He directed "The Illusion of Truth", "The Deconstruction of Falling Stars", and "The Corps is Mother, the Corps is Father".
Oh, absolutely. I didn't mean to imply otherwise.
In "honor" of "By Inferno's Light", I took Trump's Escalator Speech from 2015, changed all the necessary terms around, and gave it to Dukat. 
I hope you enjoy and get a kick out of it in the spirit I intended it in.
.
,
,
Stardate 50564.2 (Earth Date 25 July 2373 C.E.)
Gul Dukat rides down a golden escalator as he rises to power on Cardassia, after they've joined the Dominion. Dukat completely ignores that he's under the Dominion's thumb and delivers this address.
I also think it's quite eerie how easily I was able to translate our world into Star Trek's. Let me illustrate this further.
The escalator is symbolic. Dukat's actions defy his intentions. He thinks he's rising to power and rising Cardassia's standing in the process, but what going down the escalator shows is his decent in joining the Dominion, his descent in making a deal with the Devil, and it symbolizes Cardassia's descent as it's on its way to becoming disposable cannon-fodder for the Dominion.
I hope you enjoy and get a kick out of it in the spirit I intended it in.
.
,
,
Stardate 50564.2 (Earth Date 25 July 2373 C.E.)
Gul Dukat rides down a golden escalator as he rises to power on Cardassia, after they've joined the Dominion. Dukat completely ignores that he's under the Dominion's thumb and delivers this address.
Cardassia is in serious trouble. We are not respected by anyone. We are a laughingstock all over the Alpha Quadrant.
The Federation, the Klingons, and the Maquis are all beating us. Everybody is beating us. Our enemies are getting stronger and we are getting weaker.
The Detapa Council is all talk and no action. They will never be able to fix our world. They will never bring us to the Promised Land, and I cannot sit back and watch this incompetence any longer.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am now officially the Absolute Ruler of all Cardassia.
While I love my legacy and what I have built, I love my world even more. When was the last time Cardassia won at anything? When was the last time we beat the Ferengi or Romulans in trade? Or the Maquis in the Demilitarized Zone? Or anybody in negotiation? When was the last time we had a military victory that was so complete and total that the other side just said, “We Quit!” It just doesn’t happen for the Cardassian Union anymore.
Our world needs and deserves a comeback… but we are not going to get that comeback with politicians. Politicians are not the solution to our problems-- they are the problem. They are almost completely controlled by lobbyists, donors and the special interests—they do not have the best interests of our people at heart.
We will never achieve our full potential if we send yet another politician to run the Detapa Council. They will grow government, not cut it -- they will grow debt, not stop it. We are right now in a massive bubble that could be ready to explode — real unemployment in the range of 20%, artificially induced low interest rates, and a stock market that bears no relation to reality-- are symptoms of something that could be catastrophic. We better have a great leader who truly understands what’s going on.
Our world has a debt which will soon pass 20 trillion bars. We have unsecured borders. There are over 90 million Cardassians who have given up looking for work. We have 45 million Cardassians on food stamps and nearly 50 million Cardassians living in poverty.
Clearly, our previous so-called “leaders” in the Detapa Council have failed us. They have failed to honor their sacred duty to care for our veterans and their families. They have failed to keep our military strong and vibrant. Through gross incompetence, we give billions of bars of high grade military equipment to our enemies. Our previous leaders truly didn’t have a clue!
At the same time, the Alpha Quadrant is becoming far more dangerous every day. The Klingons are racing towards developing biogenic weapons. The Federation is exponentially expanding its military power. The Maquis are beheading Cardassians simply for being Cardassian. On Ronara Prime, Maquis terrorists killed our diplomats without any consequences. The Klingons and the Federation, separately, are taking over vast areas in the Alpha Quadrant and with it the largest dilithium reserves in the Quadrant. Our previous leaders had no plan.
The Cardassia we love would've continued its decline because Cardassia was broken. We will never fix Cardassia from the inside unless we have someone running the government from the outside. It is time for government to be run efficiently and effectively. It is time to get things done, and by done I mean properly done.
This is our time to once again make our government a government of Cardassians, by Cardassians and for Cardassians. That is why today I am declaring my rulership. I will Make Cardassia Great Again.
We will change Cardassia together and defeat the special interests. I am not a politician. I can’t be bought. I didn't run around the Cardassian Union begging people for money for my campaign. I won’t owe anybody anything. I won’t be beholden to anyone except to you, the Cardassian people.
It is time to take our world in a bold new direction. It is time to get Cardassians back to work.
It is way past time to build a massive defense perimeter to secure our southern border – and nobody can build a bigger and defense perimeter than Gul Dukat. An interstellar power without borders is, quite simply, not an interstellar power. The Federation is not our friend. They are beating us at the border and hurting us badly at economic development. They are sending people that they don’t want—the Demilitarized Zone is becoming a dumping ground for the Quadrant.
It is of primary importance to take care of our veterans and their families -- to make sure that every veteran has access to great medical care and attention. Our veterans are our heroes but are treated as third-class citizens. It is essential to rebuild our military so we have a strong presence that will send a clear message to our enemies that Cardassia is the leader of the Alpha Quadrant. As proved time and again, there is only peace through strength.
The government must honor its obligations to our seniors. We must protect Social Order Security and Central Medical Care and Aid, without cuts… there will no longer be any waste, fraud and abuse on my watch. DetapaCare must be repealed and replaced with something far superior and at far less cost.
Likewise, we must greatly simplify our tax code. Our middle class, which has been totally forgotten, will thrive once again under Gul Dukat.
It is time to stop sending jobs to outside worlds through bad foreign trade deals. We will renegotiate our trade deals with the toughest negotiators Cardassia has… the ones who have actually read "The Neverending Sacrifice" and know how to make great deals for Cardassia.
It is time to close loopholes for Dawall Street and create far more opportunities for small businesses.
It is necessary that we invest in our infrastructure, stop sending foreign aid to countries that hate us and use that money to rebuild our tunnels, roads, bridges and schools—and nobody can do that better than I.
We have to stop Common Center. We must keep education local and under parental control. Unelected Detapa Council bureaucrats shouldn’t determine what is best for our children.
