When it comes to the wild and wonderful world ofStar Trek,there are some series that are a greater hit with audiences than others.The Original Seriesis a classic, setting up the franchise with an explosion of wonderful sci-fi, but for a lot of fans, the actual storytelling and characters fall flat.The Next Generationis heralded for many as the best series of classic Trek. Meanwhile,Deep Space 9left audiences with a new appreciation for the dark themes the franchise could reach,stretching the limitations of morality in the dire situations forged in times of war.
Voyager,however, disappointed many when it came out. While the show has gained some more appreciation over the years, it still remains a dark spot on the report card for the older series. There is a lot that the program did wrong, fromunflinching acts akin to criminal from Captain Janeway, to some ofthe worst episodes inStar Trekhistory. However, what pushed many viewers over the edge was the character of Neelix, and his vastly inappropriate relationship with Kes.
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Kes was a character who started out with a lot of potential, but quickly spiraled into a convoluted and often flat story arc. It turned out to be a blessingwhen she left the show early(especially considering she was replaced by the brilliant Seven of Nine). Kes was an Ocampan, a race of beings that had a much shorter lifespan than most other humanoids, with a life expectancy of around eight or nine. This short life led to accelerated aging, rapidly growing from infant to fully grown person in the space of a year. When Neelix and Kes joined thethe crew of Voyager, Kes did so with the knowledge that she would never see her home again, but she was ready for the adventure and the chance to see the galaxy in the short years she had left. She was two years old at the time, the human equivalent of being around 20 years old.
The problem a lot of fans have with the on-and-off romantic relationship between Neelix and Kes was the humongous age gap between the two characters. Neelix was in his 30s, while Kes was just two years old. By human standards, this is down right criminal, but the important thing to remember is that Kes is not human. She had only been alive for two years, yes, but by the rules of her own race she was a fully grown woman. She was fully capable of consent, as she possesses an adult mind and body. It would be the equivalent of a Vulcan, who often live to the age of 200, being disgusted at a 60-year-old Vulcan dating a 20-year-old human. 20-year-olds in Vulcan culture are considered very young, but for a human, this perspective seems relatively normal.
Kes' limited years also resulted in a limited amount of understanding of the world. Ocampans learn very quickly, and Kes was as smart as many aboard the ship despite her young age, even becoming an assistant tothe holographic life form Doctor. However, with only one real year of adulthood under her belt, its likely she could have been easily coerced by Neelix and his persuasive want for her companionship. He took her onboard a spaceship where she would never see another member of her race for as long as she lived, missing out on the chance to mate (which for Ocampans happens once in their lifetime). Before meeting him, she was already a victim of abuse from the Kazon. Her life before Neelix had been a short traumatic childhood in a sheltered microcosm, followed by a period of captivity. While she may have been old enough to consent to a relationship, her psychological state brings this into question.
However, the majority of the above could be argued away based on the fact that they’re aliens. The biggest problem in their relationship was that Neelix often treated Kes like he owned her. He was, in many ways, abusive, not physically but often emotionally. He pushed his will onto her from a very early age and then continued to control her when she became old enough to live her own life and make her own decisions. He is shown to be incredibly possessive over her, resulting in a full, testosterone-filled brawl between Neelix and Tom Paris after the latter showed her too much attention. Neelix came across as a slimy, jealous character a lot of the time. While Kes did eventually outgrow him, and they split up in a moment pioneered by her, it felt less sad and more of a relief that audiences won’t have to be subjected to their uncomfortable relationship anymore.
