UNCUT - Fascination (DS9 S3E10) | Star Trek Journey 339

DS9 sex scoreboard catch up version No scores that I saw (remember I am only catching up with the short versions) The sex score board Quark 5 Jadzia 3 Chief 1 Keiko 1 Odo 1 Kira 1 Bashir 1 Jake 1 GUEST: Lwaxana 4

The O'Brien's are the perfect family. Love everything about them. S tier episode for me, as I just love them and I love GOAT Troi

This is such a strong season, but this episode was a miss for me. C-

The Naked Nine? I just could not get past the feeling.

I don't really like it when Star Trek does a comedy episode much but this one isn't bad at least.

I forgot how good the O'Brien stuff was in this episode. I was wrong, you were right.

Hey! Bareil is NOT a punk! As a punk, I take that as a personal insult!

The Homs actor also reprised his role as The Fireman in Twin Peaks The Returh (2014) Alsom guys, Majel does not look younger. I think this is a "Man Trap" situation. Or what Kirk thought it was. She doesn;t look bad, but she's definitely not looking younger. If you vompared her hirst appearnce in TNG with this you'd see you're seeing through "McCoy eyes"

So speaking for me, it's not that I don't enjoy fun low stakes episdoes. It;s just that I don't want that every episode, and I don't get bothered by casual hooks where "the plot" shows up, if the plot's good. With "The Jem'Hadar" it's not that I didn't enjoy the camping trip in fact I loved it as a setup for a low stakes that uls the rug and introduces the Dominion threat. Of course I liked the way they did that, but we've been over this ad nauseam. I think this is probably f most fans. Not against low stakes episode, but like big drama, and havigpicturte of ordinary life" and character moments that happen in between the big plot events

I just don't get why people would hate this. yes its a break from the heavy drama but it's fun, very Shakespearan comedesque which I'm pretty sure was an inspiration. The arc with Keiko and O'Brien was great (thought I think this episode more then any other is where she got her bad rep with some fans, as she was being pretty unreasonable with Miles at hte beginning in their quartersl where she hasn't seen him in months and she doesn't cut him any slack, treating everything hje says as wrong and annoying, like she was in a mood to fight. Also, you missed a line when you were reacting to the appearance of Troi. Molly was sick because Lwaxana kept giving her candy. I imagine a multi hour ride on a crowded Bajoran transport which only has impulse and is primitive compared to what hses used to, probably more like sitting in a cramprf bus with Lwana yakking away and giving her daughter candy and not listening to her trying to say to stop- "Oh nonsense, Spare the rod spoil the child is my saying, you're only young once"- (Remember how she was with Alexander) with Molly getting predictably sick.. plus I imagine traveling from a remote Bajoran area to wherever it was she had to board the trabsport with a young child was a long and grueling journey. But still, she wasnt acting well here, she was taking it out on Miles for no reason whose trying to make her happy but eshe gets irritated at everything he says (is PMS still a thing in the future?) when she knows he will be excited to see her and Molly and she only has a couple of days on the station.. I guess maybe also upset because shes predictingh he wont be happy with the news and maybe is ubconsciously already upset with him. But also, bringing up the male friend at that time seemed like as totally passive aggresive mood. She can be bit much at times, but she was really rough in this one, and this episode is likely the most that contributes to some fans (not me) calling her a "shrew." but the arc wasm still enjoyable. And I'll bring this up when I do the tidbits from meory alpha, but the scene Vistor filmed with El-Fadil was apparently one where they really started to feel attracted to each other, and not long after started dating. They eventually got married and stayed together for a long time, but divorced sometime more recently, whic for some reasonn feels like a shame.

