tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400152815785368447.post7347830452580401121..comments2024-03-15T07:28:47.064-05:00Comments on Treknobabble: Voyager, Season 4: Mortal CoilUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400152815785368447.post-28045348597600731392016-05-17T12:19:51.182-05:002016-05-17T12:19:51.182-05:00Can't stand Neelix? Oh my. would you like me t...Can't stand Neelix? Oh my. would you like me to give you some puppy dogs to kick? poppyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09064123327462038174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400152815785368447.post-71522142938014621722016-05-16T21:38:08.345-05:002016-05-16T21:38:08.345-05:00Neelix has definitely been rehabbed as a character...Neelix has definitely been rehabbed as a character. People who stopped watching in seasons 1 or 2 can be forgiven for thinking he's an annoying tool.matthewweflenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07540521459703556959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400152815785368447.post-28122781642074741792016-05-16T20:36:27.388-05:002016-05-16T20:36:27.388-05:00So I don't think I've seen all of this epi...So I don't think I've seen all of this episode. But I can't stand Neelix and so reading about his misfortune I did experience a little bit of schadenfreude.sirkatzalothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01196996609340706645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400152815785368447.post-20029747989989336822016-05-15T22:39:59.763-05:002016-05-15T22:39:59.763-05:00I think the choice of Neelix was great and really ...<br />I think the choice of Neelix was great and really needed to make the point. It is important because it shows that reality and existential uncertainty can bring even the most optimistic, jolly and cheerful individual to their knees. <br /><br />The idea of existence being over after life as we know it ends, is pretty radical and I truly admire Star Trek for taking on such a rather equally radical concept. <br /> <br />When Neelix dies, the analysis of his death and then eventual resuscitation are described from a purely biological and medical perspective. I loved that. There is no magic that brings him back a day later. No mystery. It is Seven's nanoprobes that are able to fix necrotic tissue.. And even his recovery is contingent upon him having to be injected with nanaoprobes on a daily basis. No prayer or any of that other junk. <br /><br />I just love that this episode did not pander to the clichés. That it did not invalidate Neelix's journey and worries as null and void by introducing some caveat at the end that makes room for "higher power" explanations. I loved that they didnt sugarcoat it for us. <br /><br />Chakotay's, pathetic if I may say so, attempt at trying to get Neelix to please remain spiritual and believe the Great Forest and all to be true still, was so idiotic. And it did not help, other than make him look stupid and ignorant. When he said "Dont throw away a lifetime of faith because of one anomalous incident" I laughed out loud because it was so lame and trite, he may as well have said "Come on Neelix, dont let reason and facts get in the way of some of your favorite fantasies and fairy tales." I mean...really? <br /><br />Disappearing into nothing after death is a pretty frightening and almost unfathomable notion for a lot of us. And I like how this was never negated or contradicted or solved at the end. <br /><br />I dont think Neelix ever got back what he lost before his death. I think he just sort of tried to reconcile it with his life, understanding that even if he will never see his sister and family again by the Great Forest etc., there is still enough memory and love in his heart for them to allow him to go on with his life. To continue. To have a hope and faith. <br /><br />I dont think it was a surrender as much as it was acceptance and coming to terms with the reality of death, instead of the delusion. Again, pretty powerful and strong stuff for Trek. <br /><br />The scene in the forest where Neelix asks Alexia what the point of living is if there is no Great Forest and his loved ones waiting for him at the end and Alexia says "there isnt" ties into that: the misconception a lot of theists and/or religious people in general have is that without a divine and all the things that come with it, life has no meaning. But it could not be further from the truth. You dont need god and a higher power, an afterlife, heaven or the Great Forest etc to derive meaning from life and existence. On the contrary, I would imagine that knowing that this is most likely the only shot you're gonna get can give great meaning to one's life and existence. And I think Neelix realizes that in the end. The festival of Prixin doesnt have to be meaningless just because he will never see his loved ones in eternity. poppyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09064123327462038174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400152815785368447.post-8275419985027210512016-05-12T04:28:52.035-05:002016-05-12T04:28:52.035-05:00I think this was the third episode I ever saw of V...I think this was the third episode I ever saw of Voyager and why I had such a positive disposition toward the character that allows me to tolerate his earlier appearances as the asshole junk merchant once I got around to seeing them.<br /><br />I would have rated this higher, because the magic nano-probes and pat ending are really not all that out of place compared to other Trek stuff and is just sort of Voyagers thing, lots of things never seem to stick. I hold that as penalties against the series overall, but I generally do not hold it against individual episodes. Stand alone episodes like this are more like Classic Trek when they would find some new technology or magic device that would never be mentioned again but exist in the story for the purpose of talking about stuff. Like a Twilight Zone episode.Rocketboy1313https://www.blogger.com/profile/08319848550470396208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400152815785368447.post-7852983195998441482016-05-11T13:51:21.782-05:002016-05-11T13:51:21.782-05:00Joe, when you disagree, comment! The more voices w...Joe, when you disagree, comment! The more voices we hear, the better the appraisal of an episode.matthewweflenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07540521459703556959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400152815785368447.post-28094286873604698272016-05-11T11:46:41.822-05:002016-05-11T11:46:41.822-05:00Aww. Thanks. :)Aww. Thanks. :)Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05582237401541322274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400152815785368447.post-24865996777706765142016-05-11T09:53:16.841-05:002016-05-11T09:53:16.841-05:00I'm glad to see things have settled down for y...I'm glad to see things have settled down for you guys. My wife and I are going through all of Voyager right now, as she hasn't watched much Trek while I have. While we've been doing that, I've read through all of your episodes from TNG as well as DS9/VOY so far, and it's been quite fun. I've certainly disagreed with some of your scores, but I've agreed with a lot more, and it's actually informed quite a bit of my thoughs on and (mostly hazy) recollections of Star Trek from when I saw much of these episodes growing up. All of that is to say, you guys do good stuff and I enjoy reading it. Thanks! Joehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12892367633984292438noreply@blogger.com