Star Trek: The 37's

Episode: "The 37's"

Series: Star Trek: Voyager

Season 2, Episode 1

Original Air Date: August 28, 1995

via Memory Alpha

Our heroes happen upon a 1936 Ford truck floating around in the Delta Quadrant.  One bizarre encounter leads to more when they discover eight earthlings in cryo-stasis on a nearby planet, all from 1930s Earth.  Craziest of all, one of them turns out to be legendary aviatrix Amelia Earhart.

"The 37's" generally gets mixed reviews.  Some, including Tim Russ (Tuvok) love it for its original series, classic sci-fi hokeyness.  Kate Mulgrew (Janeway) enjoyed the relationship between the captain and Earhart.  Others find the episode disappointing.  Guess which camp I'm in.

You see, beneath all of this, a far more interesting subplot develops.  The eight preserved "37s" were not the only survivors of 20th century alien abductions.  The others managed to break free of their captors, revolt against them and build their own flourishing society on the new world.  After initial mistrust and phaser fire, everyone is able to make friends.  The Voyager crew is invited to visit the settlers' three cities and furthermore, to remain on the planet if they wish.

So begins Janeway's dilemma: does she give people the choice?  Starfleet regulations would say no.  But Starfleet's a long way off and Voyager ever making it back home is far from guaranteed.  Could the journey back to the Alpha Quadrant even continue if too many of the crew leave the ship?  Despite the possibly dire consequences, she gives everyone the choice.  Anyone who wishes to leave Voyager is to report to the cargo bay at a given hour.

Decision time arrives.  Janeway and Chakotay hold their breath as the cargo bay door opens.  It's empty. Everyone has chosen to continue on.  The sense of relief is real, for both the characters and the audience.  Nobody wanted the story to end.  It's a genuinely moving moment and the emotional payoff could have been so much more.

This secondary story feels tacked on because, essentially, it was.  We never see the fabulous cities the settlers built because by the time that part of the story was added, it was too late to film it.  Voyager can feel this way often: great ideas that are never fully realized.  

Acting Notes

via Wikipedia

Sharon Lawrence (Earhart) was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, June 29, 1961.  She went to UNC Chapel Hill where she got a degree in journalism.  She debuted on Broadway in a 1987 revival of Cabaret.

By the time the Voyager job came along, Lawrence already had a regular role on a bigger show: NYPD Blue, on which she played Sylvia Costas for six seasons.  Since then, she has also had principal roles on Fired Up, Ladies Man, Wolf Lake and Hidden Palms.  Films include Gossip, Middle of Nowhere and Solace.  She's had six Emmy nominations but has never won.