Star Trek: 10 Behind The Scenes Secrets From Caretaker
1. It Was Heartless And No One Cared About Neelix From The Beginning
Michael Piller was ultimately not satisifed with the episode. While it had taken those learnings from Emissary and dialed up the action-adventure side of things, he felt that the show lacked a heart. Tom Paris received, as far as Piller was concerned, the most exposure and arc in the episode, while the rest of the characters received far less.
He did say that the action story played off the characters, rather than the other way around. In a way, this was a success, as it showed audiences how they would react under certain circumstances. There was, however, a glaring issue in Piller's eyes.
Neelix.
Ethan Phillips joined the cast in the role that became Neelix, but the version of the character in Caretaker is quite different to what he would go on to evolve into. He is more conniving, amoral outside of his attempts to save Kes. This was, in Piller's mind, a problem that Caretaker failed to resolve. From his first appearance in the junkyard to his scene on the bridge at the end of the pilot, Neelix receives perhaps the least amount of redemption out of everyone. It was a rocky start for the character who has, sadly, failed to gain the love of a large portion of the fanbase in the years that have passed.