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Tuvix smiling from an episode of Star Trek, one of the few happy moments of his life.

Tuvix

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Updated Aug 23, 2021 at 12:57PM EDT by Zach.

Added Aug 22, 2021 at 06:00PM EDT by Adam B..

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About

Tuvix is a character from an episode of the sci-fi TV show Star Trek: Voyager who is created when the main characters Neelix and Tuvok are combined in a transporter accident and is destroyed to bring back the main characters at the end of the episode. In the late 2010s and early 2020s, the character gained popularity in Star Trek fan communities, especially in relation to memes about the unethical decision to kill him.

Origin

"Tuvix" was the 24th episode of Star Trek: Voyager's second season. The episode revolves around the ethical implications of Tuvix's existence as a new person made from two other people when he's created during a transporter incident that combined the crewmates Tuvok and Neelix. The ethical discussion reaches its climax when Captain Janeway makes the decision to sacrifice Tuvix to bring back Tuvok and Neelix, and Tuvix pleads for his life (shown below).[1]



The earliest recorded meme about Tuvix was a piece of fan art (seen below) posted on July 14th, 2014, by Tumblr[2] user kroykah, depicting Tuvix in the same style and post as Mario on the box art of Super Mario Bros. 2. The post was tagged "#JanewayMurderedTuvixAndNooneCanTellMeAnyDifferent" showing the ethical ramifications of the character were already the primary association fans had with him.


cez znTERTAINMENT SYSTEM Paramount MR.TUVIX THIS SEAL IS YOUR ASSURANCE THAT SingularStep KROYKAH HAS APPROVED AND GUARANIEED THE QUALITY OF THIS .tumblr.com PRODUCT

Spread

Throughout the mid-2010s, additional memes referencing Tuvix continued to spread online. The subreddit /r/TuvixInstitute[3] was created on April 1st, 2016, when memes about Tuvix had become popular enough that there were complaints of oversaturation in more general Star Trek meme subreddits.

On November 4th, 2020, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez replied to a tweet[4] asking her about Tuvix's murder, saying she would need to rewatch the episode to weigh in on the ethics. The original tweet, as well as a reply by Kate Mulgrew (who played Captain Janeway), have both been deleted, but screenshots of both were saved before removal (shown below).


8:50 1 41.0K @trekonomics · 56m We need to talk about justice for Tuvix, I understand it's a very niche issue but it manu matters in so far as it raises the delicate and dare I say, eminently *political* question of whether ends justify means. O 10 278 336 Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez @AOC US House candidate, NY-14 Replying to @trekonomics This one is deep. Would definitely have to rewatch it but this is solid 7:59 PM · 11/4/20 · Twitter for iPhone 28 Retweets 41 Quote Tweets 845 Likes Kate Mulgrew @TheKateMulg... · 48m Replying to @AOC and @trekonomics Willing to hear the crew's thoughts, as always. However, shouldn't Tuvok and Neelix should have the biggest say...oh wait, they couldn't! I stand by my decision 1. to restore them to their lives. Rewatch and report back, AOC - and congrats on your win! 9 43 2769 917 Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez @A... · 5m 2 US House candidate, NY-14 One thing I learned watching Janeway growing up is how leadership means being responsible for working through dilemmas w/ no clear answers. All the easy decisions are made before it gets to the top. Janeway leads w/ focus on her mission - to get her crew home. Thank you Kate! 13 2740 341

in 2021, official Star Trek spokesperson Jordan Hoffman wrote an article about Tuvix memes for Polygon.[5] Many creators involved with Star Trek in general, as well as the episode in particular, were interviewed for the story. The article cites Ken Reilly, editor of the fansite TrekCore, as saying the memes "kicked into overdrive" in about 2016.

Various Examples


I say we kill Tuvix Or... We could I hate to say recreate the Agreed. We need Tuvok. it, but I kinda transporter accident to create two Tuvixes and then separate one of them. miss Neelix. No! I dont want to die! Heeeeere's JANEWAYI
Tuvix, we've found a way So all three of us can live right? to get Tuvok and Nelix back! So all three of us can live right? I don't want to die. Adobe

Search Interest

External References

[1] Memory Alpha – Tuvix

[2] Tumblr – kroykah

[3] Reddit – TuvixInstitute

[4] Twitter – AOC

[5] Polygon – Tuvix will never die

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Top Comments

Chewybunny
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Chewybunny

One could argue that by killing Tuvix you are, in fact, ressurecting, rescuing, or bringing into being two lives. And as Spock would say "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of just one", or something or other to that effect.

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