Tuvok underutilized in early episodes

[EmpokNor]

I’m coming from TOS TNG and DS9, and ready to give VOY a go. Since I’m new to VOY, please no spoilers.

I was psyched to see a Vulcan character that could be explored over 7 seasons, but I’m several episodes in and he’s been little more than a token character. I’m a little surprised by this (could use less Neelix tbh). All the other main characters have a backstory or something interesting we know about them by now.

I’m not looking for specifics, but should I bother getting my hopes up that they even spend time on Tuvok’s character?

 

[Farscape One]

Tuvok gets some episodes centered on him. One of my favorite episodes of the series centers on him in season 2, "MELD". I won't give anything away because I like living a spoiler free existence, too.

 

[marlboro]

I think you are going to be disappointed, Empoknor. Tuvok was criminally underused for much of the series. Farscape One, is absolutely right about "Meld" however. Outside of a select few episodes, Tuvok rarely gets the spotlight. If you don't care for Neelix you are going to be doubly disappointed because they are a paired up frequently.

There are a number of good Tuvok moments throughout the series to look forward to though.

 

[Krena]

Tuvok got shafted because of Seven of Boobs. It was very clear at some point that he was going to be Captain Janeway's best friend and closest confidante, like Spock was to Kirk. But then Boobarella showed up. That's when the writers shifted gears and had Janeway play nanny to her instead and stop interacting with the rest of the cast. A shame, because I really loved their burgeoning friendship.

 

[WarpTenLizard]

I like Tuvok, but really, what could they do with him, other than detective episodes and having him go crazy? Vulcans, much as we love them, are probably fairly limiting for writers.

 

[Refuge]

I'm biased because Tuvok is my favourite character so I tend to organically notice him even when he's not the main focus of a scene. If he's like in a group shot and someone says something I automatically wait to see his reaction. Maybe that is why I see him being featured more? Like I was just watching the Raven episode with Seven being drawn back to the wreckage of ... spoiler spoiler and Tuvok is with her and it makes it work better for me.

He actually has several 'relationships' with the others. Initially him and Chakotay had to work through ... (better avoid spoilers for a newbie). However Tuvok has a distinct place with several of the crew. The Marquis had 'feelings' about him. Janeway had a long history with him that will come into play in a flashback episode for one and in many touching moments throughout all the seasons, culminating in her actions of the final two episodes. Seven, The Doctor both connected with Tuvok in a way that is curious given similarities. Kes too. Gosh there are even Paris and Tuvok scenes that carry an episode. Funny you (EmpokNor) mention Neelix because in my opinion Tuvok and Neelix are a great couple!

 

[marlboro]

Tuvok got shafted because of Seven of Boobs

Seven took up a ton of space from the rest of the cast, I admit, but Tuvok was underused in those first three seasons too. He had, what, 3 or 4 episodes focused on him before Seven showed up? The writers really missed out on a lot of potential with characters like Tuvok and Kes, imo.

 

[EmpokNor]

What season does Seven show up? I’m on episode 11 of S1. So far so good. I see a lot of potential with this cast and The Doctor is a real winner. This Beowulf Episode is great.

 

[SenatorVreenak1]

Tuvok was my favorite character on Voyager, and one of my favorite Trek characters. He was TOTALLY underused. I think that he was under used not just early on, but the whole series. It seemed like Janeway was the one everyone went to for their problems, but I wish that on the really tough dilemmas, they had her consult Tuvok. They did that a few episodes, but they should have done it more, where she was conflicted on a decision, and needed some advice from her oldest, and wisest friend, similar to how Kirk would sometimes consult Spock. I know technically that is the job of the first officer, in this case, Chakotay, but I think that is part of the problem. Chakotay should not have been first officer, or at least shared the position of first officer with Tuvok. Maybe Chakotay could have been commander of the former Maquis, and Tuvok the commander of the Starfleet, but they both technically were at the same rank and shared a first officer position. If memory serves, Tuvok WAS first officer by rank until Janeway appointed Chakotay first officer over him.

