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In 1995, The creative elements of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space 9 sought to capture lightening in a bottle for an unprecedented fourth time and see if they could launch a successful fourth Star Trek series. Buoyed by the runaway success of the earlier Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space 9, the creative team sought to take the franchise into a new direction. At the end of its completion, the new series Star Trek: Voyager would be the first Star Trek production not to benefit from creator Gene Roddenberry's input due to his passing.

The idea of the show was to re-introduce exploration into the series, as the title ship Voyager would be pulled to an unexplored region of space that was 70 years away from home.

The show was lead by Kate Mulgrew as Commander Katherine Jameway, a career Starfleet officer who is embarking on her first command with a brand new starship for what is supposed to be a three-week mission. Her second in command is Commander Chakotay (Robert Beltra), a former freedom fighter who had turned his back on Starfleet and now must help merge his crew with the crew of Voyager in order to get them home.

Lt. Commander Tuvok (Tim Russ) is the Vulcan security officer who has shared a good friendship with Janeway and is committed to total logic and no emotion. Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeil) is a skilled, yet cocky pilot who was released from a correctional institution to help Voyager on its mission; he has a big chip on his shoulder. B'ellana Torres (Roxann Dawson) is the ship's engineer -- half-Klingon, half-human Starfleet Academy dropout who is as skilled with engines and systems as she is volatile. She is a former freedom fighter under Chakotay.

Harry Kim (Garrett Wang), the young and enthusiastic ensign, is fresh out of the academy, and Voyager is his first assignment. He is eager to please and easy to get along with, albeit sheltered. Kes (Jennifer Lien) is a Pixie-like being called an Ocampan with has an eight-year life span. Kes is eager to explore and joins the crew to help them get home.

Neelix (Ethan Phillips), a native to the unexplored region of space, offers to help Voyager by serving as guide, cook, and ambassador to the new worlds they encounter. Neelix is also the companion of Kes. The Doctor (Robert Picardo) is a holographic emergency medical supplement who is forced into full-time status due to the deaths of the ship's medical staff. He was only designed for short term usage and struggles with his new role and interactions with the crew. The first season set includes a number of classic episodes such as the classic "Phage" were the issue of one life being used to sustain another is discussed and the spiritual "Emanations," where the crew must deal with the notion of an afterlife as well as the issues of faith and spirituality.

While reminiscent of Lost in Space, Star Trek: Voyager began with a promising start with this 15-episode first season. The Season One DVD set is a well-crafted. The menu functions are well designed and easy to navigate. Aside from the plethora of behind-the-scenes and making-of segments, the series features the episodes in sparkling color and sound. One impressive edition to the set is the lost-footage of original Captain Janeway (Genevieve Bujold) during her brief stint on the show. It is interesting to see how the two actresses differed on the interpretation of the character.

A great launch to what should be a fine set for collectors.

Gareth Von Kallenbach    February 12, 2004