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{{short description|Controversial Star Trek: Voyager episode}}
{{about|the ''Star Trek: Voyager'' episode|the ''Star Trek: Lower Decks'' episode|Twovix}}
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{{use American English|date=October 2025}}
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{{Infobox television episode
| series         = [[Star Trek: Voyager]]
| season         = 2
| episode        = 24
| director       = [[Cliff Bole]]
| story          = {{bulleted list|Andrew Shepard Price|Mark Gaberman}}
| teleplay       = [[Kenneth Biller]]
| music          = [[Jay Chattaway]]
| photographer   = [[Marvin V. Rush]]
| editor         = Daryl Baskin
| production     = 140<ref name="1996-11 Cinefantastique: Voyager Episode Guide" /><ref name="2003 Voyager Companion" />
| airdate        = {{start date|1996|05|06}}
| length         = 46 minutes
| guests         = {{bulleted list|[[Tom Wright (American actor)|Tom Wright]] as Tuvix|[[Simon Billig]] as Hogan|[[Bahni Turpin]] as Swinn}}
| prev           = [[The Thaw (Star Trek: Voyager)|The Thaw]]
| next           = [[Resolutions (Star Trek: Voyager)|Resolutions]]
| season_article = Star Trek: Voyager season 2
| episode_list   = List of Star Trek: Voyager episodes
}}

"'''Tuvix'''" is the 40th episode (24th in [[Star Trek: Voyager season 2|the second season]])<ref name="startrek.com Tuvix" /> of the [[science fiction]] television program ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]''.<ref name="startrek.com VOY episode list" />  The episode originally aired on [[UPN]] on May 6, 1996,<ref name="1996-11 Cinefantastique: Voyager Episode Guide" /><ref name="startrek.com Tuvix" /> and tells the story of [[Tuvok]] and [[Neelix]] being merged into a unique third character named Tuvix.

The episode was substantially rewritten from its original iteration as a lighthearted story to a more somber tale with serious moral and ethical implications.  [[Tom Wright (American actor)|Tom Wright]] [[guest appearance|guest stars]] as Tuvix to lend more credence to a unique new character that consists of equal parts Tuvok and Neelix.  Both [[television director|director]] [[Cliff Bole]] and Wright himself had reservations about the latter's take on the character, and despite a perceived lack of support, Wright still praised the ''Voyager'' cast and crew.  Both the story and performances of "Tuvix" were lauded by the production team and critics alike.

"Tuvix" was well received by fans and critics, earning generally positive reviews.  Researchers and critics found "Tuvix" teeming with technical and philosophical content, including thematic ties to other episodes in the [[Star Trek canon|''Star Trek'' canon]], real-world [[logic]]al and [[metaphysics|metaphysical]] ramifications, and scientific concessions for the story.

==Plot==
On [[stardate]] 49655.2,<ref name="1996-11 Cinefantastique: Voyager Episode Guide" /> Lieutenant [[Tuvok]] ([[Tim Russ]]) and [[Neelix]] ([[Ethan Phillips]]) are sent to collect botanical samples from a class-M planet.  When [[transporter (Star Trek)|beamed]] back aboard {{USS|Voyager|Star Trek|2}}, the two men and the [[orchid]]s they collected are merged at the molecular level to become a single lifeform which names himself Tuvix (Wright).  After ruling out transporter malfunction, the crew discovers that when demolecularized, the genetic material of the alien flowers acted as a [[symbiogenesis|symbiogenetic]] catalyst and is the culprit for the combination of the two crewmembers.  Unfortunately, the process cannot be reversed, and Tuvix is accepted as a member of the crew with the rank of [[Star Trek uniforms#Rank and insignia|lieutenant]],<ref name="1996-10 Star Trek Magazine" /> functioning as chief tactical officer in Tuvok's stead.

[[Kes (Star Trek)|Kes]] ([[Jennifer Lien]]) reacts poorly to Tuvix as his existence deprives her of both Tuvok and Neelix, her [[mentorship|mentor]] and boyfriend respectively.  Her displeasure lessens over the course of the episode, but never completely eases.  [[Kathryn Janeway|Captain Janeway]] ([[Kate Mulgrew]]) accepts Tuvix in his role as an excellent chief tactical officer and "an able advisor, who skillfully uses humor to make his points".  Tuvix himself, having the combined memories and personalities of his constituents, melds the previously intractable qualities of both and improves upon them, flexing either muscle as the situation requires: "Chief of security or head chef, take your pick!"

Two weeks after the accident, [[the Doctor (Star Trek: Voyager)|the Doctor]] ([[Robert Picardo]]) develops a contemporary equivalent to [[radiocontrast agent|radiocontrasting]], using a custom [[radioisotope]] with which he can identify the disparate [[DNA]] of the two original crewmen and use the transporter to disentangle them.  However, Tuvix denounces the procedure; he argues that he has rights, and to restore the two lost crewmen would require his execution.  After discussing the situation with Commander [[Chakotay]] ([[Robert Beltran]]), Kes, and Tuvix himself, Janeway ultimately decides to proceed with the separation, acting [[trial in absentia|''in absentia'']] to protect the rights of the two constituent men.  Tuvix makes a final emotive plea for support from the crew, but finds no supporters.  After the Doctor refuses to take Tuvix's life in compliance with the medical precept of [[primum non nocere|doing no harm]], Janeway performs the procedure herself and succeeds in restoring both Tuvok and Neelix.