so actuallu she Troi couldn't read Odo's mind, which if you recall from the season 1 epsiode was one of the reasons she was attracted to him (that and she wasn't into her which also seems to be a turn on). She was just observant. She seems to get in "moods" where she wuper amorous then calms down but she does have some of Deanna's emotional observation abilities. Probably from being able to asociate read minds with facial expressions and sicne Odo is copying his they might not be very subtle, especially as she was so focued on him. We also finally got confirmation of Odo's feelings for Kira. If you also will recall, this was first hinted at in the previous season when she told him she was in love with Bareil and gives a quick pained look. She notices and asks him what's wrong, then he recovers and says "Oh, I was just waiting to see whe you'd figure it out. You humanoids etc etc." Then she says something like "This must seem silly to you, clearly oblivious of Odo's feelings or that he is even capable of such feelings, which based on her friendship with him she has never seen him demonstrate or talk about. This season, after rejecting the Founders, Odo's attitude has changed and he is clearly trying to embrace his living amongst humanoids and taking part in their lives while also exploring his shapeshifting abilities. After realizing he has found his peeople and he feels he is not like them, he clearly wants to develop his own indepdent identity as a changeling amongts humanoids, and so far he seems to be happier and embracing his new chosen identity, though his feelings for Kira complicate things.

If you watch Lwaxana in the background watching the other characters, she has this grin on her face like she's enjoying watching Dax beating down the Wooden Vedek, Bashir & Kira going at it, and Quark rub his lobes all over Keiko. (It's the same look we all probably had...)

This is easily the most entertaining reaction from you guys so far!

probably would have given this a C based on memory, but I really enjoyed it on the rewatch with ya'll! The party scene is just delightfully silly. This is how you do horny Trek right.

It's a pretty sub-par episode, but credit to Avery Brooks. Sisko's reaction to Dax is great. And the way he effortlessly wards off the pugilistic Bareil, like he's toying with child...

Alex, I'm offended that you laughed at Sisko's com-badge. I'm hurt.

I honestly used to hate Keiko. I'm starting to think I was wrong

This is a good framing episode to further the Kira-Odo subplot, Kira and Bareil's relationship, but also to touchbase with the O'Briens. But this is a light-hearted episode to contrast with the heavier episodes coming next. Nana and Alexander got married in 1997 but she was pregnant in 1996 so it's not clear when they started dating. As someone whose favorite DS9 character is Bashir, I am happy to see him humorous and smiling.

I always liked this episode

Surprisingly... I enjoyed rewatching this episode. I didn't expect it, but you're right - its fun and a good breather episode. Also as a little mind screw fact to think about - the actress who played Molly is older then both of you now. She's a regular at contentions too. Absolutely messed with me when I realised she was the same age as me (more or less, I'm marginally older but not by much).

I legitimately couldn't remember this episode before I watched it with you guys. Once I rememered it, I remembered hating it. Now I don't hate it, but it isn't one I'll rewatch. It's a C- for me.

I can understand why some people wouldn't like this episode. It's on the silly side, and comedy is subjective. But I've always loved it. Side note: Bashir says in each case there must have already been a latent attraction. In Jadzia's case, I wonder if this is an example of the line between the host and the symbiont. Perhaps Jadzia, without the influence of Dax, would be attracted to Sisko, and it's only the Dax part of her that rejects the idea and suppresses it to the subconscious.

I’m not sure if I legitimately hated this episode or if I just associate this episode with cringe memories of being 8 years old and watching 44 minutes of people making out, next to my parents

Vedek Cardboard. No more needs to be said.

Avery Brooks played an anti-hero on a show called "Spencer for Hire" where he was also a boxer. Even had a spinoff of his own "A man called Hawk". Hence I believe they worked some of his physical acting into his role as Commander. So he would dominate Picard and tie with Kirk in a fight. Sorry Alex 😂

I did rewatch the episode today along with you. I never outright hated this one. Sometimes I just felt it was silly and I wasn't in the mood for that. In this watch I feel it is fairly mid. Some of the comedy works for me, some of it doesn't. I really enjoyed Cirroc Lofton's performance, which surprised me. I just think there isn't enough chemistry between all the actors to really lift this into top tier romantic farce. It certainly isn't what I'd call the worst episode of the season. Of course, I'd rank Meridian as the nadir of Season 3. There is at least one more episode in season 3 which I find to be bad, not in idea, but in execution. I'll wait and see if that one manages to sink to D or E with Josh and Alex. It isn't a romance or a comedy, so maybe. My only other thought on this episode is that it features perhaps the worst set of wigs Lwaxana has ever worn on screen. Truly, quite unfortunate.

