‘FAR BEYOND THE STARS’ (DS9)
Please feel free to comment on my review.
‘Far Beyond the Stars’ is a pretty unique episode and is regarded as one of the best of the ‘DS9’ series. I concur, especially as it presents the ‘DS9’ series in a way that I’m sure one would not expect.
In the episode, Captain Sisko is distraught by the death of a friend in the Dominion War. He contemplates leaving Starfleet. He also has his father Brock Peters as Joseph Sisko seeing him in this.
Eventually however, Sisko begins to experience hallucinations of 20th century New York City and is suddenly taken over by a vision where he becomes Benny Russell, a science-fiction writer in 1953. 🙂
And that’s what most of the episode is about. The story of Benny Russell who struggles being an African-American writer, trying to sell his new story about ‘Deep Space Nine’ among a white society.
I think the way the episode is presented is very clever, as it depicts how 1950s society was in New York as blacks were often segregated from whites. This must be before the Rosa Parks movement. 😐
It was also fun to see many of the people featured in 1953 New York bearing the likeness of many people from the ‘DS9’ series. It gives the actors a chance to play different versions of the characters.
As well as Avery Brooks playing Benny Russell, there’s René Auberjonois playing Douglas Pabst, who’s the editor of the ‘Incredible Tales’ magazine. So surreal to see René without his Odo make-up!
There’s Colm Meaney as Albert Macklin, Alexander Siddig as Julius Eaton, Nana Visitor as Kay Eaton, Julius’ wife ( 😀 ) and there’s Armin Shimerman as the short-tempered and left-wing Herbert Rossoff.
Again, very surreal to see Armin without his Quark make-up! Both René and Armin’s characters still bicker like they do as Odo and Quark. Also intriguing is most of the characters are writers in this tale.
Terry Farrell guest stars as Darlene Kursky, Douglas Pabst’s secretary in the episode. I found it funny as Darlene reacted to Benny’s ‘DS9’ story and Dax’s character, saying ‘she’s got a worm in her body’.
In Benny’s segregated black community, Michael Dorn plays Willie Hawkins, a baseball player. Again, so surreal to see Michael Dorn without his Worf make-up, though he is in it for a fleeting moment. 😀
There’s Cirroc Lofton as Jimmy, a young hustler who laughs at Benny’s ‘DS9’ story. There’s also Penny Johnson as Cassie, Benny’s girlfriend, who’s faithful to her boyfriend in his living as a writer. 🙂
Brock Peters also plays the Preacher, who implores Benny to write his story ‘in the name of the Prophets’. There are the two police officers – Marc Aliamo as Ryan and Jeffrey Combs as Mulkahey.
J. G. Hertzler (who plays Martok) plays Roy Ritterhouse, an illustrator, who brings in the DS9 artwork for Benny to work from and there’s Aron Eisenberg (who plays Nog) as a newspaper vendor in this. 🙂
It was so eerie to see these actors playing characters that echo their ‘DS9’ counterparts and how Benny becomes inspired by meeting these people to write his ‘DS9’ story. It’s a fascinating insight. 🙂
However, Benny’s struggles with writing ‘DS9’ come to the fore when the publishers soon refuse to publish the story about a black captain of a space station. Soon, it does become too much for Benny.
Incidentally, ‘Far Beyond the Stars’ is directed by Avery Brooks and he’s really into making this episode extra-special, especially when he performs Benny and how he has that outburst by the end.
It’s intriguing how the story end as Benny is taken to hospital after his emotional breakdown. I think the acting on Avery Brooks’ part was intense as I later discovered in terms of the behind-the-scenes.
The episode concludes with Sisko back on the space station, coming out of his vision. He’s deeply moved the vision he’s had and he wonders if ‘far beyond the stars’, Benny’s dreaming about ‘DS9’. 🙂
I’ve heard it argued that ‘Far Beyond the Stars’ should’ve been a two-parter instead of a single episode. I think it would’ve been nice to have seen it as a two-parter as it was pretty enjoyable here.
‘Far Beyond the Stars’ is definitely an invigorating ‘DS9’ episode and it presents the series in a new light as if being a dream by Benny Russell. It makes me wonder about other shows and films I like. 😀
On Disc 7 of the ‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Season 6’ DVD, there’s the documentary ‘Mission Inquiry: Far Beyond the Stars’ to enjoy.
‘Far Beyond the Stars’ (DS9) rating – 9/10
| The previous story
For ‘Deep Space Nine’ was |
The next story
For ‘Deep Space Nine’ is |
| Return to Star Trek | |
| Return to Sci-Fi |
Bradley's Basement 