| "Life Line" | |
|---|---|
| Star Trek: Voyager episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 6 Episode 24 |
| Directed by | Terry Windell |
| Story by | John Bruno Robert Picardo |
| Teleplay by | Robert Doherty Raf Green Brannon Braga |
| Featured music | Dennis McCarthy |
| Production code | 243 |
| Original air date | May 10, 2000 |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"Life Line" is the 24th episode from the sixth season of Star Trek: Voyager, the 144th episode overall. It is one of the episodes in the Star Trek universe in which characters from elsewhere in the franchise are extended by Voyager. Reginald Barclay and Deanna Troi from Star Trek: The Next Generation make appearances, and in addition Jean-Luc Picard is twice mentioned by Troi but not seen. This is also one of the few episodes where a character actually arrives in the Alpha Quadrant, and the only Voyager episode which has a cast member receiving a writing credit.
Barclay and Troi previously worked together earlier in the season in "Pathfinder" (S6E10) and this episode continues that narrative thread and further develops their characters. In addition this brings together elements established by "Projections" (S2E3) and connects them with Pathfinder. The relationship between Zimmerman and Barclay is depicted and Jupiter Station is actually shown at Jupiter in special effects shots during this episode.
Robert Picardo plays both Voyager's customized Mark I EMH and his "father" Doctor Zimmerman, and another special effect display is shown in numerous scenes together during the episode. Doctor Lewis Zimmerman was previously in "The Swarm" (S3E4) and Deep Space Nine's "Doctor Bashir, I Presume"(S5E16).[1]