"Meridian" goes into the Agony Booth

[AdmiralGarak]

"Meridian" sentenced to the Agony Booth

Following in the illustrious footsteps of "Let He Who is Without Sin" and "Profit and Lace" comes the Agony Booth's latest "Worst of Trek" recap-- "Meridian". Clearly the folks over there agree with us 100% as to which episodes of DS9 are the most painful. At this rate, I'm sure we can expect recaps of "Valiant" and "The Emperor's New Cloak" soon.

SUMMARY: One night only, a match-up of titans! The main event to end all main events! A duel between two creepy-ass obsessive love plots!

In the first corner, Dax falls for a dopey, somewhat creepy, definitely clingy schmuck whose people alternate between dimensions. Heartache and overall creepiness ensue, with a generous dash of predictability!

In the second corner, Quark has to arrange a special holosuite program for a very odd client played by Jeffrey Combs. Heartburn and overall nausea ensue, with a generous dash of creepiness!

Meridian recap

The Worst of Trek (I recommend the recap of "A Night in Sickbay". It's one of the most brutally hilarious things you'll ever read. )

 

[Navaros]

Merdian is definitely one of DS9's worst.

I don't agree with them dissing the Jeffrey Combs B-plot, though. That B-plot is hilarious, brilliant, and extremely well-acted (unlike the utterly dire A-plot). Yes it's creepy, but that's why it's so funny! Some of Quark's clients use his holosuites for nefarious purposes; nothing wrong with portraying that reality. It gives the show depth. The B-plot in Meridian could have been in almost any of DS9's best episodes, and they would have remained among DS9's best episodes with that B-plot.

Jeffrey Combs nailed his performance the very first time on the show and made great a role that would have fell flat in an average actor's hands; no wonder they hired him so much afterwards and he became one of Trek's most respected master actors.

 

[Smiley]

While I can't agree with any of the four other episodes listed in the first post, "Meridian" definitely deserves this dishonor. My dislike of it stems from the fact that I don't believe someone like Jadzia Dax would fall for some guy that quickly to the point that she would be willing to miss 60 years in the regular galaxy. I agree with Navaros that the B-plot is the episode's saving grace.

I look forward to reading this recap.

 

[All Seeing Eye]

I always hated that episode, I mean how long did Dax even know this guy and she's willing to suddenly switch dimensions with the guy!!!

PUHLEASE!

 

[PKTrekGirl]

I think there are several episodes that are worse than Meridian. I have never really minded Meridian that much. *shrug*

 

[Broccoli]

I liked "Meridian" better when it was called Brigadoon...however Brigadoon didn't have a hilarious subplot containing Quark's head on Kira's body.

 

[Tralis]

Maybe Jadzia has a fetish for having sex while existing as energy? That sounds like her.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

I liked "Meridian" better when it was called Brigadoon...however Brigadoon didn't have a hilarious subplot containing Quark's head on Kira's body.

True enough.

But then, Brigadoon had Gene Kelly's wonderful dancing.

I'd say that makes them about even.

 

[crouteru]

There are worse episodes than 'Meridian', however I think they take into account that it occured in season 3 when episode quality should have been better.

 

[Lee T]

I didn't note that episode, as far as I'm concerned it's not one of the worst. The worst ones you do remember ("Let he..." *shudder* "Muse" *shudder* "Second Sight" *shudder*). This one's barely forgettable, with the exception of the few minutes of Quark comedy (I like Quark comedy) and the very good Jeffrey Combs first appearance.

 

[cultcross]

Just did a watch through of DS9, I skipped one episode the whole run. It was Meridian.

 

[Marie1]

Just did a watch through of DS9, I skipped one episode the whole run. It was Meridian.

Before Jadzia went ahead with such a thing... wouldn't she have to consider Dax- what would happen to it? There are some pretty heavy Trill/Symbiote rules aren't they? Didn't she put that rare species in danger?

 

[cultcross]

Just did a watch through of DS9, I skipped one episode the whole run. It was Meridian.

Before Jadzia went ahead with such a thing... wouldn't she have to consider Dax- what would happen to it? There are some pretty heavy Trill/Symbiote rules aren't they? Didn't she put that rare species in danger?

What is particularly idiotic on this point is it is not 5 episodes after Equilibrium in which Jadzia is perfectly willing to die to save Dax.

 

[Seven of Five]

Ooh, I watched Merdian the other day - what a piss-take! It certianly wasn't as bad as I remember it; other people have mentioned the B-plot with Quark, Kira and Jeffrey Combs that was hilarious, and saved the episode from totally bottoming out. The yukky romance with Jadzia and what-his-face though was stupid beyond belief. They had no chemistry, they'd barely know each other for five minutes, yet he, and then she in turn were both willing to swap dimensions to be with the other. Utter, utter stupidity. cultsacrifice mentions that this episode happened quite shortly after Equilibrium, an episode focussing on Trills and Jadzia being willing to die to ensure Dax could live. Quite a decent episode, really. And then whoosh, out of the airlock with that logic, because Jadzia is in wuv! Who cares about all the legal ramifications? I'm surprised Sisko didn't try harder to stop the old man from being so stupid. He really should have slapped her or something.

Okay I'm done. It's the worst episode I've watched since Melora I think. *shudder*

 

[Level 2 Diagnostic]

I think any Trek episode (or any TV episode, actually) that requires a main character to instantly fall in love within 3-5 days is automatically going to suck. They should have either a) set it up that Jadzia and Creepy Boy had some sort of history together (perhaps one of Dax's previous hosts knew him?), or b) had the events of this episode play out over the course of several months.