Series: Star Trek: Voyager
Season 2, Episode 9
Original Air Date: November 6, 1995
 |
| via Memory Alpha |
During an away mission, Chakotay discovers symbols which are remarkably similar to ones he encountered as a young man during a formative experience with his father. Evidently, there is a mysterious link between his ancestors and the inhabitants of this far away planet.
Like I've said before, watch out when the wooden flute music kicks in during a Chakotay story. We're in for meaningful Native American culture connections. Why do these stories set my teeth on edge? This particular tale, while certainly far-fetched, is very sweet at its heart. I certainly appreciate the broader theme of a society valuing its connections with the natural world. I'm very much in favor of meaningful development for Chakotay. So what's the problem, Squid?
For generations, white people have co-opted a highly romanticized version of Native Americans and it was all over 1990s screen media. The image of the noble savage who lived simply and treasured the Earth suited the environmental movement perfectly. As is so often the case with white liberalism, their heart was in the right place. The trouble is that the image fails to appreciate the complexity of Native American cultures - yes, that's plural cultures with an S. Indigenous populations live and breathe throughout the Americas right now. They have survived long past their 19th century stereotypes.
What is portrayed in Voyager is a deeply white perspective. As previously discussed, if the producers were serious about pursuing this angle, they should have hired a native actor. I don't fault Robert Beltran. It was a gig. He did his job and for his own part, he portrayed native culture respectfully. I blame the higher-ups.
If you are curious about native television produced by native creators offering a broader, more realistic presentation, I highly recommend Reservation Dogs.
The B plot is better. The Doctor gives himself a cold to show the crew they should be better able to endure their own ailments. Kes messes with him by making the cold last longer than it was supposed to. Ha! What's even funnier is the fact the story was entirely Robert Picardo's idea.
Acting Notes
 |
| via WikiSein |
Richard Fancy played the "alien" Chakotay encounters on the mystery planet. Fancy was born in Evanston, Illinois, August 2, 1943. Most of his high-profile work has been on television. He is best known as Mr. Lippman, Elaine's boss, for ten episodes on Seinfeld. He also had multiple appearances on It's Garry Shandling's Show, The Wonder Years and General Hospital. Films include What About Bob?, Nixon and Primal Force. "Tattoo" is his second of two Trek credits.
No comments:
Post a Comment