I Love How Star Trek: Voyager’s Flashback Episode Told The Story Missing From The Final Original Series Movie

Star Trek: Voyager finally filled in the blanks of one aspect of Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) and the crew of the USS Voyager spent 7 years in the far reaches of the Delta Quadrant, meaning that Star Trek: Voyager's characters spent most of the show far away from the rest of Star Trek's 24th century canon. However, Star Trek: Voyager cleverly returned to the 23rd century era of Star Trek VI to mark Star Trek's 30th anniversary in 1996.

Lieutenant Tuvok (Tim Russ) has a long timeline in Star Trek, as, at the start of Star Trek: Voyager, the Vulcan Security Chief is already over 100 years old. He has served as an instructor in Starfleet Academy, an undercover agent, and, arguably most importantly, Captain Janeway's closest friend and confidant on Voyager. Lt. Tuvok can remember decades of Starfleet policies, and it is the Vulcan's memories that ultimately fill in a gap from Star Trek IV: The Undiscovered Country.

Voyager’s “Flashback” Enhances Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country’s Story

Tuvok Was There During The USS Excelsior's Khitomer Mission

In Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Captain Hikaru Sulu (George Takei) commands the USS Excelsior and discovers the destruction of the Klingon moon, Praxis, setting off the events of the film. Most of Star Trek VI does not take place with Captain Sulu on the Excelsior, however, but with Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and the Starship Enterprise. The Excelsior provides crucial support, but much of what happened on Captain Sulu's ship during Star Trek VI went unseen.

Star Trek: Voyager season 3, episode 2, "Flashback," took place aboard the USS Excelsior during the events of Star Trek VI. "Flashback" reveals that Tuvok was serving as an Ensign, and when Tuvok has bridge duty, the audience gets to see Captain Sulu in all his glory for one last time. Commander Janice Rand (Grace Lee Whitney) is on the bridge with them, and she gets to tease Ensign Tuvok about trying to suck up to Captain Sulu.

"Flashback" lets audiences and Captain Janeway see Tuvok's memores of serving with some absolute Star Trek legends. Ensign Tuvok was on the bridge while Captain Sulu holds his own against Kang (Michael Asara) and ignited a nebula to outmaneuver him. Ultimately, “Flashback” serves as an excellent companion to Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, and it lets a Star Trek: The Original Series legend be a hero one last time.

How Tuvok Changed From Star Trek VI’s Era To Voyager

Tuvok Grew Up And Became A Better Officer

While Captain Sulu is being heroic on the Excelsior, Ensign Tuvok's experience on the ship was far less glorious. Both audiences and Captain Janeway are surprised to learn that, as a young Vulcan, Tuvok was distinctly disillusioned by Starfleet and the Federation. He only joined to please his parents and resigned his commission after his mission with Captain Sulu.

In Star Trek: Voyager, Lt. Tuvok is one of the most staunchly pro-Starfleet members of Captain Janeway's crew. He’s able to infiltrate the Maquis while staying true to Starfleet values, and he passes on those same values to Starfleet cadets and former Maquis crewmembers alike. It was time and fatherhood that changed Tuvok, but it is undeniable that Tuvok would not have become such an effective Starfleet officer without his experience on the USS Excelsior.