==Production==
[[Wendy Neuss]], Merri D. Howard, [[Kenneth Biller]], [[Peter Lauritson]], and [[Brannon Braga]] were all credited as producers on "Tuvix", while [[Jay Chattaway]] was credited with the music and [[Marvin V. Rush]] was the [[cinematographer]].  Daryl Baskin edited the episode to its 46-minute runtime.<ref name="1996-05-06 Tuvix" />

===Writing===
[[File:Kenneth Biller Comic-Con.png|alt=A bearded, dark-haired man leans into a microphone; he is sitting behind a San Diego Comic Con paper placard that declares his name "Kenneth Biller".|thumb|left|Kenneth Biller (2009)]]
During its development, "Tuvix" was previously known as "Untitled Tuvok/Neelix", "One",<ref name="IUB: Lilly Library" /> and "Symbiogenesis",<ref name="1996 Captains' Logs Supplemental" /><ref name="IUB: Lilly Library" /><ref name="1998 To Seek Out New Life" /><ref name="1996-11 Cinefantastique: Holographic Doctor" /><ref name="2000 Delta Quadrant" /> with the third of these persisting through the episode's development and shooting.<ref name="1996-06 Star Trek Magazine" />  The episode and its [[teleplay]] were written by [[Kenneth Biller]]; the story is credited to Andrew Shepard Price and Mark Gaberman, for which they earned {{US dollar|7000|1996}}.<ref name="2021-07-23 Polygon" />  Though described by Biller as "high-concept", the original story by Price and Gaberman was much more light-hearted and tended towards [[slapstick]].  Biller and Braga found the tone of the episode was so akin to a [[1960s in television|1960s]] [[sitcom]], the two of them even wrote a [[theme music|theme song]] for it:<ref name="1996-11 Cinefantastique: Voyager Episode Guide" /> "It's Tuvok, it's Neelix! It's two guys, in-a-fix! It's Tuuuuvix!"<ref name="2021-07-23 Polygon" />  Biller re-wrote the episode to focus more on the serious philosophical questions raised by the episode and especially the inevitable separation of Tuvix back into the series regulars.  In Biller's original treatment, Tuvix recognized that [[Spock#Cultural impact|the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few]] and consented to his fissure.  However, after a discussion with [[executive producer]] [[Michael Piller]], Biller began to {{nowrap|"[poke]}} at the audience" by throwing up roadblocks to the episode's foregone conclusion; first Tuvix was re-written to object to the procedure, and then [[the Doctor (Star Trek: Voyager)|the Doctor]]'s refusal was added to force [[Kathryn Janeway|Captain Janeway]] to put truth to action.<ref name="1996-11 Cinefantastique: Voyager Episode Guide" />  Piller later described Biller as "the [[poet laureate]] of ''Star Trek''", highlighting his work on "Tuvix" and "[[Lifesigns (Star Trek: Voyager)|Lifesigns]]" as examples.<ref name="1996-11 Cinefantastique: Star Trek Voyager" />

===Filming===
Tom Wright described working on "Tuvix" as an exercise in forcing himself to work outside his known comfort areas and confessed he was unsure of the quality of the end product.  The actor complained about what he saw as a lack of support and guidance from the ''Voyager'' team, saying he felt adrift and unsure as to what was expected of his performance, especially since his portrayal reflected two of the starring characters.  However, he also conceded that it may have been intentional in an effort to evoke a genuine sense of off-balancedness in the character.  Either way, though he was unaccustomed to the environment, Wright expressed his willingness to revisit Tuvix or even work on any ''[[Star Trek]]'' again if the opportunity arose.  In interviews, Wright specifically fondly recalled his time working with [[Jennifer Lien]] ([[Kes (Star Trek)|Kes]]), [[Kate Mulgrew]] ([[Kathryn Janeway|Captain Janeway]]), and director Cliff Bole.<ref name="1996-10 Star Trek Magazine" /><ref name="1997-09 Official Star Trek Voyager Magazine" />

In a 1997 interview, Wright explained how the episode's dialogue posed a challenge in that not only did he have to take great care to adhere to the vernacular of ''Star Trek'' and not sound too contemporary or "too 1997", but he had to take several days to accommodate himself to the episode's "[[treknobabble]]" with the assistance of [[Robert Duncan McNeill]] ([[Tom Paris]]).<ref name="1997-09 Official Star Trek Voyager Magazine" />  Bole later praised Wright for his ability to improvise, but explained that it was to the actor's detriment as "''Star Trek'' is ''not'' an [[ad libitum|ad-lib]] format"<!-- the italicizations in this quote are verbatim -->, and he felt Wright assumed he could wing some of it.<ref name="1998-02 Official Star Trek Voyager Magazine" />  Mulgrew also bemoaned the technobabble in "Tuvix" when asked by ''[[Starlog]]'' for her most memorable line thereof; "When did he cease to be a transporter accident and start to be an individual?"<ref name="1996-10 Starlog" />

[[File:Janeway's exit in "Tuvix".webm|alt=Kate Mulgrew in costume as Captain Janeway looks away from Neelix and Tuvok as she walks out of the sickbay towards the camera—the door opening and closing for her automatically—before pausing momentarily in the corridor as she walks out of frame.|thumb|Mulgrew's final scene in "Tuvix"]]
Bole heaped praise on the episode's final scene in which Janeway "stalks" into the corridor outside [[sick bay|sickbay]] after performing the procedure which restores Tuvok and Neelix.  He extolled, "That last shot I did with Kate [Mulgrew], as she's walking into the camera, she told the whole story with her face.  She gave a great performance.  I only asked for a few things; she brought that look and emotion to work with her."<ref name="1998-02 Official Star Trek Voyager Magazine" />  In his book ''The Meaning of Star Trek'', author Thomas Richards also credited Mulgrew in this scene.  Richards saw Janeway troubled by her difficult decision between two undesirable options and how "she must live with the choice.  [A] death has cast a shadow over the ship, and for the first time in the series the [[United Federation of Planets|Federation]] has put to death one of its own."<ref name="1997 Meaning of Star Trek" />

