The Coffee Nebula Board is for the discussion of Star Trek: Voyager and other sci-fi/cult shows. This is its Archive of episode discussions, top ten lists, fan fiction, and other miscellaneous musings.
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"Who would have thought that this eclectic group of voyagers could actually become a family. Starfleet, Maquis, Klingon, Talaxian, hologram, Borg... even Mr Paris." |
HomesteadLive long and prosper, Neelix! This was an excellent episode. I felt every scene was quality and each character was on. The scene with Neelix walking down the corridor flanked by the crew reminded of other great Trek farewells. Definitely the best episode made this season. An episode I can look forward to wanting to watch again in the future. This show was a real pleasure for a long-time Voyager fan to watch. I do wish Neelix had asked the Talaxians "Why?" and "How?". Why did they travel so far and how did they travel so far? Cool party - fond memories of Cochrane in First Contact. They remembered Tuvix! Cool! And they finally brought the long-time Tuvok-Neelix relationship to a good end. First time I've felt Tuvok treated Neelix as he deserves. Neither character was ever as good as this ep. It was good to see that everyone loved Neelix so much but also that Neelix felt how unimportant his jobs on the ship really were. It wasn't hard for us to conclude as he did that he could do much more important things elsewhere. (Do a little dance.) Live long and prosper. I remember when KM said... ...a couple/few years ago that Neelix was the soul of Voyager. If it wasn't quite right before, then that statement gained some definite pointage tonight. Homestead was a great ep, better than I could have hoped (even if I had a feeling it's be excellent), with all the emotion, purpose and plotting that should have been there. Janeway, Tuvok and Neelix simply shone (with bonus points to Tom for those ever-wonderful "looks"). The supporting characters, Dexa, Brax and Axilon, were all wonderful. Neelix was as great as he's always been in his "responsible" mode, but happily given a full plot that tests his heart in a way we'd not seen in a long while. His quickly-formed relationship with Dexa was wonderfully believable and touching. The big sniffles didn't quite show up until she went to him in the very end...sigh! Lovely. Tuvok...Oh heavens, not enough can be said. How great it was to see Tuvok and Neelix at their best together in more ways than one. I loved the "step" at the end. sob! Also wonderful was how Janeway made it easier for him. D@mn, that was good. Perfect, perfect Janeway. (Though, I imagined there was a scene or to cut from between there and his scene with Naomi, even if I could still believe his motovations for leaving without complaint.) In all, a fitting "end" to Neelix's arc, having left his people in a way for reasons of shame and guilt, to returning to them resposibly, finding love and a sense of family (if not quite possibly gaining one soon enough), and yet not letting go of Voyager completely, either. sigh! Wonderful. I have a feeling that when I see Caretaker again, and see Neelix hug a digusted Tuvok, I might break up all over again. But I'll be smiling, too. Live long and prosper, indeed, Mr. Neelix! *sniffle* *AC weeps bitter tears at the loss of one of the best characters on the show, tempered by happiness that he's finally found his own people again* *choke, sob* Half of the Odd Couple is gone -- Voyager will never again be the same. The only thing that would have made it better is if Neelix had done the Vulcan salute to Tuvok. This was just a perfect episode. I missed some bits due to a toddler wired up on cold medication, but I did tape it. I'll have to go back and look at the scene where Tuvok talks about Neelix's potential for leadership once more. Looking back on "Rise," who would think that this relationship would ever progress so far? I might have to dig out my copy of "Riddles" as well. *wail* AC Now that Mr. Neelix has left the building... ...who's going to feed the crew? Janeway wanted Neelix to keep in contact with Voyager, I hope she supplied him with long range communication equiptment. I too would've prefered just a LITTLE explaination as to how the Talaxians traversed over 40,000 lightyears of DQ. Unless they were traveling on a generational ship. Not to bad, but i'm grumpy... Why kick out Neelix before the finale? Now we will have at least one episode and possibly the finale without him! Although i have heard he gets a few flashback moments in the finale... Anyway it wasn't BAD and i liked many of the goodbye moments. Certainly better then what Kes got in The Gift....not that i'm bitter about that I agree with Terry that it was the best this lame season had to offer but then this was an easy VERY SPECIAL VOYAGER(tm) to do. I wonder if Voyager had another season if they would try to deleate him like they did Kes... Eric Boring! This was a bland episode. Too much of the episode was occupied by clunky "get to know you" scenes we have seen to often before. Neelix being escorted around the asteroid complex, Neelix escorting his friends through Voyager, forbidden conversations between strangers and inquisitive children... was this just a clip show? All of these clunky scenes prevented the story from really getting to know the characters, but then if "getting to know them" is hearing them recite Generic Backstory Speech Beta 2A (read: "my husband was killed while standing up for our rights") I can't say I really mind too much. I have to say that I'm a little disappointed with how cynical Voyager's crew is getting these days. The whole situation with the Talaxians while it was unfolding seemed a little superficial to me. And I wasn't thrilled by Janeway's "I hope you aren't planning on doing anything foolish because if you are I can't condone it but if you are, here, let me open the shuttle bay door for you" speech. And is it just me or does it seem a little naive that establishing a shield grid will be the solution to the problem? Dexa had an interesting point about the Talaxians not being able to produce enough food on their small plots of land on the planet the lived