Ep 7. Parturition

Tom Paris and Neelix's relationship sours as they crash land on a barren planet, leaving their differences to come to a head. While Paris had promised Neelix a trip to a nearby asteroid belt to mine for raw materials that Neelix would be able to use to trade with other races, Paris decides to deviate from the plan and attempt to fly through a tight asteroid field, which results in Voyager losing track of their whereabouts and assuming that they're lost in space. It's at this point that Neelix confronts Paris, whose recklessness has clearly endangered their lives, and the two become embroiled in an ugly argument.

As they work to build a makeshift shelter to weather the freezing temperatures of the planet's night, Neelix begins to unravel a bit as he realizes that he may never get off the planet, leaving his brand new relationship with Kes (Jennifer Lien) behind. Paris, meanwhile, seems to take everything in stride and is willing to move on and continue their mission as soon as possible. As the two continue to work together, they take their frustrations out on one another and verbally lash out at each other, but soon they realize that they hold grudging respect and understanding for each other.

On Voyager, Tuvok (Tim Russ) is put in charge of training several of the crew members on how to use a complicated tactical VR simulation as part of his duties as security chief. Things begin to unravel when Harry Kim (Garrett Wang) is unable to successfully finish the simulation, triggering a chain of events that leaves Tuvok struggling to deal with his emotions while being perceived as increasingly cold and disconnected by his subordinates.

Parturition is perhaps one of the strongest character-driven episodes of Star Trek: Voyager, as ultimately the crux of the story revolves around the uneasy friendship between Tom Paris and Neelix. Over the course of the episode, the two bicker and argue, but they come to a mutual respect as they provide support to one another despite the circumstances that have led them to be stranded on an alien planet.

In some ways, the episode could be seen as a kind of buddy-cop story, as Paris and Neelix are forced to rely on one another to survive while dealing with their vastly different personalities and outlooks. Paris comes across as a kind of rebel without a cause, while Neelix is someone who values order and routine, and the two are able to find a balance over the course of the episode that allows them to work together towards common goals.

The episode is also notable for its exploration of Tuvok's character, as his increasing frustration with Harry Kim's inability to complete the tactical simulation leads him to a kind of emotional break, which is something quite unusual for a Vulcan. This subplot is somewhat less successful than the main story, as it feels somewhat disconnected and only tangentially related to what's happening on the planet, but it does provide some interesting depth to Tuvok's character.

Overall, Parturition is a strong episode of Star Trek: Voyager that provides a memorable episode focused almost exclusively on character development. With a compelling setup, a well-executed script and strong performances from the cast, it's a must-watch for fans of the series.