voyager season 2 episode 9

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Season 2 – Star Trek: Voyager

Where to watch, star trek: voyager — season 2.

Watch Star Trek: Voyager — Season 2 with a subscription on Paramount+, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Apple TV.

Audience Reviews

Cast & crew.

Kate Mulgrew

Capt. Kathryn Janeway

Robert Beltran

Roxann Dawson

B'Elanna Torres

Robert Duncan McNeill

Jennifer Lien

Ethan Phillips

Popular TV on Streaming

Critics reviews, season info.

• Nov 6, 1995

Summary Star Trek: Voyager follows the adventures of the Federation starship Voyager, which is under the command of Captain Kathryn Janeway.Voyager is in pursuit of a rebel Maquis ship in a dangerous part of the Alpha Quadrant when it is suddenly thrown 70,000 light years away to the Delta Quadrant. With much of her crew dead, Captain Janeway is ... Read More

Directed By : Alexander Singer

Written By : Gene Roddenberry, Rick Berman, Michael Piller, Jeri Taylor, Larry Brody, Kenneth Biller, Lisa Klink

Where to Watch

Created By : Rick Berman, Michael Piller, Jeri Taylor

Season Episodes

Kate Mulgrew

Capt. kathryn janeway, captain jenkins, shannon o'donnell.

Robert Beltran

Cmdr. chakotay, cmdr. katanay.

Roxann Dawson

Lt. b'elanna torres, b'elanna torres, dreadnought.

Robert Duncan McNeill

Lt. tom paris, ensign tom paris, lt. (j.g.) tom paris.

Ethan Phillips

Robert Picardo

The doctor, dr. lewis zimmerman, equinox emh.

Lt. Tuvok, Tulak, Tuvok

Garrett Wang

Ensign harry kim, ensign kymble, tarik ergin, lt. ayala, satan's robot, security guard.

Majel Barrett

Voyager computer, computer voice, computer.

Seven of Nine, Three of Eight, Two of Three

Jennifer Lien

Kes, palaxia, richard sarstedt, william mckenzie, ankari trader, crewman henard, starfleet admiral, scarlett pomers, naomi wildman.

Martha Hackett

Susan henley, ensign brooks, manu intiraymi, jennifer gundy, science division officer, ensign, alexander enberg, ensign vorik, third malon engineer, susan lewis, operations division officer, transporter technician, mikhal traveler, user reviews.

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13 Times Star Trek: Voyager's EMH Said Bones McCoy's "I'm A Doctor, Not A ..."

• The Doctor, portrayed by Robert Picardo in Star Trek: Voyager, humorously uses Dr. McCoy's catchphrase, "I'm a doctor, not a...", and establishes franchise continuity.
• The Doctor showcases ethical integrity and progression, facing various challenges while maintaining a professional and exploratory purpose.
• Each instance of The Doctor saying McCoy's line highlights character development, relationships, and technology in intricate storylines.

Star Trek: Voyager 's Emergency Medical Hologram (EMH), AKA The Doctor (Robert Picardo), frequently repeated the iconic catchphrase of Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy (DeForest Kelley) from Star Trek: The Original Series. Somewhat temperamental and impatient, The Doctor was the Chief Medical Officer of the USS Voyager in the (initial) absence of other medical staff. Evolving considerably over Voyager 's seven seasons, Picardo's Doctor is an essential character who showcases not only creative talents and ability but also ethical and moralistic integrity with a professional and exploratory sense of purpose.

Joining Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) and the cast of Star Trek: Voyager on their travels through the Delta Quadrant, Picardo's Doctor is progressive yet demonstrates several qualities that reflect traits or viewpoints from the franchise's past. One such facet is the use of the catchphrase, " I'm a doctor, not a ..." initially made famous by Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy in Star Trek: The Original Series . It's a nice nod to continuity, allowing Picardo's technologically unusual character a grounded sense of familiarity and purpose. Here's a look at every time Voyager 's Doctor said Bones McCoy's most famous line.

How To Watch All Star Trek TV Shows In Timeline Order

"i'm a doctor, mr. neelix, not a decorator.", star trek: voyager season 1, episode 5 - "phage".

Star Trek: Voyager season 1, episode 5, "Phage," marks the first instance of The Doctor using Dr. McCoy's famous TOS catchphrase. In an amusing scene between an increasingly frustrated Doctor and an ailing Neelix (Ethan Phillips) , Picardo's determined Doctor administers vital medical treatment following the unexpected removal of Neelix's lungs. Despite his condition, Neelix maintains a healthy spirit and even makes a lengthy list of requests for improved comfort and aesthetic enjoyment, suggesting the addition of " a nice tapestry or a painting " and commenting on the ugly sickbay ceiling. The Doctor remarks that he is " a doctor, Mr. Neelix, not a decorator ," and delegates the requested tasks.

