Star Trek: Voyager (TV Series) Riddles (1999) User Reviews

An emotional Tuvok

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 1 April 2010]

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.

Plenty of heart in this one

[snoozejonc · 7/10 · 14 July 2020]

Like another reviewer said, it's the same plot as Regarding Henry but with Tuvok in the title role.

When I first realised that the Neelix character would be leading the episode for long periods I did have my doubts. Much to my surprise it works well and Neelix comes across as a simple, caring soul with nothing but Tuvok's wellbeing at heart.

Nice to see Tim Russ getting the opportunity to show a bit more range than his character usually requires.

I would have done the important scene with the cake differently. They should have just done a visual rather than make Janeway explain it.

Quite a lot of sentiment between the two main protagonists which is not too heavy handed.

A fairly well made feel good episode.

Which Way Would You Have Wanted It?

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 10 September 2018]

Tim Russ as Tuvok does a nice performance as the overly serious Vulcan, suddenly bereft of his basic personality and being. An assault by an alien force has damaged him, and he must be retaught. He becomes childlike and joyous, but it is not him. Neelix shows great compassion, but must make a huge sacrifice. This is quite touching without being maudlin.

Regarding Tuvok.

[planktonrules · 10/10 · 1 March 2015]

This is one of the best shows that you could ever see from "Star Trek: Voyager"--one that you shouldn't miss. In many ways, it reminds me of the movie "Regarding Henry" and offers some truly touching moments.

On a shuttle mission, Mr. Tuvok is attacked by a cloaked alien. The attack is so serious that Tuvok's memory is gone and he has no idea who he is. Additionally, his Vulcan persona is gone! Scared, he reaches out to the crew member who sticks with him through all this, Neelix. Soon the pair become inseparable and you see a very, very different sort of Tuvok. He smiles, he's happy and he's having fun with his new best friend. And, because he's not the ultra-logical guy, he and Neelix create a special bond. However, if Tuvok is restored, what will become of his affection for Neelix?

This is an incredibly satisfying episode. It also helps you to see that although Tuvok always seems exasperated with Neelix and wants to avoid him, perhaps there has always been some genuine affection lying deep under the surface. Exceptional and well worth your time.

One of the best episodes of the series

[ebeckstr-1 · 9/10 · 31 January 2021]

Fantastic character development and writing makes this one of the best episodes of the series. It's an unusual departure from most episodes in that there is practically zero action. It centers on and enhances the relationship between Tuvok and Neelix, resulting in great poignancy and an opportunity for Tim Russ to break into a completely different kind of acting throughout most of the story.

A stand-out episode for both Messers Russ and Phillips, as Tuvok and Neelix

[UNOhwen · 20 April 2023]

In an episode which is probably both Ethan Phillips and Tim Russ' best of the series, we see a side of Tuvok we've never seen, and with it, we watch a wonderful friendship between these two, which we know ultimately can't be for the future of the crew, in toto.

On their way back to Voyager, Neelix and tuvok are abord the Delta Flyer.

As they're still several hours away, Neelix tries to engage 'Mr Vulcan' (as he always calls him) in various attemots, to play game, or just or.. anything.

Yet,each attempt's rebuffed bytuvok, who always has found ('Mr)Neelix's personality Tobe his polar opposite, and though he doesn't dislike him, he tries to keep his distance, so as to avoid his merriment

After Tuvok's incapacated by an alien's weapon, he's saved from death, but, at the cost of essentially losing himself - all his life's memories and experiences, which are what constitutes all of us, and he's left as a new person; a child-like person; Vulcan by appearance, but not by spirit.

To aid in his recovery is Neelix (Ethan Phillips, who feels he owes it to Tuvok (personally, I always found Neelix to be highly...annoying throughout most episodes), and as Tuvok begins to develop anew, so does the nascent freindship.

Rather than wanting to do all the boring Vulcan stuff, Tuvok would rather spend time with his best friend, Neelix, and have...fun.

Without giving the entire plot away, I'll just say that it's a given that in order to deal with the alien's who caused the problem to Tuvok, he's going to ultimately be restored to his former self, and the - actually, very sweet, and touching friendship between the two won't survive.

In a very emotional scene,Neelix tells Tuvok he must do the treatment to restore him, but Tuvok doesn't want to be a 'boring' Vulcan, and he asks Neelix, what'll happen to the friendship between the two. Though Neelix knows he will be losing a real friend, Ethan Phillips handles it honestly, and stoicly.

I really think this is easily the best episode featuringNeelix, and is also a terrific display of both actors' skills.

Neelix --- all around great guy.

[thevacinstaller · 7/10 · 10 February 2023]

Well, doesn't this episode just warm your heart.

Neelix is clearly a better person then I am. If someone just 'tolerated' me, I certainly wouldn't put forth the effort that Neelix showed in supporting Tuvok and aiding his recovery.

This one of those aspects of star trek that I always enjoyed ---- the people on board the ship are the best of the best and set an example of what we should strive for in terms of friendship and humanity/talaxianity.

