I am reading in many places, not just this forum, a TREMENDOUS amount of people say that they cannot stand Neelix. Why is that? I rather like him. I read somewhere where someone called him the, "Jar Jar Binks" of the Star Trek universe. C'mon! I think Neelix is funny and don't get all of the hatred for him. If you don't like him, well I respect your opinion. However, I would like to get some reasons from people why they don't like him.
1.) For the most part, he's simply annoying. Actually, "grating on the nerves" is a more apt description. 2.) He comes across as downright stupid in more than his far share of episodes. 3.) He's essentially a failure as a character. 4.) His personality is so damn sickeningly sweet that I feel I need an insulin shot after each viewing. For further reasons, watch some of SFDebris' video reviews of VOY on YouTube. There's a lot I disagree with him on in those reviews, but one thing he gets 100% right is his description of Neelix.
I like Neelix 1. Great off-sider and "sparing partner" for Tuvok 2. Great heart - some may interpret this as a weakness, failure or character flaw, but I find it quite endearing. 3. He was a great foil for some light comedic relief which was sadly lacking in earlier trek - especially TNG. At least DS9 had Ferengi. Honestly, I thought Neelix filled a very important spot in the show - sure he wasn't "StarFleet" or a "real ambassador" etc but he was never meant to be.
This bugged me too, I don't dislike Neelix, but this bothered me, I could have handled it, if it suited what we first saw of the character, but the fact is, when we first saw him he was pretty unscrupulous, using Janeway and the crew in order to get Kes back, and screwing up the whole plan to negotiate with the Kazon. And after that, janeway let him stay onboard and represent Voyager in negotiations later? And he suddenly, overnight becomes this sweet as candy, butter wouldn't melt type? SHEANANIGANS!
Annoying, obnoxious, a pedophile ("but Mach5, Kes was Ocampa, and they have a short life span!" Yeah, she was a kid by their standards too)... Need I continue?
Because many Trek fans have a hard time facing themselves in the mirror. D'oh!! That's right, I said......and I'll say it again. THINK I WON'T!!!
Was she? Was it stated on screen? If not, then the common standard applies - if you haven't reached puberty yet , you are a child.
I just rewatched Caretaker last night, and I note that the Ocampan elder who was trying to talk Kes out of ostensibly defying the Caretaker by helping the humans escape did not treat Kes like a child. He treated her like an adult in their conversation; and she conducted herself that way. That was the earliest we ever saw her, and she was portrayed as an adult.
It always gave me the impression that he's speaking to her like a young teen, not full adult. He's speaking down to her as if her generation doesn't understand tradtion. Isn't that the sign of a generation gap? However in "Twisted", the episode of her 2nd birthday, she's behaving like a young child. This is a good point. Do we judge Kes' adulthood by how she's spoken too or by the physical onset of puberty?
I see where they were going with the character. He was supposed to be the outsider, non-Starfleet alien, the Delta Quadrant perspective, etc. He'd have worked better not as comedy relief, but as a genuinely competent guy whose skills often proved valuable. Instead, once they got out of the region of space where he could be a guide, he was reduced to being a much less funny Quark.
What ever, I admit to being biased towards Neelix. I hated his guts from the day one, regardless of the Kes thing. I still find the Neelix/Kes pairing quite distasteful, though.
Sorry, I hated Neelix too, but calling him a pedophile is nothing short of ridiculous. Was Tom Paris a pedophile too? Because he liked Kes as well, and not just in a professional way. If we first saw Kes as what a human one- or two-year old looked like, then obviously there'd be a problem. But Kes consistently looked and acted like an adult, and if someone didn't know she was actually only two years old, they would have been none the wiser.
As least you're aware of it. I for one appreciate your honesty. "I swear Officer, she looked and acted like she was 21. How was I too know she was really two?" Next on: To Catch A Predator w/ Stone Philips. I think this was the point. Regardless of how she acted or was treated, you still have to remember she's not really an adult. Many young adults believe and are treated like adults, until they are 18 or 21. They aren't. If Kes hasn't reached maturity, isn't a sexual relationship with her still rape? It's that why tthe writers gave Neelix & Kes seperate quarters, to imply they weren't fucking?
Neelix was annoying but I enjoyed him. My hubby insisted he did not like Neelix till Homestead... he cryed... and they weren't tears of joy.
There is a generation gap; but Kes is not exhibiting petulance in this conversation, and he doesn't treat her like she is. I was impressed that he let her have her say and didn't try to prevent her defying their traditions; she walked away with him looking after, mulling over what she'd said. P.S. I liked Neelix, and Homestead is one of my faves.