Just rewatched "Fair Trade"

[hxclespaulplayer]

Oh boy, an old fashioned morality tale featuring Neelix. Just what we needed! OK, as others have noted it is indeed good to see some character growth for Neelix beyond chef and morale officer and ambassador. An insecure Neelix trying to justify his place on the ship has an interesting element of truth to it.

However, the plot is so by the numbers and takes so long to come together (and even includes yet another crew arrest by mistake) it never rises above tedium. The Sesame Street conclusion - always tell the truth - is hardly a surprise, but it doesn't really matter because look, the Captain wants Neelix around for himself and not for his knowledge of the sector. 4/10.

 

[marlboro]

The Sesame Street conclusion.

 

[Voth commando1]

Honesty I liked this episode-I know Neelix isn't a popular character but Ethan Philips did a good job portraying his his desperation and realization that "hey oh no I'm no longer needed, have no useful skills, and I'm a drain on the ship's resources, got to do something to prove I have value." Really liked that idea

 

[Lynx]

I really like "Fair Trade". Onne of Voyager's best episodes.

I can clearly understand Neelix's dilemma in this case. As he told Janeway: " I just took one step. A step that seemed perfectly reasonable. And that step lead to another and another, and before I knew what I was involved in something I didn't know how to handle."

Just like the excellent episode "Jetrel", this episode that the character Neelix had more depth than just being a comic character.. Credit also to Neelix for realizing his mistake, admitting it and risking his life to put everything in order again.

I also like Wixiban. If I had had my way, Wixiban should have joined the Voyager crew there and then.

I'll give this episode 4 points out of 5!

 

[Catarina]

Call me a racist in this case but one Talaxian is enough for me, Lynx.

 

[stardream]

I did like the idea of the Nekrit Expanse. It gives a sense of Voyager actually 'travelling'. The frontier is left behind and they start to encounter more 'civilized' societies.

 

[Catarina]

I did like the idea of the Nekrit Expanse. It gives a sense of Voyager actually 'travelling'. The frontier is left behind and they start to encounter more 'civilized' societies.

I did as well. I didn't quite catch that until I watched it the second time.

 

[Ghislaine H. B. BRAEME]

I know that Neelix wasn't very popular among fans but all episodes focused on his character (Jetrel, Fair Trade, Rise; Mortal Coil; Friendship One, Homestead and Renaissance Man) , were always moving and/or funny.

I liked Janeway/Neelix friendship throughout 7 seasons (I think that Mulgrew and Philips quickly made friends - as seeing as if I remember well, they didn't met previously - wasn't foreign to it) -> their scene at the end was great!
I think that Fair Trade was the only time when Neelix disappointed Janeway (it was not so much what he made at the time but the lies which followed) and like with Tuvok), she felt it hard.

Ethan Philips is a brillant actor but pretty well underserved by the producer and scriptwriters who tried to associate his character to children (Naomie at the point to replace her mother, Samantha, the major part of time then Borg children).

 

[Sophie74656]

I think Ethan Phillips is a great actor. He doesn't often get to show it with Neelix but when he does such as in episodes like Jetrel and Mortal Coil you can really see how good of an actor he is.

I really like Neelix as a character. I know that puts me in the minority. But I really like how he manages to be cheerful and try to cheer others when he has his own dark demons.

 

[marlboro]

I dislike the character.

Ned Ryerson's personality
+
Othello's jealousy
+
Dog the Bounty Hunter's hair
+
The fashion sense of a local children's party clown

=

Neelix


And to make matters worse, his character was completely pointless. A bad cook on a ship with replicators. A morale officer who annoyed every one he came into contact with. A guide with knowledge of only a small section of the journey. A love interest for a two year old. Do you really want a character with all of these traits to act as the ship's ambassador?

About 95 percent of the character's screen time it to provide comic relief, but he just isn't funny. So those scenes are just pointless filler where the other characters silently stifle their frustration as he blathers on. "Mr Vulcan! Mr Vulcan!"

Even on the rare occasions when he is supposed to be taken seriously, his makeup (mangy humanoid nutria) combined with his 3 piece clown suit attire make it almost impossible to do so.

Having said all that - I do like "Fair trade." I enjoy "quicksand" like stories where small missteps by characters slowly spiral out of control.

 

[Catarina]

he did become that---finally. Those first two seasons it was the airlock for him every week.
Thankfully, it was worth the wait. The actor did his best work as you said, Jetrel, Mortal coil and Homestead. *thumbs up to Ethan*

I think Ethan Phillips is a great actor. He doesn't often get to show it with Neelix but when he does such as in episodes like Jetrel and Mortal Coil you can really see how good of an actor he is.

