The Doctor’s passion for music spills over into his personal life.
While the Voyager crew helps a Komari ship make repairs, the Komarian lifeforms onboard thumb their nose at the crew’s “inferiority.” The Komari live in a closed system and are not well versed in social interaction. Nor are they familiar with singing, which the Doctor does as he tends to their medical needs. The visitors are quickly enthralled with the Doctor’s voice and invite Voyager’s crew to visit their nearby planetary alliance. As a goodwill gesture, Janeway arranges a musical concert starring the Doctor, of whom the Komari can’t seem to get enough.
After the recital, the Doctor is invited to perform on Komar and introduce the concept of music to all its inhabitants. He excitedly agrees and plans a dazzling operatic performance complete with costumes and an elaborate set. Tincoo, an admiring Komar, assures him she will make any arrangements he may need and is baffled by his crew’s seeming un-appreciation of his talents. As he steps onto the stage, he receives a standing ovation from the packed stadium.
Following the Doctor’s latest concert, Voyager’s communication system is inundated with transmissions to the maestro. Seven mistakes it for attempted sabotage, but Janeway explains that the correspondence is just fan mail. Komari visitors flood the ship for a chance to see him, and the Doctor is pleased with the attention. Janeway, however, is eventually annoyed by his neglect of his duties and admonishes him to get back to work. Meanwhile, Tincoo urges the Doctor to stay on Komar with her after Voyager leaves.
Believing he can realize his life dreams and enjoy the love of a woman, the Doctor turns in his resignation. Despite Janeway’s protests, the Doctor insists he should have the right to self- determination. His life on Voyager has become routine, and he believes that the Komari really appreciate him for who he is and his ability to bring music to their lives. As the Doctor says his good-byes to the reluctant crew, Tincoo summons him. She has created a superior holomatrix that can hit all the high notes the Doctor can’t reach and explains that he is no longer needed on Komar.
Although the Doctor protests that a superior holomatrix can’t replace the passion and artistry he brings to the music, Tincoo only sees the situation from a mathematical angle. She is more concerned with hitting the scales than understanding their beauty. Heartbroken, the Doctor fills his final show with the melancholy of lost love. Afterwards, the holomatrix steps in with a purely technical performance, which the Komari applaud wildly. Back on Voyager, the Doctor realizes he has friends there who do truly appreciate him as an individual with unique abilities.
CAST
CAPTAIN KATHRYN JANEWAY
KATE MULGREW
CHAKOTAY
ROBERT BELTRAN
B'ELANNA TORRES
ROXANN DAWSON
TOM PARIS
ROBERT DUNCAN MCNEILL
NEELIX
ETHAN PHILLIPS
THE DOCTOR
ROBERT PICARDO
TUVOK
TIM RUSS
SEVEN OF NINE
JERI RYAN
HARRY KIM
GARRETT WANG
GUEST STARRING
Tincoo
Kamala Lopez-Dawson
Abarca
Ray Xifo
Koru
Paul Williams
Teleplay by: Raf Green and
Kenneth Biller
Story by: Raf Green
Directed by: Les Landau
HIGHLIGHT LISTING
STAR TREK: VOYAGER: “Virtuoso”—
The Doctor’s passion for music spills over into his personal life.