on. How do they produce food in the middle of an asteroid? Whatever. The last act was good but the rest was just a jumble of scenes we've all seen before strung together into a story we've seen before, in fact, it seems many times this season. Who cares? Standard issue. Jason It was written by Raf Greene. Are you saying he wrote a clunker? Ironically, I was going to admit you were right about him being Voyager's best writer after tonight. Hey Klink lover, HOMESTEAD was probably well structured. But I had problems with the scenes, which I thought were very clumsy. I thought so much more could have been done, and not just with Neelix and the other Talaxians. His big scene with Tuvok just seemed devoid of charm, and that was IT for them, basically that's all there is in tying up that relationship. Oh well! Anyway, regarding Green... aside from the ones I really dislike I try not to make judgements on the abilities of the writers in general. So many of Voyager's writers get "dragged along" for the ride by some of the higher ups. Of Green's previous episodes, I'm really not sure what he is ACTUALLY responsible for when all is said and done. As for other writers like Michael Taylor, it's not hard for me to come up with bad things to say if only because my wrath can sometimes take over. I didn't like this episode too much but I think it was neither a disservice nor credit to Green and his Voyager work. And for the record, Menosky was Voyager's best writer! Jason Farewell, my friend... "If you're not interested in my *debris* then I'm delighted to know you." It has been a delight to know him as well. He has been a loyal companion for the Voyager crew for seven years. He was indeed "the most versatile member of the crew." But he once said that his Voyager family wasn't enough. Neelix needed something more. He loves to be needed. He found people who needed him more. I can't imagine how it must feel to leave your people thinking you will never see them again. To become the only representative of everything you have ever known. I can't blame him for taking the opportunity to reunite with his people. I am just going to miss him. The First Contact celebration was an appropriate introduction. Well played and much enjoyed. It was a nice thing to see the crew having fun. We haven't seen that often enough. The final scene, the crew at attention, was a proper and well-deserved tribute to the Ambassador. Tuvok's final gesture was a proper good bye to the friend. I wish that last scene with Naomi wasn't so painful, but it proved its point. She'll be okay and she has 100 other people to help her. His duties lessen as she gets older, but sometimes "duty call" has to be to yourself. The mess hall scene with Captain KJ and Neelix was perfect. I didn't know how they would have him make the decision and then tell people. The last thing Neelix wants to do is leave before his job is done and KJ lets him go with a job to do. She says she doesn't know how she'll run the ship without him. He has always seemed like the captain's assistant. Now that he's gone, maybe Naomi can take the place he suggested to her long ago. They did plan the First Contact party together afterall. I just hope in next week's episode they remember he existed. I'm not getting my hopes up though. Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised. Either way, good bye, my friend. Thank you for being there when we needed you. A beautifully done ep that had me weeping at many points There are so many wonderful moments in HOMESTEAD...i will discuss them later. For right now, I just want to say, this episode moved me immensely. It wasnt quite a *great* episode, but it was very well, and honorably, done. david g Hmm slightly underwhelming... I'm glad that Neelix got to play hero. I loved his scenes with Tuvok. I just wish this was more character driven show. I would have liked to see the other characters realy say good-bye and thank Neellix for being part of their lives. I don't see why the Prime Directive applies. The Talaxian surely have warp capability. They wanted the help. What I don't understand is why they weren't resettled on a nice planet? I'd dies of depresssion if I had to live in a cave. The Klingons from Prophecy got their own planet; why the Talaxians. Jason, youre a Grinch. Sorry, dude, but youve a heart made of stone (though I dont disagree that there was a lot of exposition.) david g Re: Homestead. What a perfect name. These people really "were" homesteaders who took a patch of nothing and turned it into a home for their community. I certainly enjoyed this ep... the only thing I "wished" was to have Samantha Wildman standing next to her daughter as he left. (Although I did appreciate the positioning of Naomi at the Captain's side. Natural spot for the Captain's assistant to be. Hmmmm. What is this series about, anyway? People returning home, better than how they left? Neelix certainly fits that mold, and even Tuvok admits it! (Notice, he "still" got the last word "in" on the goodbye scene? Loved the nod to past shows, from Naomi herself, to the "put to bed" scene, to the cooking/party scene, to the "Tuvix" bit, to the Tuvok/Neelix teasing banter, to the Tom "help me repair this" scene, to.... sigh... the Janeway in the messhall at night, with coffee scene. Gosh I loved that scene, although the first time through I wondered "how" she could control her tears. The second time through I think I figured out "why". She knew if she betrayed any emotion, then he "wouldn't" go... and she knew he should. It's funny, when you compare his attempts to "leave" with Kes' (Gift) or with the Doc's (Virtuoso), its a totally different reaction. But then Kes was going off into a "great unknown" (or so we thought), and the Doc was falling for the first society that liked his singing (but for how long?) Neelix was asking to join with his people, and had the means (his ship) to leave if three days later he discovered they were really bad guys in disguise. I don't think they "are" bad guys, and his friends recognized that. Now, I just hope Starfleet doesn't give her any "grief" for phasering that bomb into nothingness, before it turned him into a martyer! Goodbye, old friend.
