"Favorite Son" | |
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Star Trek: Voyager episode | |
Episode no. | Season 3 Episode 20 |
Directed by | Marvin V. Rush |
Written by | Lisa Klink |
Featured music | Dennis McCarthy |
Production code | 162 |
Original air date | March 19, 1997 |
Guest appearance(s) | |
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"Favorite Son" is the 62nd episode of Star Trek: Voyager, the 20th episode of the third season.
Harry Kim becomes convinced that he's from the planet Taresia and he wants to return home to his people.
When Voyager encounters a seemingly friendly alien ship its crew has never seen before, the Nasari, Ensign Kim instinctively fires Voyager's weapons upon it without orders. Harry claims that a tetryon surge being emitted by the ship was the aliens preparing to attack them. Voyager sustains heavy damage while battling the enemy but manages to make them withdraw. Kim is relieved of duty, pending investigation of his overtly hostile actions. Janeway later confirms that Harry's "instincts" were correct, that the ship was indeed preparing to attack. Harry recounts other episodes of déjà vu since entering that region of space.
Later that night he has a strange dream, and when he awakens, he discovers a strange reddish rash on his head. The Doctor cannot find an initial cause. When the Nasari return with more ships, Harry's instincts tell him to flee to a nearby planet where they are defended and then hailed by the Taresians.
Captain's log, stardate 50732.4. The Taresians have escorted us back to their home world so we can continue to investigate their claim that Ensign Kim is a member of their race.
Once on the planet, the Taresians attempt to explain Harry's strange behavior. According to them, Harry is Taresian and was sent to Earth as an embryo where he was implanted into his "human mother." He took on the genetic traits of his human parents, but was programmed with both genetic knowledge and an urge to one day return to Taresia. When he entered the Taresian region of space, his dormant Taresian genes began to reactivate, explaining his current behavior. Harry befriends another male Taresian and learns that the planet's population is 90% female, and that males are very rare and thus very valuable and prized.
While Harry remains on the planet in an attempt to better understand his recent changes, Voyager leaves to attempt to make contact with the Nasari and negotiate safe passage from the system. Harry learns that because males are so rare on Taresia, he is valuable breeding stock. He attends the marriage ceremony of his new male friend who is bonded with three Taresian females. On Voyager, the doctor discovers something strange about Harry's DNA: it was implanted, possibly by a virus, and it is not natural to his body. Janeway also realizes that a defensive grid has been raised around Taresia preventing them from communicating with Harry or transporting to the surface.