It is important for our allies to know they can once again depend on us. We will no longer bow down to our enemies.
We must stand by the Dominion. We will remind the world that a threat against the Dominion is a threat against the Cardassians.
We need to stop the Klingons from developing biogenic weapons. We cannot allow a biogenic arms race in the Alpha Quadrant.
It is time to defeat the Maquis. With a proper plan, it can be done quickly and effectively.
It is time to get tough with the Romulans on currency manipulation and espionage. We will tax the Romulans for each bad act, and if they continue then we will tax them at an even higher level.
Quite simply, it is time to bring real leadership to Cardassia.
The fact is, the Cardassian Dream was dead -- but now that I am in charge, I will bring it back bigger and better and stronger than ever before.
Rest assured, together we will Make Cardassia Great Again!
Thank You!
It's scary to see Dukat refer to himself in the third person at times, with the way I have this. And yes, having Dukat take forever to even mention the Dominion is intentional. I think both of these feeds very well into the gigantic ego he has.I also think it's quite eerie how easily I was able to translate our world into Star Trek's. Let me illustrate this further.
The escalator is symbolic. Dukat's actions defy his intentions. He thinks he's rising to power and rising Cardassia's standing in the process, but what going down the escalator shows is his decent in joining the Dominion, his descent in making a deal with the Devil, and it symbolizes Cardassia's descent as it's on its way to becoming disposable cannon-fodder for the Dominion.
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The Dominion? They’re great people, frankly. Very talented. We’re going to work with them, and we’re going to get such a good deal. The best deal. We’re going to have so much dilithium, you won’t even know what to do with it. You’ll be tired of winning.
- Donald Dukat, once, probably.
- Donald Dukat, once, probably.
"Atonement" (B5 S4E9)
Something I forgot to mention about "The Illusion of Truth":
NEXT UP: "By Inferno's Light". Promise! Just had to get my thoughts about "Atonement" out because I watched it first.
Without having seen it, now it makes sense why so many like to watch In the Beginning after "Atonement", because "Atonement" really does show a lot of the beginning. The Minbari want to force Delenn to face the truth before pursuing her romantic relationship with Sheridan any further. A truth that not even Lennier knows about. And what a reveal!
10 years before the start of the series, the Grey Council was split 4-4 between going to war with Earth or not, with only Delenn's vote still remaining. Earth, having misunderstood the Minbari's intentions, attacked them, killing Delenn's mentor Dukhat. Talk about a First Contact situation with disastrous consequences! It was a surprise to see that Delenn was the one who cast the deciding vote to go to war against Earth! But the way the episode is framed, it makes sense. Delenn was extremely upset about the loss of Dukhat and by the time she came back to her senses and was at a point where she could make decisions that were less emotional, it was too late. Earth and the Minbari were at war.
It was a tragedy on two levels. A tragedy that Earth attacked. A tragedy that the Minbari reciprocated. A tragedy that Delenn couldn't do anything about it once she came back to her senses. Especially knowing that Delenn would have a hand in ending the war once they captured Sinclair and found out that he was connected to the Minbari.
Seeing Delenn is a full-on Minbari Minbari in the flashbacks took me back. Getting to see Dukhat as an actual character instead of the name of a person who died before the series started was interesting as well. He wasn't anything like what I expected. He was far wiser than what I expected. More enlightened than what I would expect a warrior to be like, considering how arrogant, stubborn, and sometimes thickheaded the Warrior Caste can seem. It's good when a character defies expectations like that.
The biggest surprise was finding out, as Delenn finds out for the first time in looking back, that Dukhat was trying to tell Delenn she's a descendant of Valen. In Valen's name! Sinclair was Delenn's too-many-greats-to-count-grandfather!
The way Delenn is able to convince her fellow Minbari that nothing disruptive will come her and Sheridan being lovers makes perfect sense. She's not a pure Minbari, so no children she'd ever have could ever be pure Minbari either, Sheridan or not.
I have a feeling, more than a feeling, that Dukhat will be in In the Beginning. At this point, if he wasn't, then that would be the surprise to me, not the other way around.
When Delenn returns to Babylon 5, she doesn't tell him about her being the deciding vote in the Earth-Minbari War. She also doesn't tell him that she's a descendant of Valen. How do you mention stuff like that in casual conversation? But because she didn't here, I imagine Sheridan will find out later. The question is: will she tell him by choice, will she be forced to tell, or will he find out from someone/somewhere else?
The B-Plot: The seeds for this were already planted in "The Illusion of Truth". Sheridan's father has gone missing. The concern is that he might be dead. If not, Clark could use it as blackmail against Sheridan.
Sheridan also happens to be sending Franklin and Marcus to Mars to check in with the Martian Resistance to Earth. They offer to check up on Sheridan's father on Earth, but Sheridan has to make a tough call. He tells them not to check up on his father, to avoid risking exposure. Stick to the Martian Resistance.
Sheridan has resolve and he knows his father has resolve. Like Sheridan, Sheridan's father is a survivor. I think we'll either see his father later in the season or he'll die off-screen. Or they'll split the difference. We'll see him, but then he'll die.
Enough speculating from me. For this one, I'll go with a 9.
10 years before the start of the series, the Grey Council was split 4-4 between going to war with Earth or not, with only Delenn's vote still remaining. Earth, having misunderstood the Minbari's intentions, attacked them, killing Delenn's mentor Dukhat. Talk about a First Contact situation with disastrous consequences! It was a surprise to see that Delenn was the one who cast the deciding vote to go to war against Earth! But the way the episode is framed, it makes sense. Delenn was extremely upset about the loss of Dukhat and by the time she came back to her senses and was at a point where she could make decisions that were less emotional, it was too late. Earth and the Minbari were at war.
It was a tragedy on two levels. A tragedy that Earth attacked. A tragedy that the Minbari reciprocated. A tragedy that Delenn couldn't do anything about it once she came back to her senses. Especially knowing that Delenn would have a hand in ending the war once they captured Sinclair and found out that he was connected to the Minbari.
