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“Initiations” 30th-anniversary reflections While on a solo shuttle trip to perform a quiet ritual for his late father, Chakotay wanders into Kazon-Ogla space and finds himself face-to-face with his would-be executioner: a teenager named Kar. Overcoming the boy is not a problem, but Chakotay’s refusal to kill him is—at least among the Kazon. Death would give Kar’s life meaning (don’t think about that for too long). Back on the Kazon ship, they both get chastised by First Maje Razik as total failures for not doing their killing duty properly. After escaping the ship and becoming stranded together on a Kazon training moon, Chakotay and Kar continue their standoff until Chakotay finally stages his own death so that Kar can both live and earn his name. In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Initiations,” another attempt to make the Kazon work, a chance to explore Chakotay’s background, Aron Eisenberg on Voyager, and more. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Neelix Does Way More Than Cook (00:02:30) Fleshing Out Chakotay (00:06:23) Based on Gang Research (00:12:17) Aron’s Performance (00:21:12) Indoctrination (00:25:16) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:26:44) Closing (00:30:45) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“The 37's” 30th-anniversary reflections Rust in space leads Voyager to one of the strangest finds in Star Trek history: a 1936 Ford pickup truck. Janeway decides to bring the ancient "ground vehicle" aboard, and Tom Paris—suddenly an expert on 20th-century automotive tech—starts playing with its AM radio and picks up an SOS from a nearby planet. On the surface, the crew discovers even more oddities: humans displaced in time, including aviator Amelia Earhart, who famously vanished. Solving one of Earth's great mysteries turns out to be the easy part, however. After 400 years, humans have built a community on the planet, and they invite Voyager's crew everyone to stay. Will they? In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we jump into season 2 as we discuss “The 37's,” how the story works as a season opener, its intended role as the season 1 finale, the TOS flavor, conflicting creative visions, and more. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) A TOS Tone (00:02:25) Intended Finale (00:06:46) Again with People from the Past (00:09:25) Janeway Meets a Hero (and Lands the Ship) (00:13:16) Should I Stay or Should I Go? (00:17:34) Conflicting Concepts (00:21:38) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:30:38) Closing (00:33:12) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“Learning Curve” 30th-anniversary reflections When four Maquis crew members refuse to adapt to Starfleet protocols, Tuvok is handed the unenviable task of whipping them into shape. But while he struggles to understand why his time-honored methods and Vulcan charm aren't working, a more immediate threat is taking hold in Neelix's kitchen: cheese. In his efforts to delight Ensign Ashmore with a taste from home, the self-proclaimed chef has been cultivating bacteria just below a vent that feeds into the ship's bio-neural circuitry. Now the gel packs have a cold and systems are failing one by one. It's time to get the cheese to sickbay! In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Learning Curve,” Tuvok's impossible mission, the cheesy concept, how it ends the first season, and more. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Meet the Burleighs (00:02:38) Addressing the Maquis Problem (00:08:17) Does Tuvok Have Amnesia? (00:14:56) Chakotay's Character Development (00:20:33) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:22:08) Closing (00:32:31) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“Jetrel” 30th-anniversary reflections When a Haakonian shuttle hails Voyager and asks to speak with Neelix, the ship's cook and guide is shocked. The caller is Dr. Ma'Bor Jetrel, and they have a past. Jetrel designed the Metreon Cascade, a weapon that killed more than 300,000 Talaxians, including Neelix's entire family, and left him without a home. It turns out the scientist is dying from a disease caused by the Cascade, and Neelix may be as well. Jetrel says he has come to offer medical help. Neelix wants nothing to do with him. But after Jetrel comes aboard, both men discover that the secrets they have been carrying go deeper than they want to admit. In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Jetrel,” a serious moment for Neelix, the story's historical parallels, and more. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) The Right Time for a Neelix Episode? (00:02:19) Historical Parallels (00:09:19) Does It Work? (00:15:51) Digging into Neelix (00:19:00) Living Up to the Series Promise (00:22:28) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:24:45) Closing (00:31:09) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“Faces” 30th-anniversary reflections In search of alien DNA that could be used to create a cure for the Phage, the Vidiians kidnap B'Elanna Torres and split her into separate human and Klingon halves. The human B'Elanna finds herself frightened and vulnerable while the Klingon B'Elanna leans on strength and confidence to begin planning an escape. It's only by working together, however, that they are able to return to Voyager. Once back, B'Elanna must face the reality that she will be merged back into an individual with conflicting personas battling inside. In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Faces,” what the story does for B'Elanna's early character development, and how Roxann Dawson pulled off playing distinct human and Klingon halves. