Star Trek: Our Man Bashir

Episode: "Our Man Bashir"

Series: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Season 4, Episode 10

Original Air Date: November 27, 1995

via Memory Alpha

Garak episode!

Julian is indulging in a James Bond-inspired holosuite program with himself as the "master spy."  First, Garak shows up uninvited, though as himself.  Next, the doctor's other station colleagues appear as characters within the story.  Kira is the Russian counterpart love interest.  Miles is the goon.  Benjamin is the arch-villain with Worf as his henchman.  Dax is the beautiful scientist caught in the middle.

The explanation for all this is unusually contrived.  The five crew members were lost in a transporter malfunction but miraculously, the computer was able to save their data in the holosuite program.  Bashir must keep the program going until a more permanent solution can be found.  The safety settings are off, too, so he also has to keep everyone, including himself, alive.

Contrived though it is, the story's a lot of fun.  Some call it one of the best.  I'm not ready to put it in my top ten but only because I need to leave room for others I prefer.  I will concede that as alternate reality tales go, I usually prefer DS9's holosuite adventures to its Mirror Universe escapades.  

The episode is a particularly important one for Bashir.  For the most part, the series was humming along beautifully by the middle of Season 4 but the writers were still sorting out the best approach with Julian.  The playboy/cad character didn't workout.  He came off as an annoying jerk.  They needed a new avenue and "Our Man Bashir" was just what the doctor ordered (pun fully intended).  

There's plenty of good material to go around.  Garak is wonderful with his running critique of Bashir's overly glamorous spy fantasy.  Rom gets to show off his inventive mechanical approach.  Sisko is a stellar Bond villain.  Some critics feel the female characters were a step backwards for Star Trek which is fair.  Nana Visitor had a lot of fun in her role, though.  Her off-screen romance with Alexander Siddig was already full-on at this point so their on-screen intimacy was all the more believable.

The allusions to Bond films and books are numerous, in fact too close for comfort for MGM.  The Trek producers got a cease and desist letter from the owners of the Bond franchise and the next appearance of Julian Bashir, International Spy, was more subtle with its references.

80th Episode

80 episodes is a significant benchmark for a Star Trek series.  The original series only had 79 in its initial run.  When NextGen hit 80, cast and crew threw a party.  I don't know if it was such a big deal for later series but I still see it as a good point to take stock.  And it's definitely a meaningful standard.  Of the 11 Star Trek television series to have aired so far, only 4 of them have 80 or more: TNG, DS9, Voyager and Enterprise.  There are far fewer episodes per season in the streaming era.  Discovery has the most among recent series with 65 episodes.

What's new?

The basic concept of Deep Space Nine represents a significant departure from the well-established Star Trek model.  The old way: the Enterprise visits a new world, makes everything right - Prime Directive be damned - and moves on to next week's adventure.  Others can deal with the messy aftermath.

In DS9, our heroes are stuck in the soup with the newly liberated Bajorans.  The story allows for a more intimate glimpse of one civilization and that of their recent oppressors, the Cardassians.  Exploration hasn't completely been thrown out.  The wormhole to the Gamma Quadrant brings many possibilities as does the introduction of the Defiant, a ship worthy of long-distance travel.  Still, the basic idea of "Star Trek stuck in one place" is new.  And it's wonderful.

Is this still Star Trek?

The real world of the 1990s was full of parallels for Deep Space Nine to draw from.  Is Bajor Israel?  Palestine?  Bosnia?  Are Cardassians Nazis?  British imperialists?  The wormhole is definitely a stand-in for the Suez Canal.  The rest is fuzzy.  Just like the real world.

Tolerance is still the basic dogma so in that, DS9 is pure Trek.  However, that tolerance is harder work for the principals.  Kira and Miles are both openly hostile to the Cardassians.  But they are challenged in their thinking and that's solid - even improved - Trek.

The one major element which feels un-Trek is Sisko's role as Emissary for the Bajorans.  I'm not a fan of chosen one narratives in Star Trek.  Unfortunately, they seem to be creeping into the franchise all the time now.  To me, that's Star Wars, Marvel or Doctor Who stuff, not Trek.  I don't mind the exploration of religion in general - fair game as far as I'm concerned.  I just don't like the protagonist being cast in the role of Messiah.  Sisko is a strong, rich, nuanced character even without it.

80 episodes in, Deep Space Nine is already the best series so far and with many of the most important story lines, it still feels like we're just getting started.

Squid Flicks: Northanger Abbey

Title: Northanger Abbey

Director: Jon Jones

Original Release: March 25, 2007

My Overall Rating: 3 stars out of 5

via Wikipedia

Costume dramas are a big deal at our house.  My wife and child both love them, especially Jane Austen adaptations.  Northanger Abbey has been one of their favorites for years and until this past weekend, I'd never watched it with them.  They usually watch when I'm out playing board games or in the other room watching sports.  This time, I decided to stick around.

