Day 152: DS9, Take Me Out to the Holosuite

Show: Star Trek; Deep Space Nine

Episode Particulars: S7EP4, “Take Me Out to the Holosuite”

 Summary: Captain Solok (Gregory Wagrowski), a Vulcan who we later learn has an antagonistic relationship with Sisko, pulls into DS9 for repairs. While they’re waiting for their warp core to be fixed, Solok challenges Sisko to a game of baseball, as he’s put together an all-Vulcan team. Sisko takes this personally (baseball is his game), and he assembles the senior staff, plus Jake, Nog, Quark, Leeta, Rom, and Kasidy, to form a baseball team and beat the Vulcans. Given their relative inexperience, though, it’s going to be an uphill, albeit entertaining, battle.

Standalone Thoughts: After all the seriousness of the last three episodes (four if you count “Tears of the Prophets”) it makes sense that we’d have a more lighthearted episode. And this one is particularly delightful. While there’s obvious conflict (the team isn’t very experienced, not to mention Sisko’s grudge against Solok), it’s also obvious that the writers didn’t want the audience to take things too seriously. This is proven by the wide variety of funny lines, bits of business, and musical cues scattered throughout the episode. While those who suffer strongly from second-hand embarrassment may have problems with some of the material, overall it’s a very pleasant episode that pretty much everyone can enjoy. And really, I don’t think there’s much more I can add to that. It’s one of those episodes you should just discover for yourself.

How it Relates to the Whole: I’m pretty sure this episode has no long term consequences, except maybe to add another prop to Sisko’s ready room. But that’s fine; it was clearly meant to be a bit of fun.

Other: *There are two major callbacks in this episode, although one is more subtle than the other. The obvious one is O’Brien throwing out his shoulder again (the man just cannot catch a break, apparently). The other one is when the team threatens to quit on Rom’s behalf once Sisko kicks him off the team, which is somewhat similar to Rom being the focal point around the union in “Bar Association”. So even if the episode’s not essential, at least it’s maintaining continuity.

*There are a lot of really cute moments in this episode, like Rom telling the team not to quit on his behalf and sounding really genuine about it or Kira catching Odo practicing his umpire gestures and calls. Even if the episode doesn’t make you laugh, I’m sure there will be at least one thing in there to make you smile.

Best Line/Exchange: In one of the last instances of this, I knew my pick for Best Line before I even started the episode;

(The game against the Vulcans has begun)

Sisko: All right, Niners, let’s hear some chatter!

(Most of the team does variations of “Hey, batter batter!” except for…)

Worf: Death to the opposition!

It’s just so very Klingon, and the contrast adds more humor to an already humorous episode. I can’t ask for much more than that.

After the Fact Update: Amusingly, despite Rom being the worst player on the team, Max Grodénchik was actually one of the best players in the cast. They had to make him bat and catch left-handed to maintain the illusion. I like that detail; it adds a little more charm to the episode.