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Someone to Watch over Me (Voyager episode)
Encyclopedia
"Someone to Watch Over Me" is an episode of Star Trek: Voyager
, the 22nd episode of the fifth season. The main plot is about The Doctor
and Seven of Nine
, a hologram and an ex-Borg
, learning to deal with romance
. The plot owes much to modern retellings of the Pygmalion
myth.
The episode has an average rating of 4.7/5 on the official Star Trek
website (as of August 28, 2007).http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/VOY/episode/105674.html
and B'Elanna Torres
are engaged in a conversation. Torres remarks to Paris several times that Seven of Nine is watching the two and has been in the past, but Paris dismisses her concerns, noting that Seven is writing a report. Torres eventually becomes angry and approaches Seven over Paris' objections. Seven at first claims that she is not staring at Torres and Paris, but later admits that she has been observing the couple to gain a better understanding of romantic interaction. Torres demands to see what she's written, but Seven says that she has not completed her analysis. Torres grabs her report anyway and begins reading aloud. She expresses frustration as she reads Seven's detailed chronicle of her and Paris' interactions and becomes irate and threatens Seven when she learns that Seven has even recorded instances of their "intimate relations
".
In sickbay, The Doctor approaches Seven about the incident. He suggests that her interest in understanding the subtleties of human mating rituals is the result of an interest in her own sexuality
and offers to teach her more about romance. She claims to not be interested in romance and says that she was only conducting a study, but he quickly points out the topic she chose and convinces her to become his student. The Doctor prepares a "lesson plan
" for the former Borg
with each lesson about a particular social nicety related to human romance. For example, one lesson is titled, "The First Date". Although Seven quickly masters the first lessons, her approach to romance remains stiff, businesslike, and robotic. Paris chides The Doctor for thinking that with his help Seven will eventually be able to date other crew members successfully. Nevertheless, The Doctor remains confident and makes a bet with Paris for a month's work in sickbay that she will retain a date for the entire night at an upcoming ambassador's reception.
The Doctor focuses on better understanding Seven's interests and finds that she has great musical talent. He teaches her to supplement her singing ability with emotion, and the two share a duet
of "You Are My Sunshine
". It is at this time that The Doctor begins to see Seven in a different light. After Seven's first date ends in disaster when she injures her partner while they are dancing, The Doctor dances with her to improve her skill, pointing out that as a hologram
he cannot be physically injured. Paris eventually realizes that The Doctor has fallen in love with Seven and advises him to tell her. The Doctor is reluctant to admit his feelings, but he does ask Seven to be his date at the ambassador's reception. She agrees.
Seven behaves extremely well at the ceremony, making jokes and displaying purposeful politeness. Paris concedes the bet, but when Seven learns that The Doctor had a personal stake in asking her to accompany him to the ceremony, she storms out of the room in anger. Although The Doctor apologises and tells her that his interest was only in her development, his unresolved feelings for her plague him.
In the final scene, the audience sees The Doctor approach Seven after leaving a group of roses for her. In an emotional voice, he admits that "the last few days have been...unforgettable" and professes his love for her. However, this is soon revealed to be a holodeck
simulation which The Doctor ends as he is about to be interrupted. The real Seven of Nine then approaches The Doctor and gives him an enhanced medical tricorder
, saying that she remembers him expressing his desire for one and that she decided to present it to him as a gift. He is grateful, but he despairs when he learns that she has presented it to him because she wishes to end the lessons in romance because she does not find any member of the crew to be a suitable mate. In a weak and forlorn voice, he admits to her that "the past few days... have been unforgettable. Thank you." but he does not tell her of his romantic feelings. She departs, and he recreates a holodeck program that he had used for her training and plays a despondent version of George Gershwin
's "Someone to Watch Over Me
" at the piano
.
Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe. Set in the 24th century from the year 2371 through 2378, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet vessel USS Voyager, which becomes stranded in the Delta Quadrant 70,000 light-years from Earth while...
, the 22nd episode of the fifth season. The main plot is about The Doctor
Doctor (Star Trek)
The Doctor, an Emergency Medical Hologram Mark I , is a fictional character from the television series Star Trek: Voyager, played by actor Robert Picardo...
and Seven of Nine
Seven of Nine
Seven of Nine is a fictional character on Star Trek: Voyager, portrayed by actress Jeri Ryan. Born human, she was assimilated by the Borg at the age of six. Eighteen years later, Voyager left Borg space with Seven on board, after attempts to negotiate passage through Borg space proved only...
, a hologram and an ex-Borg
Borg (Star Trek)
The Borg are a fictional pseudo-race of cybernetic organisms depicted in the Star Trek universe associated with Star Trek.Whereas cybernetics are used by other races in the science fiction world to repair bodily damage and birth defects, the Borg use enforced cybernetic enhancement as a means of...
, learning to deal with romance
Romantic love
Romance is the pleasurable feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love.In the context of romantic love relationships, romance usually implies an expression of one's love, or one's deep emotional desires to connect with another person....
. The plot owes much to modern retellings of the Pygmalion
Pygmalion (mythology)
Pygmalion is a legendary figure of Cyprus. Though Pygmalion is the Greek version of the Phoenician royal name Pumayyaton, he is most familiar from Ovid's Metamorphoses, X, in which Pygmalion was a sculptor who fell in love with a statue he had carved.-In Ovid:In Ovid's narrative, Pygmalion was a...
myth.
