I like the idea of Tuvok mentoring Kes in telepathic control. They're certainly an odd couple - Tuvok (really Vulcans in general) placing a premium on control and focus, and Kes being the more free-spirited type, prone to flights of fancy. It probably has something to do with the average ages of their respective species. When you can live for multiple hundreds of years, you've really got all the time in the world to do what you want - passions can wait. On the other hand, Ocampa, with their nine-year lifespan, must feel like they've got to experience everything at once. Both of these characters have been developed well with these things in mind, and I appreciate it.
And as it happens, we get to meet some different Ocampa in this episode. Voyager has been carrying around the corpse of the Caretaker this whole time, and sparks of life in it have led them to a new Caretaker-style array - inhabited by somewhat aggressive Ocampa. Under the tutelage of a more aggressive Caretaker (Suspiria), these Ocampa have extended their lifespans (up to 20 years) and their telepathic abilities. Extending the idea of Ocampans being more passionate as a result of their shorter lifespan, it is not the least bit surprising that you'd find some who are more hostile.
Their leader, Tanis, comes aboard and informs the crew that they've got a bad public image. Calamity follows in the wake of Voyager and word has gotten around. That's an interesting theme that is only touched on here, and I know it'll come back later, but I do want to say this: a lot of sci-fi series (both Battlestar and Babylon 5 come to mind here) have some very heavy-handed episodes about shady journalism and how it is bad, and I like that it is more subtle here. The themes are there, but we're not confronted directly with the sleazy reporters who turn innocents into villains, rather we see the end result of the "poor press" and dealing with the consequences.
Tanis takes over for Tuvok and shows Kes how to do some very powerful things with her abilities. He himself is pretty mustache-twirling, but that's par for the course with sci-fi telepaths. The Betazoids of Trek are pretty unique as a major telepathic race that doesn't go around abusing their power - and while I appreciate that, it's also a natural extension from the ability to see private thoughts to getting a smug sense of superiority. Kes later goes to practice her new skills with Tuvok, and he gets his face melted and practically dies as a result. The following scene in sickbay is perfect - Kes is mortified, Tuvok is stern but of course forgiving, and the Doctor is exasperated. I love the Doctor's disdain for Vulcans and what he views as their reckless use of their telepathic abilities. The idea that anyone could find a Vulcan to be reckless in any way is hilarious.
Voyager finds Suspiria with Tanis' help, but she's actually pretty bitter about the death of her mate. Earlier in the epsiode, when they are about to follow the energy that was activating the Caretaker's course, Tuvok suggests that they should devise a defense against the Caretaker's powerful abilites, so that they won't be as easily overpowered as they were before. It seemed a bit alarmist at the time (and even more surprising that Janeway gave it the go-ahead), but it turns out to be quite useful, as otherwise Suspiria would have just killed everyone. Janeway does give me a bit of the eye-rollery when she puts the crew back at the mercy of a grief-stricken, crazed, very powerful entity in order to earn its trust (after subduing it with a weapon specifically designed to fight its species), but at least the result is not a new friendship - instead, Suspiria flees.
Not surprisingly, Kes goes back to not having any control over her powers, restoring the status quo - much like River in several of the earlier Firefly episodes (prompting many "We know she can do [X], why doesn't she do that now??" exhortations over the series' short life). But she's still training with Tuvok, which I like, and I have hope we'll see more of it. Neelix also behaved well this episode - he did his over-protective thing, but to a reasonable extent, and seems to have packed away the jealousy thing for now.
Watchability: 5/5
Bottom Line: A welcome bit of continuity, some more good character growth from Kes, very solid episode. This kind of "really very good" episode teeters on the edge between 4 and 5 as a score, but it is such an upswing in quality I feel I have to reward it.
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