Station log: stardate unknown

The Mirror Universe gets another look this week, the first time since The Original Series, in this episode penned by Peter Allan Fields and Micheal Piller. The episode first aired on 15 May, 1994.

Major Kira (Nana Visitor) and Doctor Bashir (Alexander Siddig) end up in the mirror universe when something goes amiss in a transit through the wormhole. Arriving on the station, nothing is what it should be for them, and Klingons, Cardassians, and Bajorans have subjugated the human race.

On arriving on the station, they are shocked to encounter Garak (Andrew Robinson) and another version of Kira, both of whom seem to share a measure of power over the space station, that is back in orbit around Bajor and seemingly unaware of the wormhole.

Bashir is added to the slave gangs of the station, encountering O’Brien (Colm Meaney) all overseen by a vicious Odo (Rene Auberjonois), while Kira goes toe to toe with her alternate – and gives us a but of a catch-up history lesson on what has happened in the Mirror Universe since the time of Kirk and Spock.

Quark (Armin Shimerman) in this universe is a bit of a hero, helping Terrans escape from Bajor and the station, and Sisko (Avery Brooks) when he arrives on the scene, seems to be all manner of trouble.

Will these alternate versions of their friends help or hinder them in their hope to return home?

The Mirror Universe continues to fascinate….

Station log: stardate unknown

Gary Holland came up with this episode’s original story, that was fleshed out into a teleplay by himself, Ira Steven Behr and Robert Hewitt Wolfe. It debuted on 22 May 1994, and saw the continuation of the Bajoran political arc.

Vedek Bareil (Philip Anglim) one of the candidate’s for the position of Kai, the ultimate spiritual leader of the Bajoran people, and Kira’s lover is being portrayed as a Cardassian collaborator during the occupation by his opponent Vedek Winn (Louise Fletcher).

We know Winn is dangerous, a manipulator, a liar, and incredibly devious, but is she right?

To add to these suspicions, we get glimpses inside Bareil’s visions, and we also see how easy it is for accusations, and witch hunts to take someone down.

Kira as the Liaison Officer works with Odo to discover the truth behind the accusations. But will it be an answer that Kira wants to find?

It’s an okay story, and you know how things have to play out. You know they’ll play out in the way that will be most dramatic and affect the characters, the one that will put Kira through the roughest emotional wringer. So it plays out as it must, and the devious Winn moves closer to power.

Next week, we come to the end of season two, as I continue my exploration of The Complete Series on DVD, available now from Paramount Pictures.

The Human Adventure continues…