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Tim Russ was brilliant as Tuvok

What did you think of the episode "Riddles" from S5 or 6? Tuvok got mentally handicapped due to a brain injury and became "best friends" with Neelix, helping out in the mess hall. The ending brought me as close as TV can to tears. :wah:
Oh my god. I think I need to watch that episode just from that description alone.
 
Oh my god. I think I need to watch that episode just from that description alone.
9 days later update: I watched it. I think I almost cried at that ending. :wah::wah: It's the episode that's got the second most emotional reaction out of me (first was The Offspring from TNG, which made me actually cry) so far. New favourite Voyager episode, probably (that's most likely just because I haven't watched that much Voyager yet).

edit: misused an expression and it made me seem like i was mad lmao
 
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I'm happy that Voyager isn't completely unloved. I enjoyed it, although not as much as other Trek shows.

The reasons are several - the abandonment of the inter crew strife, the "forgetting" of supply shortages, the handwaving of torpedo / shuttle numbers and similar are obvious and well chewed over.

Ditto. The high points are as good as TNG's, but it's too often a little too samey.

The torpedo count thing has become a running gag on youtube. A good one, but still. In fact, here it is:

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(Mind the sound mixing at times, plus there's a lovely bonus for the use of "47", but still disappointed that they only started out with 9 too few...)

VOY had the potential to be like Blake's 7 -- a group of people, some with irreconcilable differences, having to work together to accomplish a bigger goal... Okay, for Trek it's "hightailing it home" and not "battling the evil Federation", but (not minding how it all feels like TNG-lite and repairs done to perfection every week) given how often Trek dived into the pool of "evil admiral or captain" for plot fodder, they missed an opportunity within an opportunity and turning Trek on its head, but that would then conflict against DS9 and Trek's legacy and audiences of the time would have balked. Besides, DS9 did something akin to some of that and with a lot more tact to begin with. That, and for every "evil cap'n of the week" there's three dozen (plus eleven :shifty: ) good captains so it's a moot point. Aren't you glad I haven't had my coffee yet? No worries, it's decaf and I'm just naturally this way...


But also it had the least attractive characters (I'm not on about physically) and cast.

Character archetypes one could relate to, or at least enjoy, especially when working opposite another character archetype that causes either synergy or contention, totally agreed. The (here it comes) Neelix/Tuvok double act is underrated.

It's easy to dump on Neelix, but he was awful in concept and writing. I think it's an enormous compliment to Ethan Phillips talent that he managed to make the character at all sympathetic. And he did.

Check out his performance in "Menage a Troi" as the Ferengi scientist. Fantastic performance, and range.

Plus, the concept - while a bit loose - isn't terrible. Neelix being that happy is an interesting idea. I need to rewatch his introductory episode.

The two I could never warm to were Janeway and Tuvok. Issues with writing, certainly (especially Janeway) but I disliked both portrayals, by Mulgrew and Russ.

I still don't like them. It's unlikely to change.

Janeway was hit or miss, despite good acting.

I adored Tuvok -- he explores a facet of Vulcans other and more than neurotypical as well as expanding Vulcan lore without frivolity, keeping it feeling germane to what had been set up before. IMHO, YMMV, OFC, EIEIO, 8675309, ET AL... :rofl:
 
Voyager is what you get when you take...
- A proven franchise
- A brilliant concept
- A charismatic and capable cast...

Then put it all in the hands of people who don't even know that an ensign is supposed to make lieutenant.
 
Voyager is what you get when you take...
- A proven franchise
- A brilliant concept
- A charismatic and capable cast...

Then put it all in the hands of people who don't even know that an ensign is supposed to make lieutenant.
Best way I can think of to describe it. :lol: So much potential, so much of it gone to waste.
 
He, too, was my favorite character. A pity Tim Russ wasn't tossed enough red meat (especially during the later seasons).
 
My controversial opinion? Tuvok is the most underrated character in all Trek.

Note: I’m not saying he’s the best character in all Trek, just the most overlooked/underrated.
 
I really liked Tuvok as a mentor to Kes and Suder, a friend to Janeway, Neelix, and Seven, as and of course as Inspector Tuvok on an investigation🧐.

Just heard this great quote from Tuvok to Kes at the climax of Cold Fire as she expresses fear of the darkness within her. Good advice:

"Without the darkness, how would we recognize the light? Do not fear your negative thoughts. They are a part of you. They are part of every living being. Even Vulcans.... The Vulcan heart was forged out of barbarism and violence. We learned to control it, but it is still part of us. To pretend it does not exist is to create an opportunity for it to escape."

P.S. Kes had real Anakin potential in this series. Too bad she left when Seven joined. At least we got a taste in Warlord.
 
Russ is definitely an underrated actor. He did a great job with Tuvok.

