Star Trek: The Quickening

Episode: "The Quickening"

Series: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Season 4, Episode 24

Original Air Date: May 20, 1996

via Memory Alpha

During a bio-survey mission in the Gamma Quadrant, Dax, Bashir and Kira respond to a distress signal.  They discover a world in the Teplan system that has been ravaged by a plague, a blight the Jem'Hadar had infected the population with when they resisted Dominion rule.  There is no cure for the painful disease.  The only medical care is merciful euthanasia.  Obviously, our good doctor is appalled and sets about finding a cure.

Season 4 has supplied several meaningful Julian stories.  Prior to "The Quickening," we've had both "Hippocratic Oath" and "Our Man Bashir."  This week's installment challenges his arrogance.  It's a good Dax development story, too - appropriate given the importance of the relationship to both characters.  A defining exchange:

Julian: Trevean was right. There is no cure. The Dominion made sure of that. But I was so arrogant, I thought I could find one in a week!

Jadzia: Maybe it was arrogant to think that. But it's even more arrogant to think there isn't a cure just because you couldn't find it.

My child, with whom I watch all of these episodes, offered a meaningful reflection: "it illustrates really well how much more of life Jadzia has lived and how much more of death she's died and experienced than Julian."

In the mid-'90s, the AIDS epidemic was very much on people's minds, especially in the entertainment industry, long a relatively safe space for gay men, a demographic disproportionately affected.  "The Quickening" started out as an AIDS allegory but veered off in other directions.  29 years later, while it is medically treatable, there is still no cure for AIDS, or even a vaccine like the one Dr. Bashir found in the end.  

Acting Notes

via Wikipedia

Michael Sarrazin played the role of Trevean, who administered the herbs which induced death for his fellow Teplans suffering from the blight.  He was born Jacques Michel André Sarrazin in Quebec City, May 22, 1940.  He grew up in Montreal.  His professional acting career began at age 17.  

Sarrazin's biggest role was Robert in Sydney Pollack's They Shoot Horses, Don't They?  Films include For Pete's Sake, The Reincarnation of Peter Proud and The Gumball Rally.  He hosted Saturday Night Live in 1978.

Sarrazin passed away in 2011 from mesothelioma.

Squid Flicks: La Ciénaga

Title: La Ciénaga

Director: Lucrecia Martel

Original Release Date: February 8, 2001

My Overall Rating: 3 stars out of 5

via Wikipedia

Mecha and her family are on holiday in northwestern Argentina.  She and her husband are useless, angry alcoholics.  Her children are lazy (truly, a surprising amount of the story involves people lying around in bed).  Her cousin and her family want to drive to Bolivia to buy school supplies.  Mecha thinks the indigenous maid, Isabel, is stealing linens.

Honestly, it's hard to know how to sum up the story, essentially a slice of life narrative about obnoxious upper-middle class people.  The paragraph above is as close as I can get to a synopsis.  I found it difficult to watch the film without getting anxious.  Few of the characters are especially likable and they're constantly hurting themselves and getting impatient with one another.  Evidently, audience anxiety was a genuine goal of Director Martel, so, mission accomplished.

The most interesting character is Isabel for the simple reason that her story is shrouded in mystery.  While you know way too much about most of the principals (so many scenes shot in the bedroom and the bathroom - none of it lewd, mind you), much of Isabel's tale is told in conversations with her boyfriend to which the audience is not privy.  Why does she leave the job in the end?  Because her boss is racist and cruel and the boss's daughter won't leave her alone?  Those would be the obvious and understandable reasons but is there more?  Is she pregnant?  Is her own family's need for her real and what's that all about?  So many questions in a movie where little is hidden from the audience.

Some critics have named La Ciénaga the greatest Argentine film of all time.  Not for me.  I prefer Nine Queens.  I don't think I'd ever watch this movie again but I do imagine I'd pick up on more with a second viewing.  It certainly leaves one with a lot to think about.  So call it a high 3.

