‘EXPLORERS’ (DS9)
Please feel free to comment on my review.
This ‘DS9’ episode has Sisko and his son Jake being explorers aboard an ancient Bajoran sailing ship in space. The episode also explores Sisko and Jake’s relationship as father and son in the ‘DS9’ series.
It begins with Sisko returning home to DS9 and sporting a fresh beard. Yeah! This is sort-of half the image we’re going to get used to when we watch Sisko in ‘DS9’. The other half will start in Season 4.
Anyway, Sisko has been studying ancient Bajoran culture. He finds old legends hold a grain of truth as ancient Bajorans used to travel outside their solar system using solar winds in space-sailing ships.
Sisko hopes to build an ancient Bajoran sailing ship as he acquires diagrams and blueprints for the construction of one. Kira is supportive of Sisko’s endeavours whilst O’Brien is very sceptical about it.
As he constructs the sailing ship, Sisko invites Jake to accompany him on a journey to retract the original route of the ancient Bajorans to validate an old theory. Jake is reluctant. He had other plans.
Eventually however, Jake changes his mind and agrees to accompany his father on this exciting adventure. They hope to travel in the ship beyond the Denorios belt and perhaps reach Cardassia. 🙂
Marc Alaimo as Gul Dukat is sceptical of Sisko’s endeavours as he warns him of the political implications there might be caused if he takes on this trip. But Sisko is determined to do this journey.
Thankfully, Sisko and Jake get to journey out successfully into space in their ancient Bajoran sailing ship. The visual effects and the design of the ancient Bajoran spaceship are a marvel to behold here.
This episode definitely highlights Sisko and Jake’s relationship as father and son. They get to talk to each other away from DS9. It also signifies how much Sisko and his son Jake love each other in ‘DS9’.
On their journey, Jake shares with his father that he’s been attempting to become a writer. Jake also reveals he’s become accepted as a fellow to the Pennington Institute writing school in New Zealand.
Jake is reluctant to leave DS9 considering the friends he’s made and the thought of his father being lonely. Sisko reassures him he’ll be alright whilst Jake wants his dad to meet a freighter captain he likes.
Sisko isn’t sure about the idea but he’s open to it. The episode also has Sisko and Jake experiencing problems with their journey whilst the ships enters eddies in space, causing the sails to break apart. 😐
It does seem like their voyage into space aboard an old Bajoran sailing ship was deemed to fail. Thankfully, after thinking they’re lost in space, the two soon meet up with Cardassian ships in space.
Gul Dukat welcomes them as he announces they’ve reached Cardassian space. Sisko and Jake are pleased about this. They’ve proved the trip the ancient Bajorans made all those years ago was possible.
Dukat also tells the Siskos that their arrival into Cardassian space coincides with the discovery of the remains of a similar solar vessel wrecked on Cardassia centuries ago. Soon, fireworks in space go off.
There is another subplot going on in the episode where Bashir discovers that the Lexington ship bearing his old academic rival in medical school – Dr. Lense – has come to DS9. Bashir feels nervous.
He’s also competitive as he tries to brush off his medical knowledge in order to not be abashed when meeting her for the first time. But at Quark’s, Bashir’s taken back when Dr. Lense ignores him.
This leads to Bashir and O’Brien singing a song about ‘Jerusalem’ in the latter’s quarters. The song inspired the film ‘Chariots of Fire’ apparently. O’Brien also tells Bashir he doesn’t hate him anymore.
Bashir eventually meets Bari Hochwald as Dr. Lense and the two thankfully get on well with each other. They share certain medical interests and don’t seem to be such rivals as Bashir had presumed.
The episode also introduces Chase Masteron as Leeta, the Dabo girl, who tries to seduce Bashir with a cough at Quark’s. 😀 She would go on to do a few ‘Doctor Who‘ Big Finish audio dramas I’ve heard.
‘Explorers’ is a very fine ‘DS9’ episode in Season 3. I like how it explores Sisko and Jake’s relationship as father and son aboard an ancient Bajoran sailing ship and the Bashir subplot was pretty fun as well.
On Disc 7 of the ‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Season 3’ DVD, there’s the ‘Sailing Through The Stars – A Special Look at ‘Explorers’ documentary to enjoy.
‘Explorers’ (DS9) rating – 8/10
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