It'll easily be 12 straight ep being Banger+. I think 17 in a row is possible

I never, ever get tired of watching Odo/Lwaxana moments.

In defense of banes I always need the video thumbnail so I can remember which one is Josh and which one is Alex. The main problem is Josh looks like an Alex and Alex looks like a Josh

Picard beat up that one lady in Starship Mine.

OMG, now I will never see Bareil without thinking of Vedek Cardboard. That is etched into my brain. Love this episode. Totally whacky and off the wall.

based Bane.

Its an ok episode but has some great moments with Miles & Keiko

I would not rate this Episode good, but it is a fun Episode which i really enjoyed. Some Episodes are really hard to rate. Good acting from Jake, strongest Performance in this Episode, for me. I am really glad that the Plot even when it was the Problem, stayed at the back until the very End where it was an easy fix. So many Episodes of TNG would have wasted halve of the Episode in "finding the Cure!"

This is an OK episode. It is light fluff, and cringe based comedy is not my favorite thing, we had done a Lwaxana loses control of her telepathy on TNG.

A lot of fans do call Sisko “space dad.”

Had way more fun watching this with you guys, still not a favorite of mine of the comedy episodes but glad your streak of great episodes continues!

We get a Troi in this episode. Alex, stop doing that.

Oooh, Alex and Josh lore drop. (Also, in the bid for the perfect season, I see four possibe road bumps over the rest of the season, and we'll call it five for the risk of disliking a favourite.)

What makes a great episode? I don't think of this as a great episode. I was entertained and laughing through the whole thing though. Maybe it is a great episode.

Shoutout to Banes attaining Patron Take GOAT status in the most chaotic-neutral way possible.

It's okay. A Thanksgiving episode. These filler episodes though were a bit frustrating when you only got 1 episode a week and really wanted to see what was going to happen with the dominion, the cardassians, the maquis. They are better on rewatch. And, who am I kidding no one cared about the maquis.

I love how one of their own Patrons forgets their names like Mr. Burns never remembering Homer Simpson's name. LOL

Could someone please get Josh and Alex a Cameo from Philip Anglim?

It's funny. It's forgettable. It's... fine.

I think they only liked this one because Dax Clocked their most hted character. This isn't terrible but it really is the weakest of the season thou the guys will feel different

I’ve said it before that comedy episodes are going to be divisive because everyone has a different sense of humor and DS9 isn’t primarily a comedy show. We’re gonna get community grades that range from S to E the majority of the time.

I would have bet good money that you'd both enjoy this episode. It was never one of my favorites (comedy episodes aren't really my thing in Star Trek), but if nothing else, hyped that the streak is ongoing! In what Alex mentioned his ideal setup being the C-team, curious. Wanting flawed characters. Here I am, I crave the exact opposite. Give me near perfect characters behaving like absolute professionals, solving complex problems day in and day out. Show me the best that humans can be, what I want to aspire to myself. What's fascinating is, even in having such a divergent "ideal" - we both can come to love the show for reasons we didn't expect (this episode notwithstanding).

I guess we now know that Josh & Alex will absolutely love DS9, because this is the weakest episode of season 3. It's a very lightweight story given a very lightweight production, despite Avery Brooks doing his best to shoot it in the most appropriate way possible.

Josh & Alex....you monsters! Liking 'Fascination' is an automatic referral to the International Criminal Court. Who are you? Don't put your hands on me. What's in that syringe? I'll fight this to the Supreme Court.....zzzzzz

I always liked this episode. It's not as good as some of the other ones this season, but it's a fun little palate cleanser.

Alexander (Bashir) Siddig and Nana (Kira) Visitor started dating (officially about a year after this episode aired). They later got married (with Andy Robinson (Garak) as the best man) and had a child, though they later divorced.

I like this episode more every time I see it!

I'm really glad that my initial guess was wrong and you do love it as much as i do. Definite A from me.

