Favorite Son (Star Trek: Voyager)

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Favorite Son is a Star Trek: Voyager episode from season 3 that first aired on March 19, 1997. It was written by Lisa Klink and directed by Marvin V. Rush. In the Delta Quadrant, Ensign Harry Kim experiences strange dreams and a mysterious rash after Voyager enters a new area. He is warned by mostly-female aliens called the Taresians that he is not human, but part of their species.

Plot in brief
Voyager encounters the Nasari and Kim’s sense of déjà vu grows stronger. The Nasari attack is narrowly avoided, and Captain Janeway temporarily suspends Kim. He then learns his dreams and rash are tied to a genetic mystery. The Taresians reveal that Kim is actually one of them, a deception meant to lure and capture male DNA for their reproductive needs. As Kim gets drawn into a ritual marriage with male-favored Taresians, Voyager tries to negotiate safe passage. The Doctor discovers Kim is human and that a retrovirus has activated dormant Taresian genes in him. The Taresians’ ship blocks travel to their world, but Voyager frees Kim, and they escape after a fight between the Nasari and the Taresians. Kim’s DNA is removed, and he reflects on a mythic Odysseus-like encounter with the Sirens.

Production notes in simple terms
The original plan was to reveal Kim as an alien and keep that through the series, but the idea was dropped after several rewrites. Garrett Wang (Kim) preferred the alien twist, while the writers and producers felt it was too far-fetched. The episode turned into a “male fantasy” story with the Taresians designed to be alluring, like geishas. Filming included some on-set adjustments, such as removing the ceiling for a camera rig during a tense scene. The episode reused props from other Trek shows, and some scenes were reshot to adjust the tone and the wedding sequence.

Reception and legacy in brief
Favorite Son received mixed feelings from cast and crew and was generally not well liked by critics, who saw the Taresians as sexist stereotypes. It drew about 6.17 million viewers, a drop from the previous episode. Some fans call it part of a trio of troubled Voyager episodes. Scholars and critics have discussed its themes—especially the portrayal of the Taresians and the idea of reproduction—as lacking nuance, while others note the Odysseus/Sirens influence and the focus on Harry Kim’s character.

Release and extra details
The episode was released on VHS as a two-episode set with Rise, using the British spelling “Favourite Son” on the packaging. It later appeared on the Season 3 DVD (2004) and is available on streaming services. Garrett Wang has spoken about the kiss between an Asian-American actor and an African-American actress in this episode, noting its significance for TV history. Some commentators connect the episode to classic myths and examine its take on gender and power.

Note: This version summarizes the key plot points, production choices, reception, and later discussion without detailed episode trivia or extensive source material.