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The idea of an invisible race is enjoyable, and so is the idea of Tuvok being reduced to his former self and Neelix caring for him. But somehow I'm left with the idea that there is something missing.
For a xenophobic race the Ba'Neth are quite stupid. First of all, it
downloaded information from the Delta Flyer and attacked Tuvok. So it didn't destroyed the Tricorder? I know Tuvok shouldn't have remembered the frequency, but he remembered it anyway. Or he should've simply been
killed or even taken aboard one of their ships or something. Or even simpler, the Ba'Neth could just be more careful when downloading information.
And when the Ba'Neth armada was revealed, what did they do? Fired! Now that is very stupid. From firing, the Ba'Neth reveal more about their capabilities. They should've just tried to escape from the deflector's range, like they ended up doing anyway.I think the writers did think of what 've said above but want any excuse for having the crew being flung out of their chairs and sparks flying across the Bridge!Tim Russ and Ethan Phillips do a great job here. Especially Phillips' who doesn't get very much material on the show. Russ's shouting seemed worse
than Casey Biggs's (Damar, DS9) squealing in "The Dog's of War" and was a bit painful to watch, but everything else was fine. It was fun watching Neelix wanting to play games and the tight ass Tuvok completely disinterested. These two make for amusing viewing and have a neat little relationship, a relationship that should be explored in more detail.I don't feel that this new Tuvok got the respect he deserved when it came to reversing the aliens damage. There was hardly any debate of his wants which
goes completely opposite of Tuvix's reversal in "Tuvix".This is probably where this episode is a let down, the new Tuvok wants to stay the way he is, but he wants to be what he was too. Neelix discusses it
with him, without letting Tuvok speak and is whisked away to his former self. That's it. The child-Tuvok was a whole new person and should've been able to stand up for himself. Actually I'm surprised he didn't get angry because he did have a temper at the beginning of the episode.I suppose launching into that debate wouldn't have added anything we haven't already heard, and Tuvok did want to become his serious self again anyway.It seems to me that "Riddles" was almost a rehash of "Tuvix" and added nothing new to the situation. I suppose this would've been better if there was any character change in Tuvok, but all we got was him playing along with one of Neelix's riddles, nothing that we will see continue in the future. The child-Tuvok wouldn't really be dead (in a sense) if Tuvok does some of the things that
he wanted to before, like cooking. But I doubt we'll see any change.This could've been better if we got to see the reversal too, more dramatic. And I could see the Ba'Neth reversing their damage one way or the other from
10 minutes into the episode. This obviously going to be a 'reset-button' episode.The story may not be strong but the majority of the acting is. But even stronger is Roxanne Dawson's directing. Cudos to Roxanne. She direct "Riddles" in a fresh and original manner. I loved the bit with the cake! I hope Roxanne return to the Directors chair in the future.
Well, "Riddles" was a good try, but not really memorable which is quite a pity because this episode had some meat, and some possible character changes. If only some more thought was put in, than we could've had a classic, kind of like what often is the case. Oh, well, there is always the next episode.
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