Star Trek: Basics, Part I

Episode: "Basics, Part I"

Series: Star Trek: Voyager

Season 2, Episode 26

Original Air Date: May 20, 1996

via Wikipedia

Voyager receives a hail from Seska - a former crewmate, who turned out to be a spy, and also Chakotay's former lover.  She is with the Kazon now, having shacked up with Maje Culluh.  Seska has given birth to Chakotay's child (long story) and claims both she and the child are now in danger.  Our friends set off to help, knowing full well they may be walking into a trap.  Sure enough, Culluh's band ultimately take control of the ship, marooning the entire crew (with a few important exceptions) on Hanov IV, a primitive planet.

A couple of meaningful ongoing narratives intersect in "Basics," a season-bridging two-parter.  In addition to the Seska fiasco (an in-story mess - I have no problem with it from a production perspective), Lon Suder is back.  Last time we saw Suder, he had permanently been confined to quarters after murdering Crewman Frank Darwin.  The beneficiary of Tuvok's guidance, Suder is a new man.  Now well along the path to reform, Suder wants to find a way to contribute to the ship and its mission, within the terms of his confinement.  He has an idea for developing the airponics vegetable garden.  

Unfortunately, Suder's presentation of his plan to Captain Janeway doesn't go well.  However, he may yet have a chance to help out.  During the Kazon attack, a hole is blown in Suder's quarters and he is technically freed.  He evades discovery during the Kazon search of the vessel.

At episode's end, three characters are unaccounted for by the Kazon: Paris, who had left the ship on a shuttle mission, Suder and The Doctor, who had deactivated himself for exactly twelve hours to avoid capture.  

Overall, it's a solid cliffhanger heading into the summer break.

Recurring characters don't hold the same prominence in Voyager that they do in DS9 so it's interesting that such an important episode depends so heavily on two of them.  It is also, as we shall soon see, nearly the end of the line for both.

Thoughts on Season Two

General Impressions

It is a tale of two seasons.  The first half-plus is truly terrible.  When fans speak of the clunky awkwardness of Voyager, they offer episodes like "Twisted" and "Threshold" as evidence.  Plus, there is the nearly unwatchable Neelix-as-jealous-boyfriend thread.  After a strong first season, the early stumbles of the second are deeply discouraging, especially with Deep Space Nine knocking it out of the park practically every week. 

But an interesting thing happened after "Threshold," the 15th episode.  Season 2's final eleven are strong, beginning with "Meld," Suder's debut.  "Dreadnaught," "Lifesigns," "Innocence" and "Tuvix" are all gems.  Just as importantly, there are no true clunkers in the home stretch.  Principal characters find depth.  Compelling ethical dilemmas abound.  Maybe Voyager has finally found sure footing.

Maybe.

Favorite Episode: "Lifesigns"

At this point, I would say Tuvok and the Doctor are battling for the lead as best-developed character of the series.  "Lifesigns" gives the EMH a slight edge.  The Doctor's entire arc is a quest for broader agency, yet falling in love catches him off-guard.  He didn't even realize it was possible.

I'm gonna let you all behind the curtain for a minute.  That's what falling in love is really like.  If you're lucky, you grow up with a fairy-tale inkling of what "true love" is.  You may have meaningful real-world models and you certainly have plenty of pop culture material to feed into your ideal.  You may have early experiences that are gratifying and likely others that are disappointing.  You may indeed have cared a great deal for one or two of your early partners and they for you.  

It's all prequel.

When the real thing hits you for the first time, it's a freight train.  Whatever concepts you had before suddenly seem quaint and silly.  The whole world is new.  Your life before and your life after are two completely different tales.  It is not a universal experience.  Not everyone knows that kind of love in their lifetime.  How do I know?  Because the world would be a very different place if they did.

That is the love I see portrayed in "Lifesigns" and that is why I believe it.

