Resistance (Star Trek: Voyager)

Acclaimed actor Joel Grey, winner of Tony (for live theater), Oscar (e.g. the Academy Awards), and Grammy awards, played the part of the troubled alien Caylem in this episode.[1] In a later interview he noted the skilled makeup artists of Star Trek, needed for his role as an Alsaurian alien.[1]

During an away mission, Tuvok and B'Elanna Torres are captured and imprisoned while attempting to obtain a chemical vital to Voyager's systems. An injured Captain Janeway is rescued by a local man, Caylem, who believes her to be his daughter. The action takes place among Alsaurians who are contacts of Neelix, and whose planet is occupied by the aggressive Mokra.

Caylem eventually helps Janeway gain entrance into the caves where Tuvok and B'Elanna are being held prisoner and she releases them. Soon after, they are seized by the Mokra prison guards. The Mokra commanding officer, Augris, reveals that Caylem's real daughter Rokana was shot and killed years ago while attempting to rescue his wife, who died in the prison 12 years ago. Augris also indicates that Caylem has made this rescue attempt several times since then, having been rendered slightly delusional after being unable to accept their deaths. Before Augris can interrogate Captain Janeway with the brutal methods that he used on Tuvok, Caylem, who still believes Janeway is his daughter, attacks. Caylem stabs Augris during the fight, but is shot by two prison guards before they can be stopped.

As Caylem lies dying, Janeway tells him the commander was lying about Rokana being shot. She reminds him that his wife had forgiven him for past actions, and asks that he accept that forgiveness. "My sweet girl" are Caylem's last words before he dies in her arms, and Janeway is saddened at his death. Back on Voyager, Janeway ponders Rokana's precious metal necklace that he had presented to her, which she kept to remind herself of his kindness.

Joel Grey had previously worked with Kate Mulgrew in the 1985 film Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins. Prior to this he had won both a Tony Award and an Academy Award for the stage and film versions of the musical Cabaret. The producers of Voyager had invited him to appear on several occasions, but after Mulgrew suggested he played Caylem, he agreed to make his debut appearance in Star Trek. He described the experience as "fun, fun and crazy", despite requiring a couple of hours each day to apply his prosthetic make-up.[2]

This had Nielsen ratings of 5.1 points when it was broadcast on television in 1995.[3]

In the Star Trek franchise, "Resistance" is also the name of a book by J.M.Dillard, published by Simon and Schuster in 2007; the book is set in approximately the same time and period as Voyager but is not related to this episode.[4]

• Resistance on IMDb
• "Resistance" at TV.com

• Resistance at Memory Alpha (a Star Trek wiki)

• Resistance at StarTrek.com