In a 1996 interview, [[Robert Picardo]] reminisced that as [[the Doctor (Star Trek: Voyager)|the Doctor]] he had "a substantial amount" to do in "Tuvix".<ref name="1996-11 Cinefantastique: Holographic Doctor" />  Picardo would also look back on the episode, and the scene in which he "countermand[s] the captain" especially, as a turning point in the Doctor's and Janeway's relationship, calling it an "interesting moment for both characters".<ref name="1997-02 Official Star Trek Voyager Magazine" />  Ethan Phillips also remembered being excited reading the script for "Tuvix", as it was an opportunity to discover more about his character.<ref name="1997-06 Star Trek Magazine" />

The science lab set in the first act is a [[set redress|redress]] of the isolation chamber in sickbay, but with a blue background as opposed to the yellow.<ref name="2000 Delta Quadrant" />

==Casting==
In addition to [[Tom Wright (American actor)|Tom Wright]] as Tuvix, guest stars included [[Simon Billig]] as Hogan<ref name="2003 Voyager Companion" /> and [[Bahni Turpin]] as Swinn.<ref name="1996-05-06 Tuvix" /><ref name="1996 Captains' Logs Supplemental" />  Casting for "Tuvix" was done by Junie Lowry-Johnson, [[Casting Society of America|C.S.A.]], and Ron Surma.<ref name="1996-05-06 Tuvix" />

===Tuvix===
[[Television director|Director]] [[Cliff Bole]] and the episode's producers originally considered having series regular [[Ethan Phillips]] ([[Neelix]]) portray Tuvix, but decided against it, fearing that he was too identifiable and would have difficulty integrating an equal amount of the [[Tuvok]] character into his performance.<ref name="1998-02 Official Star Trek Voyager Magazine" />

{{multiple image
 | footer    = Tom Wright drew upon his personal encounters with Tim Russ (left) and Ethan Phillips (right) as opposed to their characters in his audition.  Phillips was originally considered for the part.
 | image1    = Tim Russ.JPG
 | width1    = 175
 | alt1      = A dark-skinned man with black hear and a greying beard and moustache is wearing a violet shirt and smiling into the camera.
 | image2    = EthanPhillips.jpg
 | width2    = 180
 | alt2      = A white man with greying brown hair and a blue sweater is smiling into the camera.
}}
The only non-recurring guest star in "Tuvix" is the eponymous fusion of two main characters.  Though guest stars have occasionally played major recurring characters—''e.g.'' [[Sandra Smith (actor)|Sandra Smith]] as [[James T. Kirk|Captain Kirk]] in [[Star Trek: The Original Series|the original ''Star Trek'']]{{'s}} "[[Turnabout Intruder]]" and [[David Birkin]] as [[Jean-Luc Picard|Captain Picard]] in ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]''{{'s}} "[[Rascals (Star Trek: The Next Generation)|Rascals]]"—Tom Wright is the first to portray two in the same episode.<ref name="1997-09 Official Star Trek Voyager Magazine" />

When contacted by his [[talent agent]], Wright jumped at the opportunity to create a character wholly unique to [[Star Trek|the ''Star Trek'' franchise]].<ref name="1996-10 Star Trek Magazine" />  When he auditioned for the role of Tuvix, Wright had never seen ''Star Trek: Voyager'' and was completely unfamiliar with the characterizations of Tuvok and Neelix.  Instead, he drew upon his prior experiences with the characters' actors, [[Tim Russ]] and Ethan Phillips respectively, to successfully vie for the role.<ref name="1997-09 Official Star Trek Voyager Magazine" />  Executive producer [[Jeri Taylor]] was pleased with the casting of Wright, marveling at his ability to bring credibility to the prospect of two characters in one.<ref name="1996 Captains' Logs Supplemental" />

After securing the role, Wright was provided video of Tuvok and Neelix from previous episodes from which he refined the character.  Instead of portraying Tuvix as simply a vessel for two separate consciousnesses, Wright blended the two characters to form a unique third.  Wright focused on juxtaposing the contrary physical and emotional natures of the two characters in his performance; in scenes where Neelix's persona is more prominent, Wright played up Tuvok's composed physicality, and in scenes where Tuvok's skills and experience were needed, Wright leaned more heavily on Neelix's exuberant mannerisms.  Wright also worked hard to exhibit the intrinsic warmth of both characters and make Tuvix as likable and sympathetic a character as possible.<ref name="1996-10 Star Trek Magazine" /><ref name="1997-09 Official Star Trek Voyager Magazine" />  Author David McIntee (''Delta Quadrant'') felt that Tuvix expressed more of Neelix's mannerisms than Tuvok's.  He also noted that Tuvix adopted Neelix's right-[[handedness]] as opposed to Tuvok's left-handedness.<ref name="2000 Delta Quadrant" />

====Costuming and makeup====
[[File:Tuvix.jpg|alt=The dark-skinned Tom Wright is in makeup and costume as Tuvix.  Black makeup is mottled across his cheeks and high brow, black straight hair is combed back from the hairline, pointed ear prosthetics have been applied, and amber-colored contact lenses are visible.  The costume is colored in mustard and black like Tuvok's, but patterned in flowers and cut to a style like Neelix's customary clothing.|thumb|left|Episode screenshot of Wright in costume and makeup as Tuvix]]
McIntee hypothesizes that the modified [[Star Trek uniforms#Star Trek: Voyager|Starfleet uniform]] Tuvix initially wears after his creation was influenced by the orchids which were also transported.  He called it "an illogical but subtle and attractive stylistic touch" and praised its design suggesting they all be modified duly.<ref name="2000 Delta Quadrant" />  [[Robert Blackman]] served as [[costume designer]] for "Tuvix".<ref name="1996-05-06 Tuvix" />

