Brooks in "Far Beyond The Stars"

[Commander Rabbit]

I always saw this episode operating on multiple levels:

1. As 'an episode of Deep Space Nine', it's about Sisko having a vision from the prophets that shows him another part of reality an encourages him to stay the course. This is the most literal interpretation.
2. A second interpretation is that it's meditation on the nature of fiction vs. reality, how inspirational stories can really seem 'real'.
3. A third interpretation is that it is, after all, just a comment on the racism of the 50s- I find this a pretty hollow reading, frankly.
4. A fourth interpretation is that it is 'pulling away the veil' on DS9, showing it as simply a better future imagined by the actual Benny Russell, and that none of DS9 is real.
5. A fifth, somewhat shallw interpretation, is that it's just a big in-joke, a lark to get all the regular cast to take off their make-up and make jokes about sci-fi in the 50s.
6. It's also a comment about being a Star Trek fan, how we create and maintain a very complex imaginary world in our head, how that worlds can encourage and inspire us, how it seems 'real' to us, the way it felt real to Benny Russell.

This great thing about this episode is that it works on ALL of these levels, they are not mutually exclusive. It's incredibly sophisticated for television. To say: "Oh it's all about racism." is facile. That's one aspect of a far more complicated whole.

Good analysis. I agree w/ you and the OP.

Those who say Brooks' acting in that episode is over-the-top have apparently never seen anyone in that kind of emotional pain.

 

[Anwar]

I actually did witness someone else having a breakdown once, and I can say that Brooks' performance was pretty accurate.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Probably my favorite episode of DS9.

 

[Too Much Fun]

The fact that it was a somewhat accurate depiction of what a nervous breakdown looks like doesn't change the fact that Brooks' performance was cringe-inducing in its corniness. And it wasn't that accurate. I know what it looks like too, and I'm pretty sure it doesn't involve repeating the same words over and over again until your voice gets squeaky.

Also, this is not the only time I've seen someone simulate such an event in a movie or TV show, but it's certainly the most irritatingly over-the-top rendition I've ever seen.

I'm not saying the performance of a nervous breakdown should be 'fun' or 'entertaining' to watch...but it should at least be subtle and convincing enough that it makes you feel sad for the character rather than be too annoyed by how hammy the acting is to care about what they're going through.

For example, Liam Neeson breaking down at the end of Schindler's List as he declares he could have done more, or the mother in "Fanny and Alexander" wailing shrilly as her husband dies.

In both cases, the scenes were arguably melodramatic, but realistic and well-acted enough to hit me on a visceral level so I could really feel the character's pain and pity them, unlike Brooks' overdone theatrics which were so distracting that sympathy for the character was impossible.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Agreed on Schindler's List.

And also Adama's breakdown when he found out Tigh was a Cylon. MUCH better acted.

 

[SharkD]

The episode jumps the shark when they make the "concession" that the person was really just dreaming. The beginning was great and makes up for most of it.

I don't believe that concession was made- as far as I was concerned, both realities were euqally valid- indeed, the creators of the show wanted to end the series finale with Benny Russell putting down his pen and finishing the story.

I meant the concession the writers (including Russel) made in order to get the story published. I.e. the intentional addition after the fact that the "black starship captain" was just a figment of a dream.

 

[DevilEyes]

Well, I have never seen anyone have a nervous breakdown for real. Still, for what it's worth: Avery Brooks sold it in this episode as far as I was concerned. I often had problems with Brooks' theatrical line delivery and I there were times in the series when I thought he was overacting, but "Far Beyond the Stars" wasn't one of them.

 

[Necros]

To me, Jeff Combs says it best in the Companion:

"Avery was spectacular. There was a scene toward the end where he falls apart with the camera right in front of his nose. It was just riveting"

QFT

 

[Destructor]

I meant the concession the writers (including Russel) made in order to get the story published. I.e. the intentional addition after the fact that the "black starship captain" was just a figment of a dream.

Oh! Sorry, I completely misread that, my apologies. I thnik perhaps they only made it a dream in the story to further reinforce the link between Benny's story and the Deep Space Nine 'story', and how both were dreams of the other.