Star Trek Episode of the Week: Distant Origin

This week’s Star Trek episode features a clumsy allegory for the ongoing conflict between religion and science, and demonstrates a staggering misunderstanding of evolution. It’s one of the best episodes of Voyager season three, and it’s called “Distant Origin.”

Plot: In “Distant Origin,” two members of an alien species known as the Voth try to prove a genetic connection with the humans of Voyager. It quickly becomes evident that this is entirely real, but their theory is controversial in their society. Eventually, the Voth scientists must retract their claims, despite overwhelming evidence and a stirring speech from Chakotay. The iron will of religious fervor triumphs.

Character Development: This episode features precious little, even relative to most Voyager episodes. Chakotay briefly plays wife-swap with some aliens where he reminds us that he is an historian.

Forehead of the Week: This episode prominently features the Voth, a so called “saurian” species of aliens originally evolved from the Hadrosaur dinosaur. Their ancestors left Earth to escape the mass-extinction-causing meteor strike which wiped out the rest of the dinosaurs.

Memorable Quote: “Was it beautiful?” – long lost Earthling Forra Gegen, foolishly deluding himself about the quality of his home planet.