"Star Trek: Deep Space 9 - Season 4"

Title: "Star Trek: Deep Space 9 - Season 4 - Episode #24 - "The Quickening"
Director: Rene Auberjonois
Producer: Hans Beimler, Steve Oster, and Rene Echevarria
Editing: Steve Tucker
Composer: David Bell - (Main Theme by Dennis McCarthy)
Starring:
- Avery Brooks as Commander Sisko
- Rene Auberjonois as Odo
- Siddig El Fadil as Doctor Bashir
- Terry Farrell as Lieutenant Dax

Plot and Critical Review: In this episode, Dr. Bashir and Jadzia Dax travel to a planet that was attacked by the Jem'Hadar 200 years earlier. In order to make an example of its people, the Jem'Hadar infected them with an incurable disease called the "blight" that leaves spidery black lesions on the body that at a random time (usually before adulthood) will "quicken" into a spreading red form that results in a slow, painful death.

Bashir is distraught when he learns that the closest equivalent to a doctor these people now possess is Trevean, a man who offers a swift and comfortable death through herbal treatments to the recently quickened. Bashir attempts to develop a cure with the help of recently quickened volunteers, but fails when he finds that the electric fields from his equipment are causing the virus to mutate rapidly.

When the others leave to return to Deep Space Nine, Bashir elects to remain behind to help a recently quickened woman who is in late pregnancy. While he administers his anti-viral treatment to her, it appears to have no effect, and she dies shortly after childbirth. However, the child is born without the lesions, as the treatment apparently acts as a vaccine rather than a cure. This gives hope to the people of the planet that by applying the anti-viral treatment to pregnant women, the next generation can be free of the blight.

Back at DS9, Bashir is seen still working on a cure for the disease in those who already have it, but is unsuccessful. Sisko reassures him that at least the next generation will be free of the disease, but Bashir does not seem entirely satisfied.


My Rating: 8/10 (A reflection of the episode alone, not of the series on the whole.)


The "Reel Revelation": "Visions and Dreams"

When interviewed about his vision for the 24th century and consequent depiction of the future in the Star Trek universe, Gene Roddenberry gave this simple response: "Star Trek" isn't about photon torpedoes or shield generators. It isn't about aliens or star ships. It's about real people who have learned to overcome their differences and live in peace." Those who look close enough will see that this vision is reinforced in the great majority of "Star Trek" episodes and films. While the "Star Trek" universe is full of injustice, poverty, war, and those dastardly Klingons, the great moral thread woven through every depiction of Roddenberry's original vision is that of a universe where people deal with personal struggles and overcome them through reason, logic, and an occasional disruptor blast. Indeed, it is merely consequential that they use phaser rifles and planet-destroying weapons to exact their will on one another. Isn't that true of most civil disagreements that turn into deadly wars? Roddenberry looked into the deepest part of the human condition and saw the potential for a presently savage race (in his own reckoning) to overcome the divisions that have caused life on this planet so much difficulty for such a long time.

Roddenberry was not a Christian. He wasn't a religious man of any kind, in fact. He believed that religion was an "excuse for a lazy brain," and so we ought not regard his words or visions as bearing the same power as the Gospel. It is not inappropriate, however, to look into the dynamic expression of his imagination and discover the dreams of a man who hoped for a better future for our planet and people. Today's episode, "The Quickening", is a perfect example of the message of hope Roddenberry presents for the future.

Julian Bashir is one of the top doctors in all of Starfleet (an alliance of planets and races that spans a large part of our galaxy). Of all the positions available to him he takes a position as the Chief Medical Officer at a Deep Space Station. While DS9 is on the "frontier" of Starfleet-controlled space it is not the kind of place a young and experienced doctor would normally take a post. In the early seasons of DS9 Bashir is disliked for his arrogance and strong sense of confidence in himself. In later seasons it's revealed that he was genetically altered at birth and is thus capable of performing mundane tasks at superhuman speeds, etc. He's a cool guy. A man so talented would have been more than pleased to take a position working at Starfleet Medical where he could have quickly become the Chief Medical Officer for Starfleet; the most desired position in the medical profession of the 24th century. Not only does he learn to tame his arrogance, develop friendships, and operate as an integral part of the DS9 Command Crew, he sets aside his inhibitions and ends up serving those who many would have considered "outcast" and altogether "untreatable." Remind you of anyone?

I am by no means going to suggest that Bashir is a Christ figure...no more than I would say the Silver Surfer is a Christ figure. Any coincidence is just that, a coincidence. It's in the behavior, attitude, and action of the "good Doctor", however, that we discover the projection of a hope we all should believe in. Yes, we must believe that doctors of every kind will be full of a willingness to treat the sick, no matter how far beyond treatment the suffering ones may be. Let us believe that people in every profession will give of themselves (lay themselves down for their friends) that the common good might be served; that we would turn from servicing our greedy desires and lift up others before ourselves.

The future is unknown to us and thus, no matter how attractive Roddenberry's vision may be, we must place our trust in God alone to lead us to the future he desires. What sort of future does God desire for your life? While the events, experiences, and encounters of your future may be altogether unknown to you, you do know that the Word of God calls you to a life of service, kindness, and charity. Live that life! Serve others before yourself, love your neighbor, forgive your enemies, and live with compassion for those who cry out for help. Learning to live in this way will welcome a future far greater than the future dreamed of by any man, even Gene Roddenberry.

See you tomorrow - E.T.

P.S. - This review is dedicated to another fellow Trekkie and good friend, James Morin.