Far Beyond the Stars

Cirroc Lofton's line (you know the one) still takes my breath away.

All by itself "DS9" always showed more progressiveness and more social conscience than the other "Trek"'s combined.

The story is a fanciful conceit, and a breather from the season's arc, but it still stands as "Trek"'s best address of racial issues, and also serves as a reminder that it's a little depressing that "DS9" is the least popular "Trek" in terms of syndication value and DVD sales.

If you don't know the show, this one is a good, arc-independent introduction. And if you do know the show, you will always remember falling off your chair when Cirroc Lofton said "that line."

This episode never places highly in fan polls, but it's one of the best.

This episode really gets to the heart of what Star Trek is all about. Sisko has a vision that he is a struggling science fiction writer in 1950's New York named Benny Russell. He writes a story about a 24th century space station, which his editor won't publish because it features a black hero.

The story is about the dangers of racism, but also about the transformative power of fiction. Benny imagines a future where the injustices he suffers no longer happen. And imagining that future helps make it real for Sisko. Stories like this, and shows like DS9, can help all of us imagine a better world.

Plus there's the added treat of seeing all of the cast out of their prosthetics, playing ordinary humans. For once we get to see everyone's real face. One of the best episodes of DS9. Second only to The Visitor in my book.

I was floored by this episode. For Sisko to go back in time and play a character with such integrity and grit, showing his chops, is wonderful. Of course, the real attraction is to see virtually the entire crew in 1950's street clothes. The one I couldn't get over was the guy who plays Quark. The characters in the magazine office maintained their personalities, even though they were not on a space station. Plus, the ugly portrayals of racism are so real. I loved the use of the normal bad guys as power hungry police. It all worked so admirably.

I missed this one the first time around. Watching it now, as I go through the entire Star Trek catalog during the COVID-19 pandemic on the eve of an historic Presidential inauguration and the events that have preceded it was particularly poignant.

DS9 doesn't get enough credit. It has amazing talent, storytelling, and imagination. Episodes like this one make you see the world we live in in a different light, and I think this is one of my favorites.

This is a show about racism in the 50s. The script was well written. Although there are some racial words used (I doubt they'd make or show this episode now). Try to recognize the actors without makeup. You'll guess all of them, I'm sure. I'll bet the actors had a blast making this episode. But if you're racially sensitive, be prepared. I think they portrayed the era accurately. I rated it a 10.