Definitely the best episode of the series so far - I gave it a 9. I'm very glad that they didn't simply hit the DS9 nostalgia keg without having something to actually say; the throughline of uncertainty about how SAM should be as an emissary and relating it to Sisko's own experiences were meaningful. Jake's return was great too, and Lofton's delivery was very heartfelt and sincere in a way which put a lovely cap on Jake's story. The borrowed lines from Brooks were also great, and when the early DS9 theme played in the credits I teared up a little. Most importantly, I'm glad they didn't solve the mystery.
I wasn't particularly keen on the B-plot, or at least how they went about it; the message was perfectly fine, but the dinner scenes felt like they would have been better off in an episode more on its level in terms of humour. I didn't care overly about the bar scenes either, but it didn't bother me too much. Perhaps in a time where episodes were still 45 mins or so, those parts would have been cut for time. It might have made the episode near-perfect if they had, but I don't resent their presence.
As a side note, when Caleb was messing around with SAM's program, I wondered if SAM's Makers would have something to say about letting an organic modify and change her (even with her consent). It didn't have any relevance in this episode, but with SAM choosing to take her own path as her people's emissary, I expect that growing divergence and self-determination to come back as a plot point down the line given her Makers were not pleased with being essentially hung up on.
Anyway - great episode, best of the series so far. It risked getting in its own way with the non A-plot stuff but did a good job of telling a meaningful story that uses DS9 nostalgia in a positive way that relates to the characters. Can't ask much more than that.
I wasn't particularly keen on the B-plot, or at least how they went about it; the message was perfectly fine, but the dinner scenes felt like they would have been better off in an episode more on its level in terms of humour. I didn't care overly about the bar scenes either, but it didn't bother me too much. Perhaps in a time where episodes were still 45 mins or so, those parts would have been cut for time. It might have made the episode near-perfect if they had, but I don't resent their presence.
As a side note, when Caleb was messing around with SAM's program, I wondered if SAM's Makers would have something to say about letting an organic modify and change her (even with her consent). It didn't have any relevance in this episode, but with SAM choosing to take her own path as her people's emissary, I expect that growing divergence and self-determination to come back as a plot point down the line given her Makers were not pleased with being essentially hung up on.
Anyway - great episode, best of the series so far. It risked getting in its own way with the non A-plot stuff but did a good job of telling a meaningful story that uses DS9 nostalgia in a positive way that relates to the characters. Can't ask much more than that.
