Innocence

** (2 stars out of 5)

On a moon of Drayan II, Tuvok gets his chance to re-enact the reverse-aging gibberish from 'The Counter-Clock Incident'. (We aren't supposed to know that's the twist, but, SPOILERS, it's a very ridiculous twist.) You can't even blame it on the physical laws of an alternate universe. Sorry, but THIS HAPPENED.

The Drayans' fashionable mosquito netting-clad First Prelate Alcia reveals very little about her culture except that they don't want to make friends. And they love cheesy cheesy face cheesecloth.

After a shuttle crash, Tuvok looks after a passel of little Drayans. The adorable moppets warn Tuvok of the morrok that comes for them in the night. They constantly refer to themselves as "children". Sadly, the Drayans sent them here to die.

The moon is sacred ground. Alcia is angry that Tuvok has blundered in. But somehow, she doesn't aid Janeway in getting him out. Why is she so unhelpful?

On their overnight shuttle-repair camping trip, Tuvok sings the kids one of the 348 verses of the Vulcan lullaby of enlightenment 'Falor's Journey'. It's a lovely moment.

Little Tressa requests asylum with Tuvok after the other rugrats vanish in the night.

Finally, Alcia announces that Tressa is 96 years old. She is confused and innocent because of her advanced age due to a species-wide case of Benjamin Button's disease. So... why did Alcia and all the little oldsters use the word "children" over and over again? Are the Universal Translators on strike?

"Innocence" shows us what Vulcan dads would be like, showcases Tim Russ' talented acting and singing, and very little else. There seems to be no moral to the story, unless it's 'Kids Are Cute', 'Vulcans Are Logical', or 'Euthanasia For Everyone'.