Badda-Bing Badda-Bang

[Trekker4747]

A year and half ago I started a re-watch of DS9 but it got interrupted by me moving and starting a new job and I never really got back into the "swing" of the rewatch, which stopped in the middle of the 6th season.

Well, I resumed my rewatch last week and the other night I watched the episode "Badda-Bing Badda Bang" and, you know... I think it's my favorite episode of the series.

Well, my favorite episode in this "genre" of episodes, as there's obviously numerous other episodes in the series that are way better none of which, for me, I focused on the war. Which is why I think I've stalled again as I know the remainder of the episodes I have to watch all focus on the war stuff which, for me, just isn't fun.

This episode is fun. I like the Vic holoprogram, and the music in this episode is just really good, i like the song playing as the gang walks through the Promenade preparing to launch their plan to save Vic's.

My only gripe about this episode is Sisko's little speech on why he's not interested in the Vic holosuite program his little rant just feels out of place for what we're supposed to take the 24th century to be like and racism and even the bitterness (as justified as it is) over it is gone. Yet Sisko and Cassidy both kind of speak with an "us" (black people) sort of manner. It contrasts to an episode like the TOS one with Abraham Lincoln where Uhura doesn't even know to be offended by being called a "charming negress" by "Lincoln."

But here. Sisko is bitter because of the Vic holosuite program ignoring the racism present in the 1960s. Eh, maybe he's as a little bent because of his experience in 1950s/60s America in that one episode where he was a writer for a pulp magazine.

I dunno, this for me is just a fun and charming episode with everyone giving great performances before going into the final arc of the series.

 

[kkt]

I do see your point. I think that's something that the writers, and possibly Brooks himself, thought was important to point out to the 1990s TV audience. Sure, lots of people knew that the Vic episodes were whitewashing 1962 Las Vegas, but a lot of younger people probably did not know that and might have thought African-Americans could just walk into a casino as customers and no questions asked.

It was a fun episode. I know there are some fans who don't like the Vic's episodes, but I think there's a place for comic relief episodes even in the war arc. And maybe I just like swing music a little more.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

This is episode divides people. Like Take Me Out To The Holodeck, some people love it, some people despise it with a passion. Me? It's ok.

 

[HugeLobes]

Did you hear about Vic before watching it? I remember reading how much people hated Vic Fontaine and how he took over the show in the latter seasons before I even finished the 2nd season, so when I got to his episodes I was kinda immunized against them and didn't really mind Vic .

Yes, the racism angle is a little odd considering how things were supposed to have moved on, not to mention the number of other holosuite programs that could prove contentious in similar ways.

 

[Sidewinder]

This is episode divides people. Like Take Me Out To The Holodeck, some people love it, some people despise it with a passion. Me? It's ok.

I don't get how anyone could despise that episode. I'm a diehard baseball fan, but it's a simple, comic relief episode about a team that could not win given their opponents and had to piece everything together just to get 1 single run.

Plus Cirroc Lofton's uncle Kenny Lofton was a major league centerfielder, probably the best leadoff hitter of the 90s actually.

 

[Trekker4747]

Did you hear about Vic before watching it? I remember reading how much people hated Vic Fontaine and how he took over the show in the latter seasons before I even finished the 2nd season, so when I got to his episodes I was kinda immunized against them and didn't really mind Vic .

Son, I watched this series new.

Yeah, I knew about Vic and remember people bitching about him on the old Star Trek AOL message boards and chat rooms. I didn't mind him.

 

[Tenacity]

This episode (BBBB) is the only Star Trek episode where I can remember a Human heavily identifying with a race (Sisko: "our people"). When did we ever heard of say Picard overtly identifing as White? With a culture sure, but not a race. I found this disturbing.

Humans are Humans.

 

[HugeLobes]

This episode (BBBB) is the only Star Trek episode where I can remember a Human heavily identifying with a race (Sisko: "our people"). When did we ever heard of say Picard overtly identifing as White? With a culture sure, but not a race. I found this disturbing.

