Is Neelix the Jar Jar Binks of Star Trek?

[exodus]

But neither character was killed off.

Sean

From "Menace" thru till "Sith", Nute Gunray under the orders of Darth Sidious/Chancellor Palpatine have been trying to murder Senator Amedala because she had one of most respected opposing political veiwpoints that threatened his plans to form the galactic Empire. Jar Jar was Amedala's back-up representive in the Senate. You don't think after she was dead, that he didn't order his assassination too?

um, no he didn't. Binks is still alive into the post-PT era.

Proof?

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

Proof?

Proof.

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

I think you may have ruined exodus' week.

 

[exodus]

I think you may have ruined exodus' week.

No joke.

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

I was pretty bummed after clicking that link as well.

 

[exodus]

I was pretty bummed after clicking that link as well.

First round at the bar is on me.

 

[el Chalupacabra]

No way! Neelix is far more likable than Jar jar.

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

I just watched "Caretaker" for the first time in a good five years... heck, it was the first time I'd really sat down and watched the show in ages. And Neelix already irked me.

His comical scenes weren't bad -- they weren't great, but they had their charm -- but when he insisted that HE rescued Kes (and she, to her credit, was quick to point out that everyone did) I wanted to punch him in the face.

I simply don't understand what the writers were going for by making Neelix so... Neelixful.

 

[exodus]

I just watched "Caretaker" for the first time in a good five years... heck, it was the first time I'd really sat down and watched the show in ages. And Neelix already irked me.

His comical scenes weren't bad -- they weren't great, but they had their charm -- but when he insisted that HE rescued Kes (and she, to her credit, was quick to point out that everyone did) I wanted to punch him in the face.

I simply don't understand what the writers were going for by making Neelix so... Neelixful.

You have to veiw Neelix as what he is, a homeless war orphan. He's a refugee.
Societies with no structual governments turn their backs on the homeless & refugees.
There is no society in the DQ that has a diplomatic government.
The few we have seen are run by the military.
Talaxians with no skills are unwanted.

Suddenly here comes this starship that to someone homeless is like a flying Waldrof Astoria. Whatever you want, you just have to ask. He basically just found his pot of gold.
Someone who is homeless would do everything in their power never to loose something like that. You kiss the ass of every one who worked there just to make them like you to keep living there because you have nowhere else to go.

It's why he was so desperate to make Tuvok like him.
Tuvok is the captains best friend. If he doesn't like Neelix, then Neelix believes Tuvok has the power to turn Janeway against him and throw him off the ship. He doesn't understand that not how Federation folks are because they what's happened to him all his life in the DQ. This is why Neelix goes out of his way to kiss Janeway & Tuovk's asses.

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

Well, that's all well and true, but you'd think while his ass-kissing he'd not look so selfish by proclaiming he rescued Kes in front of the others.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I thought he was impressing upon Kes his wonderfulness because she was on this fabulous ship and he was afraid she might forget about him.

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

Who invited you to come blazing in here, sense-making et al!?

 

[exodus]

Did someone say "blazing?"

Two tokes and pass it, man!

Neelix & Kes were clearly hippy potheads too.

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

You know, you're... totally right...

 

[exodus]

You know, you're... totally right...

I can totally see them 'shrooming and listening to Phish.

 

[froot]

No wonder Kes had the munchies so bad in "Elogium."

 

[Eleanor_zhDarjel]

I liked Neelix. He had a few very nice moments. I love the ep where he takes care of Tuvok, where he lost his memories. Name escapes me. Jar Jar on the other hand is too stupid to walk a straight line.

 

[Liet]

Neelix wasn't so bad. The Neelix/Tuvok pairing, on the other hand, was simply awful, and the writers kept going there. The only time it really worked was when they killed off both of them and gave us Tuvix. "Mr. Vulcan" is a phrase that provokes the same reaction as does Jar-Jar every time it's heard and should be wiped from canon.

 

[BlobVanDam]

Neelix wasn't so bad. The Neelix/Tuvok pairing, on the other hand, was simply awful, and the writers kept going there. The only time it really worked was when they killed off both of them and gave us Tuvix. "Mr. Vulcan" is a phrase that provokes the same reaction as does Jar-Jar every time it's heard and should be wiped from canon.

I liked it. It gave Neelix that endearing quality of wanting acceptance from someone he respected so much. And I always loved the Neelix/Tuvok moments. Riddles was a great episode, because Neelix basically got what he wanted, and it made for a nice moment at the end when he had to give that up, and we saw Tuvok's illogical wordplay.
Then there was the ending of Homestead, where Tuvok called Neelix back for a second for a lame foot dance move, showing that Tuvok had indeed grown fond of Neelix. Just seeing that tiny little deviation from Tuvok for no reason other than to demonstrate that relationship with Neelix made for one of the few great moments to finish off the show.

 

[Christopher]

I think Neelix was a good character. He was someone who initially seemed like an annoying goofball, but once you got to know him, you discovered there was a very sensitive, earnest, good-hearted guy who'd been hurt badly by life and was very insecure and lonely as a result. And so he could be a flawed character, capable of intense jealousy and cowardice and bad judgment in his eagerness to please, but he could also be very heartfelt, poignant, and heroic. Which makes him a lot more complex and nuanced than most of the VGR cast.

And full credit should go to Ethan Phillips, who did a fine job portraying Neelix's sensitive inner core. I've just been rewatching season 3, and some of my favorite moments have been his. "Fair Trade" is mostly a lame episode, but that final scene where Neelix confesses his fear of being useless to Janeway and is so touched and thrilled when she "punishes" him in a way that guarantees he'll be kept aboard is just beautiful. He also does some fine acting in "Rise."