Live long.
And Prosper!
D47 They were offered one, Pixie... But in the 5 years its taken to make this ateroid habitable, they've become attached to it. The very logical Tuvok has finally learned, over the years, how important "emotion" is to some people. They would be willing to "risk all" for the home they've made for themselves... than for some new place they were just dropped onto. I agree, an asteroid wouldn't be "my" cup of tea... but home "is" home. D47 SOB! Neelix! We hardly knew you! I even got teary-eyed just thinking about Neelix on the subway this morning, and believe me, I'm not usually thinking about Voyager on the subway. It wasn't an overwhelming send-off but it was nice last five minutes. I especially enjoyed out Chakotay and Harry inflated his importance to the visitors, which really wasn't necessary because without a good chef these crewmen would have been eating the biopacks by now. So was his presence on Voyager important? You betcha. Did anyone see the doc lined up in the hallway in the end? Did it look like they just slapped B'Elanna's forehead on for the parting shot? Janeway made his decision easier by giving him an 'out'. She's a class act. I wonder if Ethan Phillips hung around the set for the last 2 or 3 episodes? Does anyone know? Mrs. Mac Yes, Q, and ... Q said: I too would've prefered just a LITTLE explaination as to how the Talaxians traversed over 40,000 lightyears of DQ. And it makes you wonder why in that distance, with the technology they obviously have, they couldn't find one decent Class M planet to live on. Instead, they live in a sunless cave! Sheesh! Mrs. Mac Hey, a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds. (NIM) Or so Waldo told me. First Impressions (and a few Questions) Let me put them down before I read anyone else's comments Was the information about First Contact Day new or had this been established in Trek before? I'm thinking about things like the statement that this was the 315th anniversary. Along the same lines, the reference to Tuvok's "ancestors" in that first contact made me curious. Was that a figurative statement, or is he literally descended from one of the Vulcans who first landed on Earth? I was on the phone during the planning of the shields to protect the miners, so I can't comment on the specifics. I did wonder how Neelix was transported back to the asteroid at the end. I liked the way we saw different aspects of Neelix in this episode, from organizing the First Contact Day celebration to his defense of the other Talaxians. He appeared as an unusually good fighter, not the klutz he often is. And I like Janeway's "sacrifice" of his service as a "permanent ambassador" in the Delta Quadrant--it's much better than just dropping him off and breaking all contact. Along those lines, it was effective to see Neelix genuinely torn between Voyager and its crew on one side and the other Talaxians on the other. Gosh, Naomi has grown! They used her effectively; she's not the small child Neelix used to help care for. I've got a question: how did the Talaxians on this asteroid obtain food? Maybe I just missed this, but I'd appreciate it if anyone knows. I keep wondering how they're going to eat. Oh, let us see at least a glimpse of Neelix in the finale! A communication from the "permanent ambassador" at least, please! Sherry (Neelix, I hardly knew ye....) Mama Kate, Friends, and other high points I'm going to miss him too. I, like many of you, kind of wished that he could be there at the end. On the other hand, he probably got more of a send off than the rest of them. Neelix got a whole show while the rest have one two-parter (at best). High points: Mama Kate...she knew Neelix was about to do something "rash". After 7 years she's finally figured out how to anticipate trouble and gently deal with it (rather than fire photon torpedoes and lock them in the brig). Her mess hall scene with Neelix was priceless. Dad Tom..."do I need to separate you two?" What a gem to have those three together. Tuvok...hey, the big-bad Vulcan got a little soft on us. We all knew he had it in him. I'm glad to see that Tim Russ got to shine in this episode. If the finale has these kind of character moments, I'll be satisfied with the Voyager Endgame. Sue_B Re: Farewell, my friend... How does one get a lump out of their throat? I've still got one after that last scene last night. I wasn't always fond of Neelix, the character was written as 'silly' alot , but that finally changed and you can't help but have been fond of him in the end. Niomi has grown up under his loving care ,he's been there for her in times of need [when Samantha was lost with Tom and Tuvok in a shuttle] and Neelix has been there for B'Elanna when she was feeling her lowest ,telling her to take her anger out on him and listening to her voice her concerns about her relationship with Tom. We'll all miss Neelix .Who's got the receipe for Leola Root Stew ? On the Vulcan reference question... I assume it was the real deal; I'm sure the information's in the database. I could be wrong, but the music Neelix was dancing to didn't sound like the "Ooby Dooby" Cochrane played to entertain the Vulcans. Didn't they make erecting the shield grid look like a piece of cake or what? I just assumed Neelix adjusted the transporter frequency to match the shield grid frequency. And as for the food question... I suppose they could've used heat lamps to grow their crops. HOMESTEAD is one of this season's finest There were some lapses in this episode, but it really moved me...to get them out of the way, I will gripe a bit and then get to the good stuff. I know that they didnt have time to have Neelix say goodbye to everybody, but I would have liked to have seen more reactions from other people Neelix has been there for--esp B'Elanna, and Seven, both of whom have had lots