Least Favorite Episode: "Twisted"

With two series running simultaneously, the Star Trek machine was under a lot of pressure.  Producing 26 episodes a year would have been demanding enough.  Generating 50+ definitely over-extended the operation.  As such, it shouldn't be shocking that a few undeniable heaps of garbage were peppered among the genuinely brilliant installments.

"Twisted" was one of four episodes left over from the first season's production run.  The writing is awful. The story was too short so they padded already weak material with further crap.  The space-time anomaly well was already running dry.  And my god, can we please find a merciful exit for Neelix, already?

They should have left this one in the can.

Favorite Recurring Character: Danara

via Memory Alpha

While "Lifesigns" is a showcase for the Doctor, it works because of Danara, his phage-suffering Vidiian love interest.  Neither character understands what is happening to them and, to my point above, that's exactly what makes it believable.  The Doctor's holographic emotional range is limited so Danara is the more interesting of the partners to watch.  We can still see the love in her eyes when she returns in "Resolutions."

All credit to actress Susan Diol.

Favorite Blast from the Past: Will Riker

In "Death Wish," Q summons our old pal Will Riker to Voyager for Quinn's asylum hearing.  Unfortunately for the long term, he's sent back to the Alpha Quadrant quickly afterwards with no memory of the incident.  The glimpse of Voyager's circumstances `could have been meaningful in our friends' prospects for getting home.

But the brief cameo is good fun.

Favorite Guest Actor, One-Shot: Tom Wright as Tuvix

via Memory Alpha

Boy, is it a tough call on this one.  This is no small honor for Wright as he's beaten out Broadway megastar Joel Grey.  Grey was wonderful but Wright had the tougher job.  Two characters merged into one: that's not a typical ask of an actor.  Then Tuvix had to plead for his right to exist - sadly not unusual at all in reality or fiction.  Wright's performance is a triumph.

Onward

Season 3 is an important one for Voyager as it is the last with the original principal cast.  We'll be saying goodbye to someone soon.  There was much hand-wringing among the producers over the fact the series wasn't thriving as many had hoped.  The season ends with a big Hail Mary throw, one that ultimately rescues not only Voyager but arguably the entire franchise.  

But we're not quite there yet.  Stay tuned.

Squid Perks: Café Yamabiko

Another of our favorite spots in Sutton, Quebec (see last week's post) is Café Yamabiko.  I got a fine cappuccino.  Ever since our Spain trip, my wife has been in search of the perfect cortado.  While nothing has quite lived up to the memory, Yamabiko's offering was her North American favorite so far.

We are also both charmed by the café's Japanese decorative touches.  The mountain scenery photos adorning the walls could just as easily be Japan or Quebec.  My guess would be Quebecois mountains with Japanese aesthetic framing.  Or perhaps the other way around.  Or maybe a combination of both.  Whatever, it's lovely.  As one with a deep love for both places, it soothes my soul either way.

Star Trek: To the Death

Episode: "To the Death"

Series: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Season 4, Episode 23

Original Air Date: May 13, 1996

via Memory Alpha

A renegade band of Jem'Hadar attack the station in order to steal supplies.  They leave heavy casualties and a destroyed upper pylon in their wake.  Sisko leads the Defiant in pursuit.  The crew encounter a separate, damaged Jem'Hadar ship and rescue the survivors, consisting of six soldiers and Weyoun, their Vorta commander, played by the ubiquitous Jeffrey Combs.  The combined crew must work together to find the rogue warriors and destroy the Iconian gateway (see TNG's "Contagion") they are using for quick interstellar transportation.  Tension and mistrust run high.  

The overall narrative plan for the Jem'Hadar ran counter to well-established Trek norms.  The long-standing attitude: if you get to know an antagonist culture - the Klingons, the Romulans, even the Cardassians - better, you'll learn to like them.  The idea of a story like "To the Death" was the opposite: if you get to know the Jem'Hadar better, you'll find them even more terrifying.  The lab-bred killers are ruthless towards foe and comrade alike, with no apparent path towards reform or redemption.  The Jem'Hadar are just plain bad.

