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Mortal Coil (Star Trek: Voyager)
Encyclopedia
"Mortal Coil" is the 12th episode of the fourth season of the television series
Star Trek: Voyager
, and deals with a starring character's death, resurrection, and crisis of faith. Produced by Kenneth Biller
and Joe Menosky
, and directed by Allan Kroeker
, "Mortal Coil" received mediocre-to-positive reviews, with the episode being rated between 69 and 76%. The episode originally aired on .
(Ethan Phillips
) is killed while participating in a survey mission of a protomatter nebula
. Using a technique devised by Seven of Nine
(Jeri Ryan
), however, The Doctor
(Robert Picardo
) is able to revive Neelix after being dead for nearly 19 hours. Distressed that he had not perceived the afterlife
while he was dead, Neelix begins to question his religious beliefs
. With the aid of Chakotay
(Robert Beltran
), Neelix embarks on a spirit
ual vision quest
, during which he confronts his dead sister, Alixia (Stapler), who mocks him before she is killed. He then finds himself on a slab, surrounded by visions of his shipmates, who tell him that life is irrelevant and that he knows what he has to do.
Convinced that his existence is meaningless and that his life has no purpose, Neelix decides to commit suicide
by transporting
himself into the nebula. Despite the attempts of his shipmates, Neelix prepares to beam off until Ensign Samantha Wildman (Hower) arrives to ask Neelix if he could console Naomi (Stephens), who believes she saw a monster
in the replicator
and who will only allow Neelix to tuck her in. Realizing that he does, indeed, have purpose in his life, Neelix relents and heads for the Wildmans' quarters. Once there, Naomi, who had heard that Neelix was sick, wondered if a monster had got him. "Yes", Neelix replied. "But I chased him away."
serves as a counterpoint to his perspective, encouraging Neelix not to abandon all faith. In Star Trek: The Human Frontier, Michèle and Duncan Barrett discuss this episode as an example of Star Trek's shifting attitudes towards religion, specifically Voyager' s treatment of religious faith and how it can change. The Barretts contrast this episode with "Sacred Ground
", in which the rationalist Captain Janeway
(Kate Mulgrew
) is forced to accept the possibility of forces outside rational explanation. Both episodes are considered as illustrations of how "Star Trek articulates the conflicts between religion and science that continue to recur in modern western thought."
also created the death-themed American
television program
s Dead Like Me
and Pushing Daisies
.
Ethan Phillips
, who plays Neelix
, said he felt the episode was the most rewarding of the show for him, and that it was one of his favorites. "I thought that was a beautiful show", he said. "It was very existential [...] and very well directed by Allan Kroeker
". , members of the user-contributed television review sites TV.com
and the Internet Movie Database
rated "Mortal Coil" a 7.0 (rated "Good") and 6.9 out of 10 respectively, while the official StarTrek.com site rates fan reaction at 3.8 out of 5.
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager
Star Trek: Voyager is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe. Set in the 24th century from the year 2371 through 2378, the series follows the adventures of the Starfleet vessel USS Voyager, which becomes stranded in the Delta Quadrant 70,000 light-years from Earth while...
, and deals with a starring character's death, resurrection, and crisis of faith. Produced by Kenneth Biller
Kenneth Biller
Kenneth Biller is a television producer, television writer, television director as well as television editor, best known for his work in Star Trek: Voyager.- Producer :* E-Ring* North Shore* Legend of the Seeker* Smallville...
and Joe Menosky
Joe Menosky
Joe Menosky is a television writer known for his work on the various Star Trek series. Menosky joined the writing staff for Season 4 of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and also wrote for several episodes for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager...
, and directed by Allan Kroeker
Allan Kroeker
Allan Kroeker is a Canadian film and television director, cinematographer, screenwriter, film editor and film producer. He has the distinction of directing the series finales for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Enterprise...
, "Mortal Coil" received mediocre-to-positive reviews, with the episode being rated between 69 and 76%. The episode originally aired on .
