Playing God

This episode has Terry Farrell becoming a mentor to trill candidate Geoffrey Blake who is filled with all kinds of self doubt which he masks with a thin arrogant air about him. We learn also that Curzon Dax the most immediate previous host body for Farrell was also her mentor.

The station itself has some other problems. Some Cardassian Voles are inhabiting the station and they multiply like Tribbles. They're also not as harmless as those beloved creatures from Star Trek prime.

That's not the real problem. Traveling through the wormhole Farrell and her charge bring back nothing less than a nascent universe. Getting it out of the station and back in its proper dimension has to be done lest this universe is threatened.

Some confusing science bits make this episode a bit confusing.

Arjin is Trill who is a candidate for implantation. As a part of this process, he needs to be mentored and Jadzia Dax is providing this. However, Arjin is apprehensive, as Curzon Dax was a real nasty piece of work for prospective implantees--and he assumes Jadzia Dax would be no different. However, who Jadzia Dax is turns out to be a huge surprise for Arjin--she's so very, very different. But it also turns out that she's NOT completely unlike Curzon Dax and Arjin looks like he's going to be a washout with Jadzia Dax. What's next?

This is a confusing episode because Jadzia Dax goes from fun-loving and cool to harsh and butt-headed very quickly and inexplicably. I never really felt this was written very well because of this, though the episode is enjoyable enough despite this strange juxtaposition.

The "Proto-Universe" subplot is simply a plot device used to allow us to think- About the next time we smash an anthill or destroy a beehive. Granted there are times to do both of those things, but when I was a child, we did not destroy beehives: We called the "Bee Man" and he would come and GET the beehive and move it to a place where it could develop without harming anyone. This is primarily what is going on in this episode, Jadzia and her Trill Initiate "Arjin" (Geoffrey Blake) have rammed into a developing "Beehive" - A Proto-Universe, in the Gamma Quadrant with a Runabout and have moved it from its environment, a "Subspace Interphase Pocket", where it was growing without harming other universes, bringing it to the Alpha Quadrant where it is not supposed to be.

We do not need to know all there is to know about this Proto-Universe: All we need to know, is that The Runabout piloted by Arjin moved that Proto 'Verse from the spot where it was safely developing on its own, to a place where it would envelop our universe.

We really do not need to know the Dynamics of this, all we need to know is that the thing should not have been moved from where it was, the safety of that Interphase Pocket.

But what we DO need to know, is the interaction between Jadzia-Dax and Arjin. Apparently the Dax "Symbiont" (I'd rather spell it as "Symbiote") has standards for Trill Initiates-Standards which Arjin is falling short of. Jadzia/Dax is simply trying to warn Arjin that he is in danger of not being able to meet those standards, but in doing so, offends Arjin and puts him on the defensive: Which was actually what Dax wanted.

In this episode, we learn more about Jadzia's unique history with the The Symbiosis Commission, being the first Trill in History to re-apply to the Initiate program to gain joining with "Dax" - Who, as Curzon/Dax had rejected her application. We find out that it was Jadzia herself who requested joining with Dax, in an ironic gesture. We find out in a later episode, it was more than just Jadzia's tenacity which influenced Curzon/Dax to renege on his earlier rejection of Jadzia as a host- But this episode does not have time to go into that, that is a discovery for a later date. Suffice it to say it was a choice that Curzon/Dax deliberately made, for a specific reason.

But this Proto'Verse is a problem: Kira compares it to an anthill, to be smashed. Odo on the other hand, "Does not step on Ants"-But if they do not act rapidly, the Station will be engulfed.

A further complication arises when Jadzia discovers there is energy being used up in the 'Verse that indicates there are life-forms living within it. Nothing is ever said about the level of intelligence of these life forms but we must infer that if they are using Energy in a non-random way, then they must be intelligent.

After Arjin tells off Jadzia/Dax he proceeds to engulf large volumes of a blue alcoholic beverage. But he is a level Six pilot, and Jadzia, with all 300 years of experience, is only a level three pilot. And so she must ask Arjin for his help in piloting the Runabout back to the Gamma quadrant with The 'Verse in tow, which is ready to grow by another geometric progression.

There are some very well done exterior shots, of the Station, where the Lab explodes and we see the 'Verse glowing inside. But my favorite shots are of the "Verteron" nodes inside of the "Wormhole/Celestial Temple"- Which Arjin must pilot skillfully through in order to get the 'Verse back to where it needs to be, and what a shot! This was TV, in the classic sense, and those Verteron nodes were absolutely not CGI, as was the Runabout flying through them, this was all practical effects.

Nobody needs to know, where they brought the 'Verse, I'm assuming that if they put it back in the exact spot where it was developing before, it would have developed in such a way as to not harm the Gamma Quadrant.

The reason why their runabout rammed into it in the first place? Is totally unimportant. If this were a two-hour movie, they could have gotten into some of the scientific jargon which explained it. But as this episode was not really about the Proto'Verse, or the Interphase Pocket, but rather about Dax and Arjin, it was only important how the two interacted to bring the thing back to where it needed to be, and the end result: Which was to give Arjin confidence that he COULD be joined, when his time came, and that Jadzia/Dax would support this, should he decide to pursue Joining.

