T’Lyn is able to combine all the Tuvixed beings into one creature, which is then described by Tendi as a “Non-sentient blob of meat,” handily circumventing the ethical dilemma presented by “Tuvix”.
It really doesn't. It's like you lobotomising someone before you suffocate them with a pillow. Sure you turned the non-sentient blob of meat back into their constituent parts, but you're the one who created the non-sentient blobs from a bunch of sentient beings.
I think we have to take intention into account though. Did T’Lyn know, or at least suspect, that by transporting all the Tuvixed beings that she would be combining them into a single lifeform? We don’t see her react when the transport completes, but she does hesitate before saying she might be able to “split them into their individual components.” I got the impression that her intent was only to transport the various Tuvixi into the brig, not amalgamate them into an abomination in the eyes of both science and the Prophets.
It’s like the transporter accident in TMP that killed commander Sonak and another officer. No one was at fault, but they still died. If Rand figured out a way to restore Sonak to life afterwards, and the only thing would have been impacted was his inside remains, you wouldn’t say it was unethical to do because Rand was the one operating the transporter when the accident occured.
Fair point. It's been a few days since I saw the episode, so didn't recall the nuances.
I did think it was a bit of a shame that one of Trek's most powerful ethical quandaries got so easily and blithely technobabbled away, but such is the nature of comedy. And VOY did pretty much the same thing to the Borg, so turnabout is fair play I suppose.
And speaking of inside remains as a result of transporter accidents, will you do these canon connections posts for the Very Short Treks, (even if they themselves have been declared non-canonical)?
I did think it was a bit of a shame that one of Trek’s most powerful ethical quandaries got so easily and blithely technobabbled away
Personally, I’ve never really thought of it as being that much of a quandary. Janeway’s decision wasn’t much different from what the Vidiians do; she condemned one innocent being to death so his body could be used to save two others. We recognize it’s wrong when the Vidiians are jumping starships to harvest lungs and kidneys, but suddenly we need to have a debate when Janeway is molecularly disentangling Tuvix?
Also, I do think it would have been more interesting to proceed with Tuvix from a storytelling point of view. Obviously that doesn’t work great when you have actors contracted for multiple seasons, but VOY is way too eager to hit the reset button.
The only thing I think could have actually made the Tuvix story something worth debating is if we ever learned what Tuvok and Neelix’s perspectives were after the fact. But we don’t. They never speak of it again. Probably because Janeway threatened to murder anyone on the ship who brings it up.
And speaking of inside remains as a result of transporter accidents, will you do these canon connections posts for the Very Short Treks, (even if they themselves have been declared non-canonical)?
I think that after the season of LDS is done, while we’re waiting Disco season five, I’ll try and do some Non-Canon Connections. I already did the LDS comic mini-series back before the switch to Lemmy. So I’ll probably do all the VST episodes in a single post though so far there seem to be much to work with there. I also started working on one for the PRO video game a while back and I’m about halfway done that. I just got distracted by other games.
Also, I do think it would have been more interesting to proceed with Tuvix from a storytelling point of view. Obviously that doesn’t work great when you have actors contracted for multiple seasons
I was okay with Tuvix being split back apart eventually, but if VOY had fully committed to the serialised nature of its premise I would have loved to have seen Tuvix hang around for, say, 5-10 episodes first. They could still have had Neelix and Tuvok appear in the odd flashback or as holo constructs or something to justify their inclusion in the opening credits. Or, to be even more daring, not have them appear at all and removed Ethan Philips and Tim Russ from the credits for a while, although I don't think this sort of credit manipulation was permitted in the mid-90s. It would have made the impact of killing Tuvix even greater.
They never speak of it again. Probably because Janeway threatened to murder anyone on the ship who brings it up.
And that's what makes her the highly effective officer that she is. :-D
I think that after the season of LDS is done, while we’re waiting Disco season five, I’ll try and do some Non-Canon Connections.