The Visitor

DVD, DS9 S4 (The Visitor)

Nothing to do with Nana Visitor or any of her relatives, sometimes a simple title says everything that needs to be said. It's about both Melanie visiting old Jake, and more importantly, Sisko visiting his son throughout the course of his life. But it's just plain wrong: a season has no right to start off as strongly as this season did. They pulled out all the stops for the feature-length opener and then, instead of resting on their laurels or doing the obvious and centring on new arrival Worf, they topped it with this one, widely regarded as one of the best 'DS9' and even best 'Star Trek' episodes full stop. It's so very different to the style of the previous story, which is what you want, but some viewers coming to it the first time may have been surprised that all the setup with the Klingons, and Worf coming to the station didn't drive this episode. It does link in to the story with an insight into what could happen - the Dominion keeps quiet, the Klingons take over Bajoran space, eventually the Federation withdraws from the station, turning it over to the Klingons, and the Bajorans abandon it soon after Sisko's death as a sign from the Prophets, and make a pact with the Cardassians. There are distant echoes of truth in some of these eventualities, but not all.

The Dominion were never going to sit idly by on their side of the Wormhole, but the Bajorans did make a pact to protect themselves from war, and technically it was with the Cardassians as they joined the Dominion. Jadzia's ripe old age was one future which would not come true, but Nog becoming a Starfleet officer did come to pass. It's a joy to see him rise up the ranks, and no one would have predicted that we would have seen him as Captain Nog (they really should have released an action figure!), before we even saw him go off to the Academy. One little niggle is that he seems to be ranked higher than Dax and Bashir on the Defiant in the future, but they may have retired from Starfleet and returned solely to help Nog and Jake. The episode allows us a glimpse into a possible future far beyond the length and scope of the series, well into the character's lifespans, something that could never have been done in real time. I still want a new TV series set in the 25th Century with the successive Dax host to Ezri in the cast! I want to see those three-dimensional displays that Bashir's used to working on when he points out how quaint the 2D Defiant computer panels are.

The future of the Trek universe never ceases to be mind-blowing, as full of potential and fascination as the gaps in the 21st-24th centuries. Even in this setting there was already a precedent with 'TNG' final episode 'All Good Things…' and the makers kept to that, cementing the look of that future period just as 'Voyager' would continue it. It's a treat to be able to see so many decades ahead even if we don't get a good idea of the technology of the time or see any ships, with only the uniforms and combadges, as well as the character's ages, to create the impression of the future. Alexander Siddig had already appeared at that great age in last season's 'Distant Voices.' I like the fact the Defiant is still around and operational even if it had to be 'taken out of mothballs' which makes me think it was in a starship museum somewhere. Mothballs are a better fate than destruction by the Jem'Hadar as actually happened in the final episodes of the series.

There are many references to enjoy - the old joke about Morn talking the ears off people gets a new spin when we find out he's taken over the bar after Quark leaves to purchase the moon he's always wanted. But Rom is still helping him out and there's not a mention of Leeta or his approaching change of heart, but even if they knew about that then, would they have told us? It could have ruined the surprise. There's another mention of Grandad Sisko, this time something to prime us for what we'd actually see - Sisko's Creole Restaurant. The book his Grandfather was so proud of would actually be started this season. One of the most fun details is that Melanie, the girl who wants to be a writer, was played by Andrew Robinson's son Rachel. She brings a warmth to the role, careful not to overstep her welcome, but completely enthralled by Jake, her favourite author.

I wonder if Melanie's timeline would have continued even though Sisko goes back to his 'proper' time? Even if it didn't she might still become an avid reader of Jake's work as he continued to write, and she'd probably have a lot more to read as he'd likely write many more books without his Father's predicament to occupy his mind. But what am I saying? Just such a predicament happened at the end of the series, so perhaps Jake was always destined to have a lonely life without both parents. At least in that scenario Sisko promised to return, and he wasn't going to be popping up every few years without warning.

