Second Sight

DVD, DS9 S2 (Second Sight)

Seyetik reminds me of those scientist guests who'd appear on the original series and TNG, who often had some secret or their work caused dangerous side-effects to happen (enhanced by the reference to the Daystrom Institute again). This one plays with those expectations and it's actually Nidell, his wife, who is behind Sisko's mystery. Also the TNG episode 'We'll Always Have Paris' has a similar concept with the scientist (bearded of course!) going into a coma and such. Terraformers on Trek are very rarely good news, it seems to me. Right from the start I found Gideon engaging and fun, with his booming laugh and heavy self-promotion with a twinkle in his eye as he self-deprecatingly admitted he was an egomaniac. Quite a character, contrasting strongly with the Sisko-centric majority of the episode, who is always so calm and reserved. We get to see a range of emotion play across him this time.

I love the way the story gives us hints of the type of episode to come before we understand what's happening - Jake has a bad dream which sets us up for a mood of thoughtfulness and unreality that you only get in late evening, and Sisko takes a walk along the top of the Promenade before the perplexing arrival and vanishing of the mysterious Fenna. Seyetik doesn't mention his wife until moments before she appears as you might guess she's Fenna, being the only other new female character. Odo has a scene where he's talking to a couple of deputies before Sisko comes to ask his help to find her, and he's warning them to be on the alert for a short-range telepath that's coming to the station, so that could be another clue for the very observant types. Almost every subsequent viewing you notice new things with this series!

There are some beautiful views of the station, not least the rare scene at the top of a pylon looking down on the station spread out below. But also, thanks to the docking of the USS Prometheus (no relation to the later, experimental vessel of the same name) we get to see more of the underside. They must have used a fair bit of budget on the episode as we get an actual starship with it's bridge, quarters and Gideon's dining area, which feels quite special - it's not often you see a Federation ship on the series, let alone get to go aboard. You notice the uniforms are still those of 'TNG' since this is a few months before 'Generations' when starship crew adopted the DS9 style.

I wasn't sure what rank Piersall was, because Sisko didn't particularly acknowledge him, and if he were Captain it would seem polite to ask permission to enter the bridge, and that kind of thing (but maybe Sisko's used to slacker regulations - Odo's deputies walk right out of the security office without waiting for him to enter or standing aside like a crewmember did for Captain Robau in 'Star Trek XI'). My take is that he was a lower ranked officer for a ship that was at Seyetik's disposal for his scientific work, just a science vessel (Oberth-class is it? Nope, Nebula), that wouldn't need a full crew complement. Even so it does seem a bit casual the way Sisko invites himself aboard and wanders onto the bridge, but if Piersall had been a higher ranked officer he'd have been invited to the meal. Unless he was, but had had enough of Gideon's self-indulgent lip!

The dining sequence is a chance to gather most of the regulars together, and the only failing of the episode (most likely because it was still early in the series and all the interpersonal situations hadn't been explored), is that we don't see them all chipping in in a witty and engaging way (think of that scene in 'The Circle' where they all come to see Kira off) which seemed a perfect opportunity for their talents. But then Seyetik was holding court and the meal was seen, as was the episode, from Sisko's perspective, and his confusion over seeing 'Fenna' again is the point.

The episode shows the series has found a measure of confidence, that it can make a personal, almost psychological story focused heavily on a quieter character, away from all the hanging plot threads of Bajor and The Quest For The Kai, or reaching into the pot of aliens that is the wormhole for Who and What The Dominion Are. It's a pleasure for Sisko to be the sole focus, as he hasn't had an episode just about him since the pilot. Jennifer's death and Wolf 359 are mentioned, and I love that Jake and his Dad know exactly what the other is thinking about without having to say it.

Other mentions are the Andorians, who crop up twice (they've been referenced so many times, even this season, you'd think they were gearing up to bring them back, yet it would be eight years and two series' later that they were finally shown! Maybe some writers hoped if they put in enough nudges fan clamour would instigate a return?), and good old Kang also gains a namecheck in Klingon poem 'The Fall of Kang'. That wouldn't be the Kang that arrives at DS9 a few weeks later would it? No, I guess not (unless it was a really convoluted hint as to what was coming, if they even knew it then). And Sisko plays 3D chess in his quarters just like Kirk used to!

Another enjoyable part is that Dax is the main supporting character, as she's still the most underused of the adults, and her role as Sisko's friend and confidant is natural. Amusement comes when she thinks Benjamin won't tell her about Fenna because she's a woman, showing she still expects to be treated like Curzon (long before she begins to be a part time Klingon Warrioress!). Seyetik has a good line (well he would, wouldn't he), when he complains about having to wait for her by noting that not all of us have several lifetimes to waste. But is she telepathic now? It's the old gag that always happens. People sit down with some food or drink, take a bite or a sip, have the Important Plot Conversation, then jump up to go leaving their meal mostly untouched. I only mention it because Dax draws attention to the phenomenon by asking Sisko for part of his meal then without eating a bite suddenly jumps up saying O'Brien wants her! Talking of, it's good to see the Chief more involved, as he's been out of it for a bit.

It's important for the series to have an 'enclosed' episode once in a while, that doesn't need to link to ongoing plots (Odo and Kira aren't seen together so we don't know if they resolved their differences from last episode or were giving each other space), and is a showcase for one person, as although Sisko has been integral he hasn't been as defined as some of the commanding officers at the same stage of their series'. A good story, very pleasing. But what do Nidell's people, the Halanans, call their home planet? Halanana? (It's actually New Halana for those with an Encylopedic interest and a copy of that great book).

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