The Irony here, is that there is a "Cardassian Vole" infestation on the Station, which breed like Terran Coprophages/Roaches- And that is a recurring problem in the Station.

But everybody else here is remarking about this protouniverse thing. That is not what this episode is about, not at all. This episode is about Jadzia pushing Arjin in the right direction.

I am going to switch this review back to "no spoilers", because I did not really say exactly what occurred within the episode, I simply made commentary on what things things were actually important, and what other things were actually just plot devices to steer the story into a certain direction. This review is more about focusing our attention on what the episode was really about: The dynamic between a full blown Joined Trill and a hopeful initiate. One of the other reviewers in here also noted the artistic cinematography of this episode, and I wholly agree: there are a lot of great visuals here. And I completely agree on their assessment about the Cardassian Voles in relation to "Gremlins". I suppose if the moderators still think I have revealed too much they can of course switch this back to spoilers, but I really don't think I included any.

1- VIEWERS CHECK THIS OUT BEFORE, DURING OR AFTER YOU WATCH "PLAYING GOD".........

*SPECIAL EFFECT WIZARDS AND WIZARDRY HAVE A HOME ON DS9........................ The opening 10 seconds of a roundabout docking at a DS9 port is stunning art. I have re-watched it a few times and DS9 definitely had it "going on" in the artistic realm of special effects in the 1990's. I have a 79" screen and it is pure heaven to watch all of the special effects and artistic renderings. We, in America, in the 2020's are spoiled with all of the graphic art and green-screening (a verb?) in our entertainment today. All you have to do is put a movie in your dvd player from the 1980's (like Ghostbusters for instance) and listen to your kids guffaw and mock. But.....DS9 was on the cutting edge of artistic technology and they used that tech to the best of their abilities. I read some of the user reviews before tackling this episode and, frankly, I am excited to watch this one because of the special effects I know are rampant throughout. As Peter Pan said, "Here we go!!!!!!!!....."

*WATCH OUT FOR THAT WALL!!!........... I think tall girls are very attractive. I know through their lives they were probably bullied by obvious monikers such as: "giraffe girl" and "do you have a problem with nosebleeds because the air up there is pretty thin isn't it?". Terry Farrell is listed as 6-0" so that would put her solidly in the "tall girl" category (the average height for an American female is 5-4" according to 2018 statistics). In Farrell's younger days she did some modeling and her gigs were with big name agencies. I think modeling agencies like the fact tall girls look good in outfits because their legs go on forever and a style put on their slender body has a reasonable chance of looking stellar. At approximately 5:10 the Symbiot Trill candidate (Arjin played by Geoffrey Blake) arrives at his Trill mentor's quarters. He is met at the door by a no-nonsense alien - big dude- who tells Arjin, "Jadzia is in the shower". Ummmm, WOW - I personally hate awkward situations like this. Jadzia comes out of the bathroom wearing only a towel and is a little put off by Arjin showing up early. She tells Arjin to make drinks for the two of them and then says goodbye with a smooch to her large alien (ahem...) friend. Interestingly enough, she asks Arjin to make her a Ferengi drink of some sort (she seems to like all things Ferengi) and then heads back into the bathroom/bedroom to finish getting ready. As she retreats to the bedroom (6:00) I notice she almost runs into a doorway wall! Sometimes the curse of being a tall girl is a bit of awkwardness attached to movement. It is hard for a 6-0 lady in a towel to be graceful in any situation let alone one that requires her to walk, talk with memorized lines of dialogue, know where all of the obstacles in the scene are without looking at them AND making sure her towel doesn't have a wardrobe malfunction.

*MEET THE HIND END OF MY CREW MATES!......... At 8:40 Dax is taking Arjin around the station and introducing him to the staff and crew of DS9. At the same time, Chief O'Brien and Major Kira are investigating wires that have been "chewed" on by Cardassian voles (rodent like creatures) left on DS9 by the previous landlords - the Cardassians. When Dax and Arjin walk around the bridge of the station doing introductions O'Brien and Kira are both inside a console inner panel - head first with only their two rear ends sticking out- lol. Dax literally introduces Arjin to the chief and the major's rear ends! I can tell this is going to be a lighthearted episode!

*DON'T THESE VOLES LOOK LIKE GREMLINS FROM THE SPIELBERG MOVIE OF THE SAME NAME?

The Cardassian vole looks a lot like Steven Spielberg's gremlin creatures (from his 1984 movie "Gremlins") AFTER they get wet. Spielberg was inspired from the gargoyles/demonic creatures which medieval cathedrals in Europe have carved in stone around the outside of their sanctuaries. This is the first the viewers have learned of the voles. These creatures are about the size of a lap dog and their teeth are fang-looking sharpies. If you are a family living on DS9 and you have children under the age of 2 - you better hope your kids' bedroom is secure from predators such as these! A simple rat trap won't do - you need a dog or a mongoose or a young mountain lion......