I also like the restraint of the writers with the understated final scene. Tuvok is clearly thanking Neelix for what he did but in a subtle Vulcan manner that fits the character. We can't have a Vulcan hugging someone --- that's just crazy talk.

The B-Plot felt like a time filler. I maintain that the A and B plots should compliment each other somehow. I know it's tricky --- but damn --- the episode flows better when it does.

Where was Vorik?

[OzTraveller2012 · 8/10 · 28 December 2020]

I liked this episode, but one thing that has bothered me that I just realised, is where was Vorik during all of this? He is Vulcan and could have melded or helped in some way. To not even mention him seems odd.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

[tomsly-40015 · 8/10 · 17 January 2024]

An interesting and profound episode, but once again falls short of its expectations due to questionable moral decisions by the crew and missed opportunities for character and series development by the show runners.

After Tuvok is attacked by an alien species, he is slow to recover from the neurological damage. Neelix proves to be a great help during this time for Tuvok to overcome this time of imperfection and self-doubt. However, as Tuvok gradually regains his motor, cognitive and linguistic abilities, he is no longer the same. His interest in logic has disappeared; instead he now feels joy, fun but also anger. He discovers his passion for music and baking and appreciates the company of Neelix, whom he now calls a friend.

And here, unfortunately, Janeway and the crew's moral compass is once again pointing in the wrong direction: When the doctor has found a treatment for Tuvok's condition, there is only one option for the crew - Tuvok must be "cured" and therefore become "normal" again. Tuvok is treated like a broken machine that only needs to be repaired or recalibrated when it no longer works to specification. Nobody asks Tuvok whether he is happy with his new life and his new self and whether he would like to continue living like this. Even Neelix urges Tuvok to undergo neurological treatment because the crew needs him as a tactical officer and he wants him to be his old self again. Already in the episode when the doctor had a nervous breakdown because of his triage decision, which cost a life, the doc was literally "fixed" because they didn't want to mess with his change of character. In principle, exactly the same thing is done with Tuvok in this episode - only no data is deleted in a program.

It would have been a nice addition for the series if Tuvok had developed further. Yes, he would no longer have been the logical acting Vulcan and some fans would have been disappointed, but he could have continued to play an important role with his new abilities. His logic could have returned over time without him having to lose all his emotions. Voyager has been flying through the delta quadrant for years, but the characters hardly develop any further despite the experiences and attacks from aliens. See Harry Kim - just as boring and pale as in the first episode.

Also: Why does Tuvok treat Neelix like air again after the treatment? Even though he has now repressed his emotions again and regained his logical thinking, the memories of this incident should still be there. Even as a logical Vulcan, he should be able to at least show him respect and gratitude. And Vulcans have friends, too, haven't they?

Tuvok as himself....and then again....

[rangermanlv-18661 · 9/10 · 27 July 2019]

This to me was one of the better episodes of Voyager. When Mr. Tuvok is attacked on an away mission by an unknown species and weapon. At first he is comatose and the Doctor can do nothing more for him without being able to analyze the type of weapon used on him. Neelix begins feeling strong guilt about the situation about what he could have done differently and what he can now do to help Tuvok. When he speaks to the Doctor about this, the Doctor tells him of rare instances when external stimuli have triggered a reaction in the comatose patient. Neelix sets to this task with relish and starts bringing and doing things with Tuvok constantly to try and elicit a response. When Neelix does get a response from him after the Doctor becomes slightly irritated about one of his attempts, the result is more than either could have expected. Tuvok is suddenly awake and alert. However he is not his old self at all. Instead he experiences an almost child like simplistic view of the world. After a harrowing incident Tuvok is able to speak again, but still with this same more emotional and simple view of the world. Eventually he is restored to his former self but there does still seem to be some of the "emotional Tuvok" left. Which brings some joy to Neelix.

Watching Tim Russ play his character but not as his character normally would be was an enlightening look into the actors range and depth. His portrayal in this episode was a fabulous look at "Tuvok not a vulcan" would be like.

Good, but a missed opportunity

[whatch-17931 · 8/10 · 8 January 2021]

That the name "Tuvix" isn't spoken in this one is a shame.

Tuvok is injured and suffers memory loss and a profound personality change. It's nice seeing Tim Russ getting to step out of Tuvok's Vulcan shoes, and he's very good here.

But it just seems the episode missed some great drama. What if Tuvok remembered when he and Neelix were merged as Tuvix? What if he missed that experience, and what if deep down he believes Janeway murdered Tuvix?

What if he unloaded all that on Janeway, that he believed she both acted ethically wrong and took something very precious from him? And what would Neelix think?

This could have been quite a bit better than them baking cookies.

And after Tuvok is (of course) healed by the end of the episode, there would be a lingering rift between Janeway and Tuvok. Did he mean it, or was he just out of his mind? Tuvok would have NEVER brought up such things before.