Star Trek: Deadlock

Episode: "Deadlock"

Series: Star Trek: Voyager

Season 2, Episode 21

Original Air Date: March 18, 1996

via Memory Alpha

The good news: Ensign Wildman's baby is born!  The bad news: while trying to avoid Vidiian space, mysterious proton bursts cause a space-time rift, creating split realities.  All goes horribly wrong in both, though for different reasons.  Can the two Captain Janeways find a way for at least one ship to survive?

I'm pretty sure this was the episode that once inspired my wife to ask, "How did the crew manage to survive through all of these endless disasters?"

"Deadlock" is a popular episode among fans.  The concept is certainly interesting, inspiring plenty of "What would you do?" questioning.  The scenes with the two Janeways are the highlights.  Lines like "Please don't make me call security and have you escorted off my ship, because... you know, I'll do it" carry meaningful weight.  The end twist is strong, too.  I can't help my own reflexive resistance to an alternate reality story.  Couldn't they have made a similar point with fewer bells and whistles?

Maybe not.  Maybe a glimpse of a scenario in which Voyager didn't survive is essential for appreciating the fact they did.  

Acting Notes

via Memory Alpha

Simon Billig played the role of Ensign Hogan, a former Maquis and an important recurring character in tracking the adjustment for the Maquis crew members to the Starfleet-driven life aboard Voyager.  "Deadlock" is Billig's fourth of seven appearances as Hogan.  The actor was born in Birmingham, England.

Billig also had multiple appearances on Babylon 5, Silk Stalkings and One Life to Live.  Films include Bad City Blues and The Thin Red Line.