Synopsis: Voyager comes across a colony of Ocampa on a space array and they lead Voyager and her crew to the mate of the Caretaker that sent them into the Delta Quadrant.
While there are a lot of things that can be viewed from a depth psychological perspective in this episode, I am going to explore the concept of inflation. Inflation is what happens when the Logos-driven rational conscious ego identifies with the power of an archetype from the Eros-driven irrational unconscious. This is a necessary step in the union of opposites, the process by which bits of unconscious material are integrated into the conscious ego, but it can be dangerous if the identification with the archetypal power is too great or lasts for too long.
In “Cold Fire” the remains of a sporocystian life form appears in Sick Bay, the same type of lifeform that the Caretaker was, and it leads the crew to a space array where a colony of 2,000 Ocampa live. They have enhanced their telekinetic abilities and one, Mr. Tanis, comes aboard Voyager to instruct Kes in how to increase her natural powers. She does; but injures Lt. Tuvok when she cannot control them. Captain Kathryn Janeway asks Tanis if he can lead Voyager to where the Caretaker’s mate, Suspiria, can be found and he agrees to do so. However, Suspiria is out for revenge and threatens to destroy the ship. Fortunately, Tuvok created a toxin that is effective against sporocystian life, and Janeway shoots Suspiria with it. But instead of killing her, Janeway shows her mercy, and allows Suspiria to leave the vessel with Tanis.
In this episode, when Tanis teaches Kes how she can use the fire of her telekinetic abilities to boil water she is excited. She wants to show Tuvok what she learned but she can not control the fire of her telekinetic abilities and almost boils his blood just by being in the same room with her. Kes here was identifying with the god like force of the unconscious archetype. However, as scary as these powers can be, without the impetus they give to the conscious ego to change, the union of opposites would not occur. That this is a necessary part of the process is summed up very well by Tuvok, in an explanation he gives to Kes at the end of the episode:
Tuvok: Without the darkness, how would we recognize the light? Do not fear your negative thoughts. They are part of you. They are part of every living being. Even Vulcans. . . . The Vulcan heart was forged out of barbarism and violence. We learned to control it. But it is still part of us. To pretend it does not exist is to create an opportunity for it to escape. (Braga & Bole, 1995)
Tuvok here sounds absolutely Jungian.
Reference:
Braga, B. (Writer), & Bole, C. (Director). (1995, November 13). Cold fire (Season 2, Episode 10) [TV series episode]. In R. Berman, M. Piller, & J. Taylor (Executive Producers), Star trek: Voyager. Paramount Television.
mydailysoultrek 