Synopsis: The Doctor helps an alien race appreciate music, which they have never experienced until they overhear him sing.
As the title of this episode may indicate, similar to the last one, “Blink of an Eye,” this can be seen as an illustration of Carl (C. G.) Jung’s concept of inflation. Inflation is when the Logos-driven rational conscious ego identifies too closely with the archetypal energy patterns that occur in the Eros-driven irrational unconscious.
In “Virtuoso” a group of highly advanced aliens, the Qomar, are aboard Voyager while their ship is being repaired. While in Sick Bay and under the care of The Doctor, they hear him sing. As advanced as their race is, this is the first time they have heard music. They are fascinated and invite The Doctor to perform for them on their planet. He becomes a star performer on the planet. He spends a great deal of time with one of the Quomar, Tincoo, and she invites him to stay with her there. The Doctor at first tells her that he cannot stay, because he is needed on Voyager, but then decides to accept her invitation, believing that she loves him. However, when The Doctor tells her that he will remain on her planet with her, she shows him how she has created a superior hologram program modeled after him, but with a better musical voice. The Doctor realizes that she did not love him and returns to Voyager.
In this episode, there are at least two illustrations of inflation. First, the Qomar explaining to Voyager’s captain and crew, including The Doctor, how superior their technology is, however they have never heard music. But the major illustration is of The Doctor, and how when he is treated as if he is a musical god, instead of a hologram program, he behaves as such before his adoring fans, as well as Tincoo, whom he feels loves him for his newfound self. Then he learns the truth, that Tincoo only wanted him for his musical ability until she was able to create a new program with greater skill. These scenarios can be analogized to the necessary cycles of inflation and deflation that occur in the psyche when the conscious ego first identifies with the god-like power of an archetype in the unconscious, and then at some point is forced accept its limitations. This occurs in the ongoing process of individuation, the process by which the conscious ego becomes stronger and the psyche more whole.
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