In an interview with ''The Official Star Trek Voyager Magazine'' in 1998, [[television director|director]] [[Cliff Bole]] spoke highly of guest star [[Tom Wright (American actor)|Tom Wright]], saying he was a "good actor [who] prides himself on being [[Shakespearian]]", but felt that he was in over his head working on ''Star Trek'', particularly underestimating the rigors of working under the requisite makeup.  Bole detailed a four-hour, {{nowrap|4 a.m.}} process to apply the glue, mask, and prostheses before the actor even began delivering his lines for what was an all-day [[filmmaking#Production|shoot]]; all of these "subtract from [the] performance" of actors unaccustomed to them.  Bole tempered himself explaining that he had seen "really competent actors" suffer from the same trials and simple exhaustion that he saw in Wright's performance.<ref name="1998-02 Official Star Trek Voyager Magazine" />  For his part, Wright compared the trials of the "heavy makeup" and [[contact lens]]es required to play Tuvix with his previous roles on ''[[Creepshow 2]]'' and [[Tales from the Crypt (TV series)|''Tales from the Crypt'']].<ref name="1997-09 Official Star Trek Voyager Magazine" />  Tuvix's makeup was designed and supervised by [[Michael Westmore]].<ref name="1996-05-06 Tuvix" />  Despite the obfuscation of Wright's face, he was still recognized by fans on the street 25 years later.<ref name="2021-07-23 Polygon" />

==Analysis==
[[Elaine Graham]]'s book ''Representations of the Post/Human'' uses "Tuvix" to contrast ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'' with ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]''; "Tuvix" is an example of how the former series tended to incorporate stories that touched on [[morality|moral]] and [[ethics|ethically]] ambiguous situations and decisions.  Graham notes how the character of Tuvix was written to encourage audience sympathies, yet was still effectively sentenced to death in contravention of what she describes as the "exemplary ''Star Trek'' values [of] sentience, self-determination, and personhood".<ref name="2002 Representations of the Post/Human" />  Thomas Richards' ''The Meaning of Star Trek'' also focused on the morality of decisions in "Tuvix" as compared to [[Star Trek: The Original Series|the original ''Star Trek'']] and ''The Next Generation''; more than ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'', the {{USS|Voyager|Star Trek|2}} is far from the United Federation of Planets and "must address every value of the Federation [...] in a universe in which those values may no longer apply."  Richards describes the episode as "truly remarkable" for its depiction of Janeway's sentence of [[capital punishment]] and her performing the very first execution in all of ''Star Trek''.  Not only is this shocking for the audience in comparison to episodes and series past, but even the fictional ''Voyager'' crew are stunned.<ref name="1997 Meaning of Star Trek" />  In 2000, David McIntee pointed to these themes and plot points as having made "Tuvix" the most debated episode in [[trekkie|''Star Trek'' fandom]] yet, and one of ''Star Trek: Voyager''{{'s}} "most thought-provoking, and [...] single most discussed, episode."<ref name="2000 Delta Quadrant" />

In her book ''American Science Fiction TV'', Jan Johnson-Smith noted that "Tuvix" is one of a recurring type of ''Star Trek'' episodes concerned with issues of individuality and self.  She thematically tied this episode to ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]''{{'}} episode "[[The Enemy Within (Star Trek: The Original Series)|The Enemy Within]]" where the transporter rends [[James T. Kirk|Captain Kirk]] into two separate representations of his [[psyche (psychology)|psyche]], ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]''{{'s}} character of [[Jadzia Dax]] who is of a conjoined species ([[Trill (Star Trek)|Trill]]) that repeatedly goes through a conjoining process when the host organism dies, and ''Star Trek: Voyager''{{'s}} episode "[[Faces (Star Trek: Voyager)|Faces]]" where hybrid [[Human]]/[[Klingon]] character [[B'Elanna Torres]] is split along her bloodline into two separate species.<ref name="2005 American Science Fiction TV" />  When asked regarding accusations of "Tuvix" and other ''Voyager'' episodes simply aping previous ''Star Trek'' series in this way, [[executive producer]] [[Michael Piller]] called out [[Time (magazine)|''Time'']] for their comments on the matter before conceding, {{nowrap|"[Y]ou've}} got to keep new people coming in and pitching because otherwise you're going to be retreading an old ground."<ref name="1996 Captains' Logs Supplemental" />  Seven years later, when writing ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]''{{'s}} "[[Similitude (Star Trek: Enterprise)|Similitude]]", [[Manny Coto]] took pains to write that episode dissimilarly to "Tuvix".<ref name="2005-09-05 Similitude" />

In his paper published in the ''[[Polish Journal of Philosophy]]'', [[University of Sussex]] professor Murali Ramachandran examines the combination of Tuvok and Neelix into a single individual for its implications to [[modal logic]].  Ramachandran, though forced to disregard the [[metaphysics|metaphysical]] considerations imposed by "the very nature of tele-transportation", promotes a "[[Kripkean]] [[counterpart theory]]" using this study of the characters.<ref name="2008 Polish Journal of Philosophy" />

