Editing Neelix

{{short description|Fictional character in Star Trek: Voyager}}
{{Primary sources|date=January 2011}}
{{Infobox character
| name        = Neelix
| series      = [[Star Trek]]
| image       = Neelix (Star Trek Voyager).jpg
| first       = "[[Caretaker (Star Trek: Voyager)|Caretaker]]" (1995)
| last = "[[Endgame (Star Trek: Voyager)|Endgame]]" (2001)
| portrayer   = [[Ethan Phillips]]
| species     = Talaxian (part Mylean)
| affiliation = [[Starfleet]]
| lbl23       = Posting
| data23      = {{Unbulleted list|Advisor|Cook|Morale Officer|Ambassador|[[USS Voyager (Star Trek)|USS ''Voyager'']]}}
}}

'''Neelix''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|n|iː|l|ᵻ|k|s}}) is a character in the [[science fiction]] television series ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'', played by actor [[Ethan Phillips]] since the series' inception. Neelix is an alien native to the far side of the galaxy, who joins the crew of the United Federation of Planets starship [[USS Voyager (Star Trek)|USS ''Voyager'']] after it is captured and flung to the [[Delta Quadrant]] by a mysterious shockwave. He serves as a [[cook (profession)|cook]], morale officer, and eventual ambassador for the crew.

== Casting ==
Neelix was played by actor [[Ethan Phillips]].<ref name=cb>{{Cite web|title=The SF Site Featured Review: The Star Trek Cookbook|url=https://www.sfsite.com/03a/cook52.htm|access-date=2021-03-21|website=www.sfsite.com}}</ref> Phillips has a master's degree in fine arts from [[Cornell University]], and had his start in acting performing on Broadway shows.{{r|cb}}

==Biography==
The character of Neelix is from Rinax, a moon of the planet Talax, located in the Delta Quadrant of the show's fictional representation of the [[Milky Way]] galaxy. His entire family was killed in a [[Jetrel|conflict with the Haakonian race]].

Neelix was introduced in "[[Caretaker (Star Trek: Voyager)|Caretaker]]", the two-part pilot episode of the series, where he was rescued along with his Ocampan lover [[Kes (Star Trek)|Kes]] by the ''Voyager'' crew. Previously a space trader, Neelix states his familiarity with the Delta Quadrant and appoints himself the ship's cook. He later earns the titles of Morale Officer and Chief Ambassador. When [[Naomi Wildman]] becomes the first baby born aboard ''Voyager'', her mother Samantha names Neelix as her daughter's godfather.

Neelix departs the show in the seventh season's 23rd episode "[[Homestead (Star Trek: Voyager)|Homestead]]". The ship encounters a colony of Talaxians, the last of his species that he is likely to see as the ship travels further from his home, and he chooses to stay with them. The character returns for a cameo in the series finale, "[[Endgame (Star Trek: Voyager)|Endgame]]".

==''The Star Trek Cookbook''==

The persona of Neelix is also the central character in ''The Star Trek Cookbook'', published by Pocket Books/Star Trek; 1st edition (January 1, 1999; {{ISBN|978-0671000226}}) by Ethan Phillips and [[William J. Birnes]]. The cookbook includes contributions by ''Star Trek'' actors from across several series and movies, as the cook of the USS ''Voyager'' accounts for the eclectic task of feeding its 140 diverse crew members. The recipe book also features a fictional guide for whipping up the drinks served at [[Quark (Star Trek)|Quark's]].

The cookbook has real recipes often named after Alien meals from the Star Trek universe, but prepared with traditional real-life ingredients.{{r|cb}} There is also a section that discusses how food props were made for the television show by Alan Simms.{{r|cb}}

==Reception==
In 2018, [[TheWrap|''The Wrap'']] ranked Neelix as the fourth-worst character of ''Star Trek'' overall (out of 39 main characters), but noted his optimism and humour.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/all-39-star-trek-main-characters-ranked-from-spock-to-wesley-photos|title = 'Star Trek': All 39 Classic TV Main Characters Ranked, from Spock to Wesley (Photos)|date = 8 September 2021}}</ref> In 2016, the character was ranked as the 62nd most important character in service to [[Starfleet]] within the ''Star Trek'' science fiction universe (out of 100 characters) by [[Wired (magazine)|''Wired'' magazine]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2016/09/star-treks-100-crew-members-ranked/|title=Star Trek's 100 Most Important Crew Members, Ranked|last=McMillan|first=Graeme|date=2016-09-05|magazine=Wired|access-date=2019-03-20|issn=1059-1028}}</ref>