Catherine Morland is our heroine.  She's the typical Austen protagonist: smart, bored, pretty.  The adventure starts rolling when she's invited to Bath with family friends.  She falls in love with Henry Tilney, an aristocrat, though a second son to a wealthy man so not in line for a big inheritance.  He is kind and welcoming to Catherine and exhibits a fine sense of humor.  Will the two weather Catherine's social faux pas and the meddling of others to find their way with one another?

The story plays out much as one would expect from an Austen story.  However, Northanger Abbey is an unusual Austen novel for its satirical elements.  Gothic literature was alive and well in the early 19th century (the book was published in 1817).  Lord Byron is mentioned directly in the text.  Those more literarily knowledgeable than I would probably catch other Gothic author names, too.  Catherine also has elaborately dramatic dreams which play on Gothic tropes.  The protagonist confusing reality with her own novel-fueled fantasies is a major narrative driver throughout.

The 2007 film is one of a Jane Austen trilogy produced for ITV (UK) and PBS (USA).  I'd say it's typical Masterpiece Theater quality: great sets and costumes, on-location filming, decent writing and acting.  Not spectacular but fun.  Felicity Jones (Catherine) reminded me a bit of Molly Ringwald, which lead me to consider how many of the John Hughes and adjacent teen comedies of the 1980s followed Jane Austen tropes.  My wife describes JJ Fields (Henry) as a poor man's Lee Pace.  Both of the lead actors are fine - not spectacular but fine.

Star Trek: Resistance

Episode: "Resistance"

Series: Star Trek: Voyager

Season 2, Episode 12

Original Air Date: November 27, 1995

via Memory Alpha

An away team is sent to find and buy much needed tellerium.  All goes horribly wrong.  Torres and Tuvok are arrested by the oppressive Mokra Order.  Janeway manages to get away with the help of a mysterious friend, Caylem.  Actually, Caylem mistakenly believes Janeway is his own long-lost daughter.  Together, Janeway and Caylem hatch a plan to break our heroes out of prison.

I think "Resistance" is the strongest second season episode so far and it's all thanks to Caylem, played by the inimitable Joel Grey (more on him in a bit).  His story is heartbreaking, and probably all too real for people living under oppressive regimes.  Janeway clearly feels deep sympathy for him and also genuine regret she can't do more to help.

It's a good episode for the Torres/Tuvok relationship, too.  The two see the world in different lights but they also respect each other, and care for each other.  The current dilemma is a meaningful test of limits for both.  How far can you push a Vulcan before he breaks?

Acting Notes

via Muppet Wiki

Joel Grey was born Joel David Katz in Cleveland, April 11, 1932.  Unlike many I've featured in this space, Grey never went to college.  He started his career at age 10 at the Cleveland Play House and never looked back.  

No Broadway star shines brighter than Joel Grey.  In 1966, he won the role of a lifetime: Master of Ceremonies in Cabaret.  The part won him a Tony on stage and an Oscar on screen.  

He was nominated for further acting Tonys for George M!, Goodtime Charley and The Grand Tour plus one as director for The Normal Heart.  He was the original Wizard of Oz in Wicked.  He's done pretty well on screens both large and small.  Most importantly to me, he hosted The Muppet Show, first season, fifth episode.  

I welcome any excuse to post the following scene: "Sunday" from Tick Tick Boom, featuring Grey in its Broadway legend cast.  

Grey received a Lifetime Achievement in Theatre Award at the Tonys in 2023.  On top of everything else, he's a famous father.  His daughter Jennifer starred in Dirty Dancing.

On the Road: 2025 Spring Bulb Show

The Botanic Garden of Smith College held its annual spring bulb show this past weekend.

Some photos:

A couple highlights from the other greenhouses:

Maranta leuconeura

Anthurium scherzerianum

Unlike the Mum Show in the fall, the Bulb Show is non-competitive so no voting this time.  For the record, my favorite for the Mum Show, #86, actually won!  Congratulations to Lily Garcia, Smith class of 2024.  Also unlike the Mum Show, the Bulb Show will continue to be held in future years.

Star Trek: The Sword of Kahless

Episode: "The Sword of Kahless"

Series: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Season 4, Episode 9

Original Air Date: November 20, 1995

via Wikipedia

Legendary Klingon warrior Kor arrives at the station.  After regaling Quark's patrons with tales of past glories, he invites Dax and Worf to join him on a quest for the Sword of Kahless, a long-lost Klingon artifact.  The story is probably the closest Star Trek ever got to Indiana Jones.  