The Miles & Keiko story was better than I remembered. In fact, I forgot all about that part. The rest is still way too silly to be anything more than a C.

i have autism AND i am arom ... so this episode is literally like a horroshow to watch for me xD i wasnt able to keep on the sound during the whole watchablong xD

I'm always surprised when I remember people don't like this one. It's such a fun episode! Not every episode of Star Trek needs to be a Defiant or an Inner Light to be enjoyable.

you said you wanted TROY not Diana, you wasn't specific enough

How could you not like this -- Bareil gets punched! In all seriousness, this episode is goofy which is why it gets a lot of dislike from the community, but it's still a good time.

Alex, this is exactly what it's like to be married. I've always loved this episode- knew you guys would too!

I'm too old to say this but this episode is "pure cringe" for me.

🤫🫢🤭🥴🤐

I liked this one. Sad how fun, well written, well acted episodes like this get hate.

Hear Hear! I do agree from now on he shall be known as Vedek Cardboard

The Sisko/Bareil/Dax fight was hilarious

You know what? Not my favorite episode by a long shot. But I definitely think it has some solid moments, and I definitely liked it better than some of the patrons! But what I love is that our boys here are getting even more joy from this episode and therefore more joy out of this season than I did. Greatly anticipating what I consider the highest points this season.

I thought it was hilarious :)

Difference between funny and not funny? This episode, not funny (IMO). Just trying way too hard. Maybe a chuckle or two for me. Patron Takes section of this reaction? I died. “I don’t remember their names offhand” Take reaction is an all-timer. “Banes, you’re paying money. You’re paying us money to watch our content.” Bravo, gents. Bravo.

I'm in the minority. I've always love this episode, but I'm a sucker for Odo and Mrs. Troi

Love this episode. Comedy gold.

Sisko would be a good dad to anyone.

Josh- the reason that this is "good comedy writing" is that this is basically William Shakespeare's play "A Midsummer Night's Dream" adapted to a space setting....in the play "magic fairies" sprinkle love dust on a kingdom and all the people in the Court fall in love with the first person they see after breathing the dust....leading to ridiculous pairings... They just replaced the dust with Lawxanna's telekinetic powers and a Royal Court with the crew...and it still works

Gawd, this was such a fun watch with y'all. Through and through, one of your best reactions/commentaries. I don't hate this episode. It's just not one I return to that often. While I believe that it's objectively good (the escalation at the final act is peak comedy pacing), I'm just not a fan of cringe humor, even if it's "mild" spicy in terms of cringe. I was happy to see Bareil in such a goofy, absurd predicament when after all this time we've been force-fed him in a rather "serious" context. And I love Sisko being stuck as the straight man having to deal with all of this wacky chaos around him. It's obvious that y'all will love character-driven narratives when they are done well, and the O'Brien/Keiko stuff really helps in this episode, giving us some actual progression while everything else is whimsically circling down the drain. Nice shiet~

This episode absolutely was good. The patron takes and ensuing comedy gold was peak.

Peldor Joi boys! I love this episode it’s hilarious! Like a bawdy French farce. I wasn’t sure if you guys remembered but Kira and Bashir were married back then. PS I saw a recent picture of them hugging as older divorced people it’s cute that they can “hug it out” they have a son together.

This one is just fine. Some of the comedy works. Some doesn’t. I think my favorite scene is Quark being a “good” bartender and convincing Miles to go back to Keiko and apologize.

I watched and taped this one to VHS (ancient mystic tecnology involving magnets) and I was fascinated how attractive the female lead were when not wearing those dull uniforms ;)

DS9 is the best of this era of Star Trek when it comes to comedy episodes. This episode's main problem is that DS9 was so on fire this season that it stands out as a weaker episode in comparison, and ends up feeling like a holdover from season 1. I always laugh at how Sisko is so unaffected from being punched by Bareil that he's more disappointed than angry or hurt. It's like he's never fought someone so weak and doesn't know if it's even ok to respond since Bareil's so not a threat.

This one is overhated. I think it comes down to whether you like seeing established characters acting weirdly or not, and some people just don't. Josh said it was like the Naked Now but better, and I agree, cause we actually have had the time to know everyone. I think Vedek Cardboard (good one) acting weird is the only real drag, cause the dude just generally sucks at acting.

I love this episode. I usually love the comedy episodes of ST series and this one is no different.