This Star Trek: Voyager season 1 scene showcases the resilience of both characters - each discomforted by their unexpected circumstances and ongoing events yet masking concerns with surface-level frustration and ambivalence. Despite the Doctor's electronic and emotional nature, Picardo's character demonstrates real patience and an appropriately gentle countenance designed to comfort and care for patients.

"I'm a doctor, not a performer."

Star trek: voyager season 2, episode 20 - "investigations".

Appointed as the USS Voyager's official morale officer, Neelix designs an " uplifting and optimistic " daily news program to be broadcast to the ship and attempts to enlist other officers for different segments. The Doctor initially dismisses Neelix's request, saying, " I'm a doctor, not a performer. I don't have time for such nonsense ." Neelix perseveres, suggesting a segment on " healthful living " and suggesting that such a feature might considerably propel the Doctor's celebrity and influence within the crew.

The Doctor later reconsiders and demands two segments from a distracted Neelix the following day: how to keep your nostrils happy and the hidden mysteries of the adrenal gland. Star Trek: Voyager , season 2, episode 20 offers a sentimental insight into the Doctor's slightly nerdy personality and multi-character perspectives on life on board a starship, countering the soft glimpses with an overall plot around espionage and deception.

"I'm a doctor, not a bartender."

Star trek: voyager season 2, episode 6 - "twisted".

An unexpected spatial anomaly interrupts Kes' (Jennifer Lien) surprise birthday party in the ship's holodeck and envelops the USS Voyager with an energy field. The Doctor, attending as the simulated scenario's bartender, clarifies that his presence is primarily in an official capacity and lists several unpleasant potential medical conditions that could arise. As Voyager's communications and technological systems malfunction, the Doctor's attempts to return to sickbay and leave the holodeck are unsuccessful. Having drawn the attention of the overly-affectionate simulated bar's owner, Sandrine (Judy Geeson), Picardo's exasperated Doctor exclaims, " How many times do I have to tell you, Madam, I am a doctor, not a bartender."

It deftly weaves intimate character narratives with grand and perplexing confrontations with the unknown.

The multilayered Star Trek: Voyager season 2, episode 6 is a testament to the show's intricate storytelling. It deftly interweaves intimate character narratives with grand and perplexing confrontations with the unknown. The Voyager crew's collective response to the spatial anomaly, juxtaposed with the holographic Doctor's struggle to return to sickbay and his inadvertent antagonizing of several other holographic characters, adds layers of complexity, amusement, and endearment.

"I'm a doctor, not a voyeur."

Star trek: voyager season 2, episode 7 - "parturition".

The USS Voyager sets course to a planet rich in protein and amino acid readings, dubbed "Planet Hell," to alleviate the ship's growing food issues . Star Trek: Voyager season 2, episode 7 sees essential progression in the characterization of several crucial Voyager crew members and their respective relationships, balancing the more weighty developments with less profound interactions among the ship-board crew.

As Voyager approaches the planet, the Doctor contacts the bridge. Having eavesdropped on a conversation between Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) and Commander Chakotay (Robert Beltran) , the Doctor informs them of a skin irritation issue from the planet's trigemic vapors and suggests that automatic EMH inclusion in such discussions would prevent the need for routine eavesdropping to " monitor issues involving the health of the crew." As Janeway questions the frequency of this habit, the Doctor says, " I'm a doctor, not a voyeur. I am programmed to be discreet."

Star Trek: Voyager Series Ending Explained - How The Crew Gets Home

"i'm a doctor, not a counter-insurgent.", star trek: voyager season 3, episode 1 - "basics, part ii".

Star Trek: Voyager 's gripping season 3 premiere episode continues the Voyager season 2 finale as the back half of a major Star Trek: Voyager two-parter . With the bulk of the USS Voyager crew stranded and struggling for survival on a desolate and hostile planet, only a few officers remain on board the starship with 89 villainous Kazon.

The Doctor is not just a hologram - he is a Starfleet hologram.

Following examining a young child - the first Cardassian-Kazon hybrid - the Doctor ponders aloud about the futility of the ship's current situation and the limitations of his holographic presence. Asking, " What am I supposed to do? Lead a revolt with a gang from Sandrine's? Conjure up holograms of Nathan Hale and Che Guevara? I'm a doctor, not a counter-insurgent . " The characteristically dramatic statement and subsequent theorizing about a self-taught program on guerrilla warfare adds mounting tension to the unfolding events, culminating in a realization that the Doctor is not just a hologram - he is a Starfleet hologram.

