Star Trek: The Chute

Episode: "The Chute"

Series: Star Trek: Voyager

Season 3, Episode 3

Original Air Date: September 18, 1996

via Memory Alpha

Kim and Paris are wrongly convicted of a terrorist attack, sentenced to prison plus a neural implant that slowly drives them insane.  There are no guards.  The inmates are completely at one another's mercy.  Meanwhile, Janeway and friends hunt down the true culprits, then hatch a plan to free their crew mates.

Star Trek's fascination with criminal justice continues.  "The Chute" is a compelling jail break story.  Both Harry and Neelix (good thing someone remembered his ship was still in the cargo hold) get satisfying heroic moments.  The story's not especially memorable but overall, I'd say I prefer it to last week's.  

One point worth addressing: many slash fiction writers have been drawn to the Harry-Tom relationship as one with homoerotic undertones, pointing to "The Chute" as evidence.  First, let me be clear: I would have no problem with such a relationship developing.  Indeed, I would welcome it.  I certainly appreciate the longing for representation, however subtle, by those in the queer community.  That said, I am troubled when any affectionate, nurturing or protective relationship, no matter the sex or gender of the parties involved, is automatically perceived as sexual.  I see danger in such an attitude.  We should all be able to experience and appreciate a broader spectrum of intimacy than society generally acknowledges or allows.  Fiction - especially 1990s American televised fiction - is too limited in this area.  And it's often the consumer, rather than the creator, who is limited in their view.

Acting Notes

via WikiSein

Don McManus played the role of Zio, a temporary ally for our friends in the prison.  McManus was born November 8, 1959 in San Diego.  He graduated from Yale.  His films include The Shawshank Redemption, National Treasure and Air Force One.  Television appearances include Northern Exposure, Seinfeld and Frasier.