Past Tense, Part I

When this episode was broadcast, it was largely ignored; looking at it from 2022 it is eerily prescient in predicting the homelessness crisis and the inadequate government response to it. The homeless encampments where I live look very much like the Sanctuary District Sisko and Bashir find themselves in after inadvertently transporting to San Francisco in 2024.

It is also a wry commentary that two men of color, Sisko and Bashir, and locked away after being discovered without ID while Dax, an attractive Caucasian female, is rescued by a white knight.

This is also the first episode in the series that depicts Sisko as a "hero" whereas he is usually the competent administrator of DS9. This two parter marks the beginning of DS9 finding its footing and becoming what I believe is the best incarnation of the Trek franchise.

A transporter accident sends Sisko, Dax and Bashir back to Earth, 2024.

This is a strong episode with a good setting and interesting story.

The plot sets the scene nicely for what feels likely to be an eventful conclusion. I think the plight of the homeless is a worthwhile subject and it is tackled well by the writers as they give a prediction of where they think Earth will be by 2024. Also the racial themes are subtlety included with Jadzia's contrasting experience.

Sisko and Bashir have similar roles to Kirk and Spock in 'City On The Edge of Forever'. This leads to some memorable scenes with Avery Brooks and Alexander Siddig on top form. I also love Dick Miller's cameo, which was inspired casting.

I know it is nothing new for Star Trek, but some of the technobabble feels incredibly contrived to fit the story. Colm Meaney delivers it confidently as always, but it is blatant box-ticking by the writers at times.

Visually it is one of the best DS9 episodes of the show so far, primarily due to the ambition of a 1990s production showing us Earth 30 years into its future and it not looking bad in 2022.

The problems get all solved in the future apparently LOL. Yet said problems were worse before capitalism appeared.. then said problems increased with the rise of anti-capitalism / socialism..

Then there's the time loop paradox goofs.

Here we are in 2021 & it's oh so familiar. Watch this episode set in 2024 to see our future. Great two part episode.

8/10.

Jadzia, Bashir, and Sisko try to go to a conference in San Francisco. During the transport, something goes wrong and they find themselves in 2024. LIfe on earth has become a serious class structure, where the poor and defenseless are put in ghettos. The problem has to do with the mutation of time due to actions taken by Sisko and Bashir. The second half should be interesting.