The Gift (Star Trek: Voyager)
"The Gift" is the second episode of the fourth season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: Voyager, the 70th episode overall. Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet and Maquis crew of the starship USS Voyager after they were stranded in the Delta Quadrant far from the rest of the Federation. The episode marks the last appearance of Kes until the season six episode, "Fury."
| "The Gift" | |
|---|---|
| Star Trek: Voyager episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 2 |
| Directed by | Anson Williams |
| Written by | Joe Menosky |
| Featured music | Dennis McCarthy |
| Production code | 170 |
| Original air date | September 10, 1997 |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
Plot
After the events of "Scorpion", USS Voyager still remains without working warp propulsion and is infested with Borg technology. Seven of Nine, the Borg drone saved from the destruction of her cube, has her connection with the Borg collective severed. Her body begins to reject Borg technology. The Doctor must remove the majority of her Borg implants so she can recover. During the operation, she starts to have a seizure, caused by an implant in her brain. Kes uses her increasingly powerful telepathic abilities to disable the implant and stop the seizure.
Seven of Nine is not used to being an individual and repeatedly demands to be returned to the Collective. Captain Janeway refuses, and asks her to help with removing the Borg technology in Voyager's systems. Working on repairs, Seven sees a transmitter and tries to send a message to the Borg. Kes, meditating with Tuvok to try to get her telepathic powers under control, senses that something is wrong and uses her abilities to send an electrical surge that stops Seven. Seven is taken to the brig, where she has a long talk with Janeway about her separation from the Collective. Janeway brings Seven of Nine information about her past: before assimilation, she was a human girl named Annika Hansen. The new information enrages her and her wish to return to the Borg remains unchanged.
Meanwhile, Neelix and Kes talk about their past. She demonstrates her new powers; Neelix is hurt as the table they are sitting at starts to change. The ship's structural integrity begins to destabilize, as does Kes's body. The Doctor is unable to explain this reaction; he only knows that her powers must be suppressed or she might die. Kes tells Janeway she has decided to leave Voyager so as not to endanger the ship. She boards a shuttle and puts some distance between herself and Voyager. As her atomic structure destabilizes, she contacts Voyager and tells them she is about to give them a gift. The ship hurtles through space, ending up safely beyond Borg space and ten years closer to home.
The Doctor completes the removal of most of Seven's Borg implants, giving her a more humanlike appearance. Janeway tells her she will be allowed to move about the ship once she proves she can be trusted.
Reception
In 2017, Netflix announced that "The Gift" was among the top ten most re-watched Star Trek episodes on their streaming service, excluding the first two episodes of each series.[1][2] SyFy recommend "The Gift" as part of the Seven of Nine binge-watching guide.[3]
In 2019, Newsweek recommended this episode as suggested viewing for the Star Trek show Star Trek: Picard.[4] The point out this episode provides a background for the character Seven of Nine.[5]
References
- "Netflix's Top-10 Most Re-Watched Trek Episodes". www.startrek.com. Retrieved 2019-02-24.
- Whitbrook, James. "This List of the Most Re-Watched Star Trek Episodes Is Baffling". io9. Retrieved 2019-02-24.
- Fleenor, S. E. (2019-04-16). "The Seven of Nine binge guide". SYFY WIRE. Retrieved 2019-06-12.
- Andrew Whalen On 12/26/19 at 2:05 PM EST (2019-12-26). "With these three movies and 12 episodes, you'll be ready for the premiere of 'Star Trek: Picard'". Newsweek. Retrieved 2019-12-29.
- Andrew Whalen On 12/26/19 at 2:05 PM EST (2019-12-26). "With these three movies and 12 episodes, you'll be ready for the premiere of 'Star Trek: Picard'". Newsweek. Retrieved 2019-12-29.