Crossover

DVD, DS9 S2 (Crossover)

Having successfully brought back three Original Series Klingons this season you might expect the writers to feel satisfied with those nods to their origins, but not so! Another staple of that series was the creation of the Mirror Universe, something that continues in books to this day. There's something about seeing familiar faces in a distorted way, and the violence and unsettling nature of the universe portrayed in 'Mirror, Mirror' gets added 'DS9' bleakness.

At first the conversation in the Runabout between Bashir and Kira reminds us of last season when she could barely tolerate him, and also flags up the friendship between the Doctor and O'Brien again, which has occurred more off screen than on in the last few episodes. We've seen key events that crafted the grudging respect into appreciation, but not so much of the smaller scenes like this one with Kira. Bashir clearly thinks he and everyone are getting on great now, and his connection to O'Brien leads to changes. Just as Kirk influenced Spock towards peaceful ways, Bashir's status as a free born Terran eventually gets through to the weakened spirit of O'Brien, who gives a great, but humble speech and helps the unpredictable Mirror Sisko to 'change his mind' against the Intendant.

If the story never moved on from there, we could at least be left with the parallels to the original story, but the playground of alternates was too big a chance to turn down, and we still hadn't seen all the Mirror versions of regular crewmembers. Out of those that we do, two; Quark and Odo (ironically the two with a connection in our universe, who don't have anything to do with each other's deaths!), bite the dust in what would become a recurring theme. But while Odo was 'one of a kind' there were plenty Ferengi left to be tortured!

There haven't been many heavy sci-fi episodes this season as the political intrigue with the Bajorans and Cardassians, and the growing hints of the Dominion in the Gamma Quadrant held centre-stage, even to the detriment of more family scenes such as Jake and Nog, or the O'Brien's. To be thrust into a wildly confusing place was as big a jolt for the audience as for the characters - the use of extreme angles when the Klingons beam aboard the Runabout increases the tension and claustrophobia. Klingons are always fun, but to have them allying themselves with Cardassians could only happen in an alternate reality! Then again, the combined logo looks so cool the alliance should be an inevitability.

Among many surprises is the return of Garak, in his fourth appearance this season, though this Mirror version is much less subtle than his double and seems of lower intelligence as a result. His eagerness to torture may be an offshoot of our Garak (though we didn't know it then), but his loud, confrontational manner belies an obvious and tactless thug, probably created for himself as the only persona that would make him stand out among Klingons. His place in our estimation doesn't rise when we hear how he's often unsuccessfully tried to assassinate the Intendant. She is a little less vicious than who she later became, perhaps because, although anticipated, Kira's appeance in her realm was unexpected, and her selfish whims are tickled by having a mirror image. There's no deep moralising in the vein of Picard and Shinzon here, however, as this is purely in the style of the Original Series classic, with personalities abhorrent compared to their 'real' counterparts.

The exception is Quark who is shown to be uninterested in profit (hadn't even heard of Latinum!), and something of an undercover hero, and man of action who tries in his own small way to fight against his captors when he's arrested. It's actually a shame he was killed off as he would certainly be one of the most interesting Mirror personalities, though his spirit lived on in Mirror Brunt...

It's fascinating to note the connections that spring up. Apart from the obvious (and brilliant) direct mention of the Kirk and Spock history, with the realisation Kirk's intervention actually swayed things for the worse as far as Terrans were concerned, the fascinating fact is that Worf was planned for inclusion in Mirror guise. Long before his transference to the series he was already in the writer's minds. Then there's the Klingon presence on the station, something that would feature heavily later in both enemy and ally capacities. There's even mention of the Duras sisters, Lursa and B'Etor, or at least the Mirror versions (maybe they're nice people there), which could be the last reference to them before 'Generations' sorted them out for good.

Of all the creations I would cite Sisko as the best, proving once again that that Avery Brooks fellow sure can act. Here he's a slightly cowardly (when the Intendant summons him his face shows fear), jack-the-lad, whose only goal is to have fun and keep himself alive by making the Intendant laugh. A pitiful existence compared to our Sisko, but he fights in the end. Stunt Co-ordinator gets a little role as the Marauder, a guy with one eye who shows up in the Mirror episodes from hereon. His claim to fame in this episode was being spat in the face by a Klingon. And it looked like real spit, though it appeared to be aimed at his prosthetic eye gouge, so hopefully it wasn't too gross for him. The things some actors do for their craft...

It's tough, but this is probably the best of the Mirror Universe tales of 'DS9', though they all had their moments. No Gorn or Tholians, disappointingly.

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