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) My (Not Evil) Twin (00:02:09) Early B'Elanna/Paris (00:08:53) Getting to Know B'Elanna (00:11:00) Pulling It Off (00:17:58) Welcome to My Nightmare (00:25:27) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:28:28) Closing (00:30:33) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“Cathexis” 30th-anniversary reflections While Captain Janeway shacks up in ancient England, Chakotay has an out-of-body experience. There's been an attack on the shuttle he was riding around in with Tuvok, and while the Vulcan suffered only a concussion, all of Chakotay's bio-neural energy has been drained and he has fallen into a coma. The Doctor says he can keep him alive, but nothing more, since his brain is dead. That's when B'Elanna turns to a medicine wheel to save her old friend. In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Cathexis,” the writers' attempt to add depth to Chakotay's Native American heritage, the twist, and, of course, that holonovel. Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“Heroes and Demons” 30th-anniversary reflections Harry Kim's disappearance draws the Voyager crew into a medieval mystery as a holodeck recreation of the Old English epic Beowulf starts converting people into energy. There's just one person on the ship who can safely venture into the holographic forest to find the young ensign: the Doctor. That trip into the unknown leads to many firsts for the man briefly called Schweitzer, and reveals a very Star Trek story. In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Heroes and Demons,” how tapping into elements unique to the series creates a story true to the core of Star Trek, how it sets the stage for The Doctor's character, and what we think of his choice of name. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) The Setting (and the Sets) (00:02:11) A Doctor's Tale (00:13:03) Tapping into the Promise of Voyager (00:17:36) T'Pol Sidebar (00:24:27) Schweitzer! Schweitzer! (00:27:04) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:31:04) Closing (00:32:53) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“State of Flux” 30th-anniversary reflections A scouting expedition to an alien planet leads to a game-changing discovery. Surprisingly, it's not leola root. Nor is it mushrooms; though these are all pretty tasty finds. Even the Kazon can't lay claim to the title, despite turning out to have Starfleet technology aboard their ship. But we're getting warmer. How did the Kazon get their hands on the tech? It looks like the Voyager crew have a traitor in their midst. As Janeway, Chakotay, and Tuvok set out to solve the Case of the Cream of Mushroom, the trail leads them to a shocking revelation. In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “State of Flux,” Seska's big secret, how the story questions Starfleet ideals, and why establishing characters before plot twists matters. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Playing with Promise (00:02:35) Playing with Loyalties (00:06:37) Playing with Chakotay and Seska (00:10:49) Building Character for the Reveal (00:18:18) Questioning Starfleet Ideals (00:22:47) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:26:58) Closing (00:30:53) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“Prime Factors” 30th-anniversary reflections Having heard stories about Voyager—a ship of aliens from another part of the galaxy, lost in a world so far from home—the Sikarians decide to assist. Drawing in Voyager with a distress signal, their leader, Gath, offers a helping hand. He ain’t got a clue how to get them out, but he does think he knows what they need: a little pleasure. When Janeway accepts the offer of shore leave for the crew, Harry quickly finds a girl who’s hot for stories and then finds himself miles and miles from nowhere, on the planet Alastria, 40,000 light years away. It turns out the Sikarians have a spacial trajector that can zip them around the quadrant. And with everyone on the planet hot for stories, the crew might just be able to trade all the Federation’s literature for a quick ride home. In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Prime Factors” and how the story challenges the principles of the crew while bringing opposing views together as it leverages the promise of the series premise. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Not Entirely Pleasurable (00:02:13) On the Other Side of the Fence (00:13:00) Conflicting Priorities (00:16:49) Can't Tech That Tech (00:25:23) Can't Flirt with Harry (00:29:25) Desperately Seeking Stories (00:31:55) Tuvok's Betrayal (00:37:45)   Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:48:23) Closing (00:52:53) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“Emanations” 30th-anniversary reflections Having failed to learn their lesson about roaming around in strange caves, a landing party from Voyager investigates an asteroid when they think they’ve discovered an unknown element. Instead of minerals, they find bodies—18 of them—and lose one of their own: Harry Kim. The eager ensign finds himself trapped in a coffin on an alien planet. What’s worse is that the planet is nowhere near the asteroid. In fact, it’s in another dimension. How will he get back? And what secrets of life, the universe, and everything will Janeway and her crew reveal to the poor alien woman who woke up on Voyager? In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Emanations,” the exploration of aging and death, disregard for the Prime Directive, and cocoons. