My DS9 Rewatch Odyssey
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Certainly understandable... just kind of surprising that the same 2 writers did both episodes.
I saw that Behr’s idea for this story came from Eugene O’Neill’s Moon for the Misbegotten - have never read it, supposedly about tragedy following sexual obsession and alcoholism. Sounds like the aim was to explore whether, in a Star Trek future of readily available Risa hedonism, replicators, synthehol, holosuites - would we still be focused on bettering ourselves and the rest of humanity? Good question, actually.
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Robert Wolfe called it "the worst episode I ever wrote." Seems like they really didn’t know what they were trying to get across, and more semi-nude scenes wouldn’t have made any difference. I’d rather they left in the deleted clip of Leeta in the bathtub, and omit the lines about Arandis and Curzon.
Maybe the takeaway from these 2 episodes back to back, is that while DS9 writers are very often good at fun and humor episodes, they are pretty bad at romance and sex episodes.
Maybe the takeaway from these 2 episodes back to back, is that while DS9 writers are very often good at fun and humor episodes, they are pretty bad at romance and sex episodes.
This episode is like some bitter concoction, the faster you swallow it, the better. The more you think about it, the worse it appears to be. Leeta's separation ritual, for example, was never spoken of before and never after, plus it's at odds with what we know of the Bajoran culture which is more on the austere side than our own. So now we're supposed to believe that they have this incongruous hedonistic ritual? Please!!!
I mean, that muddles their goals as antagonists but Worf's aligning with them is even more head scratching. Catching people "off guard" at a vacation resort is the stupidest type of reasoning expressed. This episode is painful.
There were some good romance episodes, though. "Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places" was pretty good, I thought.
I didn't find Worf/Troy any less half baked than Riker/Troy, but at least the former didn't imply that they were waiting to sow their oats before committing to one another.
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Evolved humans.
“THINGS PAST”
Gotta love subtle imagery...
You know, perhaps the greatest thing about “Things Past” is simply that it isn’t “Let He Who is Without Sin” (although, ironically, that title would probably have fit this episode quite well)! I have to say, however, that although this is a decent episode on the whole, it does have flaws and shortcomings—not least the fact that, as a sequel to the second season masterpiece “Necessary Evil”, it truly pales in comparison.
By this point in the show’s run, I’m getting fed up of stories set inside a character’s head—we’ve already had “Distant Voices”, “The Search, Part Two” and parts of “Hard Time”, although the latter I absolutely let off. To me, it invariably feels like cheap storytelling and nowhere is that charge harder to defend than here.
I’m not even going to go into the specifics of the ludicrous technobabble they use to explain the runabout crew sharing Odo’s dream/vision/nightmare. I feel this episode on the whole would have worked far better if it had been switched with “A Simple Investigation” later in the season. The writers want to have their cake and eat it here—yeah, Odo’s no longer a Changeling but he still has Changeling whatever the heck it was and his mind can reach out to form a “Great Link” with other beings. I don’t think so. If they wanted to use Odo’s shapeshifting physiology to explain this one, they should have waited until he was a Changeling again. Also, this episode contributes precisely nothing to Odo’s current story arc as a solid, which, frankly, hasn’t been given any attention other than the odd mention. “A Simple Investigation” would have been much better placed here, because at least Odo’s rampaging hormones would have made more sense as he adjusts to dealing with human physiology and social and sexual drives.
Back to “Things Past”. If you can accept the clunky setup and inane technobabble explanation, it’s a reasonably compelling little drama. I personally wish we hadn’t intercut to the scenes of the crew lying unconscious, which add nothing to the advancement of the story, and wish they’d instead tightened the mystery aspect. The idea of Odo desperately trying to keep the others from learning the truth about this dark chapter of his past is pretty neat, and it definitely has some strong, intense moments. It’s no secret that I consider Rene Auberjonois one of the greatest actors ever to have blessed the franchise, and he shines as always, even if he possibly overplays Odo’s anguish at times. I feel it would have been more effective had Odo’s psychological breakdown built gradually over the course of the episode. As it is, he’s acting MIGHTILY suspicious right from the start, and I have no idea why Sisko and Garak don’t notice this and call him out on it far sooner.