And a very cool guy...

iQw4sio.jpg


:techman:
 
Tuvok was my favorite on the show by far, though I do like everyone in the main cast. There was just something fun about Tuvok and how Tim Russ played him. Whereas Spock overcompensated for being half-human, Tim Russ played Tuvok brilliantly as the porr irritated Vulcan who just wanted to mediate in the corner and dodge Neelix. :lol: I loved the Tuvok-centered episodes, the Tuvok goes crazy episodes, and I loved it when Tuvok had that "someone, anyone, rescue me, please" look going on, trying desperately not to tell people where to shove their tricorder. :lol: My favorite Tuvok episode was S6's "Riddles" where Tuvok was disabled due to a brain injury and became "best friends" with Neelix. Such a genuinely moving episode, and I think it revealed deep down that while Tuvok sometimes legitimately wanted to murder Neelix (LOL), he also genuinely cared for him as his "best friend" even if he can't admit that and has to be all Vulcan-like.

When Neelix left Voyager, I think his hardest goodbye was with Tuvok. :wah:
Oh yes he was!

No offense to Spock and other Vulcans in Star trek but I think that Tuvok was the best Vulcan.
And Tim Russ really did an excellent job.

Ditto. The high points are as good as TNG's, but it's too often a little too samey.

The torpedo count thing has become a running gag on youtube. A good one, but still. In fact, here it is:

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For more detailed information, see our cookies page.
(Mind the sound mixing at times, plus there's a lovely bonus for the use of "47", but still disappointed that they only started out with 9 too few...)

VOY had the potential to be like Blake's 7 -- a group of people, some with irreconcilable differences, having to work together to accomplish a bigger goal... Okay, for Trek it's "hightailing it home" and not "battling the evil Federation", but (not minding how it all feels like TNG-lite and repairs done to perfection every week) given how often Trek dived into the pool of "evil admiral or captain" for plot fodder, they missed an opportunity within an opportunity and turning Trek on its head, but that would then conflict against DS9 and Trek's legacy and audiences of the time would have balked. Besides, DS9 did something akin to some of that and with a lot more tact to begin with. That, and for every "evil cap'n of the week" there's three dozen (plus eleven :shifty: ) good captains so it's a moot point. Aren't you glad I haven't had my coffee yet? No worries, it's decaf and I'm just naturally this way...




Character archetypes one could relate to, or at least enjoy, especially when working opposite another character archetype that causes either synergy or contention, totally agreed. The (here it comes) Neelix/Tuvok double act is underrated.



Check out his performance in "Menage a Troi" as the Ferengi scientist. Fantastic performance, and range.

Plus, the concept - while a bit loose - isn't terrible. Neelix being that happy is an interesting idea. I need to rewatch his introductory episode.



Janeway was hit or miss, despite good acting.

I adored Tuvok -- he explores a facet of Vulcans other and more than neurotypical as well as expanding Vulcan lore without frivolity, keeping it feeling germane to what had been set up before. IMHO, YMMV, OFC, EIEIO, 8675309, ET AL... :rofl:

I managed to come up with a solution for the torpedo and shuttle problem. :techman:

Captain's Log
Stardate 48942.07 (Friday 10 December 2371)

The latest events have put us in a difficult situation since we have wasted a lot of torpedoes and damaged a shuttle. Therefore I have asked Commander Chakotay, Liutenant Tuvok and Lieutenant Torres to come to my ready room to discuss an idea I have.

"You all know what has happened" said Janeway. "After the recent adventure with the Furies (Voyager book The Final Fury which took place between the episodes Elogium and Twisted), we have lost a shuttle. We have also wasted too many torpedoes. If we keep on wasting our torpedoes in the same way, we will be out of them soon. Considering our long journey and the risk of running into hostile aliens, we need both shuttles and torpedoes. Therefore I want to discuss this idea I have."

"What would that be?" Chakotay asked.

"I suggest that we set up a special workforce on the ship" Janeway said. "The Shuttle and Torpedo Building Team". "Some really skilled people who can have as their priority to build shuttles and torpedoes when it's necessary. If we do so, we will have a chance to avoid being without those in a critical situation."

"That sounds like a good idea", Chakotay said.

"Indeed. And a very logical idea too considering our need for such items" Tuvok said.

"Exactly my thoughts too", said Janeway. "B'Elanna, do you have any people to spare?"

"Well, I think that Dalby, Henley, Gerron and Chell would be perfect for the job. And I would also like to have Lt. Carey in charge of the team. He's the right person for that. If necessary, I can give a helping hand too in a crisis. But I must point out that I need these people in Engineering too and that they would only work with shuttles and torpedoes when necessary."

"I agree", Janeway said. "I would also suggest that we find some other people too among the crew who can assist with shuttle and torpedo building when necessary". Janeway touched her combadge: "Mr Carey, can you come to my ready room immediately!"

And so The Shuttle and Torpedo Building Team was born. From the beginning, it was Lt.Carey, Dalby, Henley, Gerron and Chell. Later on Rollins, Vorik, Samantha Wildman and The Borg baby were added to the team. In fact, those people are the true heroes on Voyager. Without their hard work, Voyager's mission would have been almost impossible.
 
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