[[File:birthday cake 01.jpg|thumb|"Think of trying to transform a baked cake back into raw eggs, flour, sugar, vanilla . . . and you get a simplified idea of the magnitude of [recreating Tuvok and Neelix from Tuvix]."<br />{{right|—Dr. Andreadis<ref name="1998 To Seek Out New Life" />}}]]
Athena Andreadis' book ''To Seek Out New Life: The Biology of Star Trek'' attempts and fails to legitimize the episode's [[biology|biologic science]], even accepting all other technologies presented.  Not only does the synthesis of Tuvok and Neelix violate the law of [[conservation of mass]], but the separation poses the problem of differentiating the two species' [[gene]]s, a significant hurdle when [[1990s in science and technology|science of the 1990s]] couldn't differentiate between humans and [[chimpanzee]]s.  After detailing the combination of the [[Talaxian]] and [[Vulcan (Star Trek)|Vulcan]] species, the cellular [[chromosome|chromosomal pairing]], and the "synaptic coherence of two brains/minds within one skull", Andreadis finds the whole proposition laughable from a scientific standpoint, comparing it to the 1986 film [[The Fly (1986 film)|''The Fly'']] as an example of bad science.  Ultimately, she comes down against the [[transporter (Star Trek)|transporter]] regarding its fictional capacity to do that which is claimed.<ref name="1998 To Seek Out New Life" />

===Tuvix (character)===
Tom Wright spoke on his interpretation of the character in 1997: he felt the two constituent halves of Tuvix "represent[ed] [[lateralization of brain function|the left and the right side of the brain]]—where one is weak the other is strong, and vice versa."<ref name="1997-09 Official Star Trek Voyager Magazine" />

In his 2005 book, ''Teleportation: The Impossible Leap'', David J. Darling notes that while Tuvix was well-liked by other characters, his fate was in fact ultimately determined not by his arguments or the decision of the captain, but by the "[[ensemble cast|[e]nsemble casting]] and contractual arrangements" of the show.<ref name="2005 Teleportation" />  Wright also felt the separation of Tuvix was inevitable from a perspective of dramatic necessity.<ref name="1997-09 Official Star Trek Voyager Magazine" />  A [[UPN]] promotional video for the episode played on expectations of the audience to like Tuvix at the cost of the [[Tuvok]] and [[Neelix]] characters.<ref name="1996 UPN" />

Over 25 years after the episode first aired, the character of Tuvix continued to be a hot-button topic, not only because the character was well-liked, but because of Janeway's decision.  John Van Citters was [[ViacomCBS]]' vice president of franchise planning and ''Star Trek'' brand development, and in his many discussions with franchise artists and fans, Tuvix continued to be "over-indexed for a character that’s only made one appearance."  ''[[Star Trek: Lower Decks]]'' showrunner [[Mike McMahan]] described the character and his fate as a touchstone for "Deep Lore Trekkie[s]".  ''Voyager'' novelist [[Kirsten Beyer]] defended Janeway's decision as one of two terrible choices.  [[Mohamed Noor]] wouldn't agree with her decision while unable to call it irrational or immoral.<ref name="2021-07-23 Polygon" />  In 2020, [[Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez]] was a member of the [[United States House of Representatives|US House of Representatives]] from New York City when she spoke about Janeway's decision in "Tuvix", saying, "One thing I learned watching Janeway growing up is how leadership means being responsible for working through dilemmas w/ no clear answers."<ref name="2020-11-06 Daily Star Trek News" />

Tuvix was never mentioned again during ''Voyager''{{'s}} remaining five seasons.<ref name="2021-07-23 Polygon" />

==Reception==
<!-- internal -->Writer [[Kenneth Biller]] said that he received a "lot of mail" regarding "Tuvix" and that Janeway's tough decisions in the episode generated a lot of discussion and moved a lot of people.<ref name="1996-11 Cinefantastique: Voyager Episode Guide" />  [[Television director|Director]] [[Cliff Bole]] felt the episode was "well-accepted", and both he and the producers liked it.<ref name="1998-02 Official Star Trek Voyager Magazine" />  Actor Tom Wright explained the episode's popularity saying it resounded with viewers because it had no outright moralizations or specific good and evil characters; the episode deals with a [[no-win situation|no-win scenario]].<ref name="1997-09 Official Star Trek Voyager Magazine" />  Writer Thomas Richards concurred with Wright in agreeing that the episode's frank depiction without any judgments was a significant strength in its favor.<ref name="1997 Meaning of Star Trek" />  In a March 2023 episode of ''[[The Ready Room]]'', [[Tim Russ]] called "Tuvix" one of the show's most controversial episodes, telling [[Wil Wheaton]] that in the preceding few years, fans had begun consistently asking him about it.<ref name="2023-03-30 Ready Room" />

<!-- critical, contemporary, chronologically -->Nikki Harper for ''[[Star Trek Magazine|STAR TREK: The Official Monthly Magazine]]'' gave the episode four out of five stars,<ref name="1996-10 Star Trek Magazine" /> ''Cinefantastique''{{'s}} Dale Kutzera gave "Tuvix" three out of four stars,<ref name="1996-11 Cinefantastique: Voyager Episode Guide" /> and Bill Florence for ''The Official Star Trek Voyager Magazine'' called it one of ''Voyager''{{'s}} "strongest episodes to date".<ref name="1997-09 Official Star Trek Voyager Magazine" />  In his book ''Delta Quadrant: The unofficial guide to'' Voyager, David McIntee was impressed by the episode's capacity to rise above its "appallingly silly" premise; he attributed this to the casting of Tom Wright as Tuvix, whose acting he saw as a guide to the tempo of the episode, keeping it from proceeding too slowly.  He gave the episode an 8 out of 10 rating.<ref name="2000 Delta Quadrant" />

<!-- critical, retrospectively, chronologically -->[[Wired (magazine)|''Wired'']] magazine criticized the episode, saying that although the episode might have seemed like a great concept, it failed in practice and was "an awkward, embarrassing mess that fails to land any of the deeper points it so desperately wants to make."<ref name="2015-05-27 Wired" />  Writing for ''[[Tor.com]]'' in 2020, [[Keith DeCandido]] "[admired] the execution of most of this episode" and praised the "amazing work" of Wright, Mulgrew, and Lien, but was frustrated that Janeway's actions had no consequences.  He rated the episode 4 out of 10.<ref name="2020-06-09 Tor: Rewatch" />  After considering the discussion generated in the comments underneath his review, he later acknowledged how the episode's moral dilemma generated significant conversation among the fanbase when it first aired, and continued to do so 25 years later.<ref name="2020-06-18 Tor: Overview" />

