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3.22 — “Explorers\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Plot:<\/strong> Returning from a visit to Bajor, SIsko becomes interested in building a “primitive” solar sail starship in a style rumored to have been used by ancient Bajorans to travel all the way to Cardassia. Sisko wants to share this project with Jake, who is concealing news from his father. Meanwhile, Bashir encounters an old academic rival from medical school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Thoughts:<\/strong> Aha! This is the kind of episode you wait for. An episode without violence, about ingenuity, discovery, and the advancement of both human and interplanetary relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n We haven\u2019t seen much of Jake lately. Avery Brooks and Cirroc Lofton are great together when given a chance. This is the best parent-child relationship in Star Trek. I\u2019ll allow that the original series Spock\/Sarek dynamic comes close, but both pairs are light years ahead of Wesley\/Beverly and Worf\/Alexander. And also, from what I’ve seen so far, Sarek\/Michael Burnham.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n “Explorers” has new colors that keep the episode fresh. I am pleasantly surprised by the montage of Sisko building the ship, a narrative technique I don’t recall being used in the franchise before. One thing this device does is expand time and allow the producers to tell different kinds of stories. The drinking scene with O\u2019Brien and Bashir is also spot on and nicely rounds out the male bonding theme established by Sisko and Jake. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps we could use some more good female bonding as well? Like Kira and Dax flying that fighting ship together early in Season Two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ira Steven Behr is cited in Memory Alpha as describing the drinking scene as important in defining the difference between DS9 and TNG, which was so stuffy. While I didn’t catch this initially, it seems many read the regret of Bashir’s academic rival over her choice of a starship over a space station as another dig by DS9 at its predecessor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The special effects and practical sets are extremely graceful. I am amazed at what they were able to accomplish on the time and budget of a weekly episode, given what we’ve seen before this! And right after all the space fighting in the previous episode. The solar ship exteriors are rendered through computer graphics. Perhaps we\u2019ve reached an inflection point where the sophistication and cost of CG in 1995 will allow for a new standard going forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n It is obligatory for me to mention the advent of Sisko\u2019s goatee, which I understand is here to stay. It also seems the Dabo girl, Leeta, from the beginning of the episode and the weakest part of the story, will become a recurring character. Let\u2019s hope they find some depth in the character. This scene contributes to what seems, on reflection, to be a very male-centric episode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite that flaw, I\u2019m won over. 5 out of 5 low tech journeys for the sake of proving the soundness of science and historic valor.<\/p>\n\n\n