10 surveillance images are loading at the bottom of the page

Star trek: Voyager 2.07b - Death wish

Stardate 49301.2
Threat advisory: Severe - Severe risk of entertaining activities

Episode propaganda

While investigating an atypical comet, the crew of Voyager inadvertently releases a member of the Q Continuum (Gerrit Graham) from his 300-year confinement. To her astonishment, Captain Janeway ascertains that this being's sole purpose is to commit suicide...

Persons of interest

Kate Mulgrew .... Captain Kathryn Janeway
Robert Beltran .... Commander Chakotay
Roxann Dawson .... Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres
Jennifer Lien .... Kes
Robert Duncan McNeill .... Lieutenant Tom Paris
Robert Picardo .... the Emergency Medical Hologram
Ethan Phillips .... Neelix
Tim Russ .... Lieutenant Tuvok
Garrett Wang .... Ensign Harry Kim
Majel Barrett .... USS Voyager computer voice
John de Lancie .... Q
Gerrit Graham .... Q
Peter Dennis .... Sir Isaac Newton
Maury Ginsberg .... himself
Jonathan Frakes .... Commander William T Riker
Shawn Piller .... Storywriter
Michael Piller .... Screenwriter
James L Conway .... Director

Cinematic intelligence sources

Studios and distributors:

Star trek official site

Intelligence analyst

Special Agent Matti

Intelligence report

Star trek: original series - h, yeah! Morality! Ethics! Q-humour!

Now, before you get started, yes, the Q are the most painful and annoying continuum in all the continua - but this episode just happens to go a long way to redeeming them, in dramatic terms. While their silliness does tend to undercut the seriousness of the issues at stake (personal freedom, suicide, euthanasia), it puts me in mind of the Greek gods and their (mythologised) infantile behaviour. Perhaps they were something of an inspiration for the writers.

Another plus is getting to visit the Q Continuum, in terms which the lowly Humans on Voyager can understand, of course.

Suicidal Q (as opposed to Recurring Q, who is also in this episode) is wonderfully performed, with humour, philosophy, pain, conviction and all the cosmic weariness of an immortal and omnipotent being. So despite my Q-reservations, I thoroughly recommend this episode to any Trekkie (you'll understand why Australian censors threw an Adult themes rating on it).