Wanderlust

1.20 — “In the Hands of the Prophets”

1.20 — “In the Hands of the Prophets”

Plot: A Bajoran religious leader, Vedek Winn, comes to the station and objects to the teaching of science in Keiko O’Brien’s classroom without religious context. This conflict divides the station and threatens to escalate into terrorism, fanaticism, and factional conflict. Meanwhile, O’Brien, Odo, and Bashir investigate the possible murder of a station technician.

Thoughts: The construction of the conflict over school curriculum is too simplistic for me. In U.S.A. schools, curriculum conflicts stem from prohibition in the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment against government promotion of religion. What’s the governing law on DS9? Is choice of curriculum just up to the teacher’s whim? If so, what’s the problem? Are there mandatory attendance laws?

For much of the episode, Keiko seems to be the one coming off as unreasonable. Surely the kids can be told about Bajoran religious beliefs? It could be a moment to teach about the differences between religion and science, what different conclusions they come to, and why. Surely there is at least a discussion to be had, but Keiko cuts it off at “no” without hearing out the religious leader, which is only partially justified when she turns out to be a conniving villain.

Keiko and Miles still have the most irritatingly heteronormative relationship in the galaxy. Jealous because your husband has a female coworker? Really? This is too quaint for the 21st century, let alone the 24th.

It is nice to return to some of the themes of the pilot, “Emissary.” I understand that the characters of Vedek Winn and Vedek Bareil will return, as will themes of religious politics and spiritual conflict between Bajor and the Federation. This episode is dull, however.

Also, you can’t tell that someone was shot by a phaser on kill setting by sequencing their DNA from a biological sample. Apparently the budget for science consulting has been cut.

2.5 of 5 missing tools. O’Brien is such a man’s man.

End of Season One!

http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/In_the_Hands_of_the_Prophets

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One response to “1.20 — “In the Hands of the Prophets””

  1. Randi Cohen Avatar
    Randi Cohen

    I liked it! Loved that they chose to hang much of the episode on the conflict between Bajoran church and federation ideals and difficulties weaving them together. As opposed to TNG season finale of “Data turns evil”. Great to hear you put a finger on what was bothering me about Keiko’s attitude. It was kind of obnoxious of Winn to insert herself into the lesson like that but during the dialogue afterward Keiko could have at least offered to tell the children in advance about what they would be learning so they could choose whether or not to attend that lesson. I can understand her not wanting to appear as if she is granting equal validity between Bajoran religious beliefs and scientific observations of phenomena, and I do think Winn would have objected to her teaching doing anything less in her teaching, but at least she could have offered to do so, or explained why she wasn’t.

    I don’t mind her teasing Miles about his co-worker; I was thinking it was a flirting game she was playing rather than a serious concern.

    Super cheesy attempted assassination scene.

    Vedic Bareil is a very beautiful man… or perhaps I am simply seeing him through the eyes of the teenager I was when I first watched this series. Winn is definitely quite a hateable villain and convincing religious psychopath.

    My husband would also know immediately if somebody touched his tools. I think people that are into tools notice things like this. I’ll bet Jim would notice if somebody misplaced one of her leatherworking tools, too.

    Reply

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