PATRON TAKES - DS9 S1E16

I still don’t like this episode after 32 years, there are scenes that are memorable, but the episode is forgettable It would be interesting if they could clip the good scenes out of this episode and work them into other episodes so we don’t have to watch this one again

Kira: "Perimeter sensors are picking up a subspace oscillation ... THE HELL DOES THAT MEAN?" How did the editors sneak in that brilliant off the cuff outtake?

This is a typical type of writing that in retrospect has to happen in order to realize that the characters don't thrive in this kind of story.

Neat idea, mediocre execution, sub-par episode. Much like "The Naked Time" in TOS, this episode gave us a chance to get a handle on what our characters are all about on the INSIDE. And it mostly failed. D.

Many years later, Supernatural did the "I imagine things and they come true" trope MUCH better.

A bit of a throwback to Shore Leave, where the crew’s imagination gets them in trouble. For some reason, what I remember most is the lighting/staging of the scenes, more than the plot.

For me DS9 is the GOAT TV Series, but I feel the same way about this episode as I do about Babel. It can be erased and I'd never miss it. Okay fine, I give it a D.

Jadzia didn't put Julian in the friend zone, she put him in the friend void, the friend pocket universe, from which there is no escape.

An episode like this can work if the scifi gimmick gives you insights into the characters that we otherwise never get to see. So what did we learn about the characters in this episode? We learned O'brien likes his family, Sisko likes baseball, and Julian likes Dax. Earth-shattering stuff.

It's an OK episode. Does seem out of place compared to what comes, but this is only the first season, and the show is still trying to find itself, like Move Along Home, it feels like it could have been and original series episode.

Okay, honest opinions now. Imagine you're in the ring but you're losing badly, you're nearly pinned and you know the end is nigh.... .... what would be the more painful "finishing" move, forcing you to lie there immobile while TNGs "Imaginary Friend" is played.... or this dreadful thing. Jokes aside, I feel this is a key example of "bad execution" DS9 style. Props to the Rumplestilkskin actor, he was good, and I'd still watch this before a lot of other sci fi shows (or move along home)

If what I imagined could come true, I'd imagine that this episode didn't exist.

This episode has the advantage of not being, “come along home.”

They should have brought Jennifer back and let her interact with Sisko... but maybe the authors wanted to try how to approach a funny DS9 episode...

I love this episode. I love a weird first contact episode that gives us the perspective of the aliens observing us for a change! I love Buck Bockhai and Sisko, I love how the chief and Rumplestiltskin interact, I love how embarrassed Julian is when Dax sees his sexual fantasy of her. I'm sad that the only thing that Kira can conjure is a man on fire and a burning corridor. ..This episode won't make any lists, but I think it's great for what it is. A tier for me, always want to rewatch it when it's on.

I am not a fan of this episode. It’s a skip for me.

C for „Congratulations you exist!“

Instead of talking about how this episode is the worst cringe piece of shit since maybe Justice, or Code of Honor, I will instead talk about the one thing the writers did right: At the time this episode was made the was a belief held by many in Major League Baseball that an Asian player could never succeed in the big leagues. This belief was often parroted by the media and the MLB fanbase. Smash cut to 30 years later and Shohei Ohtani is regarded by many as the GOAT. In Buck Bokai, DS9 foresaw Ohtani when almost no one else in America did. That vision on inclusion is what Trek is about. HOWEVER, because this episode sucks noodles, Sisko's playful ribbing of Bokai is completely out of place. As far as I can tell NO switch hitter in the history of baseball has ever hit 20 homeruns righthanded in a single season (let alone 3 consecutive seasons), and in many seasons 10 (the total Sikso busted his chops him for) would lead the league.

This episode feels like someone's trying to explain a joke you don't get.

I had to turn this off. This is 90s Trek at its most undramatic. On TOS anything they thought about came alive and immediately planes are trying to shoot them and McCoy "dies". Here, a baseball player shows up and it turns out he's a nice guy. Well, that's really selling it.

Yet another episode that feels like it should have been in TNG season 1.

You don't get many episodes like this in the future of DS9. For all of its awkwardness, there's something quintessentially "Trek" about it. Curious anomaly of an episode.

