Tattoo

Episode Summary & Review

Summary

On an away team looking for needed resources, Chakotay is reminded of his youth when he disappointed his father by not embracing his tribe’s cultural heritage. He finds a familiar cultural symbol drawn in the ground used by his ancestors to “heal the land.” Chakotay then tries to contact the beings his tribe calls the “Sky Spirits.” Meanwhile, the Doctor continues to monitor Ensign Samantha Wildman’s pregnancy.

Our Take

A quieter, more personal hour that puts Chakotay front and center, and Robert Beltran actually gets something to work with for once. The flashback structure is a bit clunky and the B-plot with Wildman’s pregnancy barely registers, but the mystery on the planet holds interest. Not essential viewing, though it adds some welcome depth to a character the show usually ignores.