I didn’t know that Ethan Phillips did that performance while being effectively blind and deaf. Impressive!
Hah, reminds me of the time Bender tried to become a cook on Futurama.
“There was nothing wrong with that food. The salt level was 10% less than a lethal dose.”
I can’t remember the exact scene or episode for the life of me, but she’s talking to some male member of the crew and asks to keep something a secret between them “because neelix gets jealous”. She felt the need to hide just because of how she figured he would react.
I was trying tro relate to kablez's context statement to be honest, though now I'm wishing I hadn't so my position would be clearer. But her literal age really doesn't matter; her "world experience" is what matters. Or her lack thereof rather. Neelix, at times, seem's to be taking advantage of someone who is young and naive. Neelix absolutely does evolve past it and becomes quite good friends with Tom later on. The last scene of "Parturition" always makes me smile. But up until that point I always find Neelix and Kes's scenes a little bit cringey.

Now imagine if Robert Picardo had gotten the Neelix role like he wanted and Ethan Phillips was cast as the Doctor.
Tuvok would never admit it but they're secretly besties.

eh? I just don't like the way he reacted to Kes trying to have a friend in her short time in the universe (Tom Paris).
He was in a short lived show called Avenue 5 which I can only describe as "The Love Boat" in space. And he was hilarious! https://youtu.be/CUVFAgwdfEQ
Naw you aren't wrong, he is possessive as shit over his 3 year old girlfriend. But lets blame the writers for that and not the character.
In another timeline we would have had Robert Picardo as Neelix. That's the role he initially auditioned for!

“I am both confused and, if we’re being totally honest, a little aroused”