"I'm a doctor, not a database."

Star trek: voyager season 3, episode 9 - "future's end, part ii".

In this second part of another Star Trek: Voyager two-parter , Captain Kathryn Janeway and the USS Voyager attempt to preserve the security of the past after the ship is heavily damaged by Henry Starling's (Ed Begley Jr.) attack in the previous episode. Starling, having downloaded a proportion of Voyager's databanks - including the Emergency Medical Hologram program - equips The Doctor with a mobile holo-emitter and later schemes to travel into the future to steal more advanced technology

Star Trek: Voyager season 3, episode 9 introduces a significant character development for the Doctor, with the implementation of a major hardware upgrade.

When Starling demands Captain Kathryn Janeway 's psychological profile from The Doctor, the defiant EMH responds, "I'm a doctor, not a database," Starling comments, "I'd say you're a little bit of both," referring to the hologram's technological makeup. Star Trek: Voyager season 3, episode 9 introduces significant character development for the Doctor, with the implementation of a major hardware upgrade.

"I'm a doctor, not a peeping Tom."

Star trek: voyager season 5, episode 2 - "drone".

The Doctor's mobile holo emitter is damaged during a survey mission when the shuttlecraft encounters spatial turbulence. Back on the USS Voyager, Lt. B'Elanna Torres (Roxann Dawson) informs the Doctor that some circuits in the mobile emitter were fused during transport back to the ship. The following morning, oblivious to social cues and normalcy, The Doctor calls for an update at an inopportune moment , leading to an amusingly awkward situation.

As Lt. Torres prepares to enter a sonic shower, The Doctor tells her, " I'm a doctor, not a peeping Tom. There's nothing I haven't seen before. " Frustrated, Torres throws her towel over the communications display screen. Despite the Doctor's general demonstration of respect, consideration, and patient confidentiality, moments such as this underscore the character's lack of social sensitivity and an accompanying sense of empathy and humility, resulting in an odd blend of personality traits for a character whose entire existence is designed for healthy interactions with others.

"I'm a doctor, not a battery."

Star trek: voyager season 5, episode 13 - "gravity".

The Doctor, Tuvok (Tim Russ) , and Lt. Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill) are stranded on a desert planet when their shuttle crash lands in a temporally distorted area of space. Following the repair of the Doctor's damaged mobile emitter, Tuvok suggests that the EMH program should stay offline as much as possible, given the limited resources to preserve the option of the emitter as a power source. Affronted, the Doctor exclaims, "I'm a doctor, not a battery , " drily adding that Paris' sub-par hunting skills should perhaps necessitate a similar status.

The Doctor's limited scope in "Gravity" highlights an adaptability and innate frustration at technological limitations.

Star Trek: Voyager season 5, episode 13 is bittersweet, told in a series of flashbacks, with Tuvok exploring the lessons of his past to make sense of his present. The curious exploration of race, technology, and natural phenomena is rich and considered, with the characters' sentiments and outlooks working to complement and disrupt. Despite the enhanced potential of Picardo's character, the Doctor's limited scope in "Gravity" highlights an adaptability and innate frustration at technological limitations.

1 Star Trek Actor Starred Alongside 5 Classic Captains

"i'm a doctor, not a dragon slayer.", star trek: voyager season 5, episode 14 - "bliss".

Star Trek: Voyager, season 5, episode 14, "Bliss," offers an interesting premise involving The Doctor. The Voyager crew is affected by a giant " beast " capable of neurogenic telepathy and manipulation. Amid several other unaffected crew members, Picardo's Doctor identifies peculiarities in the crew's dopamine levels and becomes suspicious. Although The Doctor is promptly deactivated to prevent interference in the creature's scheme, the EMH is later reactivated and ultimately instrumental in saving the ship.

Following the creature's defeat, The Doctor is offered a place to work alongside Qatai (W. Morgan Shepard). The Doctor responds, " I'm a doctor, not a dragon slayer. My program requires that I do no harm ." Interestingly, the Doctor uses a similar phrase upon reactivation in Voyager's sickbay when Qatai requests access to the ship's weapons manifest, stating, " This is a sickbay, not an arsenal ." "Bliss" showcases the Doctor's proclivities towards peace and well-being against a backdrop of disruption and telepathic and biological manipulation.

"I'm a doctor, not a zoo keeper."

Star trek: voyager season 6, episode 24 - "life line".

Voyager's Doctor temporarily transfers to the Alpha Quadrant's Jupiter Station to treat the creator of the Emergency Medical Hologram, Lewis Zimmerman (Robert Picardo), who is dying of a fatal condition. Believing he can adapt a Borg regeneration technique, The Doctor's files are condensed for efficient transport. However, it soon becomes clear that Zimmerman is not particularly interested in the Doctor's aid.