{{anchor|Top lists}}In 2014, ''[[io9]]''{{'s}} [[Charlie Jane Anders]] ranked "Tuvix" 56th of the top 100 episodes of [[Star Trek|the ''Star Trek'' franchise]].<ref name="2014-10-02 io9" />  In 2015, [[Syfy]]'s Lisa Granshaw placed "Tuvix" among ''Star Trek: Voyager''{{'s}} top ten.<ref name="2015-01-16 Syfy" />

==See also==
* {{annotated link|Trolley problem}}

==References==
{{reflist |refs=

<!-- dated sources sorted chronologically -->

<ref name="1996 Captains' Logs Supplemental">{{cite book |last1=Gross |first1=Edward |last2=Altman |first2=Mark A. |author-link2=Mark A. Altman |year=1996 |chapter=''Voyager'': Season Two Episode Guide |editor1-last=Kloske |editor1-first=Geoffrey |title=Captains' Logs Supplemental: The Unauthorized Guide to the New Trek Voyages |location=United Kingdom |publisher=[[Little, Brown and Company]] |pages=167–168 |isbn=0-316-88354-9}}</ref><!-- exhausted -->

<ref name="1996 UPN">{{cite AV media |date=1996 |title=Star Trek: Voyager 224 – "Tuvix" (UPN trailer) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBR5QpDvLR0 |access-date=2011-05-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529133819/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBR5QpDvLR0 |archive-date=2016-05-29 |medium=[[Television production]] |publisher=[[UPN]] |via=[[YouTube]] |url-status=dead}}</ref><!-- exhausted -->

<ref name="1996-05-06 Tuvix">{{cite episode |title=Tuvix |series=Star Trek: Voyager |series-link=Star Trek: Voyager |network=[[UPN]] |date=1996-05-06 |season=2 |number=24}}</ref><!-- exhausted -->

<ref name="1996-06 Star Trek Magazine">{{cite magazine |last=Nemecek |first=Larry |date=June 1996 |editor-last=Freeman |editor-first=John |editor-link=John Freeman (editor) |title=Episode Check |magazine=[[Star Trek Magazine|STAR TREK: The Official Monthly Magazine]] |location=London |publisher=[[Titan Magazines]] |volume=1 |issue=16 |page=14 |issn=1357-3888}}</ref><!-- exhausted -->

<ref name="1996-10 Star Trek Magazine">{{cite magazine |last=Anders |first=Lou |author-link=Lou Anders |date=October 1996 |editor-last=Freeman |editor-first=John |editor-link=John Freeman (editor) |title=Two Heads are Better Than One |magazine=[[Star Trek Magazine|STAR TREK: The Official Monthly Magazine]] |location=London |publisher=[[Titan Magazines]] |volume=1 |issue=20 |pages=58–59 |issn=1357-3888 |quote=Tom Wright Talks to Lou Anders About Creating Lieutenant Tuvix}}</ref><!-- exhausted -->

<ref name="1996-10 Starlog">{{cite magazine |last=Spelling |first=Ian |date=October 1996 |editor-last=McDonnell |editor-first=David |title=Jam Session |magazine=[[Starlog]] |location=New York |publisher=The Brooklyn Company, Inc. |issue=231 |pages=48–53 |issn=0191-4626 |quote=Join the entire ''Voyager'' cast, Starfleet gals, Maquis guys & all sorts of aliens, just sitting around talking.}}</ref><!-- exhausted -->

<ref name="1996-11 Cinefantastique: Holographic Doctor">{{cite magazine |last=Kaplan |first=Anna L. |date=November 1996 |title=Holographic Doctor |url=https://archive.org/details/cinefantastique_1970-2002/Cinefantastique%20Vol%2028%20No%204-5%20%28Nov%201996%29/page/n94/mode/1up |magazine=[[Cinefantastique]] |location=United States |publisher=Frederick S. Clarke |volume=28 |issue=4/5 |pages=95–98 |issn=0145-6032 |access-date=2023-12-31 |quote=Robert Picardo has made Doc Zimmerman the show's most popular and entertaining character.}}</ref><!-- exhausted -->

<ref name="1996-11 Cinefantastique: Star Trek Voyager">{{cite magazine |last=Kutzera |first=Dale |date=November 1996 |title=Star Trek Voyager |url=https://archive.org/details/cinefantastique_1970-2002/Cinefantastique%20Vol%2028%20No%204-5%20%28Nov%201996%29/page/n74/mode/1up |magazine=[[Cinefantastique]] |location=United States |publisher=Frederick S. Clarke |volume=28 |issue=4/5 |pages=75–80 |issn=0145-6032 |access-date=2023-12-31 |quote=Michael Piller gave the writing staff a much needed shake-up during second season.}}</ref><!-- exhausted -->

<ref name="1996-11 Cinefantastique: Voyager Episode Guide">{{cite magazine |last=Kutzera |first=Dale |date=November 1996 |title=Voyager Episode Guide |url=https://archive.org/details/cinefantastique_1970-2002/Cinefantastique%20Vol%2028%20No%204-5%20%28Nov%201996%29/page/n104/mode/1up |magazine=[[Cinefantastique]] |location=United States |publisher=Frederick S. Clarke |volume=28 |issue=4/5 |pages=105–106 |issn=0145-6032 |access-date=2023-12-31}}</ref><!-- exhausted -->

