The premiere of Star Trek: Voyager‘s first episode, Caretaker, was a pretty big deal at the time. It was UPN‘s flagship show, and Star Trek was at its peak popularity and nearing its 30th anniversary.
Let’s look at the 21 best random things about Caretaker.
1. Opening Text Crawl
Like Emissary, Caretaker starts with an opening text crawl – but this one’s different. It’s single-spaced and there’s a line break in the middle!
2. Tom’s Pause
When he says “I’m already doing a job” and then “for the Federation.” to Janeway. It sounds very natural.
3. Morn’s Mouth
I love that the first shot we see as we cut to Quark’s Bar is fan favorite Morn, featured in the foreground, with his mouth agape.
4. Quark’s Scene
Quark is great and the more Quark we get, the better, so it’s nice he got a cameo in this episode.
5. Janeway Saying “Crunch Time”
Because I’m instantly reminded of Nestlé Crunch bars and Pringles potato chips. And she says it twice.
6. Tom Having Difficulty Ordering Tomato Soup
You silly replicator. All he wants is some damn tomato soup!
7. Commander Cavit Not Bracing For Impact
He’s dumb. No wonder he died.
8. Corn Lady
I’m not crazy about this scene, but you have to admire this lady for being really insistent that everyone tries her corn.
9. Farm Dog
Cute!
10. Needle Scene
Needles go into the abducted Voyager and Maquis crew members. This scene creeped me out when I first saw it, and Kate Mulgrew really sells the agony of the needle piercing her stomach.
11. Kim’s Lesions
They’re all over his body and they look really gross and painful.
12. Maquis Ship Dodging Debris
Some nice piloting there.
13. Janeway Meeting Neelix
This serves the double duty of being an awkward conversation and an infodump.
14. Sneaky Neelix
Neelix suddenly going against the plan and picking a fight with the Kazon; he was unpredictable and acted really shady here. It’s too bad we only saw this side of Neelix a handful of times in the whole show.
15. Turning off the Doctor
The Emergency Medical Hologram wants to kick everyone out of sickbay, so Janeway just turns him off. At this point in the serious she just doesn’t give a shit about him.
16. Lt. Rollins
This guy has a pretty big role on the ship and in the episode, but never shows up ever again. What’s up with that?
17. Escalator Ride
One of the very few times (maybe only time?) we see an escalator in Star Trek. Savor this moment.
18. Squeezing Past the Security Barrier
It’s like playing limbo! I think this scene may have been cut for time when Voyager aired on Spike. Shame on them.
19. Kazon Ship Crash
A neat shot of the burning Kazon ship slowly crashing into the Caretaker Array.
20. Caretaker’s True Form
A totally “out there” alien design.
21. Harry Begrudgingly Looking at Ayala
During Janeway’s big speech at the end when she says both crews have to work together.
I’d add the look on Janeway’s face when she orders Tom to head for home, there’s a grim determination there which is really quite a highlight.
Just looked at a screencap and yes, you’re right. Good one!
Also I love this list – it’s a really positive take on the episode!