Seeing Delenn is a full-on Minbari Minbari in the flashbacks took me back. Getting to see Dukhat as an actual character instead of the name of a person who died before the series started was interesting as well. He wasn't anything like what I expected. He was far wiser than what I expected. More enlightened than what I would expect a warrior to be like, considering how arrogant, stubborn, and sometimes thickheaded the Warrior Caste can seem. It's good when a character defies expectations like that.
The biggest surprise was finding out, as Delenn finds out for the first time in looking back, that Dukhat was trying to tell Delenn she's a descendant of Valen. In Valen's name! Sinclair was Delenn's too-many-greats-to-count-grandfather!
The way Delenn is able to convince her fellow Minbari that nothing disruptive will come her and Sheridan being lovers makes perfect sense. She's not a pure Minbari, so no children she'd ever have could ever be pure Minbari either, Sheridan or not.
I have a feeling, more than a feeling, that Dukhat will be in In the Beginning. At this point, if he wasn't, then that would be the surprise to me, not the other way around.
When Delenn returns to Babylon 5, she doesn't tell him about her being the deciding vote in the Earth-Minbari War. She also doesn't tell him that she's a descendant of Valen. How do you mention stuff like that in casual conversation? But because she didn't here, I imagine Sheridan will find out later. The question is: will she tell him by choice, will she be forced to tell, or will he find out from someone/somewhere else?
The B-Plot: The seeds for this were already planted in "The Illusion of Truth". Sheridan's father has gone missing. The concern is that he might be dead. If not, Clark could use it as blackmail against Sheridan.
Sheridan also happens to be sending Franklin and Marcus to Mars to check in with the Martian Resistance to Earth. They offer to check up on Sheridan's father on Earth, but Sheridan has to make a tough call. He tells them not to check up on his father, to avoid risking exposure. Stick to the Martian Resistance.
Sheridan has resolve and he knows his father has resolve. Like Sheridan, Sheridan's father is a survivor. I think we'll either see his father later in the season or he'll die off-screen. Or they'll split the difference. We'll see him, but then he'll die.
Enough speculating from me. For this one, I'll go with a 9.
Something I forgot to mention about "The Illusion of Truth":
Got to love it when biased news media have an academic to their spin the appearance of credibility. Just because you have a doctorate, just because you're an expert, doesn't mean you can't distort the truth. People like this are even worse than the brainwashed masses, because they should know better. Nevertheless, Henry Darrow plays the part perfectly. I could easily see him as an actual college professor. And yes, I did recognize him as Chakotay's father!
NEXT UP: "By Inferno's Light". Promise! Just had to get my thoughts about "Atonement" out because I watched it first.
I recently got the DVDs of ds9, probably due for a rewatch
"By Inferno's Light"
A lot of foreshadowing in this episode. But first things first: Dukat's joining the Dominion took me by surprise back in 1997. Although I agreed with him on one point when he said to Kira, "You and me on the same side? It never felt quite right, did it?" It always felt a little odd, even though Kira pushed back against it during Season 4. And when Dukat said he'd been in negotiation with the Dominion for months, it actually tracks. The last time we saw him in the series' "present" timeframe was "Apocalypse Rising" back at the beginning of the season. Which, with how much everything's changed, feels like an eternity ago. The first half of Season 5 and the second half of Season 5 don't even feel like the same season. But it's a testament to how DS9 wasn't afraid to change things up, even when you least expected it.
Sisko, Kira, Dax, and everyone else's reactions when Dukat made his speech from the Cardassia Prime said it all. Topping it all off is when Kira tells Ziyal she wouldn't believe Dukat if he said rain was wet. Interestingly, Kira doesn't answer Ziyal's question when she asks Kira if she thinks Dukat's evil. Kira simply says you have to judge people by what they do, not what they say. Kira knows what Dukat's done, so, yes, I think Kira thinks Dukat's evil. She just doesn't want make Ziyal even more upset, by saying so outright.
Dukat's something else. He disowns Ziyal for not siding with him. He pledges everything Cardassia lost will be regained. And he telegraphs what will happen in the Season Finale when he tells Sisko that he's going to retake DS9 since it was built by Cardassians. I love Sisko's comeback when he tells him he thought it was built by Bajoran Slave Labor.
It's a good thing the Klingons and the Romulans also see how big of a threat the Dominion is and have sent reinforcements to DS9, and the Federation, Klingons, and Romulans prepare to face off for what they think are the Dominion and Cardassian fleets heading back to the station.
The Changeling "Bashir" seems just like the normal Bashir right up until the moment, he's on the Runabout, takes it over, and plans to head towards the Bajoran Sun to destroy DS9 and the combined Federation/Klingon/Romulan Fleet all in one go. After the "Bashir" Changeling is stopped, Sisko comments on how good of a plan it was for the Dominion to try to wipe them all out without firing a single shot. I only half-agree with Sisko. I think if the Dominion really had everything together and planned out, they wouldn't have counted on just the "Bashir" Changeling. They would've had a backup in case he didn't pull through and a backup for the backup.
Nice to see Gowron come back to his senses. At least as much as Gowron can. In "Apocalypse Rising" he said that war couldn't be stopped once blood was spilled. But now there was another war, a more challenging war, and it allowed Gowron to switch gears and sign into the Khitomer Accords once again. The Klingons being at odds with the Federation just isn't normal for the TNG Era so, as great as those episodes were with the hostilities renewed, I'm glad that it's been put behind us now. Even better than peace between the Federation and the Klingons restored will be Martok having a permanent presence on the station, going forward.
In the Dominion Internment Camp, Worf faces the Jem'Hadar and Garak faces his fears of claustrophobia while trying to change the signal of Tain's transmitter to send a transmission to the Runabout to beam them out of the Internment Camp. It was great to watch Worf fight the Jem'Hadar. And it was great to see Garak face his fears. BUT, and it's a big BUT, you'd think the Internment Camp would have shields to prevent beaming. Even the Klingons had that on Rura Penthe in Star Trek VI, 80 years earlier. You'd think the Dominion would think of it too, but that's just a nitpick and something I didn't think of until now.
Worf's resolve is 100% ironclad, "I will not yield!!!" and he beats every Jem'Hadar he's in a match with, until the Jem'Hadar First decides to fight with Worf himself. Worf doesn't yield even when he no longer has the stamina to keep going. Then the Jem'Hadar First delivers the best line of the episode, "I cannot defeat this man. All I can do is kill him, and that no longer interests me."
