In the second episode of the first season of Deep Space Nine, Sisko attains closure. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch Star Trek.
Trigger Warning: For talk of grief and trauma.
I’m really looking forward to seeing how Deep Space Nine is going to work. I don’t think that any of the promise given to me in the first half of “Emissary” is ruined here, and if anything, I’m even more excited than I was before. LET’S DISCUSS.
The Crew
I’m hoping that over this first season, I’ll get a better chance to get to know these characters. But I think there’s a decent attempt to introduce them to us through adversity. Their situation is horrifying and increasingly desperate, and because of this, we’re able to see what kind of people are on Deep Space Nine. I have no qualms about stating that Major Kira, played by Nana Visitor, steals the show here in all the scenes set on the space station. It’s so refreshing to see a woman in command unapologetically, and in addition to that, she’s Bajoran. There’s an element to her character that gives this entire conflict a layered meaning that simply would not have been there if Kira had been human. Her people’s longstanding war against Cardassian occupation means EVERYTHING when you look at these scenes. It’s so rewarding to know that the writers are allowing this to happen, too. It’s such a personal story, and it’s happening. She’s the center of most of the action, no one ignores what it means to her to resist the Cardassians, and NO ONE SPEAKS DOWN TO HER BECAUSE OF IT. No one! They all accept her and her authority, and I love it.
And what do we know of the other characters here? So far, there’s not much depth to Quark and Dax, but that’s okay. We’re just starting out! They both contribute to the story when necessary, but I don’t know much about them, aside from Quark constantly wanting to break all the rules because everyone is a big ol’ meanie to him. I’m interested in Dax’s prior time spent with Sisko, too. I feel like there’s a lot more to Doctor Bashir, too, but at least “Emissary” posits that he’s the most naïve character out of the bunch. He’s clearly come from academia straight to the field, and he’s not exactly the best prepared for the job. That doesn’t mean he’s incompetent, and I think the scene in the promenade with Odo demonstrated to us that he’s certainly a highly qualified doctor.
What of Odo, though? I ALREADY WANT HIM TO FIND AN ANSWER TO HIS ORIGIN. How dare you give me such potential so early on!!!! AHHHHH SOMETHING TO OBSESS OVER ALREADY.
You Exist Here
I’m hoping that the unreal things done in this pilot episode are a sign that the writers for Deep Space Nine – many of whom probably wrote for The Next Generation – are willing to take this show and these characters into places unseen within the Star Trek canon. Sisko’s story is intense, emotional, and spiritual, and IT’S THE FIRST FUCKING ONE IN THE WHOLE SHOW. In just ninety minutes, we’re treated to a story about grief, loss, and the difficulty of moving on from the immense pain that those things bring to someone’s life. We just met Benjamin Sisko, and we’re asked to go back to his darkest moment, the death of this wife, and examine why this matters so much to him years after it transpired.
That seems like an obvious answer, but you then have to take into account that all this transpires within a wormhole where non-corporeal beings demand that Sisko explain linear time to them. IT’S ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS AND IT WORKS SO BEAUTIFULLY. By having Sisko confront how time works for humans, it allows him to gain a new perspective on the death of his wife. It helps that these alien beings appear to him in the guise of his friends and family, and I think that’s a huge reason why this episode is as emotional as it is.
But let’s think about this story within the Star Trek universe as a whole. In the very first episode of this show, we watch Sisko in his most vulnerable moment in his life – TWICE. Both when his wife dies and when he accepts that he must live without here. This is what I’m referring to when I talk of potential. If Deep Space Nine is willing to be this risky from the get-go, I think it’s a sign of how thrilling it might be. This episode doesn’t undermine Sisko as a character; if anything, it makes him feel all the more human. And I appreciate that! I like that we’re given a leader who is already flawed, complex, layered, and full of nuance. I’m eager to see if that applies to the other characters, too.
Basically: MORE, PLEASE.
The video for “Emissary, Part II” can be downloaded here for $0.99.
Mark Links Stuff
– I am now on Patreon!!! MANY SURPRISES ARE IN STORE FOR YOU IF YOU SUPPORT ME.
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