2.15 — “Paradise”
Plot: Sisko and O’Brien are stranded on a colony world which has embraced an austere lifestyle in an ecosystem where technology will not work. The charismatic leader of the colony welcomes them, but Sisko starts to perceive a dark undercurrent.
Thoughts: I feel like TNG and DS9 are in dialogue right now, and all I can think of watching DS9 is to be grateful for things that are missing from the other show. The opening dialogue between Sisko and O’Brien sounds like two coworkers talking. Why not? They have something in common–families that given them life outside the four corners of their official duties. I can’t help but think about Crusher awkwardly interrogating Ogawa. Watching in release order shows you the two step between the hungry young show and the tired older one marking time until the launch of its movie franchise.
The throwaway details that Starfleet is looking for colonization planets near the wormhole and that Jake is looking for an apprenticeship opportunity are not random babble, but relate to the ongoing developments in the universe of the show which I suspect will pay off in future episodes (partly because of light spoilers encountered in my background reading).
When I first saw where the episode I was going, I was concerned it would be too slender a premise to fill up an hour. It turns out not at all, if you take the time to fill out the characters and situations properly. Most important is the characterization of Alixus, the colony/cult leader, which is detailed and delightful. I believe others would follow her! In fact, I find myself trying to make excuses for her behavior.
Deliberately stranding, kidnaping, and deceiving the colonists is not excusable. Failing to stock futuristic medicines, on the other hand–how is this different from anyone who knowingly lives in a remote location where it will be difficult to access emergency services? That’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s not criminal, even if you can foresee someone might get mauled by a bear and die for want of medivac. It’s not as if life-saving medicine was on hand and they refused to use it.
And there’s the attention to detail. You can learn some things about traditional crafts and the compass in the water trick.
Sisko has beautiful acting moments where he says much with little more than a look or details of comportment, such as in the scene where Cassandra is sent to seduce him in the evening. While he gets to be heroic, the producers also develop his stubborn and prideful side which we’ve seen in other contexts.
So from an arguably less-than-inspired premise we have a delightful episode. 3.5 of 5 sparking flints.
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