Flashback in Star Trek: Voyager was the first off the mark to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the franchise. The episode was actually filmed a whole season earlier than it was broadcast in order to fit in shooting schedules and it was a pleasure to see George Takei as Captain Hikaru Sulu of the USS Excelsior one more time. The episode featured Tuvok having flashbacks to his time on the Excelsior during his first period in Starfleet. Flashback is great, but it was caught in the shadow of the Deep Space Nine episode that was created for the same purpose more on that one later. Unfortunately by going first, Flashback set the bar which the Deep Space Nine producers sought to out-do, and they successfully out did the Voyager episode. But considered on its own merits, this was a good episode and seeing Takei as Sulu again was just magnificent. The only real problem was that although Tim Russ did appear on the Excelsior in Star Trek VI he was human and not a Vulcan. So not Tuvok. Mind you, if they ever re-master the effects on the film they can always digitally add pointed tips to his ears!
