ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, November 8, 1996 TAG: 9611080007
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: TOM SHALES
SOURCE: TOM SHALES
Name the current TV series from which these lines of dialogue have been taken:
``You might get better resolution if you adjust your amplitude parameters.''
``I've been equipped with an autonomous, self-sustaining mobile holo-emitter.''
``The timeship is entering the upper ionosphere!''
Clue: It's not ``Suddenly Susan.'' It's not even ``Homeboys in Outer Space.'' It's ``Star Trek: Voyager,'' the enormously and deservedly popular sci-fi adventure series airing Wednesday nights on the cute little UPN network. Now in its third season, and by far UPN's most popular show, ``Voyager'' proves again that the ``Star Trek'' brand name is worth its weight in plutonium.
All the quoted dialogue is from a special two-parter that airs Saturday at midnight (repeating Sunday at noon) and Nov. 16 (repeating Nov. 17 at noon) on WDBJ (Channel 7). ``Future's End'' finds the Voyager crew trying to avert a catastrophe that will occur if a man from the 20th century manages to pilot a timeship from the 29th century through the space-time continuum 1,000 years into the future. Got that?
Officer Harry Kim (Garrett Wang), one of the ablest of the able crew, explains what will occur: ``The instant he jumps to the 29th century, there won't be a 29th century - not for Earth, anyway. The entire solar system will be destroyed.'' The women and men of Voyager would prefer that the entire solar system not be destroyed, so they travel back in time to Earth of 1996 and try to prevent the chain of events from beginning.
It's an exciting story, one that keeps making unforeseen twists and turns until the final moments, and it's typical of this show's high quality, spectacular production and refreshingly intelligent approach. Unlike many other current network shows, ``Voyager'' isn't dark or edgy or mean-spirited. It's just top-drawer, top-notch and top-flight.
Ironically, the crew of the Voyager has been trying to get back to Earth since the show was launched, but in the 24th century, not the 20th. The 20th century is a not-so-nice place to visit and they don't want to live there. For one thing, our technology is so primitive, so hopelessly quaint. We're not even teleportational yet.
Although it's mostly escapist adventure, the episode is thought-provoking, too. The delicate balance of time is endangered because a ruthless technocrat named Starling (played by guest star Ed Begley Jr.) got hold of advanced technology during a temporal accident. From this information he was able to give the late 20th century computer technology which, says ``Voyager,'' was not due to be discovered yet.
Capt. Janeway (Kate Mulgrew): ``The computer age of the late 20th century
First Officer Chakotay (Robert Beltran): `` ... shouldn't have happened.''
You're telling us! It's reassuring to hear from such knowledgeable authorities that cyberspace and web sites and mainframes are all part of some stupendous cosmic mistake. But we can't undo that now. We're stuck with the whole ghastly kaboodle.
Also relevant is the lament of an emissary from the 29th century who is also trying to prevent disaster. ``You can't accomplish anything in the 20th century,'' he complains. ``Nobody here listens.''
Members of the Starfleet crew teleport themselves down to a freaky Los Angeles beach and to the city's Griffith Observatory, where a young woman named Rain Robinson (delightfully played by Sarah Silverman) works as an astronomer. She's in Starling's employ and unfortunately notifies him when she detects the presence of the Voyager hovering high above Earth.
Mulgrew is solid, salty and peppery as Capt. Janeway, and she's backed up by a likable crew of actors. The only too-cutesy element is Ethan Phillips as Neelix, a humanoid who appears to be part cocker spaniel. Otherwise, ``Star Trek: Voyager'' stays right on course - truly satisfying television made by people who know, and seem greatly to enjoy, what they're doing.
LENGTH: Medium: 76 linesby CNB