The story is very much Star Trek. The question of whether or not the death penalty is an appropriate means of justice is a mine field to walk through.
I am not quite sure what the intention of the writer was. We're given both sides of the argument but in the end they decided to execute Iko. Which could be interpreted that it was justified.
There is also the question of being born evil. If it is something that can be treated. Can you be held responsbile for your actions if you have deficiencies ? There is a mental insanity plea in our justice system to cover that.
If there is one point where I really have a problem with this story, than it is the question of why they don't tried the treatmeant on the other prisoners. It feels a bit like preferred treatment after the Doctor discoverd this by accident. Is it moraly just to deny those other prisoners the same?
A fantastic philosophical episode; it's episodes like these with moral dilemmas that makes Star Trek what it is.
a gem of an episode, just rewatched it.
Absolutely wonderful character story. Criminal reform is something that should be discussed more. Kudos to Voyager for tackling it.
Shout by Alexander von LimbergBlockedParent2022-07-20T12:25:46Z— updated 2023-06-02T15:24:45Z
Voyager's take on TNG's The Hunted. Alien penal and justice systems are a Star Trek all-time classical topic. It's a serious topic and the morale story is told well but I don't think it's a very exciting episode. I know why: all Starfleet officers don't need to be convinced to help the prisoners (also there's a brief hostage situation). It would have been much more powerful, if the crew needed to be convinced that there's a ethical problem here and that (at least some of) the prisoners deserve support.
PS: I'm European. Guilty as charged :-) Maybe this topic about the right kind of punishment and its goals is a bit more relevant to American viewers. We are a step closer Star Trek's utopia ;-) That's perhaps why I think that's "only" a 6/10.