I kept waiting for the Jem'Hadar to ask, "Where's Garak?" and it takes until toward the end of the episode. Figures that Dukat would want him executed. The other nitpick I have here is that you'd think the Dominion would be able to detect where Garak is. But I guess not. It's a little suspenseful and it feels like you're watching a Prison Movie where Garak's trying to make it possible for everyone to escape while they distract the Prison Guards. The Breen and the Jem'Hadar who kill each other simultaneously was something I remembered, but I didn't remember that it happened in this episode! And of course, Garak pulls through literally right in the nick of time. There's also a bookend with this two-parter where Worf and Garak now have some degree of respect for each other, after this whole ordeal.
Overall, a very satisfying gamechanger of an episode that sets up the rest of the season. I give it a 10.
BTW, I might as well say this now: I'm going to enjoy Sane Dukat while he's still around, because the clock's ticking, and I'm not a fan of Crazy Dukat.
A lot of foreshadowing in this episode. But first things first: Dukat's joining the Dominion took me by surprise back in 1997. Although I agreed with him on one point when he said to Kira, "You and me on the same side? It never felt quite right, did it?" It always felt a little odd, even though Kira pushed back against it during Season 4. And when Dukat said he'd been in negotiation with the Dominion for months, it actually tracks. The last time we saw him in the series' "present" timeframe was "Apocalypse Rising" back at the beginning of the season. Which, with how much everything's changed, feels like an eternity ago. The first half of Season 5 and the second half of Season 5 don't even feel like the same season. But it's a testament to how DS9 wasn't afraid to change things up, even when you least expected it.
Sisko, Kira, Dax, and everyone else's reactions when Dukat made his speech from the Cardassia Prime said it all. Topping it all off is when Kira tells Ziyal she wouldn't believe Dukat if he said rain was wet. Interestingly, Kira doesn't answer Ziyal's question when she asks Kira if she thinks Dukat's evil. Kira simply says you have to judge people by what they do, not what they say. Kira knows what Dukat's done, so, yes, I think Kira thinks Dukat's evil. She just doesn't want make Ziyal even more upset, by saying so outright.
Dukat's something else. He disowns Ziyal for not siding with him. He pledges everything Cardassia lost will be regained. And he telegraphs what will happen in the Season Finale when he tells Sisko that he's going to retake DS9 since it was built by Cardassians. I love Sisko's comeback when he tells him he thought it was built by Bajoran Slave Labor.
It's a good thing the Klingons and the Romulans also see how big of a threat the Dominion is and have sent reinforcements to DS9, and the Federation, Klingons, and Romulans prepare to face off for what they think are the Dominion and Cardassian fleets heading back to the station.
The Changeling "Bashir" seems just like the normal Bashir right up until the moment, he's on the Runabout, takes it over, and plans to head towards the Bajoran Sun to destroy DS9 and the combined Federation/Klingon/Romulan Fleet all in one go. After the "Bashir" Changeling is stopped, Sisko comments on how good of a plan it was for the Dominion to try to wipe them all out without firing a single shot. I only half-agree with Sisko. I think if the Dominion really had everything together and planned out, they wouldn't have counted on just the "Bashir" Changeling. They would've had a backup in case he didn't pull through and a backup for the backup.
Nice to see Gowron come back to his senses. At least as much as Gowron can. In "Apocalypse Rising" he said that war couldn't be stopped once blood was spilled. But now there was another war, a more challenging war, and it allowed Gowron to switch gears and sign into the Khitomer Accords once again. The Klingons being at odds with the Federation just isn't normal for the TNG Era so, as great as those episodes were with the hostilities renewed, I'm glad that it's been put behind us now. Even better than peace between the Federation and the Klingons restored will be Martok having a permanent presence on the station, going forward.
In the Dominion Internment Camp, Worf faces the Jem'Hadar and Garak faces his fears of claustrophobia while trying to change the signal of Tain's transmitter to send a transmission to the Runabout to beam them out of the Internment Camp. It was great to watch Worf fight the Jem'Hadar. And it was great to see Garak face his fears. BUT, and it's a big BUT, you'd think the Internment Camp would have shields to prevent beaming. Even the Klingons had that on Rura Penthe in Star Trek VI, 80 years earlier. You'd think the Dominion would think of it too, but that's just a nitpick and something I didn't think of until now.
Worf's resolve is 100% ironclad, "I will not yield!!!" and he beats every Jem'Hadar he's in a match with, until the Jem'Hadar First decides to fight with Worf himself. Worf doesn't yield even when he no longer has the stamina to keep going. Then the Jem'Hadar First delivers the best line of the episode, "I cannot defeat this man. All I can do is kill him, and that no longer interests me."
I kept waiting for the Jem'Hadar to ask, "Where's Garak?" and it takes until toward the end of the episode. Figures that Dukat would want him executed. The other nitpick I have here is that you'd think the Dominion would be able to detect where Garak is. But I guess not. It's a little suspenseful and it feels like you're watching a Prison Movie where Garak's trying to make it possible for everyone to escape while they distract the Prison Guards. The Breen and the Jem'Hadar who kill each other simultaneously was something I remembered, but I didn't remember that it happened in this episode! And of course, Garak pulls through literally right in the nick of time. There's also a bookend with this two-parter where Worf and Garak now have some degree of respect for each other, after this whole ordeal.
Overall, a very satisfying gamechanger of an episode that sets up the rest of the season. I give it a 10.
BTW, I might as well say this now: I'm going to enjoy Sane Dukat while he's still around, because the clock's ticking, and I'm not a fan of Crazy Dukat.
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It's a great, though not flawless two-parter:
On a rewatch, I felt FauxBashir was a bit obvious. Not so much on the initial viewing, but there's this bit of smugness or such to his performance.
Why is the runabout still around for Our Heroes to beam to? I'm glad this is actually raised as a plot point in a later episode.
On a rewatch, I felt FauxBashir was a bit obvious. Not so much on the initial viewing, but there's this bit of smugness or such to his performance.
Why is the runabout still around for Our Heroes to beam to? I'm glad this is actually raised as a plot point in a later episode.
