After the Next Generation started on their big screen adventures, the seemed to be the need for a ship based Star Trek show on television. Deep Space Nine had not yet hit its stride and the alien setting and supposed grittier edge hadn't really materialised or aroused anyone's interest. What better way to kick start the concept a little with a small, powerful Federation ship crewed by a curious mixture of proper crew, renegades and a hologram stranded on the other side of the galaxy? The answer was, unfortunately, most things. At least to start with. Like Deep Space Nine, Voyager never really got going until about halfway through, but for my money, the final couple of series were absolutely superb, even though it seems that few people share my opinion and even fewer actually watched it. It's a shame it stopped when it did since there were plenty of interesting concepts brought up in the final days.

Caretaker was where it all started. The Caretaker being the name of a powerful alien who brought the ship to the Delta Quadrant, which ultimately stranded them there. Despite a few exciting sequences and some cracking effects work (which only got better and better), it was generally a bit of a dud, but with so much introduction and set up required, this is hardly a surprise. Jerry Goldsmith was commissioned with writing the theme. His noble horny fanfare didn't really set the world alight, but I always thought it worked marvelously with the extremely well conceived montage effects sequence. Jay Chattaway was charged with penning the rest of the score and while it promises to be great, never quite gets going.

The Prologue is an apocalyptic beginning (ironic, huh?) with synth chorus, pumping bass and brass ensuring an exciting opener, but after that, it tends to meander into more generic Trek underscore. There are a few asides, the jolly cotton pickin' hoe down music in Lifesigns in the Barn is a welcome change of pace, expanded later into The Caretaker's Hoedown (all the powerful life forms are doing it). However, a splurge of aimless suspense takes hold and while never entirely without merit does push the patience a little. The action sequences aren't exactly cutting edge, but the rhythmic drive ensures they never pass without arousing at least a little excitement. The extended Escape from the Ocampa Underground and Battle for the Array are not quite strong enough to sustain their running times, but are not without their moments.

The music, like the show, got a lot better in later episodes. Those involving the Borg and Species 8472 (I think) being particularly notable. Caretaker gets the prize of being the opening episode and thus an almost guaranteed release, but an entire three quarter hour album does stretch it out a little too much. Hopefully some suites from later shows will get releases in the future, although given that the popularity of the show never really picked up, it seems unlikely at the moment. A fairly prototypical, but above average Trek score.

Rating ~

  1. Star Trek: Voyager - Main Theme (1:45)
    Composed and Conducted by Jerry Goldsmith
  2. Prologue (3:11)
  3. 70 Thousand Light Years From Home (3:22)
  4. Beamed to the Farm (4:18)
  5. Lifesigns in the Barn
  6. Paris Takes the Helm (2:36)
  7. Star Trek: Voyager - Main Title Short (0:18)
    Composed and Conducted by Jerry Goldsmith
  8. Escape from the Ocampa Underground (8:06)
  9. Not Enough Time (2:02)
  10. Battle for the Array (6:55)
  11. Set Course for Home (3:31)
  12. Star Trek: Voyager - End Credit (1:16)
    Composed and Conducted by Jerry Goldsmith
  13. The Caretaker's Hoedown (2:35)

Total Time ~ 46:20