<ref name="1997 Meaning of Star Trek">{{cite book |last1=Richards |first1=Thomas |year=1997 |chapter=Afterword |title=The Meaning of Star Trek |edition=1st |location=New York |publisher=[[Doubleday (publisher)|Doubleday]] |pages=192–193 |isbn=0-385-48437-2 |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/meaningofstartre00rich_0/page/192}}</ref><!-- exhausted -->

<ref name="1997-02 Official Star Trek Voyager Magazine">{{cite magazine |last=Spelling |first=Ian |date=February 1997 |editor-last=McDonnell |editor-first=David |title=Robert Picardo: The Doctor |magazine=The Official Star Trek Voyager Magazine |location=New York |publisher=[[Starlog|Starlog Group, Inc.]] |issue=10 |pages=10–15 |issn=1079-3658}}</ref><!-- exhausted -->

<ref name="1997-06 Star Trek Magazine">{{cite magazine |last=Spelling |first=Ian |date=June 1997 |editor-last=Curtis |editor-first=Darryl |title=A Talaxian's Trials |magazine=[[Star Trek Magazine|STAR TREK: The Official Monthly Magazine]] |location=London |publisher=[[Titan Magazines]] |volume=1 |issue=28 |pages=60–62 |issn=1357-3888 |quote=With ''Fair Trade'' seeing Neelix's character moving in a different direction, Ethan Phillips talks to Ian Spelling about recent developments in his character.}}</ref><!-- exhausted -->

<ref name="1997-09 Official Star Trek Voyager Magazine">{{cite magazine |last=Florence |first=Bill |date=September 1997 |editor-last=McDonnell |editor-first=David |title=Tom Wright |magazine=The Official Star Trek Voyager Magazine |location=New York |publisher=[[Starlog|Starlog Group, Inc.]] |issue=13 |pages=44–47 |issn=1079-3658}}</ref><!-- exhausted -->

<ref name="1998 To Seek Out New Life">{{cite book |last1=Andreadis |first1=Athena |year=1998 |chapter=Scene 5: Fallout From Transporter Fission |editor1-last=Kiser |editor1-first=Kristin |title=To Seek Out New Life: The Biology of Star Trek |edition=first |location=New York |publisher=[[Crown Publishers]] |pages=108–115 |isbn=0-609-60329-9 |quote=Procrustean Fits}}</ref><!-- exhausted -->

<ref name="1998-02 Official Star Trek Voyager Magazine">{{cite magazine |last=Florence |first=Bill |date=February 1998 |editor-last=McDonnell |editor-first=David |title=Cliff Bole: Director |magazine=The Official Star Trek Voyager Magazine |location=New York |publisher=[[Starlog|Starlog Group, Inc.]] |issue=15 |pages=32–35 |issn=1079-3658}}</ref><!-- exhausted -->

<ref name="2000 Delta Quadrant">{{cite book |last1=McIntee |first1=David |year=2000 |chapter=Second Season |title=Delta Quadrant: The unofficial guide to ''Voyager'' |location=London |publisher=[[Virgin Publishing Ltd.]] |pages=118–120 |isbn=0-7535-0436-7}}</ref><!-- exhausted -->

<ref name="2002 Representations of the Post/Human">{{cite book |last1=Graham |first1=Elaine L. |year=2002 |chapter=Chapter Six: Much ado about Data |title=Representations of the Post/Human: Monsters, Aliens and Others in Popular Culture |edition=illustrated |location=Manchester |publisher=[[Manchester University Press]] |page=115 |isbn=978-0-7190-5442-6}}</ref><!-- exhausted -->

<ref name="2003 Voyager Companion">{{cite book |last1=Ruditis |first1=Paul |author-link1=Paul Ruditis |year=2003 |chapter=Season Two |title=Star Trek Voyager Companion |edition=illustrated |location=New York  |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |pages=112–113 |isbn=978-0-7434-1751-8}}</ref><!-- exhausted -->

<ref name="2005 American Science Fiction TV">{{cite book |last1=Johnson-Smith |first1=Jan |year=2005 |chapter=Yesterday's Enterprise |title=American Science Fiction TV: Star Trek, Stargate and Beyond |edition=illustrated |location=United Kingdom |publisher=[[I.B. Tauris]] |page=90 |isbn=978-1-86064-882-3}}</ref><!-- exhausted -->

<ref name="2005 Teleportation">{{cite book |last1=Darling |first1=David J. |year=2005 |chapter=Introduction: A Brief History of Beaming Up |editor1-last=Power |editor1-first=Stephen |editor2-last=Burstiner |editor2-first=Lisa |title=Teleportation: The Impossible Leap |location=[[Hoboken, New Jersey]] |publisher=[[John Wiley and Sons]] |pages=13–14 |isbn=978-0-471-47095-3}}</ref><!-- exhausted -->

<ref name="2005-09-05 Similitude">{{cite video |people=[[Manny Coto]] |date=2005-09-05 |title="[[Similitude (Star Trek: Enterprise)|Similitude]]" |medium=[[Audio commentary|DVD commentary]] |publisher=Paramount |time=00:52}}</ref><!-- exhausted -->

<ref name="2008 Polish Journal of Philosophy">{{cite journal |last1=Ramachandran |first1=Murali |year=2008 |title=Kripkean Counterpart Theory |journal=[[Polish Journal of Philosophy]] |location=[[Kraków]] |publisher=[[Jagiellonian University]] |pages=89–106 |volume=II |issue=2 |doi=10.5840/pjphil20082221}}</ref><!-- exhausted -->

<ref name="2014-10-02 io9">{{cite web |url=http://io9.gizmodo.com/the-top-100-star-trek-episodes-of-all-time-1641565699 |title=The Top 100 ''Star Trek'' Episodes of All Time! |last=Anders |first=Charlie Jane |author-link=Charlie Jane Anders |date=2014-10-02 |website=[[io9]] |access-date=2022-04-09 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222231419/http://io9.gizmodo.com/the-top-100-star-trek-episodes-of-all-time-1641565699 |archive-date=2016-02-22}}</ref><!-- exhausted -->

