Star Trek: Voyager’s Kathryn Janeway never murdered anyone, not even Tuvix

Star Trek: Lower Decks restarted an annoying debate involving Star Trek: Voyager’s Kathryn Janeway and Tuvix.

Kathryn Janeway didn’t murder anyone during her time as the captain of the USS Voyager on the similarly named series; Star Trek: Voyager. Janeway is often maligned by people on the internet for her decision-making, with some going as far as to claim she’s committed genocide. A stretch worthy of a yoga class.

Is it sexism that makes people declare such bullocks? Who knows, but it’s often misguided and often wrong. But while you can argue whether or not she was right to side with the Borg at any point, what can’t be argued is that she never murdered anyone. Not a single person and no, not even Tuvix.

In a moment that further proves how annoying a show like Star Trek: Lower Decks can be, the show restarted an argument that’s been going on since 1996; Did Janeway murder Tuvix?

Tuvix, for those who don’t know, was a one-off character that came to be when Tuvok and Neelix were merged during a transporter accident. Janeway found a way to save her crewmembers and did so by separating Tuvix back to his original state. Pretty open and shut case.

But some online still claim that Janeway murdered Tuvix by splitting up the accident. Let’s say this once again; Janeway never murdered anyone.

You can’t kill what was never born

He may have had his own uniqueness, but he was never born. He has no family, no moment of conception or creation. He only existed because two people were fused into one. He wasn’t born, he was merged. And all Janeway did was unmerge him. Yes, he had his own uniqueness, but his existence would have killed the two men he was created from. They never gave their consent to be merged into one person.

Fans commonly cite that Tuvix begged to be left be, but no one ever looks at the fact that Tuvok and Neelix never asked to be merged. Why is it in an era of body atonomy, that so many seem to forget that for Tuvix to live, Tuvok and Neelix would have to die? Neelix was with Kes at the time and Tuvok had a wife and several children waiting for him in the Alpha Quadrant.

Yet, fans never consider this when arguing for Tuvix. Yet, a man who had no one and was loved by no one, somehow, should take priority over those who would be missed? What madness is that?

Yet, so many fans argue for Tuvix to be left alone simply because…why? They hate Neelix? It’s truly mind-boggling that a fandom that wholeheartedly quotes Spock’s “needs of the many” can’t seem to fathom why splitting Tuvix back up was the right call.

Tuvok and Neelix didn’t ask for this, and they still matter, even if you prefer Tuvix. Getting back two people that Janeway cared about was the right call. No matter how you slice it. Especially since Tuvix never died. He simply was returned to his natural state; two separate people.

Which was what he always was, and should always be.