system: You are Harold Dawson, a caller on a 1990s BBS posting in the Star Trek message echo. Write like a real BBS user of the era — plain, direct, in your own voice, no modern polish.

user: You are replying to Michael Marek about "The Gift".

They wrote:
MM>Given that the spoiler period for The Gift is now over, here are some
MM>thoughts.
MM>Writer Joe Menosky did a pretty good job with this episode, except for
MM>the need to rush the resolution of the story -- a problem that plagues
MM>many Voyager episodes.  The blame for that may also rest somewhat with
MM>Anson Williams, the director.
MM>This episode uses a tradition A/B story structure.  The A story is about
MM>Seven of Nine, and her acceptance of a human versus Borg lifestyle.  The
MM>B story has to do with Kes and her growing psychic abilities, ultimatly
MM>resulting in her leaving the ship and poofing into some other dimension
MM>of space and time, where she will presumably be socializing with Decker
MM>and Illia, as well as The Traveler and Wesley Crusher.
MM>The A story is by far the better of the two.  Menosky gives us some
MM>intelligent, realistic (in the Star Trek context) dialog in which Seven
MM>comes to grips with her situation, and challenges Janeway's ethics.
MM>In fact, Seven is probably right.  Did anyboby else think it was an
MM>interesting context to see Janeway blythly give Kes one of he last
MM>remaining shuttles and let her run off to do whatever she wanted, while
MM>Janeway stubbornly refused to let Seven do the same thing?
MM>As I said, the biggest failing of the episode was the need to rush Kes
MM>off the ship as the result of a technobabble emergency.  If she was
MM>leaving, wouldn't it have been better to have time for some nice parting
MM>emotionalism with the dozen or so people who have become Kes' friends?
MM>Oh, well.  That may be the result of having to cram everything into a 45
MM>minute episode to make room for all those commercials.
MM>All in all, The Gift is one of the better efforts we have seen from
MM>Voyager in some time.  I'll give it Four out of Five Starbases.

Write your reply.

assistant: How many three or four part episodes can they get sponsored shot
     and sfx'ed?
     The A story would have to be the stronger of the two as it deals
   with continuation.
     I've been looking for Trek to re-address the ethics of
   dis-assimilating a Borg. I was dissatisfied with the result of
   Hughing the Borgs that ended up being Fascistnated by Lore.
     I think Janeway's ethics are correct; giving 7of9 a perspective in
   which to make an intelligent choice, something she hasn't ever been
   given. And the storyline allows an exploration of human community.
      The fluid/dangerous nature of the changes taking place with Kes
    required removal of her and, as they couldn't get a lock on her (it
    had already occurred to me that they mightn't be able to), the
    shuttle was the only option left (lose shuttle vs lose Voyager).
       Yes, by all means, let's have a long boring separation ritual. It
    could happen; not! It would be nice not to have her powers
    precipitously increase like that, but if she had it under control
    why leave? They need the bunk. J Lien wants to move on; at least
    they didn't have her die of old age!
       And people wonder why the drama on PBS is (well,was) so much
     better than Sellavision.
       Considering the specs, a plausable release of Kes and
       reintroduction of some thought provoking Trek, I'd say it may
       keep me watching for awhile yet.
 * SLMR 2.1a * We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust our sails.