Riddles (3 Nov. 1999)

Returning from an away mission the Delta Flyer is boarded and Tuvok is assaulted by a cloaked alien from a xenophobic race called the Ba'Neth. Neurological damage leaves the ... See full summary »

Director:

Roxann Dawson

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry, Rick Berman (creator),

Stars:

Kate Mulgrew, Robert Beltran, Roxann Dawson

Cast

Episode credited cast:
Kate Mulgrew	...	Captain Kathryn Janeway
Robert Beltran	...	Chakotay
Roxann Dawson	...	B'Elanna Torres (credit only)
Robert Duncan McNeill	...	Tom Paris
Ethan Phillips	...	Neelix
Robert Picardo	...	The Doctor
Tim Russ	...	Tuvok
Jeri Ryan	...	Seven of Nine
Garrett Wang	...	Harry Kim
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mark Moses	...	Naroq

Storyline

Returning from an away mission the Delta Flyer is boarded and Tuvok is assaulted by a cloaked alien from a xenophobic race called the Ba'Neth. Neurological damage leaves the once-disciplined, logical Vulcan with the mentality of a lost and scared child. With Neelix's help, Tuvok discovers new hobbies and embraces the concept of 'fun.' Naroq, a Kesat studying the Ba'Neth helps Voyager find the aliens in hopes of answers about their technology and the weapon used on Tuvok. When presented with an operation that will restore him to his old self, Tuvok hesitates, knowing he will lose his lust for life and appreciation for his friendship with Neelix.

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Plot Keywords:

24th century

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Details

Release Date:

3 November 1999 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Television

Did You Know?

Goofs

When the Voyager crew discovers the home-base of the Ba'Neth ships, both Harry and Chakotay refer to a "nine million terawatt" cloaking grid. A terawatt is equal to one trillion watts, thus nine million terawatts would equal nine quintillion (9,000,000,000,000,000,000) watts, which is more properly referred to as nine exawatts.

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Quotes

[last lines]
Tuvok: Sundays.
Neelix: I beg your pardon?
Tuvok: I have given further consideration to your riddle, regarding the ensign who survived by consuming the dates from his calendar. It occurs to me that he could also have eaten the "Sunda-y-es".
Neelix: [intrigued] That's a very clever answer, Mr. Vulcan. - But it's not very logical, is it?
Tuvok: [ponders this] No... it's not.

User Reviews

An emotional Tuvok

While out in the Delta Flier Tuvok is attacked by a cloaked alien, Neelix manages to fly him back to Voyager but the weapon has effectively wiped his brain leaving him struggling to rebuild his personality. He is frustrated that he can't do the things the old Tuvok could but as time passes he realises he can do other things and he enjoys having emotions which enable him to be friends with Neelix rather than just tolerating him. While he is coming to terms with his new self the crew are searching for the mysterious aliens which attacked him.

This was an enjoyable episode which gave Tim Russ the opportunity to show a greater emotional range than he is normally able to in the role of Tuvok. The story itself was enjoyable and posed a nice dilemma at the end where Tuvok had to decide whether to keep his emotions or sacrifice them to regain the skills needed to do his job.