the virus so easily and unavoidably, it wouldn't even be necessary as a trap -- it could just go after all Borg vessels in subspace range, which meant that it wasn't so much a Trojan Horse as a continuous bomb.
Overall, it was a fun episode to watch, mainly for the chance to see an actor really put on a performance.
In any event, Jeri Ryan absolutely does a fine job with the mannerisms and tics and behaviors of each individual personality/race. She may be eye candy, but she has the acting chops to rise above that, and the script was perfectly designed to let her show range and adaptability.
I do have a couple reservations about the script. First, once the Doctor identified the cause of the cube's destruction as a synthetic virus, every half-way awake viewer probably immediately knew that it was almost-certainly a deliberate infection designed as a weapon against the Borg, especially after hearing the history of the race involved and the nature of how the virus got aboard the ship. Yet it literally doesn't seem to even occur to any of Voyager's staff that this might be the case despite the fact that they literally helped take out Species 8472 with a similar plan, something that was referenced not 3 episodes back (presumably only weeks or possibly months ago in Voyager time) My other issues were: 1) Why did "blow that sucker up with photon torpedoes rather than beam it aboard" never seem to occur to them. It was obviously not well-shielded because they could beam it aboard, and this was prior to the Doctor declaring that it was too late to destroy it without harming 7; 2) That "can't escape because subspace" was ludicrous. If it could disseminate the virus so easily and unavoidably, it wouldn't even be necessary as a trap -- it could just go after all Borg vessels in subspace range, which meant that it wasn't so much a Trojan Horse as a continuous bomb.
Overall, it was a fun episode to watch, mainly for the chance to see an actor really put on a performance.
Great ep for Jerry Ryan
MiketheWhistle31 January 2019
A REAL PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER AND THEN SOME!
zitacarno13 July 2018
I haven't had much occasion to watch any of the "Voyager" episodes---my preference has always been the original series---but this one grabbed my attention. It was a beautifully written story,centering on the trials and tribulations of Seven of Nine as she grappled with an invasion of multiple personalities that threatened to actually destroy her, and Jeri Ryan turned in a real tour de force of a performance. And when that doctor, who has a tendency to shoot off his mouth too much, was unsuccessful in his attempts to remedy the situation he had to step back and let the Vulcan, Tuvok, have a go at it---and Tuvok performed a dramatic Vulcan mind-fusion (very much like the one Spock used in "The Paradise Syndrome", by the way) as he joined Seven in successfully driving off the invaders. Electrifying, to say the least---but then I have always thoroughly enjoyed any and all mind-meld sequences in Trek. An additional comment: Someone once asked why Tuvok needed two hours to prepare. Answer: he needed that extra time because he knew what he was going up against, what he had to do if he were going to rescue Seven of Nine from the life-threatening predicament she was in. He was going all-out with the most powerful and most stressful of all the mind-melds---the Vulcan mind-fusion. He knew it was going to be a very rough ride, and indeed it was---but he had help from B'Elanna Torres in engineering who worked to destroy that Borg machine. Once it was gone, he was able to join his mind with Seven's in a full meld and pull her out of that mess. And after a wnek or so of recuperation in her regeneration chamber she was herself again.
A Lot of Voices
Hitchcoc4 September 2018
When Seven begins to exhibit mega-personalities (from those who were absorbed by the Borg), her life is in danger. It happens when a Borg device nears Voyager. The problem is an aliens species that has every right to get revenge on the killer bees, and the doctor's inability to curtail the problem. There is some of the usual tenuous science (or lack of it), but it is entertaining. We get to see Seven begin to appreciate the efforts of the crew, putting their own lives on the line. One positive is that it is a logical step to imagine that Seven is filled with all the details of the collective and its victims.
Surprisingly entertaining
zombiemockingbird22 May 2023
When this episode started I was skeptical; but as it progressed, I found it interesting. I was only familiar with Jeri Ryan from Leverage, and I didn't like her. Not sure why; I just found her annoying, so maybe it was just the character she played. Watching her on Voyager, I decided she wasn't so bad and I was particularly impressed with her acting in this episode. She was a great Klingon, and I loved her Ferengi impression, it was perfect. The other characters were also well done; each one was well defined from the others. The technical parts of the story were as usual, hard to follow and somewhat non-sensical, but overall it was a much better episode than most.
Why does the Captain do what she does?!
planktonrules25 February 2015
When Voyager nears some debris from a Borg vessel, Seven of Nine begins acting very strangely. Suddenly, she begins switching from one personality to another. In between she's normal (or as normal as Seven can be) but it sure is becoming annoying! What's causing this mental breakdown and what can fix it? The Doctor thinks it's caused by a bad case of the Ankaran Flu. However, the know-it-all Doctor soon seems incapable of curing Seven so he calls in a specialist, 'Dr.' Tuvok.
Whether this is a good or bad episode, it must have been a challenge and rather fun for Jeri Ryan to act in this show. Her Seven of Nine is a wild emotional roller-coaster and she sure gets a chance to emote and show her stuff!
This show is okay and worth seeing. The Captain's behavior through the show, however, is odd (as often is the case) and seems to make little sense in light of the power and evil of the Borg. I cannot imagine any real person doing anything to disrupt the aliens from their plan. Yet another case where she acts more like a person reading a script than someone you can believe will exist in the 24th century. Her character is the weak link in this particular show-- everyone else is just fine and Ryan did a fine job in acting nutty!