Not Fauxshir? Foolian?
Foolian is perfect!
Mr. T: "I pity the Foolian!"
"Dr. Bashir, I Presume?"
The teaser of the episode, Rom trying to work up the courage to ask out Leeta. I have to be blunt. Rom tries to work up the courage with all of his might... but it was too painful and cringey to watch. First Rom's "Hello Leeta... (awkward pause)... Bye!" And then Quark telling Leeta that Rom's an Engineer and that he's looking for someone with "beauty and brains." Come on! "I have brains!" "Sure you do, honey, that's why I hired you." Before someone says, "It was made in the '90s!," it still wasn't funny even back then. Backwards Ferengi or not. I'm talking about the Quark/Leeta exchange. With the Rom/Leeta exchange, that fell flat too. But I've got a feeling we're up for a Rom-Com B-Plot, so it'll be up to the A-Plot to carry things.,,
... and nice way to end the Teaser with Dr. Louis Zimmerman introducing himself to Bashir. Picking up from after the opening credits, Zimmerman talks to Sisko and Bashir about the EHM Programs (and gets anyone who doesn't watch VOY up to speed), and then talks about how Starfleet wants to create long-term medical holograms. I find this really amusing since no one in the Alpha Quadrant has any idea was going on in Star Trek: Voyager at this point. If only Zimmerman knew...
One exchange that works even better now than it did in 1997: as soon as Zimmerman tells Sisko and Bashir about the LMH (Long-Term Medical Holographic Program), they ask if Starfleet wants to replace actual Starfleet Doctors, and Zimmerman remarked about how he's always asked about that. Reminds me of whenever someone is concerned that AI will take their job. I think AI will not. First off, in 2026 (when I'm writing this), Present Day AI has limitations and can't think outside the box. It can only figure out information based on what it already has available to it. And in 2373, even if AI is better, Humanoids will still want to be accommodated and may still be able to think of things in ways that AI can't. Not better, just different. So no, nothing will go totally AI in either the 21st Century or the 24th. End of Soapbox.
Anyway, the LMH would only be used in places where resources and life support are at a premium but they'll still need a doctor. I think in such a scenario, I think they'd be screwed if power ever went out. No Doctor! But moving right along.
Then comes the next chapter in the Rom-Com Plot. Zimmerman likes Leeta. Then back to the A-Plot.
Bashir hasn't learned anything from Garak. Anything at all. Bashir tells Zimmerman not to interview his parents when Zimmerman says he'll be interviewing everyone who knows him. So, naturally, what's the very next thing Zimmerman wants to do? Contact Bashir's parents! If Bashir were smarter about this, he would've told his parents not tell Zimmerman about his genetic engineering. "But they're not close!" Exactly. If they're not close, then Bashir contacting them would mean it's serious!
10 minutes in and it's a case of this is an episode I wanted to like more than I do. Bob Picardo on DS9! But the B-Plot is misogynistic, and Bashir made a fatally bone-headed move in the A-Plot.
Shout out to the wardrobe continuity! Zimmerman is dressed the same way as he was on VOY. Complete with the terrible hair and the lab coat.
I got a kick out of Zimmerman interviewing everyone about Bashir, and the way the interview flowed from person to person, from point to point, with O'Brien asking "Are you sure he won't hear about this?", and then it ends with Leeta. And back to the Rom-Com Plot. Cue laugh track.
Rom starts feeling his lobes. Ummm... this is a Ferengi masturbating! Ugh. And he sees Leeta on a date with Zimmerman. While still stroking his lobe... I can't believe I'm typing this. Then Rom barges in on Leeta and Zimmerman's date. Okay, I think Zimmerman is an asshole, but Rom this is NOT the way to handle things! Here I am talking to him as if he can hear me!
Then Bashir's parents arrive. Yup. Gotta love parents. Bashir's father is the one who wanted Bashir to be a Doctor. Makes sense. It's the stereotype of the parents who want their kids to be a Doctor or a Lawyer. Right up there with "Get a degree in Business!" My paternal grandmother wanted me to be a Doctor. My father tried shoving Business School down my throat. Then there's another "favorite" of mine that I've heard from my father from time-to-time, every now and then, since I was 16, "Get a haircut!" But anyway... we're talking about Bashir's parents! Needless to say, I feel Bashir's pain when it comes to Parent Issues. And I'm glad -- for him -- that what his father wanted him to do was also something that he wants to do. He's a very good Doctor who cares a lot. I'd love to have Bashir as a doctor IRL.
Bashir's Father always bragging and making it sound like he's accomplished more than he has, I got a kick out of that.
I also get a kick out of Zimmerman bringing Leeta flowers and telling her about an opening at a Cafe on Jupiter Station that she'd be perfect for. Cue laugh track when Leeta comes out to greet Zimmeran undressed with her back facing the camera, so the censors don't see anything. This is also Bad Sitcom Fodder but this time it works!
So now this is the point where I have to stop the review. I've been invited to go to some bar. So, I'm going. Hanging out with someone I haven't seen in a while.
,
,
,
And I'm back! I had two bottles of Guinness Beer. "I've never seen you drink Guinness before!" my friend said, then I said, "That's why I'm having it!" I'm not a fan of beer, as I've mentioned before, I don't normally have it, but the place we were at, I figured, "Why not?" It's that kind of place. Pizza and beer.
Anyway, I've got this horrible aftertaste now, because of the beer. Wine wouldn't do that. That's why wine is better. So, I took some Listerine to take some of the aftertaste out. It worked. Kind of. Not really.
I'm putting "Dr. Bashir, I Presume?" back on. I almost typed "Our Man Bashir". I refuse to believe that Guinness made me tipsy. But it was thick and extra stout, so I'll give it that... I am tipsy. Doesn't matter. I'm continuing on, anyway. I can still type. Right?
,
,
,
To this episode's credit, it takes until half-way through before it's even mentioned that Bashir and his parents have a Deep Dark Secret to hide from Zimmerman. That argument between Bashir and his parents and Bashir wanting to take this seriously, before they start shouting and Bashir leaves feels very true. A couple of scenes and I feel like I know these characters. That's effective writing. They really nailed it.