Honestly, Jadzia and Sisko always made sense to me.

Why did Chief and Keiko have better chemistry than the pair that were ACTUALLY married (Kira/Bashir)?

Sisko would have beaten Soran to a pulp, and had a better Nexus experience to boot!

What? No vote for Spock as dad? As logical as Data, but *capable* of emotion.

A+ could've been an S if they included Nog

Once again, you guys have rehabilitated a character for me. I used to groan whenever Lwaxana/Laxwana came on screen. Now I get giddy because I know you guys are going to pop. It does help that DS9 has continued the Dark Page thread of making her a real person instead of just the comic relief. Also, when Quark is selling the pens with an engraving of DS9 by "Ermat Zinn" -- was that a nod to Herman Zimmerman?

I wonder if Nana Visitor and Alexander Siddig actually kissed like that irl?

Barring a few cringy bits I think this episode does a good job of either developing or setting the foundations of relationships going forward. It's nice to spend some time with the characters away from the drama in more lighthearted situations. As I stated on the trailer, It's probably the worst of the season (for me) but it's not terrible. I find it quite entertaining. Perhaps that speaks to the strength of the show. Glad you enjoyed it, too.

Siddig and Visitor were married in real life

This story always made me think it was an old Gene Roddenberry script that somehow got recycled - seems like something he would have gone for, especially in his later years. But I'm told it was actually loosely based on Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream". Either way, I kind of enjoy it.

I'd probably still only give this one a C+. I do agree it's overly hated. It's silly and fun and overall pretty harmless. I do like the bits with the O'Briens, but not my favourite story of their family. Still it does show the strength of their relationship. Also it's pretty sad seeing Lwaxana feeling so lonely. There are a lot of good comedy moments though. I love Jake being this little Casanova to his dad's bewilderment. I always crack up at his "it won't last" in regards to Kira/Bareil, like he has to school his dad on women😆. That said, calling Kira an "older woman" to her face might not have been the smoothest approach. In regards to Bareil, like Ken I do actually like the character, but as an ally to the crew. He's one of the few bajoran political/religious figures who isn't a manipulative asshat. He really is misused as a love interest though. Not amazing, but a fun episode.

You guys have no idea what’s begun here.

I gotta say listening to these Patron Takes - I think it's definitely true that Lwaxana is a much better character on DS9, having seen her twice now.

you know Lwaxana Troi is the voice of the computer systems in star fleet.... most of the time

When Nana and Siddig started dating (or maybe when they got married?) Siddig started having himself credited as Alexander Siddig rather than Siddig El Fadil so that their names would appear next to each other in the credits. If you look for it, that's how you'll know.

This is one of the "love it or hate it" episodes. The people who hate it are (of course) very wrong and should reevaluate every important decision they have ever made in life

I fucking love this episode

I forgot that Quark had a latent attraction to Keiko.

This episode answers an Important Scientific Question: If Bareil makes episodes of Star Trek worse, and Lwaxana makes episodes of Star Trek better, what happens when you combine the two? I feel like this one definitively proves that Lwaxana is more powerful than Bareil.

I’m stoked to watch this tomorrow… have a feeling it’s going to be a fun reaction

I’ve said it before but the fact that DS9 can go from intrigue and surprises of Defiant to this just highlights the strengths of Star Trek. It’s a lot of fun, I’ve always had a soft spot for it

You know Lwaxana being sent as a Betazoid representative means Betazed has official diplomatic ties with Bajor. Everyone be careful of spoilers. To make it simple I will give you one way to know the difference between Josh and Alex, though there are a million differences, Josh has darker hair, Alex has more reddish brown hair, and Alex’s facial hair has a tendency to be altered. (Banes’ joke was funny)

Peldor joy!

So I unironically liked this one, ONLY because I love Bajoran lore and world building. I almost see them as a Fantasy race, rather than Sci-Fi. Anything that explores their heritage, holidays, etc is a banger in my book. And a banger is what this is. B+ It would be an A+ but the stupid Troi and love crap brings it down. I would have preferred 45min of the Bajoran festival with zero plot. That said, I still liked this eppie.