Episode two of DS9 (episode 1 was a double-episode pilot, and there are episode naming discrepancies in TV database sites) starts rough, continuing the trend from Episode 1. We get treated to a creepy grooming session by the lone Cardassian on the station as he inappropriately propositions and touches the wet-behind-the-ears doctor.
The plot arrives shortly, with a former/current Bajoran (spelled correctly—they had a screen showing the name while Kira was doing research) freedom-fighter/terrorist being chased by the Cardassians. The Cardassians pursue him into Bajoran territorial space and blow up his ship, and he is saved only by the ultra-competent hero Miles O’Brien’s blazing transporter skills and quick fingers.
Time heals all wounds, but time also reveals all that was hidden. I’m sure for most audiences in January of 1993 the blatant preaching of the globalist, politically-correct “gospel” was probably not very noticeable. Now, after decades of conditioning and becoming more and more aware of the playbook, they rather stick out.
The “terrorist” uses the “dog-whistle” phrase “Bajora for Bajorans” during his reunification with Kira and his attempts to feel out her loyalties and win her back to his “evil” side. He then proceeds to go about his plot that will either murder millions, or if successful just close the wormhole permanently so all outside groups will lose interest in Bajora and the Bajorans can go back to a homogenous monoculture and restore their freedoms.
Before we lose interest in the plot from rolling our eyes a little too frequently, we have another obligatory space boobs scene, this time with two armed and armored Klingon females. They have to be sure to be seen as strong women, so they have to let their boobs breathe a little through their heavy layers of dress.
We also just had to get a hint of the GOPe brand of “Conservativism, INC.” Odo, of course, knows that the Klingon dames mean trouble and shouldn’t be allowed on the station, and he immediately moves to prevent their access. The Klingon women are armed, and that is against the rules on DS9. They are given the choice of surrendering their firearms or immediately disembarking. They ultimately surrender their weapons and then proceed to collude with the Bajoran Supremacist/Terrorist to remove the Cardassian and Federation interest in Bajora. But you know, as long as it is done legally…
Sisko and Kira come up with a plot to catch the terrorist in his plot so they can legally arrest him, because until he actually kills someone he hasn’t technically committed a crime. The Sisko plot is executed poorly, just as it was planned, and the Bajoran Supremacist/Terrorist is only defeated thanks to the quick actions of Kira along with a little bit of luck.
Other minor lessons of note in this episode:
Sisko, as the leading envoy of the benevolent, peaceful, and enlightened Federation, threatens Kira with decapitation for going over his head to his school-marm boss, the Admiral Bureaucrat. Admiral Bureaucrat then dresses the masculine Sisko down for not putting Strong Female #1 in her place earlier.
Odo breaks all the laws of conservation of mass again in this episode, going two for two so far. In this episode, he also casually reveals that he can’t make the Bajoran facial features in his shape-changing because it is too difficult for some reason, but only after he’s perfectly mimicked the detailed form of a rat.
I’ve never taken Star Trek seriously as science fiction. I am not being led to change my mind. The setting is superficially science fiction, but it is all meaningless trappings without any scientific thought behind it. It is dumb science fiction at best. It is certainly not space opera like Star Wars. So what are we left with? I’m not sure. Maybe it just is dumb science fiction. Let me hear your thoughts on the proper categorization, as well as feedback on the rest of this post and this episode.
Final Grade: F
The acting was better this episode—a little better, anyway. The writing was still not good, the plot was not good, the setting was not good, the morals were not good. I can’t really find anything redeemable or enjoyable about this one, except maybe the space boobs. Yay space boobs!