Whether this is a good or bad episode, it must have been a challenge and rather fun for Jeri Ryan to act in this show. Her Seven of Nine is a wild emotional roller-coaster and she sure gets a chance to emote and show her stuff!
This show is okay and worth seeing. The Captain's behavior through the show, however, is odd (as often is the case) and seems to make little sense in light of the power and evil of the Borg. I cannot imagine any real person doing anything to disrupt the aliens from their plan. Yet another case where she acts more like a person reading a script than someone you can believe will exist in the 24th century. Her character is the weak link in this particular show-- everyone else is just fine and Ryan did a fine job in acting nutty!
I laughed a lot but enjoyed it!
winstonsmith_8427 March 2021
This is one of those good ole fashioned somewhat cheesy episodes. But oh if cheese isn't one of my favourite foods! This is classic Trek. I have to say that Ryan did a great job in her performance. It's a bit of a ridiculous role to play, someone constantly experiencing different personalities, but I love it. Put a big smile on my face. I wish modern Trek were this good!
Personality disorder.
thevacinstaller11 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Solid episode attempting to bring attention to what daily life is like for someone living with multiple personality disorder.
I found the scene of Tuvok attempting to walkthrough the personalities to be visually painful for my eyes and head. I wish they found a better way to represent that.
I found the scene of Tuvok attempting to walkthrough the personalities to be visually painful for my eyes and head. I wish they found a better way to represent that.
There are many on this crew who would benefit from your example
snoozejonc4 September 2023
Seven of Nine starts to hear voices and display varying personalities.
This is a reasonably good episode with a memorable turn from Jeri Ryan. The writers give her the opportunity showcase great range with an episode that further humanises her character during the journey back to individuality.
The best scenes involve Seven either in multiple-personality mode or exchanging dialogue with the character Naomi Wildman. I also enjoyed the pivotal mind-meld sequence which is very well made by the film crew and conveys what is happening with visual storytelling.
I was not particularly intrigued by the scenes involving the main antagonists, the vinculam and associated technobabble, but the main focus is on Seven.
Ryan is on top form along with Robert Picardo. A young Scarlett Pomers also makes a good contribution.
This is a reasonably good episode with a memorable turn from Jeri Ryan. The writers give her the opportunity showcase great range with an episode that further humanises her character during the journey back to individuality.
The best scenes involve Seven either in multiple-personality mode or exchanging dialogue with the character Naomi Wildman. I also enjoyed the pivotal mind-meld sequence which is very well made by the film crew and conveys what is happening with visual storytelling.
I was not particularly intrigued by the scenes involving the main antagonists, the vinculam and associated technobabble, but the main focus is on Seven.
Ryan is on top form along with Robert Picardo. A young Scarlett Pomers also makes a good contribution.
Jeri Ryan's improv performance
tomsly-400154 January 2024
A Borg vinculum (never heard that term before - basically it is some sort of central computer core of a Borg cube) causes Seven to split into several different personalities. Instead of being humorless and distanced, Jeri Ryan can show her acting talent by impersonating a small child, a Klingon, a Ferengi, a Vulcan... but because those splits come quicker each time, there is a risk, that Seven may lose her own personality soon. The Voyager crew salvages the Vinculum and discover, that it has been infected by a virus. Since they are unable to destroy it and prevent Seven from splitting into other personalities, they search for the last species, that has been assimilated by this Borg vessel.
When they encounter this species, they admit that they have created this virus and intentiously infected the Borg to destroy them. They argue with Janeway to return them the Vinculum so the virus can spread to the next Borg cube but Janeway wants to first cure Seven before she hands over the thingy and even risks to be destroyed by the aliens.
The story and Jeri Ryan's performance are quite good in this episode, but still some twists don't make sense. For example when Tuvok tries to mind meld with Seven to prevent her from losing her own self. What we see then is a distorted metaphor of her mind where dozens of different species seem to be eager to throw Seven into a deep pit. Tuvok though doesn't really stop those guys, his mind meld is quite pointless. Seven survives not because of Tuvok but because the crew was able to sever the connection to the Vinculum before the other personalities overpowered her.
Also, Seven says, that it doesn't matter if they get distance to this computer core because it sends its messages in subspace and will reach her no matter what. But at the end, they hand this vinculum over to the alien species. Most likely they will activate it again. Their whole purpose has been, to lure other Borg cubes to it so it can spread its virus to them. Once they would activate it though, Seven should be affected right away again. But obviously the writers haven't thought about this loophole.
When they encounter this species, they admit that they have created this virus and intentiously infected the Borg to destroy them. They argue with Janeway to return them the Vinculum so the virus can spread to the next Borg cube but Janeway wants to first cure Seven before she hands over the thingy and even risks to be destroyed by the aliens.
The story and Jeri Ryan's performance are quite good in this episode, but still some twists don't make sense. For example when Tuvok tries to mind meld with Seven to prevent her from losing her own self. What we see then is a distorted metaphor of her mind where dozens of different species seem to be eager to throw Seven into a deep pit. Tuvok though doesn't really stop those guys, his mind meld is quite pointless. Seven survives not because of Tuvok but because the crew was able to sever the connection to the Vinculum before the other personalities overpowered her.
Also, Seven says, that it doesn't matter if they get distance to this computer core because it sends its messages in subspace and will reach her no matter what. But at the end, they hand this vinculum over to the alien species. Most likely they will activate it again. Their whole purpose has been, to lure other Borg cubes to it so it can spread its virus to them. Once they would activate it though, Seven should be affected right away again. But obviously the writers haven't thought about this loophole.
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