Star Trek Voyager - The Complete Fourth Season

I checked the discs. They all looked just fine. So 2 thumbs up... Watching on Pluto TV. So will watch dvds and extras soon.

It finally had to happen. There were clues from Season 3 that it was going to happen, there was going to be a run-in (or several) with the Borg in the Delta Quadrant. Once again, Janeway makes a bad mistake in her assessment of striking up an alliance with an alien race just to save her crew and get home. Her only saving grace this time was that they were taking on a more formidable adversary in Species 8472 from fluidic space (as if taking over this space was not good enough for the Borg) and that if she made this deal with the devil, the devil in turn would grant her and her crew safe passage through Borg Space. There would be more run-ins throughout the series, especially when the crew discovers how to use trans-warp coils and the conduits they open up to get through space even faster than just warp speed. Especially with the not-so-willing-at-first assistance from 7 Of 9, Tertiary Adjunct Of Unimatrix 01, the grown-up collectivized version of a human girl by the name of Annika Hansen, whose bohemian parents some years ago were pursuing an anthropological study of a mythical race of cyerbernetic organisms called the Borg some 20 years before.But there's more to this season than just the Borg--the Year Of Hell, which started out as Kes' premonition in Season 3, became a reality for this crew--or did it? We may never know unless we have seen the episode. Kurtwood Smith from "That 70's Show" plays a scientist who discovers how to use time as his weapon to bring back his dead wife, only to discover that when he manipulates on part of the timeline, it screws up other parts of it--and then realizes that they would not be so screwed up if it weren't for the fact that Voyager is in the wrong place and that this wild variable seems to thwart the very results he is seeking. And so he undertakes to destroy Voyager only to find out that Voyager turns his weapon against him and in the end, we wonder whether or not the "Year Of Hell" really happened.We are also introduced to the Hirojen, a race/tribe of hunters whose entire culture is predicated on the hunt and the pursuit of prey. They discover Voyager at this communications array that can relay information to the Alpha Quadrant and Janeway and her crew use it to successfully communicate a message to Starfleet. The Hirojen swoop in and destroy the array and then pursue Voyager. In the end, this hunt forever changes the Hirojen when they finally capture Voyager and discover the histories of Earth and Kronos as they force their hunters and the Voyager to relive these events.Of course, the communications with Startfleet Command yield some continuing disappointments for the crew, when the Maquis learned that most of their comrades in the Alpha Quadrant were wiped out by the Dominion--something that the Cardassians could not do by themselves if you followed "DS9". It also yielded more bad news for the crew when they finally deciphered all of Starfleet's message back to them--that there was no way to get them back home quickly but if they find a way, they will let Voyager know. Just like "Basics", it hammers the fact into the Voyager crew that they still out there alone in the Delta Quadrant.The season finalé was not a cliffhanger. If anything it was a reminder to Janeway about what the consequences were of assisting the Borg in their fight against Species 8472 and that the Borg were more than happy to use the weapon that Janeway helped them build against other species and peoples--whom they could not assimilate before because their DNA structures were too complex. This also would become an issue in later seasons until the Series Finalé when eventually she would have to make another that would either save her crew and deliver them home then-and-there or spend 16 more years trying to get them home the hard way.

This is hands down my favorite season, but others have questioned this - mostly targeting Seven's involvement in the series.Well, watch the special features, and you'll find out why. Thus far season 3 has been my least favorite (I only own season 3 through 7 right now) and 4 my favorite, with the series smoothing out between 4 and 7.But why was the season focused on Seven so completely? Well, as explained by those who worked on the show, the show needed a boost of popularity. Of course Seven worked to be the T&A but Jeri Ryan was quite effective in her role, bringing a unique reading that others didn't have.Why was she the focal point? Because she was new, and the writers had a fresh character to explore. They essentially could do anything with the new character - in polls Seven was the most popular and Kes the least, so logically, Seven ++ Kes --. Personally I liked the resolution as a part of the series, especially with the tie-ins to Before and After in Season 3.Some regard this as the beginning of the end of Star Trek Voyager...but on the same token they should consider the Klingons the end to the original series. The Borg are to Voyager what the Klingons are to the original series, and so Voyager exemplifies that trait, mostly through Seven of Nine. The stories focused on her because the writers and the public wanted that; some say this is hypocritical to an original show, but a show written freely and against the public opinion wouldn't work as Trek anyway. If they had, Voyager would have remained in the Delta Quadrant in the final episode, something that would've been an interesting trait to swim through the Trek Community. It was considered for a month or two, as well (See commentary in Season 7).As a single season and in retrospect, yes, this season did seem to fantastically focus on Seven and Janeway. Why? Janeway's one of the most popular characters on Voyager, and as Captain is largely the focal point. Why? Because Seven was three seasons behind in character development, and needed a little catchup. Why? Because the Borg are what fuel the series, affording an almost Good vs. Evil look to the trek universe.And Season 4 uses the look well, seperately, though, in that it introduces the road between Good and Evil, continuing what Season 3 left in Scorpion.In my opinion Season Four is the best season Voyager has to offer, though not best in the typical sense; Voyager's two two-part episodes afford the series a nice boost in popularity, but in many ways this season defines the rest of the show. No, it does not focus solely on the Borg and Seven - See: Chakotay's particular episodes, the Doctor's development, and Paris and Torres's back-story. There's more to an episode than the pillar concept; this season sets up the pattern of between two and three stories/sides to the story in a single episode the lives throughout the last seasons.Season Four defines what the last three seasons, largely regarded as the best seasons of Voyager, became. It is the pivotal point in which the Voyager universe is defined, and is undeniably linked to the rest of the Trek environment.Voyager was thrown into the Delta Quadrant in Season One. They wandered around a little in Season's Two and Three, exploring a little bit of their psychological stories and spending a vast amount of time fighting the Kazon, an unfamiliar race to the rest of Trek. Season Four, they fight the universal scourge, the Borg,. Season Four, their journey begins. For three years Voyager travelled gradually losing hope of getting home.Season Four rekindled that hope (Message in a Bottle), and Season Four: They truly begin, truly dedicate themselves to the journey.

