One of DS9's greatest episodes. At first I thought it's a boring, slow-paced, mystery episode (I usually dislike mystery episodes) with an oversimplified plot that makes no sense and defies all physics rules. Worse: it felt totally disconnected to the contemporary story line. I wanted to learn more of the war unfolding between Cardassia, Klingons and the Federation. Instead I got this seemingly detached episode. I was disappointed that I had to sit through this unnecessary story. Plus: Bashir and Jadzia as old people look as stupid as Bashir in Distant Voices. It's not even a future that will ever materialize exactly like that.
But this episode has really grown on me over time. Today, I think that's one of the greatest episodes this show or this franchise has ever produced. Jake's and Benjamin's relationship is the best father and son story ever in this franchise. Not many episodes prove this as well as this one. It's very emotional. I dare to say it's one of the most emotional episodes ever given that nobody of our beloved characters dies or otherwise leaves the show for good. Kudos to Tony Todd who nailed it (glad Lofton wasn't forced to play old Jake with a lot of make-up). It's totally different from the usual style of narration. We see the future, a whole life compressed into 45 minutes, a tale about obsession, dedication, sacrifice, suicide, science, art, family, family, parenting, a lost father and a lost son. Maybe there'a even a connection to Benjamin, the Emmissary (tbh I think it really shows that Benjamin is the chosen one and that's why this episode isn't detached at all from the overarching story). Maybe it's also a commentary on the (so called) crisis in black families. I didn't realize this at first, but stakes are high. The life of Benjamin Sisko was rescued in this episode for real; this part wasn't imaginary. I wonder whether Benjamin realizes what has just happened. Such a clever temporal loop if you can just accept that Jake has figured out the physics behind it and it all makes sense.
Review by Alexander von LimbergBlockedParent2023-06-02T23:30:49Z— updated 2023-06-06T15:04:01Z
One of DS9's greatest episodes. At first I thought it's a boring, slow-paced, mystery episode (I usually dislike mystery episodes) with an oversimplified plot that makes no sense and defies all physics rules. Worse: it felt totally disconnected to the contemporary story line. I wanted to learn more of the war unfolding between Cardassia, Klingons and the Federation. Instead I got this seemingly detached episode. I was disappointed that I had to sit through this unnecessary story. Plus: Bashir and Jadzia as old people look as stupid as Bashir in Distant Voices. It's not even a future that will ever materialize exactly like that.
But this episode has really grown on me over time. Today, I think that's one of the greatest episodes this show or this franchise has ever produced. Jake's and Benjamin's relationship is the best father and son story ever in this franchise. Not many episodes prove this as well as this one. It's very emotional. I dare to say it's one of the most emotional episodes ever given that nobody of our beloved characters dies or otherwise leaves the show for good. Kudos to Tony Todd who nailed it (glad Lofton wasn't forced to play old Jake with a lot of make-up). It's totally different from the usual style of narration. We see the future, a whole life compressed into 45 minutes, a tale about obsession, dedication, sacrifice, suicide, science, art, family, family, parenting, a lost father and a lost son. Maybe there'a even a connection to Benjamin, the Emmissary (tbh I think it really shows that Benjamin is the chosen one and that's why this episode isn't detached at all from the overarching story). Maybe it's also a commentary on the (so called) crisis in black families. I didn't realize this at first, but stakes are high. The life of Benjamin Sisko was rescued in this episode for real; this part wasn't imaginary. I wonder whether Benjamin realizes what has just happened. Such a clever temporal loop if you can just accept that Jake has figured out the physics behind it and it all makes sense.