 

[DonIago]

What season does Seven show up? I’m on episode 11 of S1. So far so good. I see a lot of potential with this cast and The Doctor is a real winner. This Beowulf Episode is great.

Season four. I really like her as a character, but it would be naive to claim that she wasn't given significant amounts of time that might have landed in the other characters' laps otherwise.

 

[Krena]

Seven took up a ton of space from the rest of the cast, I admit, but Tuvok was underused in those first three seasons too. He had, what, 3 or 4 episodes focused on him before Seven showed up? The writers really missed out on a lot of potential with characters like Tuvok and Kes, imo.

It's been a long time since I've seen the earlier episodes of Voyager, but from what I remember, the characters seemed to be getting short shrift because the plots were more action and story arc-based. It was just as the series was shifting away in the third season from pewpewpew and more character-centric episodes when Seven came on board and became the center of the show, along with the Doctor.

 

[Shamrock Holmes]

If memory serves, Tuvok WAS first officer by rank until Janeway appointed Chakotay first officer over him.

Aaron Cavit was the first officer until his death, Ensign Rollins appeared to the (acting) first officer during Caretaker (or at least tactical officer/relief CONN) and was apparently Ship's Navigator (Astrogation Plotter?) as of Season 2, but appears to have been replaced by Seven of Nine by Season 4.

 

[Prax]

If Tuvok was underused, it was only in the later seasons. There's a main ensemble cast of 7 or 8, frequent prominent guest actors, and the recurring characters. There are 26 episodes per season. 5-10 of those are gonna be ensemble, larger set pieces. The remaining episodes will be divided by characters. Janeway gets the most, in every season(about 4-5), the rest are divided up by prominence(or pairs of characters)

In the first 3 seasons, Tuvok is very prominent and has critical roles in many of the ensemble stories, and has his fair share of character focus episodes.

For instance, in season 1(which is a half season, mind you)Tuvok has an integral role in "Ex Post Factors," "Prime Factors," and "Cathexis," and his own character focus episode in "Learning Curve."

I won't spoil season 2, but Tuvok is the focus of 3 episodes, and has a critical role in at least 3 or 4 more.

Season 3, again, he's the focus of 3 episodes, and has a prominent role in at least 3 or 4 more.

There's plenty of Tuvok to look forward to in the next few seasons, and many of his episodes are stand outs.

 

[DonIago]

To be fair, many of his episodes are also pretty ho-hum.

 

[F. King Daniel]

I have a weird fondness for the episode where Tuvok and Tank Girl are stranded on a planet.

And "Tuvix" is an episode people are still passionately ranting about 20 years later.

 

[Ghislaine H. B. BRAEME]

For my part, I would have been more interested with a focus on J/T's friendship : ‎
- on the past: how it is born?; what did they live together?
- on the present : more time spent together (through discussions, teasing, funny moments)
-> according to the loyalty, the camaderie and even the friendship they shared towards each other, I wonder why we never attended more "intimate" moments between them like late dinners in the captain's quarters or in Mess Hall followed by appeased debates.

As I already said, producers/writers tried to make us buy the idea that only Chakotay was able to approach closely Janeway, what was wrong in the fact. Tuvok and Janeway shared a strong friendship for 20 years, with all that is involved as part of knowledge of the other as well as its strengths and weaknesses, trust/confidence and loyalty
-> with his undeniable logic and ability to know how stepping back when it was needed, Tuvok was the one too, able to feel, calm down his captain's stong emotions (enthusiasm, anger, frustration, curiosity) or even to make her see reason but contrary to her exchanges with Chakotay, all that would have been made in a peaceful and serene climate. Would have changed some of Janeway's decisions, maybe yes, maybe not, but I like the idea (cf to "The Hunt for Red October" and the relationships between the Capt. Marko Ramius & his second, Vassili Borodine)

 

[DonIago]

I have a weird fondness for the episode where Tuvok and Tank Girl are stranded on a planet.

And "Tuvix" is an episode people are still passionately ranting about 20 years later.