Best part was Sisko realizing that the station wasn't in danger and telling everyone to believe it. Worst part, I feel bad for Bashir. Everyone has a crush they fantasize about, but to have Bashir's come to life IN FRONT OF DAX, so embarrassing.

I know this is another which is unpopular with a lot of people, i'm a defender. For me this is a fun episode, from the Chief's confusion over Rumplestiltskin, to Odo dealing with an ostrich on the promenade, to Julian's embarrassment over his new Dax. S

This one is a close second to “Move Along Home” as my least favorite episode of DS9.

In which Julian fantasizes about a version of Dax who's just like him: a bimbo.

For the premise of "this entity makes whatever youre imagining real", they had no budget or creativity or imagination to make anything fun out of the premise

I can't bring myself to say this is a bad episode. Nor can I say it's a good one. Although, I guess Buck Bokai better make his entrance into MLB, as he's apparently got some work to do before next year. Thank goodness everyone on DS9 was having mostly tame intrusive thoughts. If these creatures visited Earth today, there'd be some real effed up crap going on.

This is another one of those TOS episodes awkwardly crammed into the DS9 setting in season 1. It's a testament to how good DS9 can be that it is as okayish as it is.

I often find it hilarious that THIS is the episode where Sisko gets the baseball.

i understand why people think this episode is weak - but the Buck Bokai character makes my day - the baseball story in the Emissary embodied in Buck is too much fun IMO - love TA

Just like Babel, straight from TNG, a strange phenomenon threatens the entire station. I like these lighter guilty pleasure episodes. They cure my depression from last week's "downer ending".

Another one of those that feels like a TNG reject. It’s ok but again not great!

This episode helps to fill in back stories for the characters.

How do you feel about seeing more of the Chief being fatherly to Molly?

This is stupid, but fun.

Colm Meaney objected to having a Leprechaun before they changed to Rumpelstiltskin. He is quoted as saying, "Using caricatures or clichés of any nation is not something Star Trek is or should be into.”

Question: If your imagination became manifest, who would appear before you?

An interesting and silly episode with no real stakes. A nice break from heavy topics I guess. B- tier.

One day we will get a good episode, for now we are still stuck with just bland okay eps.

I'm always bothered by horny-Dax. Is this really what Bashir wants from a relationship with Dax?

It’s crazy they got Michael Caine to play that magical leprechaun ! He’s so method !

There's a lot of fun stuff in this, and it's not entirely terrible to watch, but I don't like that it ultimately goes nowhere. It feels like a Massive waste of time.

Weird, kinda fun, half-baked, not great. Another log on the 'meh' pile of Season 1.

Again with Quark, we continue the weird idea that Ferengi men are disgusted if Ferengi women aren't unclothed and forced to stay home, but they're horny for women of any other species, even when they're strong willed. If there's some kind of lesson in there, I haven't been able to figure it out.

Oops

After rewatching with you guys, I'm very surprised to be reminded how little they have done with Dax this entire season. This is one of her biggest episodes and it's not even HER!

Question: is having a science officer adding anything to DS9 yet, considering TNG didn’t?

I wouldn't say I hate this one. It just isn't very good.

This shares 50% of its DNA with TNG season 1 “Where no one has gone before” and 25% with The Storyteller (ie thoughts manifesting). Who did it better?

The last stinker of season 1. Congrats. At least it piles on good character development scenes.

I liked it back in the day, and I still like it now. No, it's not amazing, but it is good fun and I enjoy the alien's way of learning about others. I'm sure it'll get beaten up on for being 'more season one filler' and 'a plot that could've been in any sci-fi series'. But if it wasn't told in DS9, we wouldn't get to learn more about and grow fond of the DS9 cast! Solid character and relationship building C+ tier fun, IMO.

Another low quality episode. Fun in a way but mostly just boring as it really goes nowhere. Solid D.

A good little episode that gives us insight into the inner thoughts of the cast. A necessary sort of episode for a first season.

Some say this is a bad episode. Maybe it is, but it has O'Brien facing off with an annoying Leprechaun, and Bashir with horny Dax. Both of which out a smile on my face.