So, Neelix is annoying. I get that. After all, his overly ingratiating, obsequious manner annoys me. It actually bothers me more that all the characters on the show can't seem to stand having him around either (Kes doesn't count). Do the writers feel the need to show us exactly how intolerable he is? Why is he still here then? It's not like he's useful or competent. And when he actually has a good idea with the galley, Janeway still hates him so much for inconveniencing her that she practically bites his head off. I actually started feeling bad for him...
...And then the rest of the episode happened.
Neelix gets his lungs stolen in the first five minutes, and most of the rest of the episode explores different aspects of life sustaining measures wherein quality of life is greatly sacrificed. This is important stuff! Except the recipient is Neelix, who spends his time throwing any goodwill he has generated in me directly in the septic tank by showing off his selfishness, jealousy, pettiness, and stunning lack of insight - only one of which we've seen so far before. He's dug a big hole here.
But enough about Neelix. There's other stuff in this episode, better stuff, so let's focus on that. When risking their lives by chasing the alien ship to get that one guy's lungs back, the crew is essentially stuck in a house of mirrors inside an asteroid with their quarry. In most shows, the solution is to either (a) break all the mirrors, or (b) find the image that isn't mirrored. Chakotay's bouncing phaser solution is a pretty clever way out. I liked it.
The Doctor also gets plenty of screen time, which is always a plus in my book. His personality is basically a charicature of the bedside-manner-less-sour-doctor, but Picardo's performances are hilariously well delivered and give The Doctor a little more depth. I also feel like he works well in contrast with Kes's performance - even making her more interesting when he's around.
The concept for the Vidiians is also cool. Realistically, a disease as terrible as the Phage probably would erode the moral foundations of a peaceful society - and because this is Star Trek, we can think about that possibility without it happening to us. I would have been much happier with this episode if the Vidiians and their culture took center stage, rather than a barely a footnote at the end.
Unfortunately, much like the previous episode, this one takes the easy way out at the end. When Janeway has the Vidiians helpless at the end, she lets them go (all the while threatening to kill them if she sees them again - like any villain would take that seriously) because it would be wrong to steal back the organs because now the Vidiians are using them! Really? I mean, it's a bit of a quandry to be sure, but that's kind of like not taking back Locutus because the Borg are using him now. How could we possibly justify taking their leader away? Just because he used to be ours, that doesn't make it right!
Anyways, we get a Voyager Happy Ending because they did the right thing, so the Vidiians repay their kindness and fix Neelix, who manages to be ungrateful all the way back to life.
Watchability: 2/5
Bottom Line: It's a Neelix episode.
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