Back to the Rom-Com B-Plot. Friend-zoned Rom is asked by Leeta what she should do about Zimmerman. Rom wants to say something, doesn't, then says, "I don't know." Cue laugh track. Leeta lays it on so thick, it's hitting Rom over the head with a club. She wants to stay on DS9 instead of go with Zimmerman to Jupiter Station, if she has a reason to stay. "Do I have a reason to stay?" Cue laugh track again.
At the 26-minute mark, with 19 minutes left, Bashir's Parents solemnly tell Bashir they won't tell Zimmerman about how he was genetically engineered as a child. Not only do I credit them with holding off on this reveal, but also the way they handled it. In TOS or TNG, the reveal would've been mentioned right before a commercial break with the music swelling up. Here, it wasn't. And then the shocker... I completely forgot about this!!! Bashir's Parents didn't tell this to Bashir, they told it to the LMH!
Afterwards, Bashir tells O'Brien that it's true that he's been genetically enhanced. At age 7, his parents gave him treatments that changed him from being slow and having developmental difficulties to being the star pupil, excelling in every way. The Federation looks down on any type of Genetic Manipulation except in the most extreme of circumstances. I'd say that this is one area where the Federation is extremely conservative. Strangely, I think this feels true to life. There's always been a tug-of-war between two political sides of the spectrum, which leads to these societal inconsistences. it's how the United States is a society where same-sex marriage is legal and marijuana is either legal or decriminalized (depending on the state, I believe) but Roe v. Wade has been overturned. The Federation is supposed to be progressive and tolerant... but genetic engineering? Oh no!
Please take this as a criticism of the Federation, not criticism of the episode. I have to point out the distinction since there are other parts of this episode that I actually have been critical of.
Genetic Engineering is a legitimately serious point of contention and will continue to be. Both in fiction and increasingly in Real Life... but then we get the Tonal Whiplash with Quark giving advice to Rom. "There's one constant in the universe. She's female. They're trouble!" Cue un-funny laugh track. Am I watching Star Trek or Married With Children? I could just picture Al Bundy hanging out at Quark's.
Back to the more serious part of the episode. I really hate to say this, but I'm on Bashir's Father's Side. Sorry, but I am. I know the episode wants us to side with Bashir, but I'm siding with the Father. He did what he thought was best for Bashir to succeed. I understand that Bashir thinks he's a fraud, but he and other Augments like him are treated unfairly. Just because one of the Augments turned out to be Khan Noonian Singh doesn't mean all Augments are going to turn out to be like him. You can't judge an entire sub-group of people based on the few. That's not fair, that's not justice.
Then Bashir's Mother stood up with Bashir's Father and says she doesn't know what it was like to watch Bashir struggle so much. They both wanted him to actually have a chance at life. I was glad that someone gave the other side of the argument.
Then Bashir's Father strikes a deal with a Starfleet Admiral. Two years in prison, since he's the one who had Bashir genetically engineered and Bashir gets to stay in Starfleet. The funny thing here: Bashir asks if two years is a little harsh. Funny, with the way everyone made it sound, two years in a minimum security prison makes it sound like Bashir's Father got off lightly. Even though I don't agree with their laws against Genetic Engineering, if they really take it this seriously, then sentencing Bashir's Father to two years in prison doesn't sound bad compared to what he could've gotten. 20 years? Life? That would've been something. At the end of the day, though, Bashir's Parents still wanted what was best for Bashir and didn't want him resigning from Starfleet. I'm glad the episode ends with Bashir still a Doctor and still in the series. And hey! Two years, so Bashir's Father would've been out of prison in the middle of DS9's seventh season! I wouldn't have minded a follow-up episode with Bashir's Parents had it happened.
Then back to the Stupid Rom-Com. "Wwwaaaaaaiiiiiiiitttt!!!!!!!" Rom declares his love for Leeta, and Zimmerman looks for the next woman to chase after. Zimmerman is really sleazy, unlike The Doctor on Voyager.
The button on the episode is Bashir and O'Brien playing darts. "From now on, you throw for over here! And if that doesn't work, we'll try a blindfold!"
Overall, this was very uneven. I give the B-Plot a 4. I give the A-Plot probably a high 8. Despite the subject matter, the A-Plot just can't get into the 9 or 10 level. Averaging out the A-Plot and B-Plot, I give the episode as a whole a 6.
Despite some very good arguments in the A-Plot, the B-Plot drags it too far down.
The teaser of the episode, Rom trying to work up the courage to ask out Leeta. I have to be blunt. Rom tries to work up the courage with all of his might... but it was too painful and cringey to watch. First Rom's "Hello Leeta... (awkward pause)... Bye!" And then Quark telling Leeta that Rom's an Engineer and that he's looking for someone with "beauty and brains." Come on! "I have brains!" "Sure you do, honey, that's why I hired you." Before someone says, "It was made in the '90s!," it still wasn't funny even back then. Backwards Ferengi or not. I'm talking about the Quark/Leeta exchange. With the Rom/Leeta exchange, that fell flat too. But I've got a feeling we're up for a Rom-Com B-Plot, so it'll be up to the A-Plot to carry things.,,
... and nice way to end the Teaser with Dr. Louis Zimmerman introducing himself to Bashir. Picking up from after the opening credits, Zimmerman talks to Sisko and Bashir about the EHM Programs (and gets anyone who doesn't watch VOY up to speed), and then talks about how Starfleet wants to create long-term medical holograms. I find this really amusing since no one in the Alpha Quadrant has any idea was going on in Star Trek: Voyager at this point. If only Zimmerman knew...
One exchange that works even better now than it did in 1997: as soon as Zimmerman tells Sisko and Bashir about the LMH (Long-Term Medical Holographic Program), they ask if Starfleet wants to replace actual Starfleet Doctors, and Zimmerman remarked about how he's always asked about that. Reminds me of whenever someone is concerned that AI will take their job. I think AI will not. First off, in 2026 (when I'm writing this), Present Day AI has limitations and can't think outside the box. It can only figure out information based on what it already has available to it. And in 2373, even if AI is better, Humanoids will still want to be accommodated and may still be able to think of things in ways that AI can't. Not better, just different. So no, nothing will go totally AI in either the 21st Century or the 24th. End of Soapbox.