The Thrax element...I’m not entirely sold on. Kurtwood Smith is superb as always, and he really manages to portray a very Odo-esque Cardassian. The problem is, the Thrax twist doesn’t really feel satisfying to me because while some might call it a red herring, I felt it was a cheat. So while I normally love tales with a twist, this one just didn’t sit right with me. Mysteries only work when you’re giving the viewer credit, and providing them just enough pieces that they might actually be able to put the puzzle together themselves. You can’t do that here because the writers are deliberately obfuscating, confusing and even lying the audience.
The episode does have atmosphere and a mood of foreboding doom, thanks to the performances, another effectively nightmarish set redress and solid directing by LeVar Burton. Alas, none of it is quite on a par with the stunning, elegant film noir of “Necessary Evil”, which is always a danger when it comes to sequel territory, but it’s still effective and helps elevate an unpolished script. The climatic scene of three Bajorans being executed on the Promenade is shocking, bleakly surreal and particularly well handled. While Garak felt just a little wasted in this episode, we do get some great scenes between Dukat and Dax, with Marc Alaimo and Terry Farrell delivering great performances. Best moment of the episode? Without doubt, Dukat boasting that “My heart is too big—”, only to be knocked unconscious by Jadzia, who mutters, “and so is your ego...” The way Farrell delivers the line is sublime.
I wasn’t entirely sure what to make of the closing scene between Odo and Kira. I personally would have found the episode much more interesting if Kira had been sucked into Odo’s dream rather than Garak, and we got to see her deal with not only being back in that hellscape, but having to see Odo’s lapse first hand. Obviously, the fact Nana Visitor had just given birth put paid to that. It’s probably legitimately unsettling for Kira to realise that Odo was never as infallible as she viewed him and that no one was able to really escape the Occupation without getting their hands dirty—as she well knows. Which perhaps makes her moral high ground here seem a tad hypocritical given that Odo let her get away with murder back then and that, as a terrorist, she killed possibly hundreds of innocent people—and, in a few episode’s time, we’ll see that she has no remorse for doing that because she saw her goal as legitimate and necessary. So I’m not sure how this final scene sits with me, and the last, lingering silence, wasn’t nearly as effective as it was in “Necessary Evil” because...well, this episode just didn’t have a fraction of the power of that final, unexpected twist.
“Things Past” is a frustrating one for me. It has some great, meaty ideas although the script really needed a couple more passes in my view. I’d far prefer we’d simply had elegant flashbacks ala “Necessary Evil” than the technobabble madness here, and I really think this could have been a much stronger psychological thriller if things had been tightened. As it is, it works, thanks to some great performances and directing; it’s certainly quite involving and atmospheric, but I feel it could have been a lot more. Rating: 7
Gotta love subtle imagery...
You know, perhaps the greatest thing about “Things Past” is simply that it isn’t “Let He Who is Without Sin” (although, ironically, that title would probably have fit this episode quite well)! I have to say, however, that although this is a decent episode on the whole, it does have flaws and shortcomings—not least the fact that, as a sequel to the second season masterpiece “Necessary Evil”, it truly pales in comparison.
By this point in the show’s run, I’m getting fed up of stories set inside a character’s head—we’ve already had “Distant Voices”, “The Search, Part Two” and parts of “Hard Time”, although the latter I absolutely let off. To me, it invariably feels like cheap storytelling and nowhere is that charge harder to defend than here.
I’m not even going to go into the specifics of the ludicrous technobabble they use to explain the runabout crew sharing Odo’s dream/vision/nightmare. I feel this episode on the whole would have worked far better if it had been switched with “A Simple Investigation” later in the season. The writers want to have their cake and eat it here—yeah, Odo’s no longer a Changeling but he still has Changeling whatever the heck it was and his mind can reach out to form a “Great Link” with other beings. I don’t think so. If they wanted to use Odo’s shapeshifting physiology to explain this one, they should have waited until he was a Changeling again. Also, this episode contributes precisely nothing to Odo’s current story arc as a solid, which, frankly, hasn’t been given any attention other than the odd mention. “A Simple Investigation” would have been much better placed here, because at least Odo’s rampaging hormones would have made more sense as he adjusts to dealing with human physiology and social and sexual drives.
Back to “Things Past”. If you can accept the clunky setup and inane technobabble explanation, it’s a reasonably compelling little drama. I personally wish we hadn’t intercut to the scenes of the crew lying unconscious, which add nothing to the advancement of the story, and wish they’d instead tightened the mystery aspect. The idea of Odo desperately trying to keep the others from learning the truth about this dark chapter of his past is pretty neat, and it definitely has some strong, intense moments. It’s no secret that I consider Rene Auberjonois one of the greatest actors ever to have blessed the franchise, and he shines as always, even if he possibly overplays Odo’s anguish at times. I feel it would have been more effective had Odo’s psychological breakdown built gradually over the course of the episode. As it is, he’s acting MIGHTILY suspicious right from the start, and I have no idea why Sisko and Garak don’t notice this and call him out on it far sooner.
