Kate Mulgrew Reveals Her Thoughts on the Tuvix Episode of Star Trek: Voyager

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Over the past six decades, it has experienced many memorable and sometimes controversial moments. However, for a lot of Trek fans, one episode especially stands out – a rather polarizing story that first aired almost 30 years ago.

Voyager viewers probably remember the episode where Tuvok (Tim Russ) and Neelix (Ethan Phillips) go to a planet to gather plant samples. When they beam back onto the U.S.S. Voyager, they unexpectedly combine at a molecular level because of the plant they brought with them.

When two crew members merged, they created a completely new individual named Tuvix, portrayed by Tom Wright. Captain Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) eventually chose to separate Tuvix – whose personality was a blend of the two original characters – back into Tuvok and Neelix. This decision has sparked debate among Trek fans for many years.

I was at the Star Trek convention in New Jersey recently, and Kate Mulgrew really shed some light on Janeway’s tough choice. According to reports, someone in the audience – during the event put on by Creation Entertainment – brought up Tuvix, and even suggested the character deserved what happened. It was fascinating to hear Mulgrew discuss the reasoning behind such a controversial decision, and how she views the aftermath all these years later. It definitely sparked some lively debate among the fans!

Janeway really had no other option. Was she really going to choose Tuvix over those two crew members?” Mulgrew explained. “I was very fond of those actors. It was a simple decision, really. I just had to *make it seem difficult*. But it was easy, truly easy,” she added. Janeway’s choice to effectively end Tuvix’s life was a deeply debated moment with fans, considered one of the most challenging moral questions the captain ever faced.

Tim Russ Weighs in on “Tuvix”

During his convention panel, Russ was also questioned about Tuvix. A fan asked if actor Tom Wright had “forgiven you and Ethan Phillips for keeping your jobs.” Russ explained, “Tom Wright would only forgive us for having to do all the extra work on that episode. It was incredibly difficult for him – lots of rewrites and pages of dialogue, plus playing two characters instead of one. Tom Wright is a close friend and a very talented actor, and I was honored he played both of us. It was quite a challenge – especially considering it was the most talked-about episode of the whole series.”

Ultimately, Russ stated he supported Janeway’s choice to restore Neelix and Tuvok from Tuvix. “And yes, (Janeway) definitely made the correct decision, without a doubt. I apologize if anyone disagrees. Her primary concern is the well-being of her crew – their health, safety, and overall welfare. That’s what a captain is responsible for. You can see it all in the final shot of the episode, when she walks down the hallway after the sickbay doors close – her expression says it all.”

The “Tuvix” episode’s influence carried on in a story where the Cerritos Chief Engineer Andy Billups and Dr. T’Ana were accidentally combined during a transporter malfunction. This happened while they were working close to a Voyager shuttlecraft with some unusual flowers. As the episode unfolds, more and more of the Cerritos crew begin to merge together, but eventually Tendi and T’Lyn discover a solution to reverse the process.

Star Trek fans who haven’t seen “Tuvix” in a while, can stream the episode on Paramount+

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2025-10-04 22:36