VaBeachGuy 12 Posted May 13, 2003 What is Voyagers legacy in the Delta Quadrant 700 years after the crew finally returns home? Living Witness is a very enlightning episode into how history can be mis-represented and we can all take lessons from this episode when we examine our own history. How much is true and how much is folk lure? In 700 years will stories be told of the Federation as if it were reality as opposed to being a television show? Watch Living Witness and see how Voyager's past is portrayed. Excellent episode! To read the full episode synopsis from STARTREK.COM click the spoiler below: Click For Spoiler Hundreds of years in the future, the Voyager crew is accused of murder. The U.S.S. Voyager and its crew are on display in a Kyrian museum 700 years in the future, and they are being blamed for a horrible civil war that nearly wiped out the Kyrian race. Through inaccurate simulations, the crew is shown as violent people who did not hesitate to destroy anything or anyone standing in their way of getting home. Approached by the Vaskan Ambassador for help in his fight against the Kyrian, Janeway supposedly slaughtered millions of innocent people in exchange for wormhole travel to the Alpha Quadrant. The museum curator, Quarren, works within the engineering simulation to access a data storage device recently uncovered at one of the Kyrian ruins. When he realizes it is a hologram, he activates the Doctor's program and explains what has happened. The Doctor is distraught and refuses to believe that 700 years have passed, but he soon sees the Voyager artifacts in the museum and knows it must be true. Appalled by the depiction of Janeway and the crew as cold, heartless thugs, the Doctor tries desperately to describe Voyager's side of the story. Although he explains that Janeway had just negotiated a trade agreement with the Vaskan Ambassador when they were attacked by the Kyrian, Quarren balks at the idea that his people were the aggressors. When the Doctor describes how Janeway and the crew only wanted to extricate themselves from the war, his program is silenced. After some time to think about what the Doctor has said, Quarren allows him to create a simulation of his own. It shows that the Kyrian leader, Tedran, invaded Voyager. Janeway explained that they were trading with the Vaskans and nothing more, but Tedran wouldn't stand down. It was the Vaskan Ambassador who killed him, and the last thing the Doctor remembers is Kyrian ships attacking Voyager. As he works to reactivate his medical tricorder and offer proof of his re-creation, a group of angered Vaskans breaks into the museum and begins destroying it. When war between the two groups threatens to erupt again, the Doctor believes it would be best if his program is decompiled. Although he wanted to clear Voyager's name in history, it's not worth causing more fighting. Years into the future, watching another simulation, people see Quarren talk the Doctor into giving his testimony of events. Because of that, the great war was finally portrayed accurately, and harmony was restored. After setting the record straight, the Doctor eventually boarded a shuttle for the Alpha Quadrant to trace Voyager's path home. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
prometheus 0 Posted May 13, 2003 I agree. "Living Witness" was a great episode and the way in which the characters were portrayed was similar to the way the Mirror Universe characters were in TOS "Mirror Mirror". I loved the unethical Doctor with his menacing eyes! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gotabite 0 Posted May 13, 2003 Being a Voyager "freak" I remember this episode quite well. In fact I've seen it several times. It was a very powerful story. Many of Voyager's plots I often transform into the world we live in. And this episode in particular made me ponder about some of the history of our own civilization as things have been recorded, even as far back as Biblical times. At any rate the plot, drama....everything about this episode I rated A+++................ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dsbs 0 Posted May 14, 2003 I thought I posted here already, but... I really enjoyed this episode (even if it was a doctor episode). It was one of those I could watch over and over again... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ddillard 2 Posted May 15, 2003 This was a great episode. It hit on the whole "history is written by the victors" concept. It does make me wonder about some of the things in our own history and how much of it has been distorted from what really happened. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VaBeachGuy 12 Posted October 9, 2005 I just re-watched this episode the last time I was in Maryland, anyone that hasn't seen it yet really should watch it. It's a very good episode. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ace 0 Posted October 9, 2005 This was easily one of my favorite episodes of Voyager, if not of all Trek. It was very thought-provoking and well-written. I watch it whenever I get the chance. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