Plot
In this episode, written by Bryan Fuller, NeelixNeelix
Mr. Neelix is a fictional character in the television series Star Trek: Voyager. He is played by actor Ethan Phillips.-Fictional Biography:Mr. Neelix is a Talaxian originally from Rinax, a moon of the planet Talax, in the Delta quadrant, although his great-grandfather was Mylean. His entire family...
(Ethan Phillips
Ethan Phillips
Ethan Phillips is an American actor, playwright and author. He is known for television roles such as Star Trek: Voyager's Neelix and Benson's Pete Downey.-Personal life:...
) is killed while participating in a survey mission of a protomatter nebula
Nebula
A nebula is an interstellar cloud of dust, hydrogen gas, helium gas and other ionized gases...
. Using a technique devised by Seven of Nine
Seven of Nine
Seven of Nine is a fictional character on Star Trek: Voyager, portrayed by actress Jeri Ryan. Born human, she was assimilated by the Borg at the age of six. Eighteen years later, Voyager left Borg space with Seven on board, after attempts to negotiate passage through Borg space proved only...
(Jeri Ryan
Jeri Ryan
Jeri Lynn Zimmermann Ryan is an American actress best known for her roles as the liberated Borg, Seven of Nine, on Star Trek: Voyager; Tara Cole on Leverage; and Veronica "Ronnie" Cooke on Boston Public. She was also a regular on the science fiction show Dark Skies and the legal drama series...
), however, The Doctor
Doctor (Star Trek)
The Doctor, an Emergency Medical Hologram Mark I , is a fictional character from the television series Star Trek: Voyager, played by actor Robert Picardo...
(Robert Picardo
Robert Picardo
Robert Picardo is an American actor. He is best known for his portrayals of Dr. Dick Richards on ABC's China Beach, the Emergency Medical Hologram , also known as The Doctor, on UPN's Star Trek: Voyager, The Cowboy in Innerspace, Coach Cutlip on The Wonder Years , Ben Wheeler in Wagons East, and as...
) is able to revive Neelix after being dead for nearly 19 hours. Distressed that he had not perceived the afterlife
Afterlife
The afterlife is the belief that a part of, or essence of, or soul of an individual, which carries with it and confers personal identity, survives the death of the body of this world and this lifetime, by natural or supernatural means, in contrast to the belief in eternal...
while he was dead, Neelix begins to question his religious beliefs
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
. With the aid of Chakotay
Chakotay
Chakotay , played by Robert Beltran, is a character in Star Trek: Voyager. He is the First Officer of the USS Voyager.-Character biography:...
(Robert Beltran
Robert Beltran
Robert Adame Beltran is an American actor, known for his role as Commander Chakotay on Star Trek: Voyager.-Early life:...
), Neelix embarks on a spirit
Spirit
The English word spirit has many differing meanings and connotations, most of them relating to a non-corporeal substance contrasted with the material body.The spirit of a living thing usually refers to or explains its consciousness.The notions of a person's "spirit" and "soul" often also overlap,...
ual vision quest
Vision quest
A vision quest is a rite of passage in some Native American cultures.In many Native American groups, the vision quest is a turning point in life taken before puberty to find oneself and the intended spiritual and life direction. When an older child is ready, he or she will go on a personal,...
, during which he confronts his dead sister, Alixia (Stapler), who mocks him before she is killed. He then finds himself on a slab, surrounded by visions of his shipmates, who tell him that life is irrelevant and that he knows what he has to do.
Convinced that his existence is meaningless and that his life has no purpose, Neelix decides to commit suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
by transporting
Transporter (Star Trek)
A transporter is a fictional teleportation machine used in the Star Trek universe. Transporters convert a person or object into an energy pattern , then "beam" it to a target, where it is reconverted into matter...
himself into the nebula. Despite the attempts of his shipmates, Neelix prepares to beam off until Ensign Samantha Wildman (Hower) arrives to ask Neelix if he could console Naomi (Stephens), who believes she saw a monster
Monster
A monster is any fictional creature, usually found in legends or horror fiction, that is somewhat hideous and may produce physical harm or mental fear by either its appearance or its actions...
in the replicator
Replicator (Star Trek)
In Star Trek a replicator is a machine capable of creating objects. Replicators were originally seen used to synthesize meals on demand, but in later series they took on many other uses.-Origins and limitations:...
and who will only allow Neelix to tuck her in. Realizing that he does, indeed, have purpose in his life, Neelix relents and heads for the Wildmans' quarters. Once there, Naomi, who had heard that Neelix was sick, wondered if a monster had got him. "Yes", Neelix replied. "But I chased him away."