The Thrax element...I’m not entirely sold on. Kurtwood Smith is superb as always, and he really manages to portray a very Odo-esque Cardassian. The problem is, the Thrax twist doesn’t really feel satisfying to me because while some might call it a red herring, I felt it was a cheat. So while I normally love tales with a twist, this one just didn’t sit right with me. Mysteries only work when you’re giving the viewer credit, and providing them just enough pieces that they might actually be able to put the puzzle together themselves. You can’t do that here because the writers are deliberately obfuscating, confusing and even lying the audience.
The episode does have atmosphere and a mood of foreboding doom, thanks to the performances, another effectively nightmarish set redress and solid directing by LeVar Burton. Alas, none of it is quite on a par with the stunning, elegant film noir of “Necessary Evil”, which is always a danger when it comes to sequel territory, but it’s still effective and helps elevate an unpolished script. The climatic scene of three Bajorans being executed on the Promenade is shocking, bleakly surreal and particularly well handled. While Garak felt just a little wasted in this episode, we do get some great scenes between Dukat and Dax, with Marc Alaimo and Terry Farrell delivering great performances. Best moment of the episode? Without doubt, Dukat boasting that “My heart is too big—”, only to be knocked unconscious by Jadzia, who mutters, “and so is your ego...” The way Farrell delivers the line is sublime.
I wasn’t entirely sure what to make of the closing scene between Odo and Kira. I personally would have found the episode much more interesting if Kira had been sucked into Odo’s dream rather than Garak, and we got to see her deal with not only being back in that hellscape, but having to see Odo’s lapse first hand. Obviously, the fact Nana Visitor had just given birth put paid to that. It’s probably legitimately unsettling for Kira to realise that Odo was never as infallible as she viewed him and that no one was able to really escape the Occupation without getting their hands dirty—as she well knows. Which perhaps makes her moral high ground here seem a tad hypocritical given that Odo let her get away with murder back then and that, as a terrorist, she killed possibly hundreds of innocent people—and, in a few episode’s time, we’ll see that she has no remorse for doing that because she saw her goal as legitimate and necessary. So I’m not sure how this final scene sits with me, and the last, lingering silence, wasn’t nearly as effective as it was in “Necessary Evil” because...well, this episode just didn’t have a fraction of the power of that final, unexpected twist.
“Things Past” is a frustrating one for me. It has some great, meaty ideas although the script really needed a couple more passes in my view. I’d far prefer we’d simply had elegant flashbacks ala “Necessary Evil” than the technobabble madness here, and I really think this could have been a much stronger psychological thriller if things had been tightened. As it is, it works, thanks to some great performances and directing; it’s certainly quite involving and atmospheric, but I feel it could have been a lot more. Rating: 7
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Great review as always. I agree, the shared dream premise was too contrived. How could the Dukat/Jadzia scenes have been part of Odo’s mental space?
It’s been awhile since I watched “Necessary Evil” but I guess the final scene between Odo and Kira in “Things Past” is meant to parallel that ending - now their roles are reversed; Odo discovers Kira’s past and it changes his view of her.
Did not recognize Kurtwood Smith (Thrax) as the Federation president in The Undiscovered Country.
I liked the reference to Cardassians as Spoonheads!
It’s been awhile since I watched “Necessary Evil” but I guess the final scene between Odo and Kira in “Things Past” is meant to parallel that ending - now their roles are reversed; Odo discovers Kira’s past and it changes his view of her.
Did not recognize Kurtwood Smith (Thrax) as the Federation president in The Undiscovered Country.
I liked the reference to Cardassians as Spoonheads!
I'm going to disagree with you on this review, but upfront, the problem with this episode is that it is very much Necessary Evil II. I think that too often episodes were written to be continuations of successful episodes, like Second Skin to Duet.
At some point, Odo needed to exam why he acts like he does, whether his demeanor reflects a virtuous indifference to the petty details of humanoid interactions or if it comes from the biological urges of his species to control. This episode makes clear that his vices are his own.