of nighttime scenes with him, where he nurtured their wounded souls. Also, I agree with Pixie, that asteroid is GRIM. You can barely breathe watching those scenes in it ... Ok, also, there was, as Jason said, too much exposition. I have to admit, I dont Talaxians an interesting species (gosh, is that racist of me? yikes)...these Talaxians, though i liked the mother and child well enough, didnt get to seem very interesting--the leader (hey, wasnt he in BASICS?) was particularly morose and joyless. I would have preferred less of them and more of our crew. o well. But enough griping. I loved this episode from the start. The First Contact day celebration was wonderfully joyous. The scene where Chak and Kim puffed up Neelix's stature was the first lump-in-my-throat moment. And, sigh, what with the exemplary ref to TUVIX (you go, Raf Green), this episode beautifully resolved the thematic arc (to use my friend Caillan's term) of the Tuvok-Neelix freindship. W/out at all overdoing, Tuvok's love and respect for Neelix really cam through. It's about time! Sure, Neelix was...wel, when Tuvok holo-strangled him in MELD, I wasnt grief-stricken! But how much has changed...Neelix really is, as KM says, the soul of VOY, and having Tuvok realize this at last meant a great deal to me. I love, of course, the Neelix-Janeway scene...and I also of course loved the Delta Flyer to the rescue scene...by the way, they sure left Naomi seeming icy, didnt they? I was surprised by that. A shot of her weeping as Neelix left, or something, wouldve worked, no? A certain predictability mars this ep...but still, this is one of the most moving episodes of VOY Ive ever seen. david g I wonder if Neelix got the rumored "unexpected romance" For an old cynic, I rather enjoyed "Neelix finds love at last." And gets another child in the bargain. And gets to be a hero for at least some of his people after a rather inauspicious start, IIRC an episode back around the time of Jetrel. Wow, Naomi really grew up since the last time we saw her! My cynical side kicks in and reminds me that Neelix' new "stepchild" will likely soon match Naomi for adolescent insensitivity I had a lot of the same nits as others -- like, where's the food coming from; why the asteroid; why does the p.d. apply to an tech. advanced society; why must we always have an "action insert" Despite the nits, though, the episode was such a fitting closure to Neelix' story, I really enjoyed it. A triumph over nits, so to speak A wonderful resolution to the Neelix arc and a very VOY episode in spirit. NIM No time this morning - but here's what I thought. Routine episode as far as the story went. Well done, though. I wonder what'll happen when the miners come back with reinforcements? Those shields are at best a temporary defense, I fear, and an asteroid doesn't offer much chance for the community to grow. (Boy, I'm glad the date on my copyright for "Exile's End" shows I did NOT steal the idea of a colony in a hollowed out asteroid from this script!!! Hee, hee, WHEW.) However, the Neelix resolution? I loved it. He lost a family, long ago, and was bitter and hurt. His "Voyager" surrogate family helped him heal. Now, he has a new family of his own...beautiful. GOTTA GO! Um... I got misty... Right there, at the end... I've always liked Tuvok. There are 'important moments' in everyone's lives, and humans know (and show) when they're important; For a Vulcan, THAT was a big moment. And done very nicely. Seeing Neelix's chin quiver sent mine doing the same. Harry & Chuckles on the bridge, kinda boosting Neelix's status for the kid, that was a nice touch too. And Neelix's look of appreciation - there's nothing better than friends helping you build an illusion for someone you want to impress. Nice effects of the field emitters sticking in the asteroid's surface; The bad guys were bad, but they COULD be dealt with, which was a nice touch too - not the single-minded "kill all the poor alien refugees" we've seen before. You really got the feeling at the end that Neelix had the proper goodbye from the crew. And, that he had come home. His line, "I'll probably never see another Talaxian after this." - simple, but very heavy. Now, if Harry could just be put off somewhere... **sigh** Flite But Voyager writers have NEVER understood the PD! Janeway and her crew have no idea what the PD means. I saw this screwup as well and just shrugged. It's way to late in the game to complain now, at least for me. Eric Homestead I liked this one. Sorry to see Neelix go, but at least he finally got some respect from Tuvok. And I never expected an episode where Naomi would have more screen time than Doc or Seven J. I thought it was interesting the way they handled the PD issue. Janeway et al couldn't directly defend the Talaxians or give them the technology, but since Neelix is Talaxian he could use what he'd learned as part of a Starfleet crew and they could take the Delta Flyer to defend a member of their crew. Wonder how this will look in the logs. As to how the Talaxians got 40,000 light years from home. They were obviously war refugees (scene in Astrometrics she refers to the Talax being still occupied) and the war was about 15-20 years earlier. My guess is worm hole and/or Vadwar corridors? Someone should have said something. Scarlet Pommers has been on so little this season that how much she's grow in the past year really was obvious. I hadn't noticed it in her one scene in "Shattered". They handled the difference well, not just her "I'm not a little girl anymore" scene with Neelix, but her whole appearance - more complex dialog, including the almost teen attitude; "Captain Proton" replacing "Flotter"; pants, boots and sweaters or shirts instead of the little kids jumpers she'd worn before; and it looked like the horns on her forehead were different, more