Anyway, the LMH would only be used in places where resources and life support are at a premium but they'll still need a doctor. I think in such a scenario, I think they'd be screwed if power ever went out. No Doctor! But moving right along.
Then comes the next chapter in the Rom-Com Plot. Zimmerman likes Leeta. Then back to the A-Plot.
Bashir hasn't learned anything from Garak. Anything at all. Bashir tells Zimmerman not to interview his parents when Zimmerman says he'll be interviewing everyone who knows him. So, naturally, what's the very next thing Zimmerman wants to do? Contact Bashir's parents! If Bashir were smarter about this, he would've told his parents not tell Zimmerman about his genetic engineering. "But they're not close!" Exactly. If they're not close, then Bashir contacting them would mean it's serious!
10 minutes in and it's a case of this is an episode I wanted to like more than I do. Bob Picardo on DS9! But the B-Plot is misogynistic, and Bashir made a fatally bone-headed move in the A-Plot.
Shout out to the wardrobe continuity! Zimmerman is dressed the same way as he was on VOY. Complete with the terrible hair and the lab coat.
I got a kick out of Zimmerman interviewing everyone about Bashir, and the way the interview flowed from person to person, from point to point, with O'Brien asking "Are you sure he won't hear about this?", and then it ends with Leeta. And back to the Rom-Com Plot. Cue laugh track.
Rom starts feeling his lobes. Ummm... this is a Ferengi masturbating! Ugh. And he sees Leeta on a date with Zimmerman. While still stroking his lobe... I can't believe I'm typing this. Then Rom barges in on Leeta and Zimmerman's date. Okay, I think Zimmerman is an asshole, but Rom this is NOT the way to handle things! Here I am talking to him as if he can hear me!
Then Bashir's parents arrive. Yup. Gotta love parents. Bashir's father is the one who wanted Bashir to be a Doctor. Makes sense. It's the stereotype of the parents who want their kids to be a Doctor or a Lawyer. Right up there with "Get a degree in Business!" My paternal grandmother wanted me to be a Doctor. My father tried shoving Business School down my throat. Then there's another "favorite" of mine that I've heard from my father from time-to-time, every now and then, since I was 16, "Get a haircut!" But anyway... we're talking about Bashir's parents! Needless to say, I feel Bashir's pain when it comes to Parent Issues. And I'm glad -- for him -- that what his father wanted him to do was also something that he wants to do. He's a very good Doctor who cares a lot. I'd love to have Bashir as a doctor IRL.
Bashir's Father always bragging and making it sound like he's accomplished more than he has, I got a kick out of that.
I also get a kick out of Zimmerman bringing Leeta flowers and telling her about an opening at a Cafe on Jupiter Station that she'd be perfect for. Cue laugh track when Leeta comes out to greet Zimmeran undressed with her back facing the camera, so the censors don't see anything. This is also Bad Sitcom Fodder but this time it works!
So now this is the point where I have to stop the review. I've been invited to go to some bar. So, I'm going. Hanging out with someone I haven't seen in a while.
,
,
,
And I'm back! I had two bottles of Guinness Beer. "I've never seen you drink Guinness before!" my friend said, then I said, "That's why I'm having it!" I'm not a fan of beer, as I've mentioned before, I don't normally have it, but the place we were at, I figured, "Why not?" It's that kind of place. Pizza and beer.
Anyway, I've got this horrible aftertaste now, because of the beer. Wine wouldn't do that. That's why wine is better. So, I took some Listerine to take some of the aftertaste out. It worked. Kind of. Not really.
I'm putting "Dr. Bashir, I Presume?" back on. I almost typed "Our Man Bashir". I refuse to believe that Guinness made me tipsy. But it was thick and extra stout, so I'll give it that... I am tipsy. Doesn't matter. I'm continuing on, anyway. I can still type. Right?
,
,
,
To this episode's credit, it takes until half-way through before it's even mentioned that Bashir and his parents have a Deep Dark Secret to hide from Zimmerman. That argument between Bashir and his parents and Bashir wanting to take this seriously, before they start shouting and Bashir leaves feels very true. A couple of scenes and I feel like I know these characters. That's effective writing. They really nailed it.
Back to the Rom-Com B-Plot. Friend-zoned Rom is asked by Leeta what she should do about Zimmerman. Rom wants to say something, doesn't, then says, "I don't know." Cue laugh track. Leeta lays it on so thick, it's hitting Rom over the head with a club. She wants to stay on DS9 instead of go with Zimmerman to Jupiter Station, if she has a reason to stay. "Do I have a reason to stay?" Cue laugh track again.
At the 26-minute mark, with 19 minutes left, Bashir's Parents solemnly tell Bashir they won't tell Zimmerman about how he was genetically engineered as a child. Not only do I credit them with holding off on this reveal, but also the way they handled it. In TOS or TNG, the reveal would've been mentioned right before a commercial break with the music swelling up. Here, it wasn't. And then the shocker... I completely forgot about this!!! Bashir's Parents didn't tell this to Bashir, they told it to the LMH!
Afterwards, Bashir tells O'Brien that it's true that he's been genetically enhanced. At age 7, his parents gave him treatments that changed him from being slow and having developmental difficulties to being the star pupil, excelling in every way. The Federation looks down on any type of Genetic Manipulation except in the most extreme of circumstances. I'd say that this is one area where the Federation is extremely conservative. Strangely, I think this feels true to life. There's always been a tug-of-war between two political sides of the spectrum, which leads to these societal inconsistences. it's how the United States is a society where same-sex marriage is legal and marijuana is either legal or decriminalized (depending on the state, I believe) but Roe v. Wade has been overturned. The Federation is supposed to be progressive and tolerant... but genetic engineering? Oh no!
Please take this as a criticism of the Federation, not criticism of the episode. I have to point out the distinction since there are other parts of this episode that I actually have been critical of.
Genetic Engineering is a legitimately serious point of contention and will continue to be. Both in fiction and increasingly in Real Life... but then we get the Tonal Whiplash with Quark giving advice to Rom. "There's one constant in the universe. She's female. They're trouble!" Cue un-funny laugh track. Am I watching Star Trek or Married With Children? I could just picture Al Bundy hanging out at Quark's.
