Fairly entertaining episode which doesn't take itself too serious and yet is able to build Bashir's character.
That's the first full holo episode in DS9. In the Trek franchise, holo episodes often feel like cheating. Mere fillers with totally detached fantasy stories. Many holo episodes provided ample room for writers and actors to experiment though. Thus they were often great entertainment. Since this is DS9 it's not until mid fourth season that writers felt the need to resort to a holo episode. They had more than enough real world stories to tell. Aftee this episode, DS9 will tell holo stories on a regular basis. But don't be afraid. Most of these stories rank constantly among the best holo stories of the franchise. It's only a Paper Moon perhaps representing peak quality.
In a sense, this episode follows the usual holo playbook: actors can play different characters, the story is a a bit silly, it features well known fictional characters from world literature or real figures from world history, safety procedures fail and somehow the crew's fate depends on the events that play out at the holodeck (either because crew member can actually die there or Holo characters become sentient and go rogue). But while writers used all of these standard elements they created a unique and very fun holo episode that is maybe among the best holo episodes of the franchise. To start with, it's one of the few episodes, Bashir is credible and likeable and shows his talent for comedy. Easy right? Give him a different character to play and he manages just fine. Plus, I personally like Bond movies. I like the franchise's earlier silliness with its over the top psychopath villains who seek world domination and concoct the craziest plans (always involving lasers). Thus I always liked Austin powers. Thus I like this episode's parody approach. I don't mind how insane and cliche filled the plot really is. I accept this 'cause ultimately that's the fictional plot Bashir chose to experience and it's certainly on par with the craziness of an average Bond movie. In the end this whole story doesn't take itself too serious and neither should we.
There's also an awesome dynamic between Garak (who's always a joy to watch) representing the real spy and fake spy Bashir. Garak seems to be genuinely shocked how Bashir imagines spy work - he doesn't get that this is fiction. While Bashir balances fiction and actual danger with astonishing levity, Garak is concerned and recommends a less playful approach. They are a formidable duo. Kudos to Kira who is a convincing KGB agent and Sisko who is actually the paradigm of a mad villain. He convincingly exhibits the sort of general malaise that only the genius possess and the insane lament. Well played. Dax is also a joy to to watch. Sadly she is basically same old Dax : a sexy nerd. Sporting glasses and a white smock, eventually letting her hair down (literally), this could very well be her starring in the opening scenes of a bad adult movie. If her character's stories don't discuss the peculiarities of her race, it's always (and often exclusively) her sexiness that has become an overused plot device. I don't think that does her justice. However, writer can always blame that part is mimicking Bond's misogynistic plots. They are not even wrong.
Back on the station, it's primarily Eddington and Rom who save the day. It's one of the few episodes in DS9 in which Eddington actually gained some depth - he's and will remain the least developed Star Fleet officer aboard. I still think Eddington should have more such episodes so that his betrayal later in the show becomes more shocking. How they handle his character is one of the few weaknesses of this show as far as character building is concerned. As far as Rom is featured: this episode is just another hint that he's a constantly underappreciated genius (who only lacks confidence). This part is also quite enjoyable. Although that's actually the part where lives are saved through incomprehensible techno magic (the usual sauce involving transporters and buffers) I'd consider this the B-part of the story. However, A- and B-plot are cleverly intertwined. In theory, the notion of buffering persons in memory banks that in turn mess with the holo deck procedures could be an interesting notion. ... perhaps if they added some witty philosophy to it. But how it's presented here is laughable. However, it ups the stakes for both the A- and B-plot which otherwise could have been a purely fictional adventure with limited implications in real life. But as I said: don't take the spy story nor the science behind the transporter accident too serious and you'll enjoy this episode very much. Or let me put this way: if you like the silliness of Voyager's Cpt. Proton, you'll enjoy this episode as much.
PS: "Mona Luvsitt, Anastasia Komananov, Honey Bare" - That's Mike Myers levels of trolling :-) Two years before Myer's masterpiece. I still wonder if he knew about this episode.
