301. The StorytellerFORMULA: Attached + Who Watches the Watchers + 3 cups of oatmeal.
WHY WE LIKE IT: O'Brien on Bashir on a road trip.
WHY WE DON'T: Bajoran crowds shouting at special effects. And not very convincingly at that.
REVIEW: DS9 hasn't done a lot of A-B-plots, or at least, they've been pretty well integrated. The Storyteller has two plots, but they have a common theme - on Bajor, the people and the land are one. The B-plot most exemplifies this, as Sisko must negotiate a land dispute. Though it probably wasn't the case on my first viewing, this is my favorite of the two stories. The all-too-young Varis Sul does the "angry Bajoran girl", of course, but also learns a little something about opportunity from Nog and Jake. It's this pair who are worth watching here. Sure, the pranks are a little silly (but the Odo oatmeal is a classic), but seeing these two barge into Varis' quarters and put their feet up as the "unofficial welcoming committee" shows a roguish charm that was absent from Wesley's appearances. Odo is basically used as hall monitor throughout, but it's a fun turn for him.
The A-story has the same theme, with its village that uses an orb fragment to create and destroy its own demon every year. On one hand, it makes Bajor a magical, or at least mystical, place, driven by myth because the myth has basis in fact. On the other, the village is populated by total idiots! Every year, the Sirrah makes them believe the monstrous Dal'Rok attacks the village for 5 nights, and every night, he has to convince them that the village is strong and can overcome the Dal'Rok. And on the next night? They've completely forgotten the Dal'Rok fears the village's unity. The episode glosses over the fact the Sirrah is really using the people for personal gain (O'Brien is offered food, gifts, gems and young girls!). No wonder the apprentice is ready to kill for the position.
It's a good thing that story is also about the budding Bashir/O'Brien relationship. The engineer still can't stand the young doctor, and there are some good scenes here. The entire runabout trip played on O'Brien's reaction to Bashir's blather is a riot, for example, and I love that they don't return from the trip fast friends. Deep Space 9 takes the long way round when it comes to relationships.
LESSON: Bajorans are Doris Day fans. (Obligatory joke when discussing this episode.)
REWATCHABILITY - Medium: Neither story is top drawer, but they have enough character moments to get a Medium here. Just don't expect great performances from the non-regulars.
Comments
Not sure why he retracted the Chief calling him Julian at the end, though.
As for Jake and Nog, I liked every scene they were in. Definitely the best part of the episode.