Neelix as the "break out character"

The Overlord · October 27 2012, 08:32 AM

An October 1994 issue of TV Guide had an article about Voyager, where Neelix was expected to be the breakout character. That clearly did not happen, with many viewers simply not liking him. So what went wrong? What could the writers have done to make him more popular with the audience? What didn't work for the character and how could these problems have been corrected?

teacake · October 27 2012, 08:37 AM

I blame his girlfriend.

EyalM · October 27 2012, 08:38 AM

What I always wondered is why the writers didn't try to fix Neelix. Even if they didn't want to let the actor go, why not "reboot" him? It's science fiction, they could have done it in any number of ways.

teacake · October 27 2012, 08:49 AM

I thought the actor was great, the character humorous and used very well to contrast with the crew.

I don't have to like him to think he worked well, LOL

Innoda · October 27 2012, 05:34 PM

There was no reason to "reboot" Neelix. He may not have been my favorite character, but he worked well in the series exactly the way he was. If the entire crew were filled with flawless supermen the show would get dull very fast.

The Overlord · October 27 2012, 07:25 PM

Innoda wrote:

There was no reason to "reboot" Neelix. He may not have been my favorite character, but he worked well in the series exactly the way he was. If the entire crew were filled with flawless supermen the show would get dull very fast.

Quark was not a flawless superman, but he was certainly a fun character to watch. Neelix just seems like someone who is a danger to himself and everyone else around him. It was often counter productive to have him on board. It seems like he was playing a role similar to Gilligan.

R. Star · October 27 2012, 07:51 PM

Make him not be an annoying jerk who forces himself on every situation? Remove the jealous stalker behavior with anyone who looks at Kes? Make him stop harassing Tuvok for no reason? I dunno, it'd require a complete rewrite of the character really.

teacake · October 27 2012, 09:55 PM

He'd just become Harry with tufts of hair.

R. Star · October 28 2012, 03:38 AM

teacock wrote:

He'd just become Harry with tufts of hair.

Harry wasn't an annoying jerk. He was just pathetic.

teacake · October 28 2012, 05:51 AM

That's what I meant, if you took away the annoying jerk and stalker traits you get Harry, with tufts of hair.

Innoda · October 28 2012, 06:45 AM

Well that's simply not fair. Neelix didn't fall head over heals for every other female that he encountered.

The Overlord · October 28 2012, 07:00 AM

teacock wrote:

That's what I meant, if you took away the annoying jerk and stalker traits you get Harry, with tufts of hair.

While maybe the writers should have made both Harry and Neelix more compelling from the start.

teacake · October 28 2012, 07:22 AM

I don't know, annoying jerk and stalker traits were not the usual Trek fare. I think he was a bold new direction for Star Trek.

Guy Gardener · October 28 2012, 07:28 AM

They did fix him.

Nelix started off as Han Solo and they turned him into Luke Skywalker back when he was killing small animals on the moisture farm.

They fixed him wrong.

teacake · October 28 2012, 07:41 AM

But Han Solo is everywhere! We don't need any more Han Solos!

October 27 2012, 08:32 AM	#1
The Overlord Captain	Neelix as the "break out character" An October 1994 issue of TV Guide had an article about Voyager, where Neelix was expected to be the breakout character. That clearly did not happen, with many viewers simply not liking him. So what went wrong? What could the writers have done to make him more popular with the audience? What didn't work for the character and how could these problems have been corrected?

October 27 2012, 08:37 AM	#2
teacake Admiral Location: Militant Janeway True Path Devotees Compound. With Sehlats.	Re: Neelix as the "break out character" I blame his girlfriend. __________________ Rider: I can't believe you'd kill me for a field of empty holes. J'onn: It's all I have. ■ ■ ■ Janeway does Melbourne

October 27 2012, 08:38 AM	#3
EyalM Captain Location: Haifa	Re: Neelix as the "break out character" What I always wondered is why the writers didn't try to fix Neelix. Even if they didn't want to let the actor go, why not "reboot" him? It's science fiction, they could have done it in any number of ways. __________________ Well, he’s kind of had it in for me ever since I accidentally ran over his dog. Actually, replace ’accidentally’ with ’repeatedly’ and replace ’dog’ with ’son.’

October 27 2012, 08:49 AM	#4
teacake Admiral Location: Militant Janeway True Path Devotees Compound. With Sehlats.	Re: Neelix as the "break out character" I thought the actor was great, the character humorous and used very well to contrast with the crew. I don't have to like him to think he worked well, LOL __________________ Rider: I can't believe you'd kill me for a field of empty holes. J'onn: It's all I have. ■ ■ ■ Janeway does Melbourne

October 27 2012, 05:34 PM	#5
Innoda Cadet	Re: Neelix as the "break out character" There was no reason to "reboot" Neelix. He may not have been my favorite character, but he worked well in the series exactly the way he was. If the entire crew were filled with flawless supermen the show would get dull very fast.

STAR TREK

CSI

ABOUT US

October 27 2012, 07:51 PM	#7
R. Star Commodore Location: Terra 3	Re: Neelix as the "break out character" Make him not be an annoying jerk who forces himself on every situation? Remove the jealous stalker behavior with anyone who looks at Kes? Make him stop harassing Tuvok for no reason? I dunno, it'd require a complete rewrite of the character really. __________________ "I was never a Star Trek fan." J.J. Abrams

October 27 2012, 09:55 PM	#8
teacake Admiral Location: Militant Janeway True Path Devotees Compound. With Sehlats.	Re: Neelix as the "break out character" He'd just become Harry with tufts of hair. __________________ Rider: I can't believe you'd kill me for a field of empty holes. J'onn: It's all I have. ■ ■ ■ Janeway does Melbourne

October 28 2012, 05:51 AM	#10
teacake Admiral Location: Militant Janeway True Path Devotees Compound. With Sehlats.	Re: Neelix as the "break out character" That's what I meant, if you took away the annoying jerk and stalker traits you get Harry, with tufts of hair. __________________ Rider: I can't believe you'd kill me for a field of empty holes. J'onn: It's all I have. ■ ■ ■ Janeway does Melbourne

October 28 2012, 06:45 AM	#11
Innoda Cadet	Re: Neelix as the "break out character" Well that's simply not fair. Neelix didn't fall head over heals for every other female that he encountered.

October 28 2012, 07:22 AM	#13
teacake Admiral Location: Militant Janeway True Path Devotees Compound. With Sehlats.	Re: Neelix as the "break out character" I don't know, annoying jerk and stalker traits were not the usual Trek fare. I think he was a bold new direction for Star Trek. __________________ Rider: I can't believe you'd kill me for a field of empty holes. J'onn: It's all I have. ■ ■ ■ Janeway does Melbourne

October 28 2012, 07:28 AM	#14
Guy Gardener Admiral Location: In the lap of squalor I assure you.	Re: Neelix as the "break out character" They did fix him. Nelix started off as Han Solo and they turned him into Luke Skywalker back when he was killing small animals on the moisture farm. They fixed him wrong. __________________ "Glitter is the herpes of arts and craft." Troy Yingst. My Life as Liz

October 28 2012, 07:41 AM	#15
teacake Admiral Location: Militant Janeway True Path Devotees Compound. With Sehlats.	Re: Neelix as the "break out character" But Han Solo is everywhere! We don't need any more Han Solos! __________________ Rider: I can't believe you'd kill me for a field of empty holes. J'onn: It's all I have. ■ ■ ■ Janeway does Melbourne