Melora

DVD, DS9 S2 (Melora)

Another Bashir episode. He comes across well in this one, very sensitive and charming to the abrasive Melora, breaking through her cold exterior. The episode is as much about disability than anything else - originally a character of this kind was to have been a regular when they first created the series, but the low-gravity room was too expensive and difficult an effect to achieve week to week. That sequence works well, convincing us that they really are no longer bound by normal gravity. It's something you'd expect to see more of in a space programme, but the old joke on Trek (not the one where they roll around whenever the ship is fired on), is that whatever else fails, be it shields, life support or whatever, the gravity will always be working fine!

The only other time they used this was in a couple of 'Enterprise' episodes, as I remember, which is a shame since it's such a logical and brilliant stunt to see. We're also treated to some reference treats (the funny gag at the Klingon restaurant; the serenading Klingon Chef; the beautiful, but simple Vulcan lute playing), and background details for both Bashir and Quark. We find out about the doctor's inspiration in the little girl he watched die, as well as his career with tennis. For the Ferengi we discover he was in business with a crazy elephant-faced criminal whom he sold out - Quark does some dastardly deeds in his time, but he always stops short of the worst (and possibly least profitable) crimes such as murder. I think this is what he refers to when he tells Odo Fallit Kot was served justice. No doubt the guy had done some nasty things that made Quark so afraid of him.

As soon as he enters a darkened room you know something's up, and it reminded me of the later episode where Quark asks Garak to kill him, and flits from room to room. It's a real shame Melora (played by Daphne Ashbrook - the only connection between the worlds of Trek and 'Dr. Who' since she played the 8th Doctor's assistant in the 1996 TV film), never returned, but she made an impact. They at least should have revisited the Elaysians, although she did appear in some of the novels. The mix of stories so far has been quite varied thanks to the three-parter and now some more character-based stories.

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