Humans are Humans.

It doesn't really make sense, but it's still an interesting point that would probably have been focused on a little more if the show came out today. We're seeing more and more debate about how movies and shows set in the past should portray racial issues, and the holodeck makes that more interesting because you're actually playing a role within that world instead of just passively viewing it.

So do you make Vegas historically accurate by having casinos cater solely to white guests or do you make the clientele more diverse? It's an interesting question with no real right answer, and that's just the sort of thing Star Trek can do well.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

If you are put into an historical fantasy setting, might you not think of who you might have been, what your life might have been like,during that era. In the 1950s, a man like Sisko would not be welcome,would be rejected a priori. Acknowledging that is being honest.

 

[HugeLobes]

If you are put into an historical fantasy setting, might you not think of who you might have been, what your life might have been like,during that era. In the 1950s, a man like Sisko would not be welcome,would be rejected a priori. Acknowledging that is being honest.

It is honest, but then it also excludes a man like Sisko from enjoying the program as much as a white person. After all, the point of most of these programs is to have fun.

 

[Armus]

I hated Vic at the time but now I don't mind him as much. As holodeck capers go this episode isn't bad at all. Not my favorite holodeck episode but far from the worst. It was nice to see the crew work together as a team in this show.

 

[HugeLobes]

I hated Vic at the time but now I don't mind him as much. As holodeck capers go this episode isn't bad at all.

That's the thing. When you're first watching the show you're obviously more invested in the Dominion War and everything else going on with the characters, so it's kinda annoying when you hit another Vic episode and don't know how many more you're going to be sitting through. That was probably worse when you had to wait for each week's episode.

When you're viewing the show again and know what's coming Vic doesn't seem like such a big deal.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

After all, the point of most of these programs is to have fun.

Pastimes can have many purposes and evoke many emotions.

 

[HugeLobes]

Pastimes can have many purposes and evoke many emotions.

Of course they can, but this holosuite program does seem mainly for recreation. I’m just saying you’re always going to have to deal with some historical changes if you want to make it feel inclusive, and that in itself can be an issue. I think it’s an interesting debate. I’m glad Sisko made it, even if it feels like more of a 21st century complaint.

 

[Trekker4747]

I always kind of wonder if the holodeck wasn't throwing them the curve balls and reverses to keep things interesting. They planned the caper inside the damn thing.

The threw the errant patron at Ezri so she'd spill the drinks, then it made the second countman a different guy. The safe was more secure than thought, Zimo arrived a day early, the guard wasn't going to stick with Cassidy, it strip searched O'Brien. Its also interesting how many elements worked give, you know, holohrams.

The countman was even susceptible to an ipecac, the second (third?) countman took the drink to spite Ezri. The Capo was easily befriended by Odo, Frankie easily taken by Kira (he approached her! And took her to secure areas) the guard easily taken by Cassidy, etc. Seemed this was the way you were supposed to beat it. You and six or seven friends.

 

[Tosk]

I found this disturbing.

Why is it disturbing to you?

A post-racism society doesn't mean that everyone abandoned or ignored their roots. Sisko collects ancient African art. His past makes him who he is, and so does the past of his family. As you say, humans are humans. But pretending racism never happened on Earth is not honest or helpful.

 

[Nakita Akita]

My dad graduated high school in 1947.
He had to spend his last year of high school in a public high school, there were black as well as white kids in the graduating class.
Just saying.

 

[HugeLobes]

My dad graduated high school in 1947.
He had to spend his last year of high school in a public high school, there were black as well as white kids in the graduating class.
Just saying.

Sorry, what's your point?

 

[Nakita Akita]

Sorry, what's your point?

I guess that everyplace wasn't the same.

 

[HugeLobes]

I guess that everyplace wasn't the same.

That's what I thought... There were exceptions, but desegregation didn't even really start until the 50s, and it was a slow start. Sisko would be correct in pointing out that Vegas in the 50s was extremely white.