Quick Facts
Episode Title: Learning Curve

Release Date: May 1995

Genre: Science Fiction

Rating: PG

Main Actors: Kate Mulgrew, Robert Beltran, Roxann Dawson


Introduction
This episode is a little bit of an anomaly to me. It doesn't seem like a great ending to this season, however I have heard something concerning that. It seems that they made four more episodes for this season but then pushed them back for some reason. Maybe that explains why this doesn't seem like an appropriate stopping place. You'll have to judge this one for yourself after my review.


Series Overview
Captain Kathryn Janeway is the commander of the Federation Starship Voyager. Their first assignment was to locate a rebel Maquis ship that had gone missing. As they approached the last known coordinates, an alien entity known as "The Caretaker" pulled them 70,000 years away into the Delta Quadrant. Once there they were able to locate the Maquis ship. They were not able to use this same machine to get back home, so the two crews have had to join together to try to find a quicker way home. Along the way they encounter many alien life forms and have many interesting adventures.


Episode Summary
Crewman Dalby, one of the Maquis crew members on Voyager, shows clear insubordination to Tuvok. Janeway then decides to hold a class to teach the Maquis crew how things are done in Starfleet. Tuvok is made teacher, and the classes begin.

The Maquis crew are not too happy to have to learn to do things the Starfleet way. When they approach Chakotay, he slaps Dalby telling him that violence is the Maquis way. After that, they attend Tuvok's classes but are still not happy about it.

Meanwhile some of the bio neural elements in the ship have contracted a disease from some cheese Neelix used. The crew is forced to heat up the ship to help them fight this disease. It initiates a pulse surge which seals the doors shut in the shuttle bay where Tuvok is working with his class. The trainees must now work together to find a way out before noxious gas kills them all.


In-Depth Synopsis
At the beginning of the episode we once again find Janeway in the middle of a holonovel that she started earlier. She is dressed in Victorian clothing. She appears to be playing the part of governess to two motherless children. While she is acting her part out several of her characters disappear leaving Janeway to ask the computer what has happened. It appears that power has been disturbed to that energy grid.

While Tuvok is investigating the power interruptions he runs across crewman Dalby. Dalby has made some repairs without authorization. He says that he was just walking by when he noticed that a bio-neural pack needed to be replaced, and he did it. Tuvok tells him that in Starfleet, they have specific protocol to follow. Dalby tells him that this is the Maquis way. The two have a little bit of a tiff.

Janeway has a meeting with Tuvok and Chakotay discussing the malfunctioning gel pack. Torres is still trying to find out what went wrong. Janeway expresses her unease because they have a limited number of these gel paks, and they cannot be replicated. Chakotay introduces the possibility of switching over some systems to a different form of power, and Janeway agrees.

Tuvok takes the opportunity to tell Janeway about Dalby's insubordination. Janeway replies that he is not the only crewman that has had trouble adjusting. She urges that they begin a class that will instruct the Maquis crew in Starfleet operations. She then appoints Tuvok as the instructor. Chakotay selects key crewmembers who would benefit the most from this crash course.

In the first course which is held in one of the cargo bays, Tuvok tells the crewmembers that they will be held to the same standards as Starfleet cadets. The Maquis crew does not understand why they have been signaled out for this class. They state that they didn't wish to come on board and having been doing the best that they can. They are upset that their best is not good enough. They then walk out on Tuvok.

Back in the dining hall, the group discusses what has just happened. When Dalby comments that they aren't going to adhere to these Starfleet standards. Right at that point Chakotay walks in, and the group proceeds to tell him what happened. Dalby comments that he is used to doing things the Maquis way. Commander Chakotay confirms this and proceeds to slap Dalby. He says that violence is also the Maquis way. The group finally agrees that they will report to Lt. Tuvok after this.

At the second session, at least the crew shows up this time. Tuvok informs them that there will be exams. He then examines their uniforms. He orders them to report back at 1900 hours but won't tell them what for.

Dalby reports back to engineering and is discussing the field training with Torres when another gel pak fails. This time they take it to the doctor for him to analyze it since it has biological components. He says that it has an infection and that all the infected gel paks will have to be isolated. However, they have to find the source of the infection without it they wll not be able to keep it from spreading. Meanwhile the trainees continue their classes with Tuvok.

Torres and Kim try to figure out where this contagion could have come from. They discuss the biofilter. They then list the foods that Neelix has recently acquired but state that they have all checked out.

Tuvok has his class on the holodeck performing a war simulation. Under the command of Dalby the whole crew is killed. They state that it was a no-win situation, but Tuvok asks them why they failed. Tuvok tells them that they should have considered the idea of a retreat. The class leaves feeling like a failure, and Tuvok wonders why his methods are not getting through to them.