Well, "Tuvix" was flat-out a great episode, regardless of whether you agree with the outcome.

 

[Refuge]

For my part, I would have been more interested with a focus on J/T's friendship : ‎
- on the past: how it is born?; what did they live together?
- on the present : more time spent together (through discussions, teasing, funny moments)
-> according to the loyalty, the camaderie and even the friendship they shared towards each other, I wonder why we never attended more "intimate" moments between them like late dinners in the captain's quarters or in Mess Hall followed by appeased debates.

As I already said, producers/writers tried to make us buy the idea that only Chakotay was able to approach closely Janeway, what was wrong in the fact. Tuvok and Janeway shared a strong friendship for 20 years, with all that is involved as part of knowledge of the other as well as its strengths and weaknesses, trust/confidence and loyalty
-> with his undeniable logic and ability to know how stepping back when it was needed, Tuvok was the one too, able to feel, calm down his captain's stong emotions (enthusiasm, anger, frustration, curiosity) or even to make her see reason but contrary to her exchanges with Chakotay, all that would have been made in a peaceful and serene climate. Would have changed some of Janeway's decisions, maybe yes, maybe not, but I like the idea (cf to "The Hunt for Red October" and the relationships between the Capt. Marko Ramius & his second, Vassili Borodine)

Just off the top of my head 'Flashback' is a good Tuvok/Janeway episode. Even the beginning of 'Fury' has a good scene with the two of them. There are several, I don't want to spoil it but 'Year of Hell' (near the end) and gosh there are other episodes where Tuvok does not want to leave Janeway's side down to the last person if he could. In 'Twisted' when Janeway was unconscious and they were all awaiting their fate, Tuvok was there for her.

I get what you're saying in that there was a newer relationship developed between Janeway and Chakotay, I guess that happens but it didn't replace the history between Tuvok and Janeway. He considered her to be the closest to family he had on Voyager.

 

[Ghislaine H. B. BRAEME]

Just off the top of my head 'Flashback' is a good Tuvok/Janeway episode. Even the beginning of 'Fury' has a good scene with the two of them. There are several, I don't want to spoil it but 'Year of Hell' (near the end) and gosh there are other episodes where Tuvok does not want to leave Janeway's side down to the last person if he could. In 'Twisted' when Janeway was unconscious and they were all awaiting their fate, Tuvok was there for her.

I get what you're saying in that there was a newer relationship developed between Janeway and Chakotay, I guess that happens but it didn't replace the history between Tuvok and Janeway. He considered her to be the closest to family he had on Voyager.

Refuge, I didn't say that there was no scene showing how close Janeway & Tuvok were but, rather that there was not enough and this for the benefit of the "unnatural" agreement/friendship between Janeway, the Starfleet captain & Chakotay, the charismatic leader of a Maquis brigade. In short, I regret that the relatioship between Janeway and Tuvok was minimize, while it was so important and deep

-> the only times (2) where Tuvok acted against Janeway's orders was always in order to save and protect her : he saved his friend from making a difficult choice, which forced her to recant/to act against her convictions in Prime Factors ‎at the risk of disappointing her then in Resolutions, he finally - with a push from Kes - decided to turn around and go find his friend (and Chakotay) and pending to reach the goal, to get at all cost an antiviral serum which could cure them.
Note that in both cases, Janeway never really blamed him. She was maybe surprised and a little pained just at the start but it was quickly dimmed.

-> when Janeway said to Chakotay , several times during the journey that he was her best friend and the only one who had her total confidence, sorry but I cannot forbear to cough and even to strangle, especially when we know that their friendship was 1) pretty fresh and 2) marked by jolts while she had known Tuvok for at least 20 years and had always been able to count on him (support, advices, counselling). She knew to listen to him when he warned of her bad choices.

 

[Prax]

When did Janeway say Chakotay was her best friend? I can't remember that happening. I can totally see Chakotay saying it, though.

Janeway and Chakotay were the Mom and Dad of the ship, but I got the impression that she didn't trust anyone over Tuvok.

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