Why no love for Phlox?

[Joel_Kirk]

I don't see many posts on this character; I don't really have a favorite character in ENT (yet), but I do have a liking Phlox....

Since I'm still new to the series, I haven't seen any standout's with the character (yet), but he seems to be a good-natured...intersting character....

I don't know if Treklit (or the show) has done anything in terms of getting into Denubolan culture or not, but I'm looking forward to seeing more on this character.

There is a character in Treklit called Dr. Tropp (in the TNG series) and for some reason, I see Michael Billingsley as that character too!

 

[Skywalker]

Don't worry, there are plenty of Phlox fans around here.

 

[Pemmer Harge]

I like him better than the rest of the characters. Don't get me started on Dear Doctor though...

 

[Mach5]

Almost everyone here likes Phlox, I believe...

 

[JiNX-01]

There is a character in Treklit called Dr. Tropp (in the TNG series) and for some reason, I see Michael Billingsley as that character too!

Phlox is played by John Billingsley.

Actually many fans here like Phlox. I don't know how far along you are in the show, but he proves to have some very interesting characteristics (physically, philosophically and emotionally).

 

[JB2005]

No news is good news.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I love him.

I just don't love his toenails..

Seriously though Phlox is HOT.. and urbane and often touching in a want-to-pat-him kind of way. And smart and quirky and a critter geek which is all very appealing. I want to go out and have chinese food with Phlox!

 

[ChristopherPike]

Phlox is hard not to like. Maybe it's his outlook. Looking at a situation and usually finding a positive.

John Billingsley made the character work, even given somewhat sparse background info to build on. A few times what was imparted about Denobulans didn't seem to add up from episode to episode. For instance, they have an implied complex mating ritual and co-habitation... then in Bound, the sight of scantily clad Orion women cavorting through the corridor makes him lethargic! There were other things, in earlier seasons that I struggle to recall... often contradictory.

Having an alien in sickbay trying out alternate medicine on injured crew members was a different approach and made sense though... giving the Enterprise an advantage when coming across new lifeforms strange to humankind, but not necessarily so to the ship's Doctor. It would be nice to think all those pioneering medical discoveries got passed onto future Starfleet missions, even filtering down to Leonard McCoy.

 

[Hopeful Romantic]

"No love"? What gave you that idea?

Big Phlox fan here. John Billingsley fan too.

Never a boring scene when Phlox is onscreen. He's quirky, he's funny, he's compassionate and thoughtful. He loves life. And he's an unflagging optimist. Billingsley did a great job with him, I thought.

 

[Admiral Shran]

Another Phlox fan here.

In my opinion, Phlox is what Neelix should have been. Like HopefulRomantic said, they were both quirky, funny, compassionate, thoughtful, loved life, and were unflagging optimists.

The problem was Neelix took all of these traits to an absolutely ludicrous degree. He was so sugary sweet I felt like I needed an insulin shot after every viewing. Phlox had all these traits, good traits, but in moderation. Just the right mix, good character.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

There is a character in Treklit called Dr. Tropp (in the TNG series) and for some reason, I see Michael Billingsley as that character too!

Phlox is played by John Billingsley.

Actually many fans here like Phlox. I don't know how far along you are in the show, but he proves to have some very interesting characteristics (physically, philosophically and emotionally).

I stand corrected...

Tks, Jinx...

Another Phlox fan here.

In my opinion, Phlox is what Neelix should have been. Like HopefulRomantic said, they were both quirky, funny, compassionate, thoughtful, loved life, and were unflagging optimists.

The problem was Neelix took all of these traits to an absolutely ludicrous degree. He was so sugary sweet I felt like I needed an insulin shot after every viewing. Phlox had all these traits, good traits, but in moderation. Just the right mix, good character.

I agree with that...

"No love"? What gave you that idea?

Big Phlox fan here. John Billingsley fan too.

