Deep Space Nine-Season Seven Episode Three

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Afterimage

Season 7
Episode 3

Plot Summary: Ezri Dax has caused quite a stir on DS9. Quark is picking up where he left off: hitting on Dax. Bashir is attempting to make a new friend. Sisko is happy. Jake thinks she's "cute." And Worf, well, Worf is just plain ticked off that everyone is treating her as if she was Jadzia: Whom to him should be happy resting-in-peace in Sto-vo-kor. So, all this is driving her so crazy she wants to leave DS9 and rejoin her old crew.

The plot thickens as Garak goes bonkers and collapses as part of a nasty rehash of his claustrophobia. (As seen in the Purgatory's Shadow/Inferno's Light two-parter.) And, Ezri, having been a counselor on her previous ship, is called to help figure out why. It is imperative that Garak be helped because he has been decoding Cardassian messages for Starfleet.

Ezri and Worf keep having startling confrontations, and as Bashir begins to take in interest in Ezri. Worf warns him to keep away. Ezri and Garak have a few sessions and eventually he tells her he doesn't need her help and that she is pathetic and useless since she can't keep her own life together. When Ezri runs to Sisko for help he tells her something similar, causing her to cry and make desperate faces. She also decides to leave Starfleet.

O'Brien senses Worf's tension and convinces him that the only way that he could know how Jadzia would want him to act around Ezri, is to ask Ezri, herself. Ezri talks to Garak one last time, and in the conversation finds out the root of his problem: He's upset that he's helping the Cardassians lose the war. Eventually she helps him through the trauma and he apologizes for what he said. Likewise, Worf admits he was wrong to have mistreated her. She asks Sisko not to let her resign and takes the job of DS9's counselor.

Sub-Plot: The two plots were too interspersed to distinguish which one was the most important.

My Opinion: The best thing about this episode was the meaningful conversations and revealing insights into Trill physiology. Add some superb acting and you have yourself a masterpiece! In more detail, however, here's the run down.

The episode started with Ezri walking around the place where "she" died. This alone presented weird feelings that already had me thinking.

The whole Worf story was well thought out. It was easy to understand both of their sides. Imagine the man you loved suddenly turning his back on you as if he never wanted to talk to you again. Also imagine the woman you love, dying and being honorably rested, thanks to your effort, in the honored land of the dead, only to have a different woman arrive, who acted as if she was your love, and was treated in the same manor. Both are hard positions to imagine under the alien circumstance, yet both were quite well portrayed. I'm also glad that it was realistic, and they didn't turn completely buddy-buddy by the end of the episode!

Garak's story was awesome as well. It revealed aspects of Garak and Ezri, both struggling in their own realistic conflicts. When Garak explained his thoughts (for once!) It all seemed to fit together perfectly. And Ezri' s work on him shows just how devoted to her work she is. Would you have come back after receiving a verbal bashing of the magnitude Garak gave her? If it wasn't for her perseverance, Garak might never have spilled his beans.

Yet one of the best aspects of the show was seeing many things through the memories of Jadzia. For instance: Her friendship with Bashir, The money Quark owed her, and even her memories of Worf. Sisko' s reaction to finding out that he intimidated Worf was priceless!

And who else but good ol' Chief O'Brien to put all of Worf's worries to rest! Another great scene!

Wrap-Up: Filled with great lines, revelations, scenes, characterization, acting, and Garak, Afterimage was everything I could have hoped for and more! I give it four stars!

Review by -William Phillips

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