Review by Alexander von LimbergBlockedParent2023-07-06T20:23:15Z— updated 2023-10-22T21:52:26Z
Fairly entertaining episode which doesn't take itself too serious and yet is able to build Bashir's character.
That's the first full holo episode in DS9. In the Trek franchise, holo episodes often feel like cheating. Mere fillers with totally detached fantasy stories. Many holo episodes provided ample room for writers and actors to experiment though. Thus they were often great entertainment. Since this is DS9 it's not until mid fourth season that writers felt the need to resort to a holo episode. They had more than enough real world stories to tell. Aftee this episode, DS9 will tell holo stories on a regular basis. But don't be afraid. Most of these stories rank constantly among the best holo stories of the franchise. It's only a Paper Moon perhaps representing peak quality.
In a sense, this episode follows the usual holo playbook: actors can play different characters, the story is a a bit silly, it features well known fictional characters from world literature or real figures from world history, safety procedures fail and somehow the crew's fate depends on the events that play out at the holodeck (either because crew member can actually die there or Holo characters become sentient and go rogue). But while writers used all of these standard elements they created a unique and very fun holo episode that is maybe among the best holo episodes of the franchise. To start with, it's one of the few episodes, Bashir is credible and likeable and shows his talent for comedy. Easy right? Give him a different character to play and he manages just fine. Plus, I personally like Bond movies. I like the franchise's earlier silliness with its over the top psychopath villains who seek world domination and concoct the craziest plans (always involving lasers). Thus I always liked Austin powers. Thus I like this episode's parody approach. I don't mind how insane and cliche filled the plot really is. I accept this 'cause ultimately that's the fictional plot Bashir chose to experience and it's certainly on par with the craziness of an average Bond movie. In the end this whole story doesn't take itself too serious and neither should we.
There's also an awesome dynamic between Garak (who's always a joy to watch) representing the real spy and fake spy Bashir. Garak seems to be genuinely shocked how Bashir imagines spy work - he doesn't get that this is fiction. While Bashir balances fiction and actual danger with astonishing levity, Garak is concerned and recommends a less playful approach. They are a formidable duo. Kudos to Kira who is a convincing KGB agent and Sisko who is actually the paradigm of a mad villain. He convincingly exhibits the sort of general malaise that only the genius possess and the insane lament. Well played. Dax is also a joy to to watch. Sadly she is basically same old Dax : a sexy nerd. Sporting glasses and a white smock, eventually letting her hair down (literally), this could very well be her starring in the opening scenes of a bad adult movie. If her character's stories don't discuss the peculiarities of her race, it's always (and often exclusively) her sexiness that has become an overused plot device. I don't think that does her justice. However, writer can always blame that part is mimicking Bond's misogynistic plots. They are not even wrong.
Back on the station, it's primarily Eddington and Rom who save the day. It's one of the few episodes in DS9 in which Eddington actually gained some depth - he's and will remain the least developed Star Fleet officer aboard. I still think Eddington should have more such episodes so that his betrayal later in the show becomes more shocking. How they handle his character is one of the few weaknesses of this show as far as character building is concerned. As far as Rom is featured: this episode is just another hint that he's a constantly underappreciated genius (who only lacks confidence). This part is also quite enjoyable. Although that's actually the part where lives are saved through incomprehensible techno magic (the usual sauce involving transporters and buffers) I'd consider this the B-part of the story. However, A- and B-plot are cleverly intertwined. In theory, the notion of buffering persons in memory banks that in turn mess with the holo deck procedures could be an interesting notion. ... perhaps if they added some witty philosophy to it. But how it's presented here is laughable. However, it ups the stakes for both the A- and B-plot which otherwise could have been a purely fictional adventure with limited implications in real life. But as I said: don't take the spy story nor the science behind the transporter accident too serious and you'll enjoy this episode very much. Or let me put this way: if you like the silliness of Voyager's Cpt. Proton, you'll enjoy this episode as much.
PS: "Mona Luvsitt, Anastasia Komananov, Honey Bare" - That's Mike Myers levels of trolling :-) Two years before Myer's masterpiece. I still wonder if he knew about this episode.