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Why Are We Here?! (00:02:07) How We Deal with Death (00:08:28) Other Dimensions, Other Realms (00:14:34) The Prime What?! (00:20:13) Elders and Euthanasia (00:28:51) A Shallow Exploration (00:33:31) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:38:44) Closing (00:43:39) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“Ex Post Facto” 30th-anniversary reflections While on the planet Banea, Tom Paris and Harry Kim visit the home of a scientist and are greeted by his young wife, Lidell. When the scientist is killed, Paris is accused of the murder and sentenced to relive the victim’s final moments every 14 hours for the rest of his life. The Baneans believe that Lidell and Paris had an affair, and lust led to murder. But Janeway isn’t buying it, and Tuvok vows to find out the truth … one memory at a time. In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Ex Post Facto,” the story's film noir foundation, the core science fiction concept, and whether the portrayal of Paris fits the character … to say nothing of the dog. Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“Eye of the Needle” 30th-anniversary reflections The discover of a wormhole gives the Voyager crew hope that they might soon be home. But there's a catch: the wormhole is just 30 centimeters in diameter. Determined to make use of the anomaly, they figure out how to send a message in a bottle and hope for a response. The answer surprises them. Not only is it from the Alpha Quadrant, it is from a Romulan. Eventually, Janeway convinces the adversary to help them. But their hopes of being rescued are dashed by one more scientific twist. In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Eye of the Needle,” the story's scientific underpinnings, the crew's hopes of getting home, and the unexpected twist. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) She Blinded Me with Science (00:02:31) Inner Thoughts (00:07:03) Jeri Taylor's Janeway Influence (00:13:42) Size Matters (00:15:48) No Doctor Left Behind (00:23:01) Message in a Bottle (00:35:54) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:44:52) Closing (00:50:20) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“The Cloud” 30th-anniversary reflections Several weeks into their journey home, both Janeway and Voyager find their energy reserves running low. For the captain, a simple trip to what used to be her private dining room for a cup of Neelix’s even better than coffee substitute might be all that’s needed. For the ship, however, a trip into a mysterious nebula is required. Voyager is hungry for omicron particles, and there seems to be a rich supply just ahead. But this cloud is not what it seems, and Janeway may need to turn to her animal guide to save the crew. In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “The Cloud” and how the science-heavy plot wraps a character-focused story. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) How Do Starfleet Ships Run? (00:03:03) We Are Family (00:12:05) How Many Torpedoes? (00:18:29) Back to Family (00:21:25) Tiptoeing around Chakotay (00:23:34) A Poor Man's Quark? (00:35:02) Strange New Life Form (00:43:17) Sandríne‘s (00:47:27) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:54:44) Closing (00:57:24) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“Phage” 30th-anniversary reflections Chakotay, Kim, and Neelix beam into caves on a rogue planetoid to search for dilithium; but they come back empty-handed. Not only do they have no dilithium, Neelix left something even more important behind: his lungs. With these vital organs now in the possession of mysterious aliens, the ship’s new self-proclaimed chef will have to postpone the opening of his kitchen and stay in sickbay, where the Doctor has fitted him with holographic lungs. As the crew search for the aliens and try to retrieve Neelix’s organs, Janeway is confronted with an unexpected moral dilemma. After being stalked by Vidiians, you may never listen to that famous song by The Police the same way again. In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Phage” and the introduction of a fascinating alien race in a story that hits right at the heart of Star Trek. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) A Species with Depth (00:02:52) A Neelix Problem? (00:08:34) Cooking Up Storytelling (00:17:01) Ripe for Serialization? (00:21:07) Real-Life Science (00:25:30) Wrath and Compassion (00:28:05) The Doctor and AI Evolution (00:36:02) Kes Finds Purpose (00:42:44) Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:44:26) Closing (00:48:22) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)

“Time and Again” 30th-anniversary reflections A planet orbiting a red dwarf presents a mystery that Janeway cannot resist, so Voyager makes a pit stop to investigate. She and Tom Paris beam to the surface and discover a timepiece that has stopped working, seemingly indicating the moment that an explosion destroyed all life. Believing there is nothing left to do, they prepare to return to the ship when the world around them suddenly changes. They’ve jumped back in time one day before the disaster, to a place where a singular color palette rules. In this episode of To The Journey, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Voyager, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Time and Again” and whether another trip to the well of time is the best way to help viewers get to know the series in its third outing. Chapters Intro (00:00:00) Going to the Well Too Many Times? (00:02:20) Budget Constraints (00:11:43) Why Are They There?! (00:16:30) Is the Mandate Clear? (00:21:35) Meeting Fan Expectations (00:27:20) Kes, Tom, and Developing Characters (00:32:57) The Technobabble Crutch (00:42:30) One World, One Outfit (00:44:47)   Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:48:38) Closing (00:52:28) Hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing Production C Bryan Jones (Editor and Executive Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer)