Tread Perilously is a podcast in which hosts Erik Amaya and author Justin Robinson watch the “worst” episodes of popular TV shows, attempting to determine if they would continue to watch the series based on the most off-key moments.

This Week: Star Trek: Voyager‘s “Tuvix”

Tread Perilously’s annual Star Trek month begins with a return to Star Trek: Voyager for the episode called “Tuvix.”

When a transporter accident merges Tuvok and Neelix into a single being, the crew attempt to untangle the mystery and their lost comrades. The resulting creature, dubbed “Tuvix,” may be the best of both worlds. His cooking is better, his insights more profound, and his ability to proceed on a hunch makes him a better tactical officer than the logic-bound Tuvok. But will the crew really accept Tuvix? Also, when the Doctor comes up with a method to restore his component parts, will Tuvix submit to the procedure or equate it with murder?

Hunter Black writer Justin Peniston joins Erik and Justin R for a lively discussion of this hotly debated Voyager episode. The latter learns the origin of “Captain Janeway is a murderer.” The script’s structure is taken to task. A Bluesky thread about how other captains would deal with the Tuvix question provides fodder for opinions of Jean-Luc Picard, Kira Nerys, and Michael Burnham. Justin P points to Voyager‘s inability to work with its initial premise. All three discuss the problems with Neelix, too. Tuvix actor Tom Wright proves to be the MVP, naturally enough, and Justin R declares the Strange New Worlds cast the sexiest of all the Star Trek shows.

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