In Star Trek: Voyager , season 6, episode 24, "Life Line," Robert Picardo plays two visually similar characters - one human, one electronic. With the aid of Counsellor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) , the Doctor ultimately achieves a successful medical outcome despite Zimmerman's attitude. When the Doctor deactivates Dr. Zimmerman's talking holographic iguana Leonard with an explanatory " I'm a doctor, not a zoo keeper, " Zimmerman electronically transfers the EMH to another room. It's a whimsical and frustrating study of family, stubbornness, and fear, with the characters' similarities and differences working well to heighten the drama, tension, and chaos.

"I'm a doctor, not an engineer."

Star trek: voyager season 7, episode 9 - "flesh and blood".

Star Trek: Voyager season 2, episode 9, "Flesh and Blood," is the first installment of a two-part story in which the USS Voyager crew encounters the Hirogen, a race of hunters, and a ship of holograms. When The Doctor's program is stolen by a fleeing vessel, the EMH appears on a ship of holograms needing his medical expertise. The Doctor protests that he is " a doctor, not an engineer ."As Picardo's The Doctor argues that the technological nature of the damaged holograms requires repair from an engineer, not healing from a doctor, the officer in charge, Iden (Jeff Yagher), convinces the reluctant EMH to offer assistance. The Doctor's connection to both crews provides an exciting, deep insight into Picardo's evolving and complex EMH character. Part of and loyal to the Voyager crew, the Doctor shares significant overlap in physical presence with the holograms.

"I'm a doctor, not a commando."

Star trek: voyager season 4 episode 14 - "message in a bottle".

Robert Picardo's Doctor risks uncertain transportation to the USS Prometheus in the far-away Alpha Quadrant in Star Trek: Voyager , season 4, episode 14, "Message in a Bottle." Teaming up with the initially-hesitant medical hologram EMH-2 (Andy Dick), the Doctor must figure out how to reclaim the ship from Romulans to complete his mission and contact Starfleet. Intelligently exploring the technological capacity and ingenuity of the Doctor's holographical nature and abilities through character interaction and upgrade, "Message in a Bottle" uses the Doctor as a beacon of hope and accessibility.

The evolving interaction between Picardo's Doctor and the EMH-2 is an amusing and fascinating display of sophisticated Starfleet programming.

The evolving interaction between Picardo's Doctor and the EMH-2 is an amusing and fascinating display of sophisticated Starfleet programming. Quickly identifying the Doctor as an " inferior " design, the EMH-2 comments on the " beady eyes" and " inferior bedside manner " and deactivates its program to await rescue. When Voyager's Doctor reactivates the program and insists they work together to retake the ship, the EMH-2 claims, " I'm a doctor, not a commando ."

"I'm a doctor, not a door stop."

Star trek: first contact.

Robert Picardo plays the EMH Mark I Doctor on the USS Enterprise-E in Star Trek: First Contact . Faced with invasion by the Borg and imminent assimilation on the Enterprise, Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) activates the Emergency Medical Hologram and orders a diversion to allow the crew to flee to safety. The Doctor responds, " This isn't part of my program. I'm a doctor, not a doorstop. " Ultimately, the Doctor offers the attacking drones an analgesic cream for theoretical skin irritation caused by Borg implants.

While the EMH in Star Trek: First Contact isn't the same Doctor as on Star Trek: Voyager , it's a crowd-pleasing movie cameo for Robert Picardo.

The Doctor is a fascinating character in Star Trek: Voyager and the overall franchise, offering a slow yet complex look at evolving technology and its relationship with individualism. Ironically, then, The Doctor's regular use of Dr. Leonard McCoy's catchphrase is not indicative of this quality but instead offers an upbeat and nostalgic nod to franchise continuity, simultaneously developing a sense of affection and warmth to Picardo's iconic and creatively ambitious character.

Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: The Original Series are available to stream on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Voyager

Release Date May 23, 1995

Network UPN

Star Trek: The Original Series

Release Date September 8, 1966

Network NBC

Star Trek: Voyager

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The Complete Series episodes (171)

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Episode list

Star trek: voyager.

S1.E1 ∙ Caretaker

S1.E2 ∙ Parallax

S1.E3 ∙ Time and Again

S1.E4 ∙ Phage

S1.E5 ∙ The Cloud

S1.E6 ∙ Eye of the Needle

S1.E7 ∙ Ex Post Facto

S1.E8 ∙ Emanations

S1.E9 ∙ Prime Factors

S1.E10 ∙ State of Flux

S1.E11 ∙ Heroes and Demons

S1.E12 ∙ Cathexis

S1.E13 ∙ Faces

S1.E14 ∙ Jetrel

S1.E15 ∙ Learning Curve

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I’m glad robert picardo changed his mind about star trek: voyager’s big doctor twist.