pronounced and curved at the ends, though that may have just been the camera angle. Continuity: Besides "Tuvix" and First Contact; "Captain Proton"; Chakotay teaching paleontology; Janeway and Neelix sharing late night coffee in the mess hall. ....I thought this episode was excellent and exactly the sort of subject matter they should be doing for the final stretch, tying loose ends together for our characters. In fact I would rank this ep. among my favorite of the series. For one thing I love happy endings, and Neelix got one big time. He certainly deserved it. Neelix received the kind of farewell that Kes was cheated out of. The only downside thought I might say is I wish Neelix's people could have had a nicer location to homestead, perhaps a beautiful planet to live on instead of the inside of a dreary asteroid. But, I suppose at least this way they are safe from harm, if safty is what they seek. BTW-living underground like that reminded me a little of Kes's people and how they lived underground for protection. At first I was disappointed to know Neelix was leaving, but by the end of the episode I was just happy that he finally found a ladylove (of his own kind) and a child. Two beings for him to love and protect. It was obvious they loved him. I'm sure he will be very happy. This was the best ending for him. That scene at the finish where his new mate and son all hugged him had me misty and choked up. We loved it! And maybe it's just my imagination, but Neelix's new love reminded me of Kes a bit. Yes, it was a wonderful happy ending for Neelix. At first I thought Tuvok's little foot "dance" for Neelix was a bit corny, now thinking back I liked it. There was so much I enjoyed about this one, I could go on and on. I thought it was a very tightly written and acted piece, a fine addition to the series. If the last episode is this good I will not be disappointed. Well done, Voyager, bravo. Mike About the generational ship, Q.... Q said: "I too would've prefered just a LITTLE explaination as to how the Talaxians traversed over 40,000 lightyears of DQ. Unless they were traveling on a generational ship." Yeah, I suppose we all wondered how those Talaxians traveled so far. I don't think it was a generational ship, if by that term you mean they were decendents of the original crew that had left the Talaxian homeworld. If I remember correctly Neelix's girlfriend seemed to have first hand. knowledge of being at locations on the home planet when Seven showed them that image of it on the viewer. I had the impression she had fond memories of living on it, like she had been there in her life time. So I don't think she was a decendant of those that left the planet generations ago. Mike Re: Orilix (sp?), the leader I rather liked how his joyless and humorless demeanor contrasted with Neelix. There was no question that the homesteaders needed someone like Neelix if for no other reason than to lighten them up a little The more I think about this ep, the more I liked the resolution of Neelix. What I find ironic is how much Neelix annoyed me in the middle seasons. In some ways, Homestead played that out. Still hate the asteroid though I'm so pleased they did a good job with this one. Here's hoping the finale is as good so that Voyager can out on a high note, unlike the mixed bag that was DS9's finale. I agree with you Maggie What a depressing life these homesteaders have led, but they again they are refugees. I like to think the Talaxians ( who Voyager should light a candle for every night-- remember Basics) Had all of the fight knocked out of them when that terrible weapon was released on them, like the people who first when into Japan after the atomic bomb was dropped I thing this people and Neelix were running away from the horror of it. Anyone remember all through the series how much Neelix hated the dark and voids etc. it's especially telling that he CHOOSE to live in this asteroid. But I'm not worried with Neelix there it won't be dreary for long. It may even become the Delta Quadrants Raisa. Re: No time this morning - Nina I think they mentioned that they had unlimited power for the shields as long as they stay there they should be safe. I was just thinking, during that scene when Neelix is valiantly trying to get the shields up, You know what would make this scene awesome? If Janeway came by to help Neelix... and she did! sigh. i love VOY. david g I used 5 tissues on Homestead, especially when Tuvok did his little dance, and I expected that would be the ending after Neelix challenged Tuvok in the trailer. What a perfect ending for Neelix's story. He has come full circle. Started out as a cowardly, selfish, wheeling-dealing, annoying character, internally injured by a war that destroyed his family and planet. With Homestead, this outcast has found a home. The story reminded of Willa Cather stories, like My Antonia, a story of self-discovery and survival on America's Prairies. It's not where you live, it's what you make out of your living. And look what Neelix has given these people, his self, knowledge, and everything he has learned while on Voyager. It's a new beginning for Neelix and the Talaxians. I think I am babbling. This story has been played out many times, in fact, I think I saw it on Gunsmoke when I was a child, or maybe it was the musical Pippin, or Berstein's Candid. Anyway, Homestead is based on a classic story recipe. TPTB adapted it extremely well to complete Neelix's arc. It was also good to see Neelix's ship and I thought the effects were great. LaVar Burton did a bang-up job with this episode. Good direction an editing. And, of course a fantastic performance by a great actor, Ethan Phillips. I have mentioned before and will reiterate Phillips is fantastic. This gentleman has performed his role most professionally, never complaining or badmouthing