Logline
As a cadet sets out to solve an ancient Starfleet mystery, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery and learns the value of forging her own path. Meanwhile, Nahla agrees to help a fellow chancellor with an elaborate alien ritual.
Written by: Kirsten Beyer & Tawny Newsome
Directed by: Larry Teng
I’ve been pretty excited for this one ever since it was highlighted as a “love letter” to DS9…but I was pretty nervous about a couple of things.
I wasn’t sure how the hell they would make it relevant to the cast of this show, and keep them rightly front-and-centre. There was no obvious connection for them to do so, and it wouldn’t serve them well to just do a full-on nostalgia fest.
I also wasn’t sure how to explore Sisko’s fate in a way that felt substantial. It seems like any story about his return would have to be pretty significant (or, alternatively, so insignificant that it would be hard to make an episode about it).
As it turns out, I needn’t have worried. They threaded the needle pretty perfectly. SAM was the central character from beginning to end, and her “connection” to Sisko was uniquely intertwined with the character’s motivations. And they sidestepped my second issue entirely, but in a way that I still found satisfying.
I feel bad for Ben and Kasidy’s kid, though - apparently completely insignificant to the history books.
And I do hope he was able to visit them from time to time.