And here is where I really disagree. This episode explores cognitive dissonance. We are literally inside the lies that Odo not only tells the world, but that warp and change his own memories of his choices. By telling the audience upfront that this is all being generated by Odo’s mind, the audience can focus critically on the apparent disparities that the characters experience rather than seeing the episode through the lens of a genre story. Odo’s mind actively constructs memories that confirm that he was the good guy, who established policing on firm and unbiased notions of Justice, and it was his predecessors who deployed arbitrary justice.
But then Odo’s inner narrative would never come into question.
Because Odo’s mind does need to generate all the experiences in the "dream." Jadzia and the others all have memories of the station and Dukat such that events would seem real to them in terms of perception.
"THINGS PAST" is a solid episode, no pun intended. Though it suffers from two major problems.
The first is it's essentially a sequel of sorts to "NECESSARY EVIL", at least in spirit. As you mentioned above, the former episode was a masterpiece and trying to match it with a companion episode on the same level is a virtually impossible task. LeVar Burton deserves a lot of credit for keeping that atmosphere the same, as well as the tension. But the story didn't do his directing skills justice, honestly.
Which leads to the other problem... Odo's behavior from the jump. That already gave away what was going on before allowing the audience to figure it out ourselves. The reason why "NECESSARY EVIL" worked on a mystery level was because we had no idea... we were following the clues at the same time Odo was. Here, we know it centers on Odo and he has all the answers, but is being tight lipped about it until the end. It killed the mystery.
The performances were still great, as was the directing. But the story and the way it was told didn't live up to the rest.
Your rate of 7 is valid... but personally, I have to give it a 6. This is a rare occasion, perhaps the only time so far, where I score an episode lower than what you rated it as.
The first is it's essentially a sequel of sorts to "NECESSARY EVIL", at least in spirit. As you mentioned above, the former episode was a masterpiece and trying to match it with a companion episode on the same level is a virtually impossible task. LeVar Burton deserves a lot of credit for keeping that atmosphere the same, as well as the tension. But the story didn't do his directing skills justice, honestly.
Which leads to the other problem... Odo's behavior from the jump. That already gave away what was going on before allowing the audience to figure it out ourselves. The reason why "NECESSARY EVIL" worked on a mystery level was because we had no idea... we were following the clues at the same time Odo was. Here, we know it centers on Odo and he has all the answers, but is being tight lipped about it until the end. It killed the mystery.
The performances were still great, as was the directing. But the story and the way it was told didn't live up to the rest.
Your rate of 7 is valid... but personally, I have to give it a 6. This is a rare occasion, perhaps the only time so far, where I score an episode lower than what you rated it as.
I think cognitive dissonance is a powerful theme for a psychological thriller, and I totally see where you’re coming from. It’s just, for me, the episode squanders that potential and isn’t really focused enough, tight enough or have much of an emotional impact on me. But I know a lot of people do think this is a strong episode and I’m glad you got more from it than I did.
I don’t really buy that, because that would mean Odo’s mind was simultaneously having two dreams. I don’t see how that’s possible. I think Vash was right and I forgot to mention it because it did occur to me when I was watching that if it was Odo’s dream, he should never really have been separated from the others. That just seemed sloppy to me; that and the unnecessary cuts back to the station. The episode might have been stronger if they’d kept the revelation that they’re unconscious and locked in a dream until nearer the end.
Yup, I agree on your points, Farscape. I felt this script needed a few more drafts. Inception it isn’t. I did consider giving it a 6.5, but decided it maybe just scrapes a 7. I felt rather lukewarm on both this and the next episode and I wasn’t entirely sure if it was the quality of the episodes or just the fact I’m feeling under the weather and not that into them! But things are set to improve!
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I disagree. I don't see how two people could not dream together if they could link minds. Odo's mind does not need to control everything. The setting has already been determined. All Dax's mind needs to do is feed confirmatory sensations that generate familiar places and people. The Dukat she interacts with does not need to be the one Odo imagines. It is instead the Dukat that she knows, and it is fitting that he is more of a self justifying prick rather than an authoritarian administrator.
To put it another way, if we accept the conceits, particular of how the Great Link works, the minds of all the characters should work within the context of the link with Odo, not necessarily being programed by him.
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They’d have had to rewrite it considerably, but I’d rather they’d have done a courtroom drama, maybe had a group of Bajorans putting Odo on trial, his reputation potentially in tatters, and a series of flashbacks to the events, with whoever is interrogating him calling him out on his self-deception. I think it would certainly have made for a more powerful episode than relying on a hokey sci-fi gimmick.
