28

Wikipedia link

This is the episode where voyager is fractured into different time periods, some in the past, actually most in the past, and one in the future, each located in a different region of the ship, with Chakotay being able to move freely between the time periods. He's trying to return the ship to a single timeline, recruits past Janeway to help him (with some dialogue essentially foreshadowing Endgame), and manages to do so after dealing with Seska, who's on the ship in her past time period, causing some trouble.

It's a nice episode and a good way to do a sort of flashback/clips episode but also develops some nice Janeway-Chakotay character.

At the end, when things have been restored, Chakotay tells Janeway that he can't tell her what happened because of the temporal prime directive. Janeway then reveals that she knows where Chakotay's secrete stash of cider is located, which was revealed to past Janeway earlier in the episode. Chakotay asks how she knows, and she says she can't reveal because of the temporal prime directive.

The whole thing is done as light banter ... but, are we supposed to take this seriously and understand that past Janeway actually remembers her conversations with Chakotay during their movements between the time periods? It makes sense that she would, as both her and Chakotay were given a treatment that enabled them to cross the time fractures without being erased. If Chakotay retains his memories, shouldn't past Janeway have also?

If true, then in the timeline Chakotay finds himself in, Janeway has known the whole time of the rough plot of the whole voyager series up to season 7. Which would be a huge statement, especially if it's that same Janeway(s) in Endgame. You have to remember that this past Janeway was from before they even got to the Delta Quadrant. Awkwardly, as the whole crew is eventually enabled to cross time barriers, many of them from the past, including Borg Seven, they'd all have some memories of what's to come (though arguably not nearly as many as Janeway).

The only argument I can think of for why past Janeway wouldn't actually have retained her memories is that the ship was restored back to the time of the cause of the fracturing, which was an anomaly of some sort in Chakotay's time, and which Chakotay prevented from happening, and so altered all the timelines affected by the fracturing. Having not thought this through enough, I'm not sure how much sense that makes, or should make. But still, why Janeway's comment at the end ... the only on-screen way she could have of knowing about the secret stash is by retaining her memories as past Janeway.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] maegul@lemmy.ml 9 points 1 year ago

Yea, I figured as much, and I don't buy my suggestion in the parent post, but it's still odd they leave it hanging especially given the huge implication that isn't so easily dismissed.

[-] evatronic@lemm.ee 5 points 1 year ago

It's also imminently possible you're right, but the Relativity or someone else from the 29th century has been busy undoing the damage such widespread awareness of the future events would cause.

Chakotay's vision of the future was also not the future that ultimately ended up existing. In such a world, the Relativity probably left him alone, as his foreknowledge wasn't particularly useful, and they could simply look at some Starfleet records and see if he ever shared what he knew in a way that would affect the future. On seeing that he didn't, they opt to not intervene.

Meanwhile, Janeway has shown time and time again to do whatever the fuck she wants with the timeline, and Captain Braxton probably relished pulling her in, zapping her memory of those events, and dumping her back into her own time.

[-] maegul@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

All true, but how did present Janeway know where Chakotay hid the cider? That’s the whole point. That last line implies she kept her memories.

this post was submitted on 27 Aug 2023
28 points (100.0% liked)

Star Trek

10571 readers
102 users here now

r/startrek: The Next Generation

Star Trek news and discussion. No slash fic...

Maybe a little slash fic.


New to Star Trek and wondering where to start?


Rules

1 Be constructiveAll posts/comments must be thoughtful and balanced.


2 Be welcomingIt is important that everyone from newbies to OG Trekkers feel welcome, no matter their gender, sexual orientation, religion or race.


3 Be truthfulAll posts/comments must be factually accurate and verifiable. We are not a place for gossip, rumors, or manipulative or misleading content.


4 Be niceIf a polite way cannot be found to phrase what it is you want to say, don't say anything at all. Insulting or disparaging remarks about any human being are expressly not allowed.


5 SpoilersUtilize the spoiler system for any and all spoilers relating to the most recently-aired episodes, as well as previews for upcoming episodes. There is no formal spoiler protection for episodes/films after they have been available for approximately one week.


6 Keep on-topicAll submissions must be directly about the Star Trek franchise (the shows, movies, books etc.). Off-topic discussions are welcome at c/quarks.


7 MetaQuestions and concerns about moderator actions should be brought forward via DM.


Upcoming Episodes

Date Episode Title
11-07 LD 5x04 "A Farewell to Farms"
11-14 LD 5x05 "Starbase 80?!"
11-21 LD 5x06 "Of Gods and Angels"
11-28 LD 5x07 "Fully Dilated"
12-05 LD 5x08 "Upper Decks"

Episode Discussion Archive


In Production

Strange New Worlds (2025)

Section 31 (2025-01-24)

Starfleet Academy (TBA)

In Development

Untitled comedy series


Wondering where to stream a series? Check here.


Allied Discord Server


founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS