10 Most Controversial Star Trek Episodes

2. Tuvix

Tuvix Quote Star Trek Voyager Janeway Murdered Him
CBS Media Ventures / Paramount Pictures

There simply is no list of controversial episodes of Star Trek that can't feature Tuvix. It is, in its own way, one of Trek's most divisive stories, so much so in fact that Lower Decks has recently dedicated an entire B-plot to its central dilemma.

Tom Wright was given the unenviable task of portraying the doomed transporter creation, a task that he found truly challenging. For example, he stated that even though he received the script in full, he received far less direction than he would have liked as to how to play the character.

Tuvix's pleas for life ignited a debate on Janeway's actions, something that director Cliff Bole was very aware could occur. He felt that Kate Mulgrew's final walk of the episode, directly toward the camera, was one of the strongest performances of her career, summing the pain and resilience of her decision on her face.

The ethical implications of said decision are on full show when even the EMH refuses to carry out the procedure to split Tuvix. Whether one believes that Janeway made the right decision, or straight-up murdered Tuvix, this episode was and remains one of the franchise's most controversial hours.

 
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Writer. Reader. Host. I'm Seán, I live in Ireland and I'm the poster child for dangerous obsessions with Star Trek. Check me out on Twitter @seanferrick