I think it's safe to say one's takeaway from the episode ultimately depends on whether one would prefer it to be a mystery where the audience is as lost as the primary characters, or one where the audience knows more than the primary characters.
I wonder whether the people who feel Odo 'gives away the game' would feel that way on a first viewing if there weren't cutaways. His behavior is perhaps odd, but not necessarily any more odd than it should be for a scenario where our characters are being perceived as people due to meet the wrong end of a disruptor.
I wonder whether the people who feel Odo 'gives away the game' would feel that way on a first viewing if there weren't cutaways. His behavior is perhaps odd, but not necessarily any more odd than it should be for a scenario where our characters are being perceived as people due to meet the wrong end of a disruptor.
“THE ASCENT”
Wild things...
Right from the offset of the series, one of the most fun and sizzling relationships was that of Odo and Quark; the unyielding lawman and the pathological swindler. It’s a relationship we haven’t seen that much of the past couple of seasons, except for “Crossfire”, which saw a wonderful evolution in their relationship, with Quark extending unexpected compassion toward the tortured Constable. Perhaps I was imagining it, but I believe we’ve seen an almost grudging respect and perhaps even unspoken fondness between the two in the interim. Given the marvellously zesty chemistry between Rene Auberjonois and Armin Shimmerman, it really was about time we got an episode that paired the two—and, surprisingly, it’s the only one of the entire show’s run (unless I’m missing one, and I’m not counting the odd sub-plot).
It’s just a pity it’s this...well, generic. Like cotton candy (or what they call “candy floss” here in the UK), it’s initially enjoyable but there’s absolutely no substance to it. It just kind of vanishes in your mouth leaving a sugary aftertaste.
It’s highly cliched, but I do like the basic premise: having Odo and Quark stranded in in the wilderness and forced to work together to survive. It’s nice to get our first mention of the Orion Syndicate and the crash landing is fairly well done. Odo certainly gets to experience the downside of being a solid, learning first hand that human bodies can be fragile and a damn pain in the ass. Auberjonois and Shimmerman give it their all and are brilliant as always. They deliver the insults with great aplomb while also getting to show the different facets of their characters, from pride and stubbornness to self-doubt and fortitude. This lends the episode a dramatic edge rather than playing it as straight up slapstick, which is appropriate given the seriousness of their predicament.
Unfortunately, I can’t shift the feeling this episode would have worked better in the second or third season. To me at least, it feels like a regression in their relationship, with far greater hostility and venom on both their parts than we’ve seen since the show’s early days. The way Odo treats Quark in the beginning, twisting the knife in as he gloats about packing him off to prison seemed overly harsh, particularly as Quark is actually testifying as a witness, so where Odo got the impression he was under arrest I don’t know. I found the characterisation a tad forced in places—nowhere more so than the fight scene which fell utterly flat and seemed almost laughably bad.
It would seem that Odo and Quark’s “frenemy” relationship works best in isolated scenes and perhaps wasn’t suited to an entire episode such at this. We basically end up with scene after scene of incessant bickering which begins feeling repetitive pretty quickly. Sure, there are some fun exchanges, particularly early on, and I got a chuckle out of the way Quark calls Odo “fascist!”...but, really, the writing wasn’t at its strongest and the episode doesn’t manage to rise above its succession of cliches. I don’t feel either character was particularly well served in the end and, as our only Odo/Quark A-plot of the entire series, I find it a missed opportunity.
I have to say that while it’s always wonderful to get some location work, these Californian hills certainly don’t convince as a harsh ice planet. Although the cinematographer uses some kind a blue filter, it’s not enough to disguise the fact it’s a beautiful and most likely scorching hot day. I rather felt sorry for Auberjonois and Shimmerman having to lumber around in those heavy garments and even heavier prosthetics in the blazing sun.
The B-plot is rather more enjoyable and benefits from its brevity. It’s great to see Nog back from the Academy and he and Jake always make for a fun pairing, even if their unexpected conflict mirrors “The Odd Couple”-esque main storyline. It’s true that the writers get the laughs pretty much by reducing both to caricatures, but it’s amiably done and I know from experience that the quickest way to end a good friendship is to move in with them and find yourself exposed to all their worst habits (and they yours). The highlight of this storyline is the scene in the Replimat with Rom confessing to Sisko that he suspects Nog may be a Changeling (and has surreptitiously taken a blood sample to prove it!). I always forget that moment, but it’s truly one of the laugh out loud moments of the series.
Overall, “The Ascent” is just the right side of middling. It’s generally enjoyable, but let down by a paper-thin plot prone to cliche and far too reliant on ceaseless bickering. Shimmerman and Auberjonois deserved Emmys, however, if only because of their valiant efforts to convince us they were dying of cold when they were most likely burning up with heat. Rating: 6.5
Wild things...
Right from the offset of the series, one of the most fun and sizzling relationships was that of Odo and Quark; the unyielding lawman and the pathological swindler. It’s a relationship we haven’t seen that much of the past couple of seasons, except for “Crossfire”, which saw a wonderful evolution in their relationship, with Quark extending unexpected compassion toward the tortured Constable. Perhaps I was imagining it, but I believe we’ve seen an almost grudging respect and perhaps even unspoken fondness between the two in the interim. Given the marvellously zesty chemistry between Rene Auberjonois and Armin Shimmerman, it really was about time we got an episode that paired the two—and, surprisingly, it’s the only one of the entire show’s run (unless I’m missing one, and I’m not counting the odd sub-plot).
It’s just a pity it’s this...well, generic. Like cotton candy (or what they call “candy floss” here in the UK), it’s initially enjoyable but there’s absolutely no substance to it. It just kind of vanishes in your mouth leaving a sugary aftertaste.
It’s highly cliched, but I do like the basic premise: having Odo and Quark stranded in in the wilderness and forced to work together to survive. It’s nice to get our first mention of the Orion Syndicate and the crash landing is fairly well done. Odo certainly gets to experience the downside of being a solid, learning first hand that human bodies can be fragile and a damn pain in the ass. Auberjonois and Shimmerman give it their all and are brilliant as always. They deliver the insults with great aplomb while also getting to show the different facets of their characters, from pride and stubbornness to self-doubt and fortitude. This lends the episode a dramatic edge rather than playing it as straight up slapstick, which is appropriate given the seriousness of their predicament.
Unfortunately, I can’t shift the feeling this episode would have worked better in the second or third season. To me at least, it feels like a regression in their relationship, with far greater hostility and venom on both their parts than we’ve seen since the show’s early days. The way Odo treats Quark in the beginning, twisting the knife in as he gloats about packing him off to prison seemed overly harsh, particularly as Quark is actually testifying as a witness, so where Odo got the impression he was under arrest I don’t know. I found the characterisation a tad forced in places—nowhere more so than the fight scene which fell utterly flat and seemed almost laughably bad.
It would seem that Odo and Quark’s “frenemy” relationship works best in isolated scenes and perhaps wasn’t suited to an entire episode such at this. We basically end up with scene after scene of incessant bickering which begins feeling repetitive pretty quickly. Sure, there are some fun exchanges, particularly early on, and I got a chuckle out of the way Quark calls Odo “fascist!”...but, really, the writing wasn’t at its strongest and the episode doesn’t manage to rise above its succession of cliches. I don’t feel either character was particularly well served in the end and, as our only Odo/Quark A-plot of the entire series, I find it a missed opportunity.
I have to say that while it’s always wonderful to get some location work, these Californian hills certainly don’t convince as a harsh ice planet. Although the cinematographer uses some kind a blue filter, it’s not enough to disguise the fact it’s a beautiful and most likely scorching hot day. I rather felt sorry for Auberjonois and Shimmerman having to lumber around in those heavy garments and even heavier prosthetics in the blazing sun.
The B-plot is rather more enjoyable and benefits from its brevity. It’s great to see Nog back from the Academy and he and Jake always make for a fun pairing, even if their unexpected conflict mirrors “The Odd Couple”-esque main storyline. It’s true that the writers get the laughs pretty much by reducing both to caricatures, but it’s amiably done and I know from experience that the quickest way to end a good friendship is to move in with them and find yourself exposed to all their worst habits (and they yours). The highlight of this storyline is the scene in the Replimat with Rom confessing to Sisko that he suspects Nog may be a Changeling (and has surreptitiously taken a blood sample to prove it!). I always forget that moment, but it’s truly one of the laugh out loud moments of the series.
Overall, “The Ascent” is just the right side of middling. It’s generally enjoyable, but let down by a paper-thin plot prone to cliche and far too reliant on ceaseless bickering. Shimmerman and Auberjonois deserved Emmys, however, if only because of their valiant efforts to convince us they were dying of cold when they were most likely burning up with heat. Rating: 6.5
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