Synopsis: In order to hide The Doctor’s Emergency Medical Hologram Program, Seven of Nine downloads it into herself.
This episode can be seen as an illustration of what happens when there is an imbalance between the needs of the Logos-driven rational conscious ego and the Eros-driven irrational unconscious.
In “Body and Soul” while Ensign Harry Kim, Seven of Nine and The Doctor are on an away mission in the Delta Flyer, they are intercepted by aliens from a race that has outlawed holograms. When the aliens board the Flyer looking for The Doctor, Seven downloads his Emergency Medical Hologram (EMH) Program into herself. This results in Seven appearing to be Seven, but with The Doctor having complete control over her physical body. Kim, Seven, with the EMH in control of her body, and the Delta Flyer, are brought aboard the alien ship. Once aboard, Seven demonstrates to the captain of the alien ship, Ranek, how the food replicator works. The EMH controlling Seven has never tasted food before and is overwhelmed by sensation. Similarly, when Ranek is attracted to Seven, these romantic twinges are also sensations that The Doctor has never felt before. Eventually, Voyager’s crew locates where Kim and Seven are being held and rescues them. Once back aboard Voyager, Seven comes to Sick Bay to share a meal with The Doctor, sharing that she has learned to enjoy food through his efforts.
The tone of this episode, when The Doctor’s EMH Program takes control of Seven’s body is comedic, as is Seven protesting how The Doctor has abused her body whenever she disconnects the EMH from herself. However, even though played for laughs, the situation does illustrate how when the body’s emotional and sensate needs are repressed, or not honored, they can overwhelm the conscious ego and lead to overindulgence when these bits of material from the unconscious finally do break through into the awareness of the ego.
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