Never a boring scene when Phlox is onscreen. He's quirky, he's funny, he's compassionate and thoughtful. He loves life. And he's an unflagging optimist. Billingsley did a great job with him, I thought.

I agree...

Being a doctor, I would have liked to have had Phlox's input on some things....i.e. Questioning if the ENT has the right to interfere with some worlds, etc. The episodes I've watched so far seems to have him just sitting in sickbay until someone gets hurt.

 

[commodore64]

John Billingsley made Phlox. He could've ended up another Neelix, but the actor is too talented to let that happen.

 

[Ward Fowler]

When Enterprise was on the air (which is the last time I watched it) I told my wife all the time that John Billingsly was by far the best actor on the show.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

^^

I can agree with that...!

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Too bad they didn't give him more to do.. though he shone in every storyline he did get, more story lines than McCoy ever got. I never understood the dislike for A Night in Sickbay, perfectly good ep with plenty of Phlox!

Billingsly put a lot into the details, such as Phlox's odd waddling walk. I'd love to see more Denobulans in the future (STXII?)

 

[Glacial]

Phlox is one of my absolute favorite Trek characters, especially after the first few episodes, when John Billingsley seems to have felt out the character and really settled into the role. Archetypical healer-sage character, with a affectionate perspective on humanity.

Mr. Billingsley's the man, too. Hero of FedCon and all that.

 

[thedude]

Wow, I can't believe people can't like that character! He was everything I think Neelix should have been on Voyager. Essentially, he served the same purpose... but Billingsley was able to execute it much better than Ethan Phillips could. Don't get me wrong, Phillips is a great actor, but Billingsley just brought so much more to that "crew liaison" role. I thought he brought a great balance of seriousness and comedy to the role... his ability to carry an episode with comedic timing was obvious in A Night In Sickbay (even though some consider it a low point in the series, I genuinely enjoy it) and his ability to bring out the characters strong, moral side was just done perfectly in Dear Doctor. It's unfortunate there wasn't more of a chance to explore the character... Phlox-centric episodes are always "must watch" for me when I re-visit ENT. I would have loved to explore his relation with Crewman Cutler more, and I was hoping to get one more episode with Trip and Phlox's wife.

Anyway, I always keep an eye out for Billingsley in other shows, and I was VERY disappointed he didn't get more time on this most-recent season of 24. Hopefully we'll get more of the character in the upcoming ENT novels, because it would be sad to see such a great character go to waste.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

Wow, I can't believe people can't like that character! .

I think the title is misleading. I haven't ever come across anyone who dislikes Phlox unless they are an ENT hater who just hates it all.

 

[Voyagerian]

I'm not into Phlox as I am Jon, Trip, and T'Pol, my three main faves on STE, but, the kindly Denobulan was a physician with plenty of compassion, and tender care.I'd be lucky to have him treating me, knowing I'd be in good hands....and met with that big, reassuring smile! I love his line in the last moments of 'Voyages' to his by-then old friend Archer....''I would wish you luck, Captain....but you've always had that in abundant supply''...and his moving, heartbroken reaction to the impending loss of Trip and T'Pol's daughter....how he could not grieve more, in other words, if she were his own....

 

[Joel_Kirk]

I'm not into Phlox as I am Jon, Trip, and T'Pol, my three main faves on STE, but, the kindly Denobulan was a physician with plenty of compassion, and tender care.I'd be lucky to have him treating me, knowing I'd be in good hands....and met with that big, reassuring smile! I love his line in the last moments of 'Voyages' to his by-then old friend Archer....''I would wish you luck, Captain....but you've always had that in abundant supply''...and his moving, heartbroken reaction to the impending loss of Trip and T'Pol's daughter....how he could not grieve more, in other words, if she were his own....

Phlox is part of my 'Big Four': Hoshi, Travis, Malcolm, and...Phlox...

Although, I do like T'Pol as well....which would probably make it my 'Big Five'....