Shoutout to Robert Duncan McNeill and Tim Russ for remaining completely serious during the conference room scene in "Bride of Chaotica!", while everyone else is fighting for their damn lives.
Fav episodes of VOY, Ds9, and TNG : The Bride of Chaotica, Take Me Out to the Holosuit, and Peak Performance! The first two because they’re silly and fun, the last because of the quote “It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness; that is life”…. Also from tng I love the episode Lower Decks!
Mmmm your mind. The fun, the picard Quote. You are correct on all accounts. Thank you
Janeway trying so, so hard to stay all serious and captain-y as Tom earnestly explains to her how Doctor Chaotica is in love with Arachnia, Queen of the Spider People.
I adore the crack-y Trek episodes. I love them because they always give it 110% but also while comedic and bizarre it usually says something about the characters.
(This is why I think SNW's The Elysian Kingdom didn't really work for me on two fronts, I didn't think they went far enough in the concept and didn't really tell me anything about the characters).
One of the few times the Voyager crew gets to be in an over-the-top scenario where they get to keep their memories -- Voyager crew's memories get erased and overwritten a lot. No wonder Seven made her own psychological assessment in season 2 of Picard-- is Bride of Chaotica.
As much as Janeway had to be dragged to the role of Arachnia, Janeway took to the role of a 1930s star like a fish to water:
The production crew was BRILLIANT this episode:
And then Janeway asked if she could sit on Chaotica's throne:
"Somehow I feel comfortable here."
LOL. Janeway.
She was a theater kid for sure. Kate Mulgrew must have enjoyed this episode a LOT.
And then Janeway pauses, and possibly wonders what that says about her. It's the look of, 'I hope this didn't awaken anything in me.'
Too late!
(It says you're a queen).
I love how Janeway actually loved playing an over-the-top villain.
And then she does this thing where she gives the wire of the mic a whipping flourish.
Calmly watches as Chaotica is electrocuted to death.
And takes a moment to gloat over his body, even telling Chakotay to wait before shutting down the holodeck. LOL. It's the most she's enjoyed herself, and to think earlier she was chiding Tom for enjoying this kind of entertainment.
Tom enjoys playing the hero but Janeway just gets to indulge this delicious side of her.
Remember when I said Janeway has no Mirror equivalent? I love her..
And then when her 'rescue' party arrives they find her just looking over Chaotica.
Yes, yes you are the queen!
I think Janeway just learned, that if Tom likes playing the swashbuckling hero, Janewa loves playing the over-the-top villain. This is the most Janeway's enjoyed herself without being brainwashed into forgetting she's Voyager's Captain.
Seriously, I love Janeway. She's the most Extra. And she's learned to embrace the Extra.