In 2019, ''[[TMZ]]'' remembered Neelix as the "super-friendly chef, navigator and ambassador" of ''Star Trek: Voyager''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Neelix in 'Star Trek: Voyager' 'Memba Him?!|url=https://www.tmz.com/2019/08/15/remember-neelix-star-trek-voyager-ethan-phillips-now-photos/|access-date=2021-03-21|website=TMZ|date=15 August 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2020, [[Syfy|''SyFy'']] felt that Neelix had a hard time getting good [[Narrative|storylines]] compared to the other characters, with an exception being "[[Mortal Coil (Star Trek: Voyager)|Mortal Coil]]", which they ranked the 12th best episode of ''Star Trek: Voyager''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pirrello|first=Phil|date=2020-01-16|title=The 15 greatest Star Trek: Voyager episodes, ranked|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/the-15-greatest-star-trek-voyager-episodes-ranked|access-date=2021-03-21|website=SYFY WIRE|language=en}}</ref>

In 2021, ''The Digital Fix'' felt "[[Fair Trade (Star Trek: Voyager)|Fair Trade]]" was an attempt to develop the character of Neelix, who they said has a "crisis of purpose" in this episode.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-09|title=Star Trek: Voyager Revisited - Season Three|url=https://www.thedigitalfix.com/television/feature/star-trek-voyager-revisited-a-look-back-at-season-three/|access-date=2021-03-26|website=Television @ The Digital Fix|language=en}}</ref>

Some commentators felt Kes was too young to be dating Neelix.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.startrek.com/news/star-trek-voyager-kes-best-moments|title=5 Great Kes Moments From ''Star Trek: Voyager''|last=Ulster|first=Laurie|date=May 14, 2020|publisher=[[StarTrek.com]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604044432/https://www.startrek.com/news/star-trek-voyager-kes-best-moments|archive-date=June 4, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|editor-last1=Garcia-Siino|editor-first1=Leimar|editor-last2=Mittermeier|editor-first2=Sabrina|editor-last3=Rabitsch|editor-first3=Stefan|last=Wrigley|first=Sylvia Spruck|author-link=Sylvia Spruck Wrigley|page=429|title=The Routledge Handbook of Star Trek|chapter=Age and Aging|url=https://www.routledge.com/The-Routledge-Handbook-of-Star-Trek/Garcia-Siino-Mittermeier-Rabitsch/p/book/9780367366674|publisher=[[Routledge]]|year=2022|isbn=9780367366674}}</ref> According to ''[[Den of Geek]]''{{'}}s Juliette Harrisson, the [[Age disparity in sexual relationships|age gap]] was frequently criticized online.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/star-trek-is-finally-getting-romance-right/|title=''Star Trek'' Is Finally Getting Romance Right|last=Harrisson|first=Juliette|date=
February 14, 2023|work=[[Den of Geek!]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230215055606/https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/star-trek-is-finally-getting-romance-right/|archive-date=February 15, 2023}}</ref> Science fiction author [[Sylvia Spruck Wrigley]] interpreted Kes as undergoing [[puberty]] in "Elogium", noting that it raises questions about Neelix starting a relationship with a [[Preadolescence|prepubescent]] girl.{{sfn|Wrigley|2022|p=422}} Harrisson and ''[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]''{{'}}s Jonathan Storm wrote that the age difference could be rationalized since Kes and Neelix are aliens with different biology than humans.{{sfn|Harrisson|2023}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-philadelphia-inquirer-star-trek-voy/75378999/|title=Venturing into Space with a New ''Star Trek''|last=Storm|first=Jonathan|date=January 16, 1995|department=Television|work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]|page=E1, E6|access-date=May 5, 2024|via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Memory Alpha}}

{{Star Trek: Voyager}}

[[Category:Fictional chefs]]
[[Category:Fictional diplomats]]
[[Category:Star Trek alien characters]]
[[Category:Star Trek: Voyager characters]]
[[Category:Television characters introduced in 1995]]
[[Category:Male characters in television]]
[[Category:Star Trek hybrids]]
[[Category:Fictional_characters_from_the_24th_century]]