Back to the more serious part of the episode. I really hate to say this, but I'm on Bashir's Father's Side. Sorry, but I am. I know the episode wants us to side with Bashir, but I'm siding with the Father. He did what he thought was best for Bashir to succeed. I understand that Bashir thinks he's a fraud, but he and other Augments like him are treated unfairly. Just because one of the Augments turned out to be Khan Noonian Singh doesn't mean all Augments are going to turn out to be like him. You can't judge an entire sub-group of people based on the few. That's not fair, that's not justice.
Then Bashir's Mother stood up with Bashir's Father and says she doesn't know what it was like to watch Bashir struggle so much. They both wanted him to actually have a chance at life. I was glad that someone gave the other side of the argument.
Then Bashir's Father strikes a deal with a Starfleet Admiral. Two years in prison, since he's the one who had Bashir genetically engineered and Bashir gets to stay in Starfleet. The funny thing here: Bashir asks if two years is a little harsh. Funny, with the way everyone made it sound, two years in a minimum security prison makes it sound like Bashir's Father got off lightly. Even though I don't agree with their laws against Genetic Engineering, if they really take it this seriously, then sentencing Bashir's Father to two years in prison doesn't sound bad compared to what he could've gotten. 20 years? Life? That would've been something. At the end of the day, though, Bashir's Parents still wanted what was best for Bashir and didn't want him resigning from Starfleet. I'm glad the episode ends with Bashir still a Doctor and still in the series. And hey! Two years, so Bashir's Father would've been out of prison in the middle of DS9's seventh season! I wouldn't have minded a follow-up episode with Bashir's Parents had it happened.
Then back to the Stupid Rom-Com. "Wwwaaaaaaiiiiiiiitttt!!!!!!!" Rom declares his love for Leeta, and Zimmerman looks for the next woman to chase after. Zimmerman is really sleazy, unlike The Doctor on Voyager.
The button on the episode is Bashir and O'Brien playing darts. "From now on, you throw for over here! And if that doesn't work, we'll try a blindfold!"
Overall, this was very uneven. I give the B-Plot a 4. I give the A-Plot probably a high 8. Despite the subject matter, the A-Plot just can't get into the 9 or 10 level. Averaging out the A-Plot and B-Plot, I give the episode as a whole a 6.
Despite some very good arguments in the A-Plot, the B-Plot drags it too far down.
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I don't think we're necessarily supposed to side with Bashir or his parents, but rather acknowledge that all of them have valid points.
My uncle was developmentally delayed, and he's still...sometimes frustrating, and sometimes kind of unintentionally hilarious...but almost always kind of painful and uncomfortable for me to be around (and maybe that's a failing on my part) and I think it would be amazing if he wasn't, but I also wonder how he would feel, and how much pain he may have experienced in his life as a result of his situation, and whether he even really understands his situation.
My uncle was developmentally delayed, and he's still...sometimes frustrating, and sometimes kind of unintentionally hilarious...but almost always kind of painful and uncomfortable for me to be around (and maybe that's a failing on my part) and I think it would be amazing if he wasn't, but I also wonder how he would feel, and how much pain he may have experienced in his life as a result of his situation, and whether he even really understands his situation.
I'm on rewatch streak with DS9 myself as well and recently watched "Dr Bashir, I presume"...
... and apart from the family issues, I wonder why Earth's rules about genetic engineering became the Federation's. Khan was Earth's problem, the Eugenics Wars were an Earth problem... and there are 100+ planets in the federation, and they all share the same point of view on genetic engineering because of Khan? Do the Vulcans or wouldn't it seem logical to intervene if it's possible? I'd have liked to see this addressed. Maybe there was no Federation law until Khan woke up on the Enterprise and presented as danger to the Federation as a whole? Then again - why even have a law because of one man (even if the doubts surrounding genetically engineered people aren't quite put aside by the bunch who'll appear in season 6)?
As for Richard's sentence... it is awfully light for such a serious crime. *And* Julian retains his medical license *and* his Starfleet commission. Not sure what all the fuss was about, to be honest.
The family drama... I'm choosing neither side. I see Julian's point of view, especially since his parents don't mention any attempts at helping him otherwise, remedial training, psychological treatments, any kind of diagnostics done... Julian was 6 years old, and they submit him to some sort of experimental treatments and months of hospital stays etc? They might have had Julian's well-being in mind - but it also did sound like they themselves did have issues with Julian.
On the other hand Julian was quite insufferably self-righteous. Let's just remember that he kept the secret for 20 years himself, and applied to Starfleet and med school knowing that both were forbidden. Yes, he turned out to be a great doctor with empathy and brilliance to spare - but he should have been punished himself. He lied, and that wasn't on Richard.
... and apart from the family issues, I wonder why Earth's rules about genetic engineering became the Federation's. Khan was Earth's problem, the Eugenics Wars were an Earth problem... and there are 100+ planets in the federation, and they all share the same point of view on genetic engineering because of Khan? Do the Vulcans or wouldn't it seem logical to intervene if it's possible? I'd have liked to see this addressed. Maybe there was no Federation law until Khan woke up on the Enterprise and presented as danger to the Federation as a whole? Then again - why even have a law because of one man (even if the doubts surrounding genetically engineered people aren't quite put aside by the bunch who'll appear in season 6)?
As for Richard's sentence... it is awfully light for such a serious crime. *And* Julian retains his medical license *and* his Starfleet commission. Not sure what all the fuss was about, to be honest.
The family drama... I'm choosing neither side. I see Julian's point of view, especially since his parents don't mention any attempts at helping him otherwise, remedial training, psychological treatments, any kind of diagnostics done... Julian was 6 years old, and they submit him to some sort of experimental treatments and months of hospital stays etc? They might have had Julian's well-being in mind - but it also did sound like they themselves did have issues with Julian.
On the other hand Julian was quite insufferably self-righteous. Let's just remember that he kept the secret for 20 years himself, and applied to Starfleet and med school knowing that both were forbidden. Yes, he turned out to be a great doctor with empathy and brilliance to spare - but he should have been punished himself. He lied, and that wasn't on Richard.
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