This was the first DS9 episode to feature Worf as the lead character.  Not long before watching this, the Purple Penguin asked me how I felt about NextGen Worf vs. DS9 Worf.  In truth, I see them as the same character with a broadened story.  He was brought onto the new series in hopes of improving Nielsen ratings and unfortunately, it didn't work.  Viewership for all Trek series steadily declined over the 11 years following TNG's finale.  However, popularity doesn't necessarily reflect quality.  Critical ratings for DS9 consistently improved over time.

As I outlined in my post for the Season 4 premier, I think Worf's return brought all kinds of good to the series, allowing meaningful expansion for Dax and Odo in particular.  By the end of NextGen, Worf's exploration of his Klingon heritage had in many ways just begun.  In DS9, he has opportunities to go a lot deeper and it all begins with "The Sword of Kahless."  

Fortunately for all of us, we get one more Kor episode in Season 7.

Acting Notes

via Ice Age Wiki

Rick Pasqualone played the role of Toral, son of Duras, who tried to get to the sword before our friends in hopes of using it to stake his own claim to rule the Klingon Empire.  Pasqualone was the second actor to play Toral.  J.D. Cullum played the part in two NextGen episodes.

Pasqualone was born in Albertson, New York, March 30, 1966.  He has also made guest appearances on Friends, NYPD Blue and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation among others.  Films include Alpha Mail, Greenland and Mank.  

Squid Flicks: 12th Fail

Title: 12th Fail

Director: Vidhu Vinod Chopra

Original Release: October 27, 2023

My Overall Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Original book cover via Amazon

Manoj Kumar Sharma (Vikrant Massey) wants to be a police officer.  In order to get the job he wants - Indian Police Service (IPS) officer - he has to pass the civil service exam.  In fact, that's just the first hurdle.  The deck is stacked against him.  He grew up in poverty, then failed his Class 12 exams when his entire batch (class) was caught cheating with their teachers' assistance.  Based on a true story - and Anurag Pathak's book of the same title - the film follows all of his adventures and misadventures in pursuing his dream.  

12th Fail was a surprise commercial and critical success, earning more than triple its budget at the box office and winning five categories at the Filmfare Awards, the Hindi-language Oscars, including Best Film.  It's easy to root for Manoj.  Beyond the obvious underdog appeal, he strives to follow the example of his own father and also DSP Singh, two men determined to call out the prevalent corruption in Indian society.  Plus, he falls in love with Shraddha, a fellow civil service candidate.  So we get a romance to root for, too.  Massey's disarming smile doesn't hurt either.

The story is undeniably predictable - an inspiring civil service exam movie - but also undeniably charming.  From my under-informed outsider perspective, the social commentary is poignant if a bit heavy-handed.  Indian critics praised the film as a glimpse of reality for the hardships civil service candidates must endure.  I found it to be solid all-around.  Acting, writing and visuals were all strong.  Good pacing, too - a 2 1/2-hour film didn't seem it.

Star Trek: Maneuvers

Episode: "Maneuvers"

Series: Star Trek: Voyager

Season 2, Episode 11

Original Air Date: November 20, 1995

via Memory Alpha

Seska is back.  She and her current Kazon biker gang entourage steal transport technology from Voyager.  An embarrassed Chakotay, in defiance of orders, sets off on his own to get it back.  Understandably, Janeway is furious, especially considering the fact she must now also try to rescue her insubordinate officer.  Torres urges her to exercise compassion when/if they get Chakotay back.

For me, this is much more satisfying Chakotay development than we got a couple episodes ago.  We see pride, shame, courage, impulsiveness, resourcefulness.  Now that's a well-rounded, interesting character.  Let's build on that.

Seska's a satisfying foil, too.  There are strong Lady Macbeth vibes in her relationship with her Kazon lover Culluh.  For what it's worth, I don't buy Torres's suggestion that Chakotay is/was in love with Seska.  That's not the vibe I got when Seska was still in the fold.  Maybe uncomfortable with how vulnerable his sexual relationship with Seska made him.  But that's not the same as "in love."  And yes, the difference matters.

Acting Notes

via Logan's Run Wiki

Anthony De Longis played the role of Culluh.  He was born in Glendale, California, March 23, 1950.  He went to Cal State-Northridge for college.  "Maneuvers" is his second of six appearances as Culluh.

De Longis is an expert swordsman, a highly valued skill on both stage and screen.  In fact, his fight choreography resume is more impressive than his on-screen work.  He provided whip training for Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and for Michelle Pfeiffer in Batman Returns.  Television appearances include Highlander: The Series, Days of Our Lives and MacGyver.  Films include Fearless, Masters of the Universe and Road House.