It’s quite a visceral look at how radicalization works, and how groups manipulate members and potential members through control of language, artificial camaraderie and especially, having an enemy.
And the end is amazing. When Chakotay sees the scary looking alien (can’t remember the species) on Voyager, all that fear and hatred still comes back to him even though he knows he was manipulated. Because being de-radicalized isn’t just like flipping a switch. It’s easier to learn to hate than unlearn it.
Obviously it could be better - as with most Voyager eps to be honest - but it’s definitely one of the ones I look forward to most on a rewatch.
Edit: I glimpsed a comment, now nullified: the nemesis is the Kradin
I don’t believe that is anyone’s favorite VOY episode.
It’s definitely one of mine!
It’s quite a visceral look at how radicalization works, and how groups manipulate members and potential members through control of language, artificial camaraderie and especially, having an enemy.
And the end is amazing. When Chakotay sees the scary looking alien (can’t remember the species) on Voyager, all that fear and hatred still comes back to him even though he knows he was manipulated. Because being de-radicalized isn’t just like flipping a switch. It’s easier to learn to hate than unlearn it.
Obviously it could be better - as with most Voyager eps to be honest - but it’s definitely one of the ones I look forward to most on a rewatch.
Edit: I glimpsed a comment, now nullified: the nemesis is the Kradin
You don’t fathom the Kradin beast?