The Visitor

I've recently been re-watching all of DS9 from scratch and was working my way up to this episode, an episode I knew I was very much looking forward to watching again.

Now normally I'm not a fan of what you might call the 'filler' episodes you get in Star Trek, you know nothing especially exciting happens its usually some basic moral story cause the writers were having a lazy week blah blah yawn.

The very first time I saw this episode I got that impression from the first few seconds that this might be a filler episode so wasn't that excited... but then I watched, and kept watching, and became glued to the screen and so emotionally involved. By the end of it I had tears streaming down by face.

There's a good reason why this particular episode of DS9 has so many reviews of it, because it really is THAT special, not just for DS9, but any television show ever made. It's such an incredibly moving script about the love between father and son that it seems to have elevated everyones A-game. The directing the acting cinematography, even music, the music especially felt far more raw and emotional than any episode before. I think everyone working on this particular one felt truly inspired by it.

But especially the acting by Avery Brooks, Cirroc Lofton and Tony Tood just killed me. It's like they all drew from some deep personal experiences to deliver those performances. Just wow, honestly, if there's one episode of DS9 that is not to be missed, it is this one.

If one really had to nit-pick, you could argue the older Nog wasn't so great, but it doesn't matter. Watching it again after all these years it still brought me to tears, and for it to move me that much emotionally and really cut right through me....deserves a 10/10 from me.

This has got to be one of the top 5 stories ever in any of the entire Star Trek series of shows. This one brought me to tears. One of the few times any Star Trek show totally left the gee wizz high tech universe behind and told a totally human soulful story. It just doesn't get any better.

In my endeavor to re-watch the entirety of all three Start Trek series (TNG, DS9 and VGR), this one episode stands out in its refinement, sensitivity, emotional delivery, and substance. Philosophically it is up there with "Tapestry" from TNG, but stylistically flows a lot better. The storytelling, mood, and delivery are in the realm of art. I was amazed this was television. Flawless and exceptional performances.

The story explores a parental bond that stands the tests of time; genuine and resonant. Brooks', Todd's, and Lofton's performance is so authentic and personable; it generates a lake of emotion that by induction we find our own inner world sway and careen in synchronicity with uncanny levels of fidelity. Rarely a story can deliver its message more accurately. It is probably what a Vulcan mind melt must feel like.

About a son's unending love for his Father. Told by Jake Sisko over many decades in the future.

"Time waits for no Man!"

Note I first saw this episode on terrestrial TV, BBC2 in the UK, then again more than once recently on Netflix.

Deep Space Nine, an excellent and powerful series in its own right, absolutely outdid itself in this episode. This is not only GREAT science fiction, it is astoundingly good visual storytelling and acting. If you only ever watch one episode of any season of Star Trek, watch this episode. It is positively masterful. The characters in the series I already love outdid themselves, and grew to something more personal and touching than I was ever aware could happen between myself and television. I have never been so moved and drawn into a tragedy, so tormented and enlightened, so joyous and amazed. What a wonderful, wonderful story.