The Doctor underwent a big change in Star Trek: Voyager season 3, something that Robert Picardo was first wary about and then glad of.

• Robert Picardo was initially wary of the Doctor's mobile emitter, fearing it would change the character too much.
• Picardo's concerns were unfounded, as the emitter actually helped the Doctor feel more fleshed-out and unique.
• The mobile emitter allowed for some of the Doctor's best episodes in Star Trek: Voyager, enhancing his exploration of humanity.

Robert Picardo initially had misgivings about the Doctor's big twist in Star Trek: Voyager season 3, but thankfully changed his mind when he saw how well it was working. From the start, the Doctor was one of the most intriguing members of Voyager's cast of characters and had a storyline filled with potential. Although his episodes in seasons 1 and 2 were generally met with acclaim, it wasn't until season 3 and the acquisition of a specific device that the Doctor's arc began to be taken in more expansive directions.

Season 3, episodes 8 and 9, "Future's End Parts I&II" saw the USS Voyager's crew travel back in time, ending up in 1990s Los Angeles. There, they were pulled into a conflict with Henry Starling (Ed Begley Jr.) a supposedly genius tech mogul who in reality had stolen 29th-century technology and was planning to use it with potentially disastrous results. At one point, Starling stole the Doctor's program from Voyager, and while holding him at his lab, inadvertently gifted him with a mobile emitter, something that would end up irrevocably changing the Doctor's life and trajectory on Voyager ​​​​​​ .

Every Voyager Character Who Has Returned In Star Trek (& How)

Robert picardo explains concerns about the doctor’s mobile emitter in star trek: voyager season 3, picardo wasn't sure the mobile emitter was a good thing.

The mobile emitter was a revelation for the Doctor, as it allowed him to reliably travel outside of sickbay whenever he wanted. However, actor Robert Picardo was concerned that having the mobile emitter would change the Doctor's character too much from how he'd been in Voyager 's early seasons. Speaking to Star Trek Monthly at the time that Voyager was airing, Picardo admitted that he was initially wary of the emitter, feeling that the ability to move freely about the ship would mess with the story formula that made the Doctor compelling . Read Picardo's full quote below:

"I was concerned about the Portable Holographic Emitter because I didn't want to mess with a winning combination. The audience seemed to embrace The Doctor's character during the show's first seasons, and so much of his character is based on the notion that he is severely limited and has to cope with limitations such as the fact that he can only exist in Sickbay or in the Holodeck, and that he's different to an organic being. So it seemed to me that if we took the risk of making him more like everyone else, we were damaging part of his uniqueness. Fortunately, that does not seem to have been the case. I am very happy that I was wrong about the Portable Emitter."

Picardo's fears about what the mobile emitter might have done to the Doctor weren't unfounded. As the first main character who was also a sentient hologram, the Doctor was a unique addition to the Star Trek franchise. Even similar characters, like Data on Star Trek: The Next Generation , didn't experience the same struggles with such a limited scope of mobility. Indeed, some of the Doctor's best episodes of seasons 1 and 2 dealt with him figuring out his limitations and how they impacted his growing humanity . However, as Picardo himself pointed out, there was never any cause for concern.

Picardo Agrees He Was Wrong About Star Trek: Voyager’s Mobile Emitter Twist

The doctor's mobile emitter was one of the best things to come out of season 3.

Rather than ruining what made him so compelling, the mobile emitter allowed some of The Doctor's best Star Trek: Voyager episodes to be possible. The wider freedom the emitter gave the Doctor only helped him continue to explore his humanity more expansively. This in turn helped the Doctor feel more fleshed-out, whereas being confined to Sickbay and the holodeck might have limited him too much in the long run . Ultimately, it's a very good thing that Robert Picardo got over his fears about the emitter, given the influence he had on decisions made about the Doctor.

Source: Star Trek Monthly issue 30

Star Trek: Voyager is available to stream on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Voyager

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The fifth entry in the Star Trek franchise, Star Trek: Voyager, is a sci-fi series that sees the crew of the USS Voyager on a long journey back to their home after finding themselves stranded at the far ends of the Milky Way Galaxy. Led by Captain Kathryn Janeway, the series follows the crew as they embark through truly uncharted areas of space, with new species, friends, foes, and mysteries to solve as they wrestle with the politics of a crew in a situation they've never faced before.