I have been a big fan of Voyager since 2009- a most dreadful year for me. The Voyager crew provided me with brilliant escapism sci-fi fun ever since then. I also like the fact that Janeway is the first female captain in Star Trek. Also, the crew is a very different mix than what we are used to in Star Trek- we have an ex-con [Tom Paris], former members of a rebel group [the Maquee], a former Borg- 7 of 9, a hologram,etc. They are not your typical ST crew and that is what makes it special. Series 4 is excellent. Not only are we introduced to the Borg crew member, 7 of 9, we have loads of good episodes that deal with an array of interesting ideas and issues. Some of my favourites are 'Random Thoughts' where engineer Belana Torres is arrested for thinking a violent thought on a planet of telepaths who are very keen about keeping violence out of their society. Another great episode is 'Mortal Coil' where Neelix [moral officer] is revived from the dead and questions his beliefs of an after life that did not come to fruition. Also episodes like 'Scorpion' and 'the Gift' which deal with the incorporation of 7 of 9. 'Living Witness' is an episode which examines how the Voyager crew may be remembered 700 years into the future on a troubled planet. It would probably help ones understanding of the series to check out either series' 1 or 2 first;however, Even if one starts with this, the 4th series, you would be able to enjoy it still.

As Season Three of Star Trek: Voyager neared its conclusion the show really hit its stride. And Season Four just got better. Starting with the second part of Scorpion (which introduced Jerry Ryan as Seven of Nine) almost every story is a cracker. The lost of Kes was unfortunate (losing the irritating Neelix would have been a better option!), but gaining Seven of Nine, later to be know Seven, was a masterstroke. Although maybe too many of the later stories revolved around her - but then she is a great character. There are a couple of great two-parters: The Year of Hell and The Killing Game (which features the Hirogen, who featured in an earlier story in the season).The actors all know their characters inside and out and have become comfortable with the set up. Kate Mulgrew makes a formidable (and, at times, quite sexy) captain who sparks off of Seven quite fequently. Quite possibly the most completely satisfying Season in Voyagers seven years, with strong stories, great effects and good writing and acting. There are some quite good extras, not over burdend with them, but then there are seven seasons to fill - and there are several 'easter eggs' dotted about (on all seasons).

Awesome science fiction and hugely enjoyable. 7 of 9's journey from Borg to human is interesting as an example of cult kidnap-deprogramming that happens in real life. The indoc comes off in layers. The coercive recruitment is investigated and revealed. Ability to reason independently of the scripts and dogmas is rehabilitated. Adjustment to reality and grieving for what is lost happens. The Star Trek script writers could make good intervention counsellors in dealing with real life cults. This review is by a real life cult monitor who deconstructs coercive tactics. In truth, in the 7 of 9 story science fiction has become reality.

As I purchased separately, all seven series of Star Trek Voyager; my review will end up the same for each. I'm in temporary accommodation and in need of evening entertainment (no tv) and these fit the bill. It's lovely to take it from the beginning and see it through to the end. Some of the episodes, particularly those related to the holo deck are a bit weird; but I do understand that to keep sane for several years in a space ship "lost in space" would take other amusements. Janeway's character is pushed too far, at the expense of others, Chakotay in particular, who I would like to have seen developed - but I'm enjoying them nonetheless!

Great show (although not my fav') would be better if the DVD had the option to 'play all' instead of one episode at a time. This is a little frustrating especially when you consider the VHS versions play all the eps on the tape.Before I get the next ones though I think I will go for bluray format