The episode has an average rating of 4.7/5 on the official Star Trek
Star Trek
Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment franchise created by Gene Roddenberry. The core of Star Trek is its six television series: The Original Series, The Animated Series, The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, and Enterprise...
website (as of August 28, 2007).http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/series/VOY/episode/105674.html
Plot
The episode begins in the mess hall. Tom ParisTom Paris
Thomas Eugene "Tom" Paris, played by Robert Duncan McNeill, is a character in the television series Star Trek: Voyager. Paris serves as the chief helmsman and an auxiliary medic aboard the USS Voyager...
and B'Elanna Torres
B'Elanna Torres
B'Elanna Torres is a main character in Star Trek: Voyager played by Roxann Dawson. She is portrayed as a half-human half-Klingon born in 2349 on the Federation colony Kessik IV. Torres joined the Maquis in 2370 and was serving on the Val Jean when brought to the Delta Quadrant...
are engaged in a conversation. Torres remarks to Paris several times that Seven of Nine is watching the two and has been in the past, but Paris dismisses her concerns, noting that Seven is writing a report. Torres eventually becomes angry and approaches Seven over Paris' objections. Seven at first claims that she is not staring at Torres and Paris, but later admits that she has been observing the couple to gain a better understanding of romantic interaction. Torres demands to see what she's written, but Seven says that she has not completed her analysis. Torres grabs her report anyway and begins reading aloud. She expresses frustration as she reads Seven's detailed chronicle of her and Paris' interactions and becomes irate and threatens Seven when she learns that Seven has even recorded instances of their "intimate relations
Human sexual behavior
Human sexual activities or human sexual practices or human sexual behavior refers to the manner in which humans experience and express their sexuality. People engage in a variety of sexual acts from time to time, and for a wide variety of reasons...
".
Human sexuality
Human sexuality is the awareness of gender differences, and the capacity to have erotic experiences and responses. Human sexuality can also be described as the way someone is sexually attracted to another person whether it is to opposite sexes , to the same sex , to either sexes , or not being...
and offers to teach her more about romance. She claims to not be interested in romance and says that she was only conducting a study, but he quickly points out the topic she chose and convinces her to become his student. The Doctor prepares a "lesson plan
Lesson plan
A lesson plan is a teacher's detailed description of the course of instruction for one class. A daily lesson plan is developed by a teacher to guide class instruction. Details will vary depending on the preference of the teacher, subject being covered, and the need and/or curiosity of children...
" for the former Borg
Borg (Star Trek)
The Borg are a fictional pseudo-race of cybernetic organisms depicted in the Star Trek universe associated with Star Trek.Whereas cybernetics are used by other races in the science fiction world to repair bodily damage and birth defects, the Borg use enforced cybernetic enhancement as a means of...
with each lesson about a particular social nicety related to human romance. For example, one lesson is titled, "The First Date". Although Seven quickly masters the first lessons, her approach to romance remains stiff, businesslike, and robotic. Paris chides The Doctor for thinking that with his help Seven will eventually be able to date other crew members successfully. Nevertheless, The Doctor remains confident and makes a bet with Paris for a month's work in sickbay that she will retain a date for the entire night at an upcoming ambassador's reception.
The Doctor focuses on better understanding Seven's interests and finds that she has great musical talent. He teaches her to supplement her singing ability with emotion, and the two share a duet
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
of "You Are My Sunshine
You Are My Sunshine
"You Are My Sunshine" is a popular song first recorded in 1939. It has been declared one of the state songs of Louisiana as a result of its association with former state governor and country music singer Jimmie Davis. The song is copyright 1940 Peer International Corporation, words and music by...
". It is at this time that The Doctor begins to see Seven in a different light. After Seven's first date ends in disaster when she injures her partner while they are dancing, The Doctor dances with her to improve her skill, pointing out that as a hologram
Holography
Holography is a technique that allows the light scattered from an object to be recorded and later reconstructed so that when an imaging system is placed in the reconstructed beam, an image of the object will be seen even when the object is no longer present...
he cannot be physically injured. Paris eventually realizes that The Doctor has fallen in love with Seven and advises him to tell her. The Doctor is reluctant to admit his feelings, but he does ask Seven to be his date at the ambassador's reception. She agrees.
Seven behaves extremely well at the ceremony, making jokes and displaying purposeful politeness. Paris concedes the bet, but when Seven learns that The Doctor had a personal stake in asking her to accompany him to the ceremony, she storms out of the room in anger. Although The Doctor apologises and tells her that his interest was only in her development, his unresolved feelings for her plague him.
In the final scene, the audience sees The Doctor approach Seven after leaving a group of roses for her. In an emotional voice, he admits that "the last few days have been...unforgettable" and professes his love for her. However, this is soon revealed to be a holodeck
Holodeck
A holodeck, in the fictional Star Trek universe, is a simulated reality facility located on starships and starbases. The first use of a "holodeck" by that name in the Star Trek universe was in the pilot episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, "Encounter at Farpoint", although a conceptually...
simulation which The Doctor ends as he is about to be interrupted. The real Seven of Nine then approaches The Doctor and gives him an enhanced medical tricorder
Tricorder
In the fictional Star Trek universe, a tricorder is a multifunction handheld device used for sensor scanning, data analysis, and recording data.Three primary variants of the tricorder are issued in Star Trek's Starfleet...
, saying that she remembers him expressing his desire for one and that she decided to present it to him as a gift. He is grateful, but he despairs when he learns that she has presented it to him because she wishes to end the lessons in romance because she does not find any member of the crew to be a suitable mate. In a weak and forlorn voice, he admits to her that "the past few days... have been unforgettable. Thank you." but he does not tell her of his romantic feelings. She departs, and he recreates a holodeck program that he had used for her training and plays a despondent version of George Gershwin
George Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
's "Someone to Watch Over Me
Someone to Watch over Me (song)
"Someone to Watch Over Me" is a song composed by George Gershwin with lyrics by Ira Gershwin from the musical Oh, Kay! , where it was introduced by Gertrude Lawrence...
" at the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
.