Homestead

DVD, Voyager S7 (Homestead)

Arguably, the most under-used and under-rated character, some saw Neelix as the Jar Jar Binks of the Star Trek universe: a kind of annoying excuse for comedy, but to those that understood him and his fears of not living up to the 'heroes' that he learned to call his friends, he was someone to identify with. His struggle with identity, if such a thread running through much of the series, can be described, gave him much greater depth than his surface personality of jovial good humour and try-anything attitude belied. He hadn't had Starfleet's rigorous training, but he had a good and stout heart which was brought to the fore thanks to his crewmates and friends on Voyager. He learned so much from Captain Janeway and from Tuvok, among others, yet he was also an essential part of the ship's unexpected transition into the Delta Quadrant, supplying local knowledge and advice which served Voyager well.

Once his knowledge ran out and he became as uncertain of the future as everyone else aboard he came into his own as someone to turn to if they were low and made the uncertainty more bearable. He experienced great sadness when his life's love, Kes, grew beyond him and there was often a loneliness about him from then on, staying up late into the night in the peaceful kitchen and mess that were his professional domain, but even at these times he was quick to put his own thoughts and problems aside for anyone that came in needing to talk.

He was an oddjob man, performing a multi-faceted role in which his considerable skills could be exercised, and which Starfleet would not have been able to quantify, and he made Voyager's journey far from home more pleasurable in any way he could. He understood what they were feeling because he felt the same - he was far from his own home and had little to his life but scavenging until he met Kes, but on Voyager he learned new skills, and though he was happy in many ways he had as much as turned his back on his own people, expecting never to see any of them again. He would always be one of a kind in the Alpha Quadrant, yet he had set himself with a will to do everything possible to help his crewmates in their quest to return to a home that was not his. Until this episode.

All Neelix' best qualities come to the fore - Tuvok shows confidence in him which helps to conquer his self-doubt; he was always a man of action, but his time on the ship has helped him to channel that in productive ways and he was exactly the person this group of Talaxians needed. At the same time Neelix fills an important gap in a family and everything comes right for him. It is terrifically sad when Neelix decides to stay with the asteroid colony, but it was a meaningful decision - no pointless Tasha Yar death or driven-by-need Kes exit, here. Instead a true swansong in which Neelix really is the only help, his ship once again useful, his bravery and selflessness endearing, but also a sense that he has carried out the course of a life on Voyager, contributed much, taken away stronger ethics and belief, his confidence solidified, and is at a mature point of leadership. He came a long way from the selfish, sly imp of the early episodes and his friends know it.

In production terms the reasons for losing Neelix were partly for story in that he didn't belong in the Alpha Quadrant, but also because of the pain Ethan Phillips was experiencing after long-term use of the prosthetics. I don't know whether it's makeup or not, but there was a raw redness that was showing through his skin in recent episodes. The saddest thing is that he never knew if Voyager made it home or not, but his happiness at finding members of his own kind and that important role finding him was perfect for the character.

The writers were good enough to give us the kind of scenes Neelix has been good for, for one last time: his friendly discussion with Tuvok, his late night at the cooking stove of the mess and subsequent talk with the wise Janeway who has understood his dilemma and makes it easy for him to do what he's come to realise he wants. Another chance to see his little ship in action, himself on an Away mission, his realisation that Naomi doesn't need him in the same way that she used to (the only minor omission was Ensign Wildman not being there to wish him well), and especially the warmth of his party host in the teaser, cheering the crew up with First Contact day, and having fun.

Neelix, though his role was less defined, performed admirably, but also made mistakes and showed himself to be more human than most. His presence is missed, and was the foreshadowing of the grief of parting that we as viewers were about to experience as the series wound up. If only each of the characters had received such a send-off as the little Talaxian man who could.

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