*KLINGON CHEF SINGS HIS GOOD-BYE SONG....... At approximately 14:00 the last appearance by the Klingon chef (thank the gods in producer-ville) takes place. The interesting part of this scene is not the singing chef going table-to-table with an accordion-looking instrument, nor the still living food on the dinner plates...... it's when Dax gets up from her table and begins to sing in fluent Klingon with the chef. They then have a conversation in fluent Klingon about Arjin- in front of Arjin (rude? Yes...a little bit). The chef tells Arjin that Dax taught him the Pavarotti-style opera song...in Klingon. Dax - an obvious type-A personality realizes she is running over the type-C Arjin and engages in a serious conversation with him about how he needs to ramp up the strength of his personality or the symbiont will consume anything that is left of him when he becomes the host.

*TYPE A EXPRESSES HERSELF TO TYPE C AND GETS A REACTION SHE WASN'T EXPECTING....... At approximately 24:00 in a scene with Arjin and Jadzia, she goes off on Arjin about her being "worried" in his potential lack of success in the joining process. Instead of backing down or shrinking silently away (like a good type C boy) he bubbles over and gets passionate for the first time in the episode. At first, I thought it was Dax's plan all along to fire the guy up, but when I saw the obvious hurt etched on Jadzia's face after Arjin storms out of the room post-verbal-explosion, I realized she didn't count on or plan for the reaction she got back.

*STAR TREK CLASSIC MOMENT: Odo's line delivered to Kira, "I don't step on ants, Major" is one that has become a classic and made Odo a bit of a cultural icon. Kira is saying it's better to destroy the life found in the new universe (they originally thought it was seaweed-type of stuff) which Dax and Arjin accidentally brought back from the Gamma quadrant toward the beginning of the episode -when they ran into it in the runabout. Once they put the "seaweed universe" into a containment field in the science lab they discovered what they had inadvertently brought back with them - a just-forming new universe with unknown and possibly intelligent life contained therein. Kira, from the beginning, wanted to burn the whole thing up before it can destroy the station (they are down to about 5 hours before it does just that) and, very possibly, begin to consume their own universe. She is in the distinct minority - no one is expressing approval for her idea only contempt for her violent idea. When she looks at the group opposing her and asks the question, "well.....do any of you have a better suggestion?" everyone just looks back at her with a blank, stare. Sisko retreats to his office to come up with his decision. Of the three stories contained in this episode (1-Arjin and Dax, 2-the Cardassian voles and 3-the new universe and potential intelligent lifeforms) the new universe story seems the most compelling and serious with cosmic principles to ponder and CLASSIC Star Trek moments - yet it seems like the focus was with the Arjin story line. This is a bit of a disappointment and I'm not sure of the reasoning behind the decision.

Sisko ponders his self-imposed 1 hour deadline and makes the entirely fallacious internal argument of comparing what they would do by destroying the new universe with what the Borg did to the Federation and the planets contained therein. He says, "Would we be any different from the Borg if we would destroy their universe to preserve our own?" The problem with this reasoning is the Borg were assimilating, devouring and decimating other civilizations because they felt like they were the superior race and were venturing way beyond their original borders. They had no need to do this for their survival - they were selfish and exerting undue power over weaker life forms. The comparison Sisko makes is ridiculous and false from its' conception. The DS9 crew wants only to save their universe and the billions of inhabitants in it.

2- Final Reflection and Grade.... *Jadzia Dax is a fascinating character. Because she has so many previous lives still existing inside of her (from a string of previous hosts) she has an extensive library of experiences and knowledge to draw from. Jadzia, at around 35-years-of-age, is still a young woman and a young woman who passionately embraces all life has to offer. I think one of the reasons I've always found her a compelling character is because she sees living as fun and is constantly pursuing all things that will enrich and enhance her life experience. She is a multi-cultural and multi-racial lover and her exuberance in grabbing each day by the horns and seeing what she can glean from it is very contagious. If I'm being honest in my review, I have a bit of a crush on Farrell with the leopard-like spots running up and down her neck. There's just something about a tall, smoking hot brunette that is in to science, using her brain and has a worm-like creature that is centuries-old living inside of her.

The episodes are getting stronger as time goes on. The character development of everyone is fascinating to watch and the writers are involving all of the characters in an egalitarian way. This will lead to strength in the series later on. Some series on TV focus on one or two actors in the ensemble cast because they like writing for them or because they are popular. The writers here resist that temptation.

Final Grade: A.

Another potential symbiont host visits DS9 to spend time with Dax.

This episode has some good character moments but some random creative decisions were made in relation to the subplots.

There is a lot going on in this one and some of it is executed quite bizarrely. The concept of the proto-universe is a brilliant idea, but as a secondary plot to a character-focussed Dax episode it does not work for me.

If you are a Dax fan, you should love it as it shows plenty of her quirks and some decent character backstory. Terry Farrell is solid in these scenes.

My favourite part though is easily the scene involving Quark imparting some more Ferengi wisdom on someone.

It's a 6.5/10 for me but I round upwards.