anyone. He always put in a solid performance whether it be portraying the early annoying cook, or the vulnerable and confused crew member, or the comforting moral officer. The cast seems extremely fond of him. Biller did right by giving Phillips a solid story for his swan song. Di I heard that, but what I mean is that no matter what technology they're use for those shields - someone, somewhere knows how to get past them. Or will figure it out. Fare thee well, Neelix. I will REALLY, REALLY, REALLY miss Neelix/Ethan Phillips...he took a "nothing" assignment and made it into one of the most refreshing, interesting, likeable, well-acted roles on STAR TREK ever! In many, many ways, Neelix was the "Bones" of VOYAGER, with his wisdom, sense of humor, empathy, sympathy and knowledge. I absolutely LOVED the final scene, especially with Tuvok's small "two-step." I absolutely LOVED the "coffe klatch" (what else? FINALLY a character got the good-bye he deserved. No stupid Traveller, no ascension to a higher plane...just Neelix realizing that his journey on the VOYAGER had led him, not to Earth, as he first thought, but to a new family and new possibilities. LOVED that the Prime Directive was brought up and easily ignored for the sake of friendship and loyalty. SHADES OF CAPTAIN KIRK!!!! One of the best, best, best VOYAGER episodes...right up there with LINEAGE, LIVING WITNESS, ONE SMALL STEP...in fact, it may just be the best VOYAGER of all, because it encumbered everything that made us all fall in love with STAR TREK in the first place. Mindy i love both of your posts, Diane and Mindy...pas me a tissue, please. Rwatched the ep today (just had to)..for goodness sake, i wept more this time! i wept at the beginning, because there was wonderful Neelix, throwing himself headfirst into a celebration of this "alien" culture he'd grown to love, but wasnt really part of... ...at the moment Chak and Neelix chime in about how important Neelix is...at the moment Tuvok told Neelix how resourceful he was...at the moment the Delat Flyer swoops in to defend Neelix's position as he singlehandedly fights off the other miners...at the nighttime chat the Cpatain had with Neelix...and at Tuvok's little two step (though where was the Vulcan hand signal? o well)... it's a beautifully done episode. david g Dexa mentioned the military occupation of Talax. And I believe described her husband being killed by the occupying army. Since that's an event that happened when Neelix was a young man (22 years ago?) and they've been there five years, they must have traveled to the asteroid in about 10-15 years. It's an matter of economics. Those miners aren't trying to push the Talaxians off because they just like to be mean. They doing it to make money off of the minerals. If it takes too much effort to kick the Talaxians off, they'll just forget it and go on to the next asteroid belt. I figure that mining manager already met or failed to meet this period's mining quota by now anyway. Yes, there was a little too much exposition. Other then that, I really enjoyed this one. I do think that Ethan Phillips is one of the best, if not the best, actor on Voyager. Look what he has managed to do behind a mask with little but his eyes and jestures to convay what he is feeling. I didn't have a problem with the Talaxians being so far from home any more then I have a problem with The Voyager being where it is. After all, didn't they leave before our crew even got to the Delta Quad. Tuvok rocks! I won't repeat what everyone else has said. I did have a little problem with Janeway telling Seven to work with B'Elanna, it should have been the other way around, and when she contacted them in the shuttle bay she commed Seven instead of B'Elanna. Remind me again, who is the Chief Engineer? Sorry, it was a small nit but in the "military model" they use they should be following protocal more often. Oh, forget it, it was just a minor thing. I loved the whole 'don't make me come back there and seperate you' in the shuttle bit. Pappa Paris being his sarcastic self. Oh, the times I have said that, anyway that cracked me up. My favorite scene was the Delta Flyer swooping in to save Neelix. Wait, my favorite scene was Janeway and Neelix in the messhall. That is leadership. That is understanding the members of your crew and what they need. That is excellance and Janeway at her best. I loved that scene. I can't believe they killed Mrs. Landingham Shadda There is a little WW spoiler in my message above, thought I would mention it. NIM Shadda, who's Mrs Landingham?! NIM Re: Shadda, who's Mrs Landingham?! Answer The President's secretary. The West Wing. Mac. It's true that TPTB have botched the PD, but I understood this time. I interpreted the PD issues as a matter of interfering in this affair that is between two alien parties with no allegiance to the Federation or Starfleet. I've rewritten this message four times trying to get what I want to say out. I guess what I'm trying to say is Starfleet can't just go mucking around in conflicts. That little tete-a-tete was between the Talaxians and the miners (were they given names?) and Starfleet had no business poking around in it. Nothing of theirs was at stake. Drawing upon United States history here, I'm thinking in this case that the writers brought up the Prime Directive as a sort of anti-Roosevelt Corollary. Teddy Roosevelt got us in a heck of a lot of messes when he said that the United States would act as a "policeman" in Latin American countries, despite the fact that sometimes they really didn't want us mucking around and it might have been a little easier not mucking around. Drawing upon Trek history here, remember "A Private Little War" where the Klingons escalated a conflict among the "hill people" by giving one side flintlocks? Right there is why they couldn't help out. They'd be taking a side in a conflict that they had no *business* taking sides in. As Starfleet, Janeway couldn't do a damn thing to help the Talaxians, even though she sympathized with them greatly. However, Neelix was not *officially* a member of the crew -- let's put it this way, he hadn't joined Starfleet -- and so he could act without fear of reprisal from SF HQ. (And there is a fear of reprisal now.) That's why Tuvok could only "hypothetically" help him, because he couldn't give aid one way or the other. True, if you construe this as one of the sub-meanings of the Prime Directive, then Janeway has gone out of her way to break it. But I think that was how they meant for it to be interpreted this episode. 