“Someone to Watch Over Me” is episode twenty-two of season five of Star Trek: Voyager.
Tom and B’Elanna are having dinner in the mess hall; B’Elanna thinks Seven of Nine is watching them. Neelix wants B’Elanna to try some cheese. She finds it a little bland. Neelix was hoping for totally bland. The Kadi do not approve of anything that inflames the senses and Captain Janeway is leaving their representative in Neelix’s hands. B’Elanna is now sure Seven is watching them and goes to confront her. B’Elanna is right; Seven states that she has been observing them as part of her research into human mating rituals. B’Elanna reads Seven’s research and asks how Seven knows B’Elanna and Tom were having intimate relations. Because no-one in that part of the ship doesn’t know when they are. B’Elanna wants the data; Seven hasn’t finished yet. B’Elanna threatens to break Seven’s nose.
The captain sees Seven in her ready room; Janeway doesn’t question Seven’s goals of broadening her knowledge of human behaviour, only her methods. Has Seven ever considered trying it herself? Romance? Seven does not require a romantic relationship. The captain points out she’s collected a heck of a lot of data on the subject though.
Janeway and Tuvok are heading to the transporter room, briefing Neelix on the way. Two Kadi arrive; the elder says that the younger, Tomin, who is remaining on Voyager will determine if their crew is worthy of receiving their minerals. Tomin is left behind as Janeway and Tuvok beam off with his superior. Instead of the planned tour, Tomin wants to try a Bajoran dish that is quite spicy, despite the protocols forbidding flavourful foods. He wants to broaden his palate.
The Doctor has heard about Seven’s incident with B’Elanna. He suggests that the reason she was studying might be because she is a woman. Is that an observation or a diagnosis? The Doctor suggests Seven broaden her research into the realm of dating. No, not procreation; one step at a time. The Doctor will prepare a lesson plan and will meet her on the holodeck.
The first lesson stays with courtship rituals and the ways humans meet prospective mates. The first practical exercise is to activate Tom’s Chez Sandrine program which hasn’t been seen in some time. Seven is to pretend she has come here to meet the man of her dreams. He has written lines for her and himself. Seven ends when it comes to being offered a drink. Seven considers the exercise pointless and there’s something to be said for assimilation. The Doctor suggests she try on a hologram.
Tom enters and speaks to the Doctor. The Doctor thinks Seven is doing well. Tom states she’s talking to a hologram. The Doctor asks his point. The hologram has been programmed so she does well. Tom also doesn’t think the Doctor is the best tutor. Tom says Seven could get a date easily enough, but it not ending in disaster is different. She has to do it in the real world. There’s a reception for Tomin; the Doctor and Tom have a bet on whether Seven gets a date to it and leaves with the same date still on good terms without causing a diplomatic incident.
In the mess hall, Neelix is dealing with Tomin, who is trying a lot of food. He skips time for prayer. He wants to explore Voyager‘s culture more.
Lesson 3 for Seven has the Doctor asking her hobbies. What does she do in her spare time? Regenerate. Likes and dislikes? She dislikes irrelevant conversation. What does she seek in life? Perfection. The Doctor would like interests that others could identify with. Music has certain mathematical properties. Turns out Seven has a good singing voice. Thangs to Borg technology, admittedly. The Doctor wants her to put some emotion into it. They sing together. Surprisingly well.
Harry arrives in astrometrics to find Seven looking at what appears to be the crew manifest. It is. The Doctor asked Seven to pick suitable candidates for her first date. She’s narrowed it down to two crewmen based on compatible interests. Harry didn’t know she had any interests. Neither did Seven. One of the qualifiers is music. Harry plays the clarinet. He is not one of the candidates. He offers to help her pick. The potential date selected, Seven goes to speak to him to ask him out. In a rather unusual manner.
So, this episode is about Seven’s research into human dating – it really doesn’t merit a more romantic description – during which the Doctor starts to become interested in her. Meanwhile, Neelix is having to deal with a Kadi who wants to try everything that is on offer in the enjoyment line.