He goes to the Mess Hall where Neelix offers his services as morale officer. Tuvok tells him what has been going on, and Neelix shows him the Keela flower. He says that most of the stems are very flexible and will not break. Occasionally there is one, however, that is very inflexible and therefore breaks easily. Tuvok thinks he is referring to the Maquis crew, but Neelix is actually referring to Tuvok. He tells him that the Maquis have not been trained with Starfleet, and he can't expect the same thing out of the Maquis that he would a cadet. He tells Tuvok that he needs to be more flexible and bend the rules. Tuvok sees that Neelix is cooking with cheese and realizes you need bacteria for cheese. He then sees a ventilation shaft right above Neelix's preparation area.

Tuvok attempts to take Neelix's advice, and we see him playing pool in Paris' holoprogram with Dalby. Tuvok tries to get him to talk about his family and his friendship with another Maquis crew member. However, Dalby wants nothing to do with it and walks out on Tuvok.

Meanwhile the Doctor is examining the cheese as it appears to be the source of the infection for all the gel paks. Kes has exposed it to every known anti-bacterial agent, but it is not responding to anything. The Doctor wonders why the bacteria did not show up on the scanners when Kes states that she read the viruses can live inside of bacteria. There are some viruses that are so small as to escape detection. The Doctor then has her to try anti-viral agents instead.

Tuvok is holding another class in a cargo bay when he notices that there is instability in the ship. He lets the class go, but they can't get the doors open. On the bridge, Kim reports to Janeway that they are losing systems fast. In the cargo bay, the group tries to open the doors manually but that doesn't work either.

It's then that the Doctor reports that he has figured out what's wrong. The gel paks cannot fight off the infection the way humans do; by getting a fever. They figure out that they must heat all the gel paks. To do this they must initiate a high energy plasma burst by running the warp engine while they are standing still.

Back in the cargo bay a malfunction causes plasma gas to seep in. Tuvok orders them to leave immediately. He tells them to leave Gerron who has been injured in the blast. Dalby is irate, but Tuvok seals them all into the Jeffries Tube and remains behind to get Gerron himself. Tuvok collapses while trying to drag Gerron out. The trainees manage to force the door open and get Tuvok and Gerron. Dalby comments that Tuvok was breaking the rules by staying behind, but Tuvok said he realized that there are times when its necessary to bend the rules. The doctor informs the Captain that the bacteria have been destroyed.


Characters
This show focuses a lot on the crew as a whole. Tuvok plays a significant role as the teacher of the Maquis crew. Dalby, Chell, Garron and Henley are his students. This episode has a lot to do with relationships between the Maquis crew and the Starfleet crew. Therefore these characters play major rolls. Neelix and Chakotay help Tuvok and the group in some way to figure out how to get along. Kim, Torres, the Doctor, and Kes all play a role in getting the ship's gel paks working again. They are almost secondary characters in this. Janeway is of course present as usual taking a management position and doesn't have a major part.


Dislikes
1. This show really feels like it comes out of nowhere. Prior to this there hasn't been a whole lot mentioned about the Maquis crew not getting along. All of a sudden this is a problem. It's a little too sudden for me.
2. I'm about halfway into the second season and so far there really isn't any other mention about these crewman or this class again. I felt that they should have continued this or there should have been some mention of this again so that it would maintain continuity. I think there could have been more story lines developed from this.
3. This really isn't a great ending point for the season. In most shows there is some kind of a cliff hanger or some sort of finality. Here the story just stops until the next season picks back up. I mentioned above the possibility that they were planning on doing a few more episodes for this season. This may have been the reason it doesn't seem like a great ending episode.
4. There seems to be an inconsistency in Tuvok's character. In the episode "Prime Factors" Tuvok breaks the rules with a willingness that is astonishing. Here he is supposed to be a rigid rule follower and reports never to break them. I understand that in "Prime Factors" it was a matter of getting home faster, but I think that they should have been more consistent with his character. If he was willing to break the rules so easily there, surely he would acknowledge that inconsistency within himself. It's a little confusing.


Likes
1. I enjoy the fact that there are two separate story lines going at once. It helps things to move along and gives the episode more action. We're dealing not only with the class for the Maquis crew, but also with the malfunctioning bio-neural gel paks.
2. There is great entertainment value in this episode. There certainly are a lot of negatives to this, but it's an enjoyable episode just to sit down and watch.
3. We get to see a little more of Janeway's holonovel which I find interesting. I love to see her out of her Captain's uniform.


Overall Recommendation
For this episode it sort of depends on what type of person you are whether you will like it or not. If you are watch things purely for entertainment value, you'll probably enjoy this episode. If you are one who analyzes everything and likes to have your ducks in a row, there might be too many things that make you go "hmmm" here. I wish there were more options as to how many stars I could give this. I would give it four and a half stars for entertainment but then three stars for consistent and overall Star Trekness (I know that's not a word.) Therefore, I'll have to go with three.


Other Reviewed Star Trek: Voyager - Season 1 Episodes
Episodes 1 & 2 (Also contains a comparison between Voyager, The Next Generation, and the Original series)
Episode 3
Episode 4
Episode 5
Episode 6
Episode 7
Episode 8
Episode 9
Episode 10
Episode 11
Episode 12
Episode 13
Episode 14
Episode 15