DS9 Episode Review: IMHO - "Invasive Procedures"
TED BRENGLE
***A Special Encore Presentation Of The Best Of IMHO***
(or a lousy, stinking re-run)
DS9: Season 2: "Invasive Procedure"
Hmmm.
It was solid and entertaining. Performances by every member of
the ensemble were again at the top of their form and every single
guest star shined brightly in their own special way. And yet...
Hmmm.
The writing was lively. The situation interesting
and the sub-plots merged well together, and there was a good feeling
of a narrative pull through the hour. And yet...
Hmmm.
Ladies and gentlemen, I am surprisingly ambivalent about this
episode. I enjoyed it all right, but I'm not sure I should have.
Oh, there was a lot to like here. TPTB are really exercising
quality control this year, and although this wasn't a mind-blowing,
"Holly-Jeez-I was-left-drooling-by-its-greatness" episode, it again
signified the new script maturity indicated by the season's first
three episodes. Remember, although the blow-outs have their
much-loved place in great seasons, the true backbone of such seasons
are episodes like this one: Quiet and effective, low-key but
involving. This tale had some substance to it and it was told with
panache.
Meanwhile, the performances just get better and better. Bashir
got some flack last season (not from me, incidently) for being too
cartoonish and one-dimensional, but whatever deficiencies were
present in the character they are quickly being addressed. This
Bashir is much more passionate and more fully rounded as a
character. I didn't think I could like him any more than I did, but
Faddel's more vividly colored performance made me do it. Also,
despite one small trip over the top when Sisko snarls that his
friendship with Dax is over, Brook's had his character down pat, his
attempt to talk the new Dax into saving Jadzia being understated but
excellent. But most improved honors have to go to Terry Farrel,
though. It took her a while, but she has finally taken a character
who was little more than a dull, innocuous stick and has imbued her
with warmth. Although, my opinion of her abilities has improved, I'm
not sure about TPTB. Much like last year's "Dax", this season's big
Dax episode went through a lot of trouble to keep the leading lady
off-screen, or in this case, nice-and-sleepy. The few scenes that
required more than fluttering her eyelids, she managed to pull off
well, though.
However, even better than the regulars, though, was the
superlative work turned in by the guest stars. Rapidly becoming THE
place for superb guest talent, DS9 followed up the star turns of
Langella and Behmer in the season premier cycle, with performances
every bit as good from John Glover and Magen Gallagher. While Glover
had the showier part and did well with it, I liked Gallagher's even
more, as she deftly conveyed a winning wistfulness in addition to
the requisite, jaded tough-cookie. In fact, the only real problem I
had acting-wise in the episode was Shimmerman's pained moaning,
which was just a little too tinny to be bearable. And while I know
it was supposed to be annoying, they should have mercy on us poor
viewers. This is in stereo for God's sake.
The writing was mostly strong, too, despite some story
contrivances and short-cuts (Quark's selling out of the station,
even if he didn't mean to, is glossed over. Kira snipes at him,
understandably, about it, but then this conflict is left
unresolved). Also, Odo's disguise at the end struck me as
astoundingly obvious and silly. "Gee, I wonder what that table is
doing in the middle of the airlock?" I don't know why Odo didn't
just add a sign on the side that read, "This is just a table and in
no way should be suspected of being security chief Odo. Please pay
it no attention. Go on about your business." On the subject of Odo,
though, I did like Kira's confident exclamation that with Odo free
nobody would be escaping that day. This kind of thing just get's my
blood pumping. Odo will get the job done and everybody knows it. I
like that. Try saying the same thing about Worf. "You're not getting
off this ship with Worf around!" Yeah. They might trip over him
after they stun him.
And yet... I have a big problem here. And it all has to do with
Trills. Did anybody else notice that in the three episodes that have
featured the Trill prominently, the way the race is perceived has
done a complete 180 degree turn? In the beginning, "The Host" seemed
to indicate that the Trill slugs were the brains of the outfit and
the hosts were little more than receptacles. Then "Dax" came along
and suddenly the Trill slugs and bodies act in concert, creating a
whole new personality. And now here comes "Invasive Procedures", in
which the slugs seem to just be repositories of knowledge and
memories, while the host's mind provides most of the new
personality's impetus. Have I missed something here? Anybody else
see a discrepancy? Trek seems to be trying on for size every single
interpretation of sentient symbiotic beings that science-fiction has
ever come up with and the strain is starting the shake the
foundations of this race apart. What's next? Trills sometimes erupt
out of the abdomen and have retractable jaws? Soon we'll need
another court case/show-and-tell episode to explain all this.
I must admit that this disturbed me. Not so much for it being bad art,
but mostly because it demonstrates some fundamental flailing around in
the creative department.
To the Big Board:
The Grade: B (Strong performances bolster some
story flakiness and a really
jarring figure-eight in the
interpretation of the Trill.)
Next Week: Kiddie Cardassians!
-Ted Brengle
(Cynic who still doesn't know
how the hell Trills work...)
(c) Copyright 1994, Ted Brengle (IMHO Inc.)
* OLX 2.1 TD * Which is really SF: FTL or Trek realizing its potential?
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