DS9 - Chrysalis

Plot: I suppose the big question is did we need a return appearance of the Jack Pack after their memorable debut in Statistical Probabilities last year and your answers depends on how much mileage you think they have as characters. I often complain that Star Trek introduces one shot wonder characters that get their moment in the sun but no chance to further expand their characters (mostly in shows on the move like TNG and VOY) and DS9 has a better hit rate of bringing people back to further delve into the depths of their character. Sometimes it backfires because the characters are really dreary (Bariel, Shakaar) and other times it works beautifully because the characters continue to evolve and become part of this shows ongoing secondary cast (Kai Winn, Garak). The Jack Pack were memorable because they so far outside the norm of what Star Trek usually presents us; a group of socially inept, almost dangerously unpredictable genetically enhanced people who have been embarrassingly shuffled aside by the 'perfect' Federation society into an Institute. It was a fascinating comment on what a society does when it has square pegs trying to fit into its round holes and the answer is to study and control them. They were very likeable because of their extreme character traits and broad performances. So the question is does the show take them to the next level here...or calm them down a little? Is it DS9 increasing it's repertoire of recurring characters or flogging something again that has already been covered? They're essentially cartoon characters here, to provide comic relief whilst the sweet and tragic story of Serena unfolds around them. Jack's obsession with changing the cosmological constant is amusing, but I'd say that Lauren's vampish behaviour and Patrick's ability to cry at the drop of a hat verge on the side of caricature here. 

Character: Rene Echevarria manages to succinctly reveal just how alone Bashir is in about 30 seconds as all of his friends dash off to various social activities without him. Most of them are in relationships by now, which has continued to elude him. He's such a handsome, smart man that it is hard to imagine why that would be...until he opens his mouth. Instead he spends his evening in bed studying mutating viruses. Poor Bashir was considered a bit of a pariah in the first couple of seasons because he was characterised so irritatingly as a man who never knew when to shut up, close his legs and keep his opinion to himself. I'm of the opinion that the reveal of his genetic manipulation by his parents was a bold and brilliant move that reversed the fortunes of the character in the early years. Suddenly there was a reason why Bashir was so eager to impress, and achieved so highly at school, and tried so desperately to make friends. He was an outsider, he was different. And it meant that Siddig was able to measure his performance a great deal more and tackle way more exciting plotlines. So bringing in a series of characters who reveal how things could have (and probably should have) gone for him was a great idea. There but for the grace of God, go I. 

Sisko is such a thoughtful, considerate man but sometimes he has to tow the Starfleet line as the lead of this show. He's there to remind Bashir that this bunch of misfits once threatened to bring down the Federation in favour of the Dominion in their previous appearance, and shows appropriate horror at them turning up and posing as an Admiral and their staff. 

Hurrah for Ezri Dax for reminding Bashir of what an abject failure he is. What a counsellor she turned out to be. 

Performance: Salie silently stole the show in Statistical Probabilities and really gets to show off what she can do here. It's a warm and childlike turn, with moments of haunting silence when you realise she is always on the verge of withdrawing again when things get too overwhelming. 

Sparkling Dialogue: 'That's a stupid question' 'Will you stop saying that!' Turns out you can shove on an Admiral's uniform and stroll onto DS9 with a bad attitude and say this a few times and you're access all areas. Or at least you are if you happen to bump into Nog.  

'I have a new man in my life...that gorgeous little Ferengi.' 

'If I had to find someone to replace Atlas and hold up the world it'd be Miles. He'd do it with a smile too.' 

The Good: You might say that the Do-Re-Mi sequence is indulgent and unnecessary but I think it is a well choreographed and performed song that serves a genuinely plot purpose. Serena learns how to speak again the most beautiful fashion and Bashir sees that spark of life in her that really attracts her to him. It's one of my most played scenes in DS9's run because it is so damn catchy. You have been warned. Hurrah for O'Brien who is the only person who actually says the words 'Julian, she's your patient' and looks a little uncomfortable about the whole thing. Mind, I think the episode is suggesting he's unhappy because Serena has taken his boy toy away (especially given the lengths they go to to not say how much they love each other later in the season). 

The Bad: The only reason I cannot imagine that Julian Bashir's friends don't point out that his behaviour towards Serena is predatory is because they understand that he is a lonely guy who means well. But if you had a friend who was a Doctor who worked hard to get a patient out of a catatonic state but then emerged as essentially a child and then he tried to seduce that patient...wouldn't you have a few things to say? What helps is the sincere performances of Siddig and Faith Salie and their terrific chemistry but at the back of my head I couldn't help ask why this wasn't ethically forbidden. Or someone didn't just say 'oh yuck.' The weirdest moment comes when Julian makes the suggestion he takes this duckling to Risa for a frisky holiday. I would have excised that line completely. Almost as bad as him breaking into her quarters when she doesn't turn up on their date. 

Result: Julian Bashir. The only man a woman will fake a coma to prevent from going on a date with him. 90s Trek romance have a track record of being of unconvincing chemistry or being packed too densely into 40 minutes of screen time with no chance of the pairing to convince. Think Meridian, Unforgettable and any episode featuring Leah Brahms. Neither one of these is a problem with Chrysalis because the chemistry between the actors has been established in a previous episode and the episode takes it's time to establish the couple and why they might turn to each other. However it completely fails to approach the ethical issues of a man in a medical profession taking advantage of somebody in his care. That's the elephant in the room here and I find it very odd that it isn't addressed more thoughtfully, especially for a show that is willing to embrace thorny subjects like DS9. We know Bashir isn't that sort of man these days but if he was a one shot Doctor character and Serena was our regular in distress I wonder how this would play out. The episode ensures that our sympathies are with both characters and it is beautifully acted and scored. Bashir's salvation comes when he realises what a douche he is being and pulls back from could have been the relationship he has always longed for for her own good. This is sweet episode, with slightly icky undertones that stop it from being the best DS9 single episode romance (for my money that is still Rejoined). The Jack Pack provide some nice laughs along the way. Essentially this is paving the way for the Bashir/Ezri romance later in the season. 

*** out of *****