Theme
In this episode, Neelix's religious faith is seriously challenged; he eventually chooses to live without it. ChakotayChakotay
Chakotay , played by Robert Beltran, is a character in Star Trek: Voyager. He is the First Officer of the USS Voyager.-Character biography:...
serves as a counterpoint to his perspective, encouraging Neelix not to abandon all faith. In Star Trek: The Human Frontier, Michèle and Duncan Barrett discuss this episode as an example of Star Trek's shifting attitudes towards religion, specifically Voyager
Sacred Ground (Star Trek: Voyager)
"Sacred Ground" is an episode of Star Trek: Voyager, the seventh episode of the third season.-Plot:The crew take shore leave on a friendly planet inhabited by people called Nechani. A group become interested in the Nechani's religious sites and take a tour. Kes is put into a coma when, out of...
", in which the rationalist Captain Janeway
Kathryn Janeway
Kathryn Janeway, played by Kate Mulgrew, is a fictional character in the Star Trek franchise. As the captain of the Starfleet starship USS Voyager, she was the lead character on the television series Star Trek: Voyager, and later, a Starfleet admiral, as seen in the 2002 feature film Star Trek...
(Kate Mulgrew
Kate Mulgrew
Katherine Kiernan Maria "Kate" Mulgrew is an American actress, most noted for her roles on Star Trek: Voyager as Captain Kathryn Janeway and Ryan's Hope as Mary Ryan...
) is forced to accept the possibility of forces outside rational explanation. Both episodes are considered as illustrations of how "Star Trek articulates the conflicts between religion and science that continue to recur in modern western thought."
Production
Writer Bryan FullerBryan Fuller
Bryan Fuller is an American screenwriter and television producer.Fuller graduated from Clarkston High School in Clarkston, Washington in 1987...
also created the death-themed American
Television in the United States
Television is one of the major mass media of the United States. Ninety-nine percent of American households have at least one television and the majority of households have more than one...
television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
s Dead Like Me
Dead Like Me
Dead Like Me was an American-Canadian comedy-drama television series starring Ellen Muth and Mandy Patinkin as grim reapers who reside and work in Seattle, Washington. Filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, the show was created by Bryan Fuller for the Showtime network, where it ran for two seasons...
and Pushing Daisies
Pushing Daisies
Pushing Daisies is an American comedy-drama television series created by Bryan Fuller that aired on ABC from October 3, 2007 to June 13, 2009. The series stars Lee Pace as Ned, a pie-maker with the ability to bring dead things back to life with his touch, an ability that comes with stipulations...
.
Reception
Ethan Phillips
Ethan Phillips is an American actor, playwright and author. He is known for television roles such as Star Trek: Voyager's Neelix and Benson's Pete Downey.-Personal life:...
, who plays Neelix
Neelix
Mr. Neelix is a fictional character in the television series Star Trek: Voyager. He is played by actor Ethan Phillips.-Fictional Biography:Mr. Neelix is a Talaxian originally from Rinax, a moon of the planet Talax, in the Delta quadrant, although his great-grandfather was Mylean. His entire family...
, said he felt the episode was the most rewarding of the show for him, and that it was one of his favorites. "I thought that was a beautiful show", he said. "It was very existential [...] and very well directed by Allan Kroeker
Allan Kroeker
Allan Kroeker is a Canadian film and television director, cinematographer, screenwriter, film editor and film producer. He has the distinction of directing the series finales for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Enterprise...
". , members of the user-contributed television review sites TV.com
TV.com
TV.com is a website owned by CBS Interactive. The site covers television and focuses on English-language shows made or broadcast in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Japan...
and the Internet Movie Database
Internet Movie Database
Internet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
rated "Mortal Coil" a 7.0 (rated "Good") and 6.9 out of 10 respectively, while the official StarTrek.com site rates fan reaction at 3.8 out of 5.