The rest of the cast don't feature much as this is definitely a Jake episode (ironic then that Cirroc Lofton plays his character less than Tony Todd), but their scenes live up to the rest of the story. One of my favourite shots is on the promenade: we see the place packed full of people from so many races that have come far and wide for Sisko's memorial. Kira speaks about him and we pan over the faces of the crew; O'Brien, Bashir, Quark, Morn, and as we move round we come to someone more personally affected, Dax, and then continue on, to end on the most affected person there: Jake. Powerful filmmaking. Although I'm happy they got a more experienced actor to portray Jake in the future scenes, Lofton proves he is a very good actor in the moments he's given. He shows great sadness in the scenes with the others, such as Dax comforting him or when he's gazing out of some isolated viewport on the station. Kira comes to urge him to leave the station and it's all shot in silhouette as if we are hidden in the shadows watching this moment. Though we can't clearly see the expressions on their faces everything comes through in the voices and body language. The distress is most keen when Sisko is literally snatched out of Jake's hands in the infirmary and he breaks down completely.

Even Quark gives Jake an easier time of it, generously allowing Nog and him to use the holosuite though he'd wanted Nog to do some chores. Worf is one person we see very little. He'd only just arrived in the previous episode and yet he's hardly used. It should have quelled any fears people had that it would become The Worf Show. Presumably Michael Dorn would have understood that he was part of an ensemble and although he'd been promised juicy stories he wasn't going to get them all the time. After the first episode he was probably glad of a break, this was actually the third episode filmed - 'Hippocratic Oath' went before the cameras first. The big change for Kira is her new uniform. Whether it was snuck in on an episode in which she wasn't the focus I don't know, as it's odd she wasn't wearing it in the season opener, but it suits her new, less militaristic hairstyle much better than the standard shoulder pad Bajoran suit she'd worn in the first three seasons.

The one actor that deserves maximum credit on this episode is without doubt Tony Todd. Tony Todd is one of the greats. I've only seen him in episodes of 'TNG,' 'DS9,' 'Voyager' and 'Smallville' but he never fails to leave an impression, just like Jeffrey Combs. Actually, after those two names it's difficult to come up with one that crosses into so many series' with such ability and impact in the characters they played. His eyes are so expressive as both the middle-aged and old versions of Jake. When he sees his Father they light up with great joy, but shine with deep sadness when he tells his story to Melanie the mixed emotions telling their own story. He knows it will all be over soon, glad his younger self won't live the life he lived, yet there's also the melancholy of old age and coming to the end of life, the reflection on all that has happened and even some happiness in the devotion Melanie expresses towards him. One of the best moments is when he passes on his Father's words to her about poking your head up every once in a while to notice life going on around you, because you can miss it if you don't.

One of the saddest things about Jake's life are the wrenching moments when Sisko reappears. At first it's full of confusion, but gradually the situation is understood. Jake can't move on with his life because his Father isn't truly dead, living for the next moment he'll see him because the reappearances are so infrequent. He has to keep going and at first he thrives, writing, getting married, settling into life. But in his later years he becomes so obsessed with saving his Father he loses everything, and even in the short moments he shares with him he's too concerned with finding a solution he can't savour those times. It's hard on Sisko too, but so little time passed for him that he doesn't have such strong reactions. He's bemused by it all, becomes satisfied Jake is living a good life. Though he doesn't have time to think too deeply about it all, he points out that his son is now older than he is. But Jake does learn. He does what he can to rebuild his life because he knows his Father will come one last time and that will be the moment he can save him. Only in science fiction could you have a Father visit his son in old age. It must have been an unforgettable experience for him - it's not made clear whether he remembers everything that happened, but from the way he's so protective of Jake I think he did.

The old makeup is some of the best I've ever seen. The ancient Jake looks quite sprightly, but then you have to remember that eighty isn't as old in that time as it is nowadays. In the 24th (or 25th century as it is then), living well over a hundred is expected, making Jake's death more of a sacrifice - as his Father says, he could have many years left. The episode was nominated for an Emmy (beaten by 'Voyager' episode 'Threshold' of all things - a wilder injustice would be hard to imagine!). It was also nominated for a Hugo. It didn't win either, and in my opinion was snubbed. The modern equivalent of 'The City on The Edge of Forever,' I like to think there are certain episodes that personify a 'Star Trek' episode type: 'Conspiracy' was the goriest, 'The Thaw' may have been the scariest, and 'The Visitor' was the most affecting. You really empathise with the characters; Jake's lifelong endeavour to find a way to rescue his Father; Sisko's horror that Jake has wasted his life in this pursuit, or his great pride and pleasure in his son's achievements. Season 4's one-two punch of opening episodes satisfied both action and character, ensemble and personal, and for so many reasons I will always remember this episode as one of the best.

*****