I really like Neelix as a character. I know that puts me in the minority. But I really like how he manages to be cheerful and try to cheer others when he has his own dark demons.

 

[Voth commando1]

I dislike the character.

Ned Ryerson's personality
+
Othello's jealousy
+
Dog the Bounty Hunter's hair
+
The fashion sense of a local children's party clown

=

Neelix


And to make matters worse, his character was completely pointless. A bad cook on a ship with replicators. A morale officer who annoyed every one he came into contact with. A guide with knowledge of only a small section of the journey. A love interest for a two year old. Do you really want a character with all of these traits to act as the ship's ambassador?

About 95 percent of the character's screen time it to provide comic relief, but he just isn't funny. So those scenes are just pointless filler where the other characters silently stifle their frustration as he blathers on. "Mr Vulcan! Mr Vulcan!"

Even on the rare occasions when he is supposed to be taken seriously, his makeup (mangy humanoid nutria) combined with his 3 piece clown suit attire make it almost impossible to do so.

Having said all that - I do like "Fair trade." I enjoy "quicksand" like stories where small missteps by characters slowly spiral out of control.

- I never had issues with the costume-not everyone dresses in a tie and suit because you know not everyone is 21st American Homo sapiens.

- He does provide some counseling-he encourages Torres to take out her frustrations on him
-he tries to interact with seven of nine
-he basically is Naomi's step dad

The food-I believe in Homestead its remarked that talaxian have far more taste buds-so something repulsive to us(humans) would be good for him. Perhaps he had a problem understanding humans had more limited taste.

His knowledge was useful-of the Kazon, the Vaadwaur, among other things I forget.

I forget I think it was in 30 Days-Paris is desperate for replicator food-for his anniversary-Neelix is kind of playfully sarcastic-"You used up all your credits man, no way I'm being fooled again." Pleasant scene that.

 

[Lynx]

I know that Neelix wasn't very popular among fans but all episodes focused on his character (Jetrel, Fair Trade, Rise; Mortal Coil; Friendship One, Homestead and Renaissance Man) , were always moving and/or funny.

I liked Janeway/Neelix friendship throughout 7 seasons (I think that Mulgrew and Philips quickly made friends - as seeing as if I remember well, they didn't met previously - wasn't foreign to it) -> their scene at the end was great!
I think that Fair Trade was the only time when Neelix disappointed Janeway (it was not so much what he made at the time but the lies which followed) and like with Tuvok), she felt it hard.

Ethan Philips is a brillant actor but pretty well underserved by the producer and scriptwriters who tried to associate his character to children (Naomie at the point to replace her mother, Samantha, the major part of time then Borg children).

I really like "Jetrel", "fair Trade" and "Rise".
However, I hate "Mortal Coil" since I hate the way they made Neelix lose his faith about seeing his loved onse in the afterlife.
I haven't watched "Homestead" but I strongly dislike that Neelix was dumped from the series in that episode. It goes against his promises of sticking by Janeway and the crew and makes him a liar. Besides that, the whole plot with a bunch of Talaxian on that asteroid so many, many, many light years from Talaxian space was silly.

 

[Sophie74656]

I dislike the character.

Ned Ryerson's personality
+
Othello's jealousy
+
Dog the Bounty Hunter's hair
+
The fashion sense of a local children's party clown

=

Neelix


And to make matters worse, his character was completely pointless. A bad cook on a ship with replicators. A morale officer who annoyed every one he came into contact with. A guide with knowledge of only a small section of the journey. A love interest for a two year old. Do you really want a character with all of these traits to act as the ship's ambassador?

About 95 percent of the character's screen time it to provide comic relief, but he just isn't funny. So those scenes are just pointless filler where the other characters silently stifle their frustration as he blathers on. "Mr Vulcan! Mr Vulcan!"

Even on the rare occasions when he is supposed to be taken seriously, his makeup (mangy humanoid nutria) combined with his 3 piece clown suit attire make it almost impossible to do so.

Having said all that - I do like "Fair trade." I enjoy "quicksand" like stories where small missteps by characters slowly spiral out of control.

"Bad cook" is a matter of opinion. There were many things he made that people enjoyed. Off the top of my head there was an episode where Harry asked for a caserole Neelix made for breakfast because he said he really liked it. His cooking was a useful thing. Despite having replicators their use was rationed to conserve energy.

As far as morale officer many people seemed to be comforted by him. More than once he was comfort and support for B'Elanna and Seven just to name a few.

His clothes might have been on the silly side but it in my opinion it worked for him and they were no worse than anything any Ferengi ever wore.

More than once he did help Janeway with his knowledge of the area of space and species that lived there.