Star Trek - Voyager, Episode 47: The Chute (1995)

Garrett Wang at his best

"The Chute" is one of the grittier episodes of Voyager, and a good change of pace - especially for the characters of Harry Kim and Tom Paris.

In this episode, Tom and Harry find themselves in a prison where inmates are "received" when they slide down a chute into the inmate population...where they are received with violence. There is no way out of this prison - the inmates are essentially left there, with "clamps" installed on their skulls that work to activate the hostile impulses in their personalities. Essentially, the situation faced by the inmates is reduced to the old "survival of the fittest" game...and it is *rough*. This is NOT the "prettiest" episode of Voyager around - but it is a solid effort.

The interaction between Tom and Harry in this episode is outstanding, and in my opinion, this is one of Garrett Wang's best performances in the Voyager series. I give it 4 stars, with a "must see" for Harry Kim fans. December 13, 2001

Heartbreaking Episode

"The Chute" is where Tom and Harry get thrown into a prison, but Tom arrives there first, and is then under the control of "The Clamp". However, if I remember correctly, Harry isn't affected that much, only like 2-3 times, most likely more. But what really affects him is when Tom gets stabbed and then the episode takes a dramatic change. But you'll have to see the rest for yourself. Enjoy, but be ready for anything! October 29, 2001

Down the chute. . .

The episode is one of the "darkest" of the Voyager series. Harry & Tom are in a prison where no one escapes and the inmates are left to administer their own punishments to each other. This is one of my least favorite although I like the interplay between Harry and Tom. September 22, 2001

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