‘RAPTURE’ (DS9)
Please feel free to comment on my review.
We now come to what is arguably considered a significant episode in the ‘DS9’ series. This is also where we see the Starfleet members of the DS9 team wearing different uniforms for the first time. 🙂
At the time of this episode’s transmission on TV, the movie ‘Star Trek: First Contact’ was shown at cinemas. Thus, the Starfleet DS9 members are wearing the grey uniforms from the second ‘TNG’ movie.
It’s surreal to see DS9 members like Sisko, Dax, Worf, O’Brien and Bashir wear grey Starfleet uniforms from now on compared to previous uniforms. Though, the uniforms don’t get introduced.
It would’ve been nice to have had an introduction to the new Starfleet uniforms rather than just see them on our DS9 Starfleet members already. I know it was the case for the ‘First Contact’ movie too, but still.
Ernest Perry Jr. who plays Admiral Whatley in this doesn’t wear the grey uniform as he wears the previous ‘TNG’ red uniform. Sisko doesn’t even have his Starfleet comm. badge placed correctly. 😐
In the episode, Sisko becomes fascinated by a painting depicting B’hala, Bajor’s legendary lost city. He’s inspired to search for the scared site as the painting depicts an obelisk marking the coordinates.
Sisko recreates the obelisk in a holosuite to try and determine what the hidden markings might be. But very soon, a short circuit in the holosuite system causes him to briefly knock out unconscious. 😐
Thankfully Sisko is alright as Bashir tells him his brain has been overloaded. His senses will be enhanced for a few days. But Sisko begins to receive strange visions as a result of the short circuit. 😐
At dinner, Sisko absentmindedly cuts his fruit into shapes to discover the missing markings from the obelisk. He also has this vision where he knows everything about Bajor’s history as well as its future.
It’s slightly unnerving at first. Eventually, Sisko receives news that Bajor has been accepted into the Federation. This pleases Sisko greatly. The signing ceremony will take place on board DS9 very soon.
Sisko also receives the return of Penny Johnson as Kasidy Yates, who’s finished her time in prison. He takes her with him to Bajor where they manage to find the lost ruined city of B’hala. This is amazing!
It also causes Sisko to suffer from painful headaches. Despite this, Sisko is determined to learn more about B’hala as well as the visions he keeps having, which could lead to form some sort of prophecy.
In the end, Sisko does become a sort-of ‘messiah’ figure and even the Bajorans come to accept him as the true Emissary. This is emphasised once he seems to have psychic powers and knows the future.
When taken to the infirmary after receiving a headache, Sisko reveals he saw a vision of a swarm of locusts passing by Bajor and attacking Cardassia. The vision isn’t clear on what it means by this stage.
Not meaning to give spoilers away, but the vision of locusts is clearly indicating that it’s the Dominion. The DS9 team don’t know that yet, but that’s something we’ll get to later on in Season 5.
Bashir determines that Sisko’s headaches are life-threatening. He asks to operate immediately in order to remove Sisko’s vision-seeking. But Sisko refuses as he’s so determined to see more visions.
Sisko later receives help from Louise Fletcher as Kai Winn (yes, her again) in order to consult the mystical orb of prophecy. He soon looks into the orb of prophecy to see the ‘locusts’ vision clearly. 😐
At the ceremony of Bajor’s admittance to the Federation which begins without Sisko, Sisko bursts in, weak and in pain. He warns that Bajor mustn’t join the Federation since Bajor will be destroyed. 😦
This results in Bajor delaying to join the Federation. Sisko is rushed to the infirmary where Bashir has to operate immediately to save the captain’s life. The operation is granted by Jake as his next-of-kin.
Sisko is saved but he becomes anguished at the loss of his visions. Kasidy reminds Sisko that saving his life for his son is more precious than the visions he saw. I’m sure this isn’t the last of the ‘locusts’. 🙂
Overall, ‘Rapture’ has been an intriguing ‘DS9’ episode where Sisko becomes more ‘messiah’-like and more like the Emissary that the Bajorans have come to believe in! What about these locusts though?
‘Rapture’ (DS9) rating – 8/10
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