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+++
title = "Star Trek: Voyager 05x18 Course: Oblivion"
author = ["Michał Sapka"]
date = 2024-04-03T21:14:00+02:00
draft = false
weight = 3016
hasNavSection = "st-voy-episodes"
abstract = "One of the best episodes I've seen"
menu_item_override = 18
episode_id = "5x18"
[menu]
[menu.star-trek]
weight = 3016
identifier = "star-trek-voyager-05x18-course-oblivion"
parent = "voy-r-s5"
+++
We start with B'Elllanas and Parises wedding and celebration of successful enhancement of Voyagers drives.
The ship is 2 years from reaching earth.
The celebration is cut short, as Torres comes down with illness breaking her molecular structure.
We learn, that we are not on _our_ Voyager, but on a identical copy.
The entire crew are clones born on the Demon planet.
Soon, rest of the crew comes down with the same illness as B'Ellana.
"Course: Oblivion" is a direct continuation of Demon (04x24[^fn:1])
{{< img-c "star-trek-voyager-course-oblivion-1.jpg" "https://voy.trekcore.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=96" >}}
Look how happy they are.
{{< /img-c >}}
## Impressions {#impressions}
This may very well be my favorite Voyager episode yet.
This series is far from happy-go-lucky, but damn.
Seeing the entire crew die is not something I would have expected.
But it is a Bryan Fuller episode, so it doesn't come as such of a surprise.
We're still thematically around the _self_ problem.
Are the clones the same people as the originals?
They possess the same memories, they have the same goals, they have the same personalities.
Moreover, they don't remember being clones.
It's closer to a _Twilight Zone_ brain melter, than I would have anticipated.
The only downside are the effects.
It's a nitpick, but we're seeing _crap-on-face_ type of decomposition, which starts as cool.
Unfortunately, the with time and the process progression, more and more faces are covered - and with it, all the problems are more visible.
Near the end, we see dried up, cracked masks.
I'm glad it's not a 4K remaster.
But this does not matter.
I finished the episode seriously sad.
I wanted a different ending.
Not often we are left with such soul-crushing scenes.
It is not a story episode, _Trek_ gave us plenty of those.
It simply goes from point A to B.
After we learn that we are not seeing That Voyager, Fuller does not give us any more surprises.
This is pure emotional episode.
It came late in season 5, so I know those characters and I really felt their deaths.
I'm glad this not how the entire series is, but I will mention it anytime I am asked about greatest Trek episodes.
It right there, besides "The Inner Light" (TNG) and "The Visitor" (DS9).
It adds nothing to the main story, yet it is _essential_ to appreciate _Voyager_.
I think it's time to say it out loud: _Voyager_ is a better series than _The Next Generation_.
It's more mature, less goofy and overall has amazing episode quality.
{{< img-c "star-trek-voyager-course-oblivion-2.jpg" "https://voy.trekcore.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=96" >}}
Look how sad they are.
{{< /img-c >}}
## Doctor factor {#doctor-factor}
Reduced to plot device, but I still love this episode.
[^fn:1]: I have not reviewed episodes before reaching season 5, sorry.
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