Voyagers of the Titanic

In almost all time travel stories, there are three plot devices which are always used:

1) It is very difficult, or altogether impossible, for the time traveler(s) to return to their present time.

2) The SLIGHTEST CHANGE in history, even under the best intentions, would be disastrous. (Of course, this rule is violated constantly. Dr. Brown was hypocritical about it in "Back to the Future Part 2," changing future history when it benefited Marty...yet refusing to tell Marty about other errors that would occur in Part 3. An even worse example was "Quantum Leap," a show in which the entire premise was the alteration of history.)

3) There MUST be an episode about the Titanic, especially when based on Point #2. (Exception: Quantum Leap, which limited the plot to no earlier than 1953.) In both "Voyagers" and "Time Tunnel," the hero tries to warn of impending doom.

Like most episodes, this was an excellent story, made better by an intriguing role-reversal. (This requires the viewer to actually get into the plotting and characters, by the way.) Whereas Phineas Bogg is usually kind of stubborn and bull-headed, and Jeffrey Jones usually provides sage wisdom, this time it's the other way around. If Bogg ever learned one thing, it's that you NEVER mess with history, even if your intentions are GOOD. Bogg was right; Jeffrey was wrong.

Their mission was actually to recover the Mona Lisa painting, NOT to save lives.

This episode is very much like the classic Star Trek story, "The City on the Edge of Forever." Spock coldly informs Captain Kirk that, in order to restore history, "Edith Keeler MUST die." Bogg tells Jeffrey more or less the same thing, made all the more ominous by the fact that he had no way of knowing the consequences of SAVING the Titanic passengers.

I'm surprised nobody else picked up on that.

This Voyager story finds Bogg and Jeffrey crossing assignments with another voyager Tracy Brooks Swope. Both their Omnis are red because the Mona Lisa has been stolen and is on board the ship. Meeno Peluce who did lose his parents in an accident feels compelled to change history and warn Captain Smith.

But when Jon-Erik Hexum and Peluce rescue Swope they get Omnied back to France of 1885 where Peluce is bitten by a rabid dog. Only Louis Pasteur's untried serum might have him. Do you doubt it would?

Back to the Titanic where all hell is breaking loose. It's not just a question of saving the Mona Lisa but also Swope's Omni which the bad guys have.

Jeffrey Jones learns a lesson in that sometimes tragedy was indeed meant to be.