The opening to this episode has an interesting style, black and white and static-y, through the first person of an unknown observer. That observer is revealed to be a malfunctioning robot, and Torres and Kim are trying to restore its power core. It is always nice to see those two interact, and I also like that Torres has kept the epithet "starfleet" as kind of a pet name for Kim. There is also a surprising lack of unpleasantness in the interaction between Torres and Neelix while she's pulling an all-nighter in the mess hall. If they keep using Neelix as the affable and good tempered but still kind of dorky buddy-to-all, then I might actually start liking him. Well, let's not get hasty. I might start to be able to tolerate him. Just keeping the expectations low.
The android's look... the head is basically two plastic cake molds, one shaped like a face, sealed together over an actor's head at a ridge that runs from from ear to ear over the headband zone. It is incredibly cheap-looking, and I love it. It is very evocative of the classic sci-fi robot look. The halting speech pattern (once he's activated) with the jargonization of common speech is also very much stereotypical, and I don't think it would work as well if it didn't have the exterior to match. It speaks reverently of "the builders", and is impressed with Torres' engineering prowess. The robots are incapable of reproducing themselves, and this one asks for her help.
Of course Torres wants to jump right in, but Janeway plays the killjoy, citing the prime directive and saying that it clearly applies here. I don't think she's right; or at least, not right about this being an obvious application of it. The prime directive basically covers two things: (a) don't interfere in the development of primitive (pre-warp) civilizations, and (b) don't get involved in the internal affairs (i.e. civil wars) of other civilizations. Option A certainly isn't the case for a spacefaring android race, so we're left with option B - and we just don't know enough about these androids to make a case one way or the other. I think a much more compelling argument would be: "We don't know these people yet, let us first make contact with them and find out more before coming to any final decisions." I think that would have sat much better with Torres, though she follows the captain's lead anyways.
The robot doesn't take "no" for an answer and kidnaps B'Elanna, transporting her to a massive android-controlled ship - an event that probably could have been avoided if they'd taken my advice. In order to spare the Voyager from certain destruction, Torres agrees to help. While she works, and the crew concocts rescue plans, another, almost identical ship shows up and opens fire on the first robot ship. Fun! These robots, which are gold instead of silver but the same basic appearance otherwise (another classic touch), have been locked in an unending battle with the silver robots for centuries, carrying on a war that their long-gone creators began. So, yeah, this is prime directive territory, but Janeway didn't know that before. After Torres assembles her first prototype, her "buddy" android reveals that they killed off their own creators, when they tried to shut them down to end the war.
This is Trek! This story isn't exactly new, but it is well-told and an excellent homage to robot stories that have come before it. The robots here adhere to strict programming rules which have brought about their predicament, and now Torres has given one side a way to win - and perhaps go on to wipe out more civilizations that try to shut them down. She is forced to destroy her own creation, and escape while the two android ships are fighting each other. When Voyager departs, they leave behind these two factions, continuing to relentlessly wage war for eternity.
Watchability: 5/5
Bottom Line: Excellent sci-fi entertainment, as long as you can appreciate the appearance of the robots.
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