Star Trek: Voyager Season 1 Episode 13

Ep 13. Faces

  • TV-PG
  • May 8, 1995
  • 46 min
  • 7.2  (2,013)

The Starship Voyager continues its journey through the Delta Quadrant, faced with countless challenges and obstacles that test the crew's bravery, ingenuity, and perseverance. In season 3, episode 13, titled "Faces," the show explores the theme of identity and transformation as several characters undergo a radical change of appearance and confront their deepest fears and desires.

The main storyline follows B'Elanna Torres, the half-Klingon chief engineer of Voyager, as she becomes the subject of a bizarre medical experiment by the Vidiians, a race of alien beings known for their expertise in genetic manipulation. The Vidiians have been plagued by a deadly disease called the Phage, which ravages their bodies and requires them to harvest organs and tissues from other species in order to survive. In their quest for a cure, they abduct Torres and split her into two separate beings: one fully human and one fully Klingon. The human Torres is young, timid, and vulnerable, while the Klingon Torres is fierce, aggressive, and dominant.

As the two Torres try to make sense of their new reality and coexist in the same body, they are forced to confront their conflicting identities, their painful pasts, and their uncertain futures. The human Torres resents her Klingon side for making her feel like an outsider and causing her to reject her heritage and her family. She also feels inadequate compared to the powerful and confident Klingon Torres, who embodies everything she is not and everything she fears. The Klingon Torres, on the other hand, resents her human side for making her weak and frail, and for holding her back from her true potential as a warrior and a leader. She also resents the human Torres for denying her the pleasures of physical combat, lust, and pride.

As the episode progresses, the two Torres begin to merge their personalities and their memories, and to appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of each other. They also have to face the consequences of their actions: the human Torres has to confront her father and deal with their estranged relationship, while the Klingon Torres has to face the consequences of killing a Vidiian scientist who had been experimenting on her. The episode also explores the relationships between other characters, such as Captain Janeway and her first officer Chakotay, who are drawn into a sub-plot involving a Vidiian doctor who seeks their help in escaping his people's gruesome practices.

Throughout the episode, the show uses visual and narrative techniques to convey the theme of duality and transformation. The makeup and prosthetics used to create the two Torres are striking and convincing, and the acting of Roxann Dawson, who plays B'Elanna, is superb as she portrays two distinct personalities with contrasting emotions and behaviors. The script, written by Kenneth Biller and directed by Winrich Kolbe, is poignant and insightful, and offers a thought-provoking commentary on the nature of identity, the influence of culture and biology on personality, and the power of acceptance and reconciliation.

In conclusion, "Faces" is a powerful and engaging episode of Star Trek: Voyager, which exemplifies the show's ability to blend science fiction, drama, and social commentary in a compelling way. It is a must-watch for fans of the show and for anyone interested in exploring the complexities of human nature and the role of diversity in shaping our world.

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Star Trek: Voyager, Season 1 Episode 13, is available to watch free on Pluto TV and stream on CBS. You can also stream, download, buy, rent Star Trek: Voyager on demand at Apple TV Channels, Amazon Prime, Netflix, Amazon, Microsoft Movies & TV, Google Play, Apple TV online.
  • First Aired
    May 8, 1995
  • Content Rating
    TV-PG
  • Runtime
    46 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    7.2  (2,013)