<ref name="2015-01-16 Syfy">{{cite web |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/remembering-star-trek-voyager-10-standout-moments-from-the-series |title=Remembering Star Trek: Voyager: 10 Standout Moments from the Series |last=Granshaw |first=Lisa |date=2015-01-16 |website=[[Syfy Wire]] |access-date=2019-12-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626150031/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/remembering-star-trek-voyager-10-standout-moments-from-the-series |archive-date=2019-06-26}}</ref><!-- exhausted -->

<ref name="2015-05-27 Wired">{{cite magazine |last=McMillan |first=Graeme |date=2015-05-27 |title=WIRED Binge-Watching Guide: ''Star Trek: Voyager'' |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/05/binge-guide-star-trek-voyager/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |issn=1078-3148 |oclc=24479723 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528041014/https://www.wired.com/2015/05/binge-guide-star-trek-voyager/ |archive-date=2015-05-28 |access-date=2022-04-09 |quote=If space was the final frontier, the thinking behind 'Star Trek: Voyager' goes, then a wholly-unexplored region of space must be the most final-est frontier of all.}}</ref><!-- exhausted -->

<ref name="2020-06-09 Tor: Rewatch">{{cite web |url=https://www.tor.com/2020/06/09/star-trek-voyager-rewatch-tuvix/ |title=''Star Trek: Voyager'' Rewatch: 'Tuvix' |last=DeCandido |first=Keith |author-link=Keith DeCandido |date=2020-06-09 |website=[[Tor.com]] |access-date=2022-04-09 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221224519/https://www.tor.com/2020/06/09/star-trek-voyager-rewatch-tuvix/ |archive-date=2022-02-21}}</ref>

<ref name="2020-06-18 Tor: Overview">{{cite web |url=https://www.tor.com/2020/06/18/star-trek-voyager-rewatch-second-season-overview/ |title=''Star Trek: Voyager'' Rewatch: Second Season Overview |last=DeCandido |first=Keith |author-link=Keith DeCandido |date=2020-06-18 |website=[[Tor.com]] |access-date=2022-04-09 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221224520/https://www.tor.com/2020/06/18/star-trek-voyager-rewatch-second-season-overview/ |archive-date=2022-02-21}}</ref>

<ref name="2020-11-06 Daily Star Trek News">{{cite news |last1=Pitt |first1=Alison |date=2020-11-06 |title=Star Trek gets political as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Kate Mulgrew talk 'Tuvix' on Twitter |url=https://www.dailystartreknews.com/read/star-trek-gets-political-as-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-and-kate-mulgrew-talk-tuvix-on-twitter |url-status=live |work=Daily Star Trek News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728193954/https://www.dailystartreknews.com/read/star-trek-gets-political-as-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-and-kate-mulgrew-talk-tuvix-on-twitter |archive-date=2021-07-28 |access-date=2022-04-10}}</ref><!-- exhausted -->

<ref name="2021-07-23 Polygon">{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/22586158/tuvix-star-trek-memes-voyager-janeway-debate |title=Tuvix will never die |last=Hoffman |first=Jordan |author-link=Jordan Hoffman |date=2021-07-23 |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |access-date=2022-04-09 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318001155/https://www.polygon.com/22586158/tuvix-star-trek-memes-voyager-janeway-debate |archive-date=2022-03-18 |quote=How an ethical debate and endless memes keep Star Trek's most infamous one-shot character in the conversation}}</ref><!-- exhausted -->

<ref name="2023-03-30 Ready Room">{{cite interview |last=Russ |first=Tim |subject-link=Tim Russ |interviewer=[[Wil Wheaton]] |title=Dominion |work=[[The Ready Room]] |date=2023-03-30 |publisher=[[Paramount+]]}}</ref><!-- exhausted -->

<!-- undated sources sorted alphabetically -->

<ref name="IUB: Lilly Library">{{cite web |url=http://www.indiana.edu/~liblilly/lilly/mss/index.php?p=taylorjinv |title=TAYLOR, J MSS. |last=Taylor |first=Jeri |author-link=Jeri Taylor |website=[[Lilly Library]] Manuscript Collections |publisher=[[Indiana University Bloomington]] |location=Bloomington |access-date=2011-05-18 |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120427083859/http://www.indiana.edu/~liblilly/lilly/mss/index.php?p=taylorjinv |archive-date=2012-04-27}}</ref><!-- exhausted -->

<ref name="startrek.com Tuvix">{{cite web |url=http://www.startrek.com/database_article/tuvix-episode |title=Tuvix |website=Star Trek (Official Site) |publisher=[[CBS]] |access-date=2022-04-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109192542/https://www.startrek.com/database_article/tuvix-episode |archive-date=2019-11-09}}</ref><!-- exhausted -->

<ref name="startrek.com VOY episode list">{{cite web |url=http://www.startrek.com/database_article_navigator/star-trek-voyager/episodes |title=Star Trek: Voyager |website=Star Trek (Official Site) |publisher=[[CBS]] |access-date=2010-10-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101020125427/http://www.startrek.com/database_article_navigator/star-trek-voyager/episodes |archive-date=2010-10-20}}</ref><!-- exhausted -->

}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb episode}}
* {{Memory Alpha|Tuvix (episode)|"Tuvix"}}
* {{StarTrek.com|tuvix-episode}}

{{Star Trek: Voyager episodes|2}}

[[Category:1996 American television episodes]]
[[Category:articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:fiction about medicine and health]]
[[Category:Star Trek: Voyager season 2 episodes]]
[[Category:television episodes directed by Cliff Bole]]