Some of the other scenes tend to steal the J/7 Omg, This is So Blatant spotlight, but this is one of those times when I honestly, for the life of me, cannot understand the direction or acting choices if there’s NOT supposed to be this undercharge of sexual tension, or indeed, future (heh…geddit? Relativity? Future? Meh.) romance.

Janeway is meeting, for the first time to her, an intruder who has somehow gotten onto her ship. A Borg intruder. And she just walks right up to her and refuses to look away even to tell Tuvok that, yes, she’s decided to trust her so could he please lower the forcefield. And that swallow and duck of the head from Seven.

They stare at each other (and I can’t even show the slow pan as Janeway glides over, it’s so long) and it’s probably not visible up there, but Seven very visibly seems to lower her shoulders, as if in relief or defeat, and then, without looking back, Janeway tells Tuvok to lower the shields. And that look, Jeri Ryan. What. Don’t even try to look down at the important life-saving device you’re holding. No, really, it’s okay.

But again, the decision to have them face to face, staring, before and after the forcefield’s down. I don’t understand! File this under the Moments That Don’t Make Sense Unless There Was a Relationship Planned and They Chickened Out at the Last Second.