216 President Bartlet's absolutely delightful secretary. And the woman responsible for the most moving poignant scene ever filmed for television. It was in their first season at Christmas time and the show was called "In Excelsis Deo". I got this from "Might Big TV" website: Mrs. Landingham tells Charlie, "It's important you remind the President throughout the day [that] he's allergic to eggnog." Throughout the day? Do they have a big vat of it handy for the staff to sample from while they work? Charlie babbles to Mrs. L. about the trees, lights, presents and general festive air. He continues, "I brought it up 'cause, I don't know, you seem a little down this week." Mrs. L. admits that she gets a bit depressed around the holidays. "You don't like Christmas?" Charlie asks, in the same tone one might affect to say, "You drop-kick puppies?" Mrs. L. says, "I miss my boys." Charlie is surprised to hear that she has kids. Mrs. L. says she had twins, Andrew and Simon. "They went off to medical school together. And then they finished their second year and, of course, their lottery number came up at the same time." Charlie says, "I would have thought they could get a deferment to finish med school." "They didn't want one," says Mrs. L. She says that she and her husband begged them not to go, but that her sons wanted to be where doctors were needed. "So they joined up as medics, and four months later they were pinned down during a fight in Da Nang, and were killed by enemy fire. It was Christmas Eve, 1970." Mrs. L. describes all of this very calmly, making it much more powerful as a result. She continues, "It's hard when that happens so far away, you know, because with the noises and the shooting, they had to be so scared. It's hard not to think that right then they needed their mother. Anyway, I miss my boys." Mrs. L. continues with her work. I am terrified that we will cut from this quiet but emotional scene to something involving Mandy, which will ruin it. The commentary aside, I have to tell you when ever I think of that scene it brings tears to my eyes and TV never makes me cry. The way she delivers those lines and just brings you into her world, so quietly and unassumingly is killer. There was not one iota of sentimentality in her delivery, it was just very matter of fact, played perfectly. Yes, we will miss you Mrs. Landingham. Shadda Sob!!! Gulp!!! Waaaahhh!!!!!! Yes, that was me last night, crying my eyes out. Screaming "NOOOooooooo!!!" at the TV. Grieving the loss of a second-tier recurring character on a TV drama. Sniff!! I'm so going to miss Mrs. Landingham, and Kathryn Joosten. I loved her every appearance on TWW, but she was never better than in "In Excelsis Deo." Hey, Shadda, is it true that the California legislature adjourned early today in a gesture of respect for Mrs. L? I heard that on the radio coming home tonight. They were discussing "18th and Potomac" off and on all day today on our local all-news radio station. MEG (who expects to need a couple of boxes of tissues to get through the season finale next week. Sob!!) I assuming they had transwarp Certainly her husband wasn't killed 22 years ago!? Otherwise, her son would be an adult. Besides, I thought Dexa said her husband was killed for trespasing off from their reservation on that hostile alien planet? Sweet scene First off, I wish we had a goodbye scene with Naomi, I think that we and she deserved that SOmeone mentioned the scene on the bridge when Chakotay and Harry leap in and kind of inflate Neelix's job so he looks good in front of the Talaxians. The thing I loved most about this scene is that they did not lie about what he did. They simply explained that he did too much to have one station. It was a very sweet way of telling him how important he is to them before he can doubt his worth. It was very nice. ANd although I knew it was coming, Tuvok's dance step had me very very close to tears. Ahh I'll miss him Andrea True. For now. Actually, Dexa's husband... ...died on one of the planets they had inhabited for a time, where they had been physically separated from the rest of the population. When they couldn't grow enough food for themselves inside that area, Dexa's husband went outside the limits, got into an altercation with the officials who told him he couldn't farm there, and was killed. They left that planet and a few (five?) years later, found the asteroid. Re: First Impressions (and a few Questions) Re: FC Day... This was the first I recall it being mentioned as a holiday... although it makes "sense" given all the adulation the Enterprise crew spewed forth over Cochrane. Re: Tuvok's ancestors. I think they were "generic" Vulcan ancestors. Re: Shields over asteroids... see Q's response. That "or" maybe The Talaxian PTB let them down long enough to allow his ship to enter/leave? Re: Growing food in a cave. Probably using the same techniques Kes used in Voyager's cargo bay. "grow lights" and lots of water. The Talaxian Dexa did mention how they melted the ice from the asteroid's surface for water and oxygen. Hmmm. Wonder how long "that" polar ice cap will last?
D47 Yep, it's true. We Californian's know where our priorities lie. And, if nothing else, we do have a sense of humor. In Loving Memory of Mrs. Landingham. Shadda Re: Where his journey on Voyager led him. Home. Sniff. Pass the danged hankies, girls! D47 Thanks for correcting me on that point, Q and D'A. I missed the beginning of that exchange and made some wrong assumptions. BTW, there's nothing so ridiculous about growing food inside an asteroid. This is science fiction after all. I grew up reading Heinlein's Moon is a Harsh Mistress where the moon shipped grain to India. Given enough energy (solar or what ever) and an extremely efficient recycling system, a lot would be possible. As for desirable, well, many of the oldest peoples in the world have survived in some pretty inhospitable places because no one else wanted that land enough to take it away from them. Yes, he did, Mrs. Mac. (NIM) There's a series of interviews (damn, I can't remember where) that were done on the last day of filming. Phillips was there. 216 I totally agree, Terry. I didn't find "life in an asteroid" strange at all, and what I recalled was the asteroid creature in SW's Empire Stikes Back. In fact, I didn't even think about it as strange until I read the reviews here. Besides, with Neelix there, I can see a few replicators and a holodeck showing up soon enough, if they've got the parts. Powerful scene in a TV masterpiece... Hey, I can gush about some things. Ok, it may not be a masterpiece but for TV, it's unbelievably compelling. Even the ads are in good taste Loved the "Dr." Bartlett and underestimating the voters lines I liked it, I liked it! What a relief to finally have an episode I liked! Yeah, I had a few little nits, but none that interfered my enjoyment of the episode. I was sorry to see Neelix go, but at the same time happy that he was able to find a home and family with his own people. I really believe he will be happier there in the long run. Neelix loves to help people and the asteroid colony is a place where he can make a difference, much more so than if he continues on with Voyager at this point. Vickie Re: I liked it, I liked it! I think you're right about what it means to Neelix. Since Voyager established regular contact with Starfleet, they don't need him in the same way they did when they were alone. Even though they haven't returned to the Alpha Quadrant, this is a change from the conditions when they had only themselves to rely on. Now that Janeway and the crew of Voyager can turn to the upper echelons of Starfleet for guidance--or, by consulting them, refer questions to top scientists and experts in various fields for advice--they don't need Neelix's assorted skills in the same way they did before. He wouldn't be happy if he felt that they were only turning to him to shield his feelings, when they had access to other and better-equipped sources. On the other hand, these Talaxians NEED his assistance. I think you're right--Neelix will be happier because he'll be able to help them by using both his innate survival abilities and the skills he's refined during his years on Voyager. Sherry Homestead review up at DELTA BLUES Five Stars from Review Boy. Must have finally caught my second wind. http://www.treknews.com/deltablues/homestead.html Happy Mothers Day! What a well-done review! I especially like your comment that the end of the episode is like another First Contact celebration. That's it in a nutshell (with a sigh and a tear or two in honor of those who suffered in achieving that, of course). Like you, I left the episode with a greater understanding of Neelix's importance in Voyager. Well written! Sherry Good review, RB. But I do disagree about your contention that most of the Talaxians were killed in the war. I could easily be wrong but I had the impression that most of the lives lost were the inhabitants of Talax's moon, Rynax. And that Talax surrendered right afterwards. My conjecture is that Rynax had a very large population but that the large majority of Talaxian lived either on the homeworld or on interstellar colonies. I believe it was mentioned in Homestead that the Haakonians still occupy Talax. My assumptions was that the Talaxians wandering the galaxy were not survivors so much as political refugees. And that most Talaxians live under Haakonian rule on Talax. BTW, Janeway seemed to be saying that Neelix would stay in touch with the AQ. Has the Pathfinder project progressed to the point that instantaneous communications across galaxy will soon be widespread? Cool. Re: Second wind... And clear sailing... straight on till May 23rd? Great review, Jim. Glad to have you back. D47 Thought of something while watching the rerun just now The late night discussion with Janeway over coffee reminded me that, over his seven years on Voyager, Neelix has become as much of a coffee addict as most of the rest of the crew. I hope they gave him a cutting from a coffee bush, plus enough ground beans to last until it can be picked. Wouldn't want an ambassador suffering from caffine withdrawl Voyager's crew has endured all Neelix's culinary experiments. Wonder how the Talaxians will react to pizza or plomek soup. Re: Second wind... Thanks, Deb! I may need to help my friend Adell drive to Utah this week to say goodbye to her grandmother before she (the grandmother) passes. Otherwise, the last two episodes should get posted within a few days of airing. Jim Re: Good review, RB. But Terry, re Talax/Rinax. You could well be right about this. I wrote it as I remembered it (based primarily on the image of the Metreon Cascade--I thought that Talax/rinax looked uninhabitable in "Jetrel"), but I didn't double check. Re the Pathfinder project: I took Janeway's comment at face value--that their newfound ability to stay in consistent contact with the AQ (in Author Author) can be shared with their new permanent DQ ambassador. It'll be interesting to see if they do anything with that in either RM or the finale. Jim Thanks, Mindy! :NIM: Thanks very much, Sherry! :NIM: Absolutely superb review, Jim!!! I cried reading the last part.... I really did. We need a teary-eyed icon here. Ah, Jim, where would I be without your reviews? Ivy | ||
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*sob* *gasp* Waaaaah!
can't I be hypocritical too?
A few questions of my own...