With this episode, I was struck by the similarities between Trek's Jem'Hadar and Star Wars's Clone Troopers.  Both are genetically engineered as a slave army for superior beings whom they revere essentially as gods.  It's worth noting the Trek idea came first, though there must have at least been an inkling for George Lucas early on as there's a reference to The Clone Wars in the original 1977 film.  I'm always curious about the influences the two franchises have had on each other over the years.  Direct, obvious links are rare.  Perhaps this is one.

At least until Order 66, the Clone Troopers are a lot friendlier.

Acting Notes

via Wikipedia

Clarence Williams III played the role of Omet'iklan, the "First" among the Jem'Hadar soldiers who join our friends.  Williams was born in New York City, August 21, 1939.  Before pursuing an acting career, he served for two years in the Army as a paratrooper.  Before appearing on screen, he had a successful stage career in New York, including a Tony nomination for Slow Dance on the Killing Ground.

The big break came in 1968 when Williams was cast as one of the three leads in The Mod Squad, a show daring for its topical content, its interracial cast and its embrace of late '60s counterculture.  Films included Purple Rain, I'm Gonna Git You Sucka and Half-Baked.  

Williams died of colon cancer in 2021.

Squid Eats: Auberge Sutton Brouërie

It's an exciting time of year in my part of the world.  I love summer here in northern New England but it's no secret the more dazzling show comes in autumn.  Peak foliage is still weeks away but even the early stages are stunning.  It's a great time of year for a drive to pretty much anywhere.  The colors are just as rich in Quebec as they are in Vermont so northward is as gratifying a direction as any.

Sutton isn't too far from us, less than a 90-minute drive and only about 8 miles from the US-Canada border.  The English town name isn't accidental.  The region of Quebec closest to us - known as Canton de l'Est en Français, Eastern Townships in English - was settled by British loyalists during the American Revolution.  It is, in our admittedly limited experience, the most genuinely bilingual part of the province.  It's not unusual to sit at a restaurant near a group of teenagers who switch effortlessly between the two languages, often mid-sentence.  I can assure you, it is not like that for their (likely literal) cousins just a few miles away on the Vermont side of the border.  

Sutton itself is a charming little town, population 4,548, with nice restaurants and cute boutique shops.  Our favorite spot is Auberge Sutton Brouërie, a microbrewery.  They're open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and we've done all three.  Overnight lodging is also available and we've taken advantage of that, too, though not on this visit.  The cuisine is pub-typical with expected Quebecois twists like poutine.  I ordered the Beebop Cheeseburger, my wife the smoked salmon bagel.  Both were more than satisfactory.

The highlight is the beer.  My go-to is the Sutton-IK IPA.  It's a hoppy brew with strong citrus notes which makes it a happy medium between the beers I typically like and the ones my wife prefers.  Unfortunately, I don't think it's for sale anywhere on the American side but it's worth the trip.  We brought a couple bottles home.

And no, I have no idea what the "IK" is all about.

Star Trek: Resolutions

Episode: "Resolutions"

Series: Star Trek: Voyager

Season 2, Episode 25

Original Air Date: May 13, 1996

via Memory Alpha

Janeway and Chakotay have been infected with a terrible disease when insects bite them during an away mission.  The Doctor fails to find a cure.  On the bright side, as long as the two stay on the planet, the effects of the disease are kept in check.  On the down side, that means they must be abandoned as Voyager carries on without them.  

From this point, two separate but equally interesting narratives play out.  On the planet, the castaways build a new life.  Well, Chakotay, at least, is determined to do everything possible to make the situation comfortable but Janeway is equally determined to find a cure for the disease so they can leave.  Inevitably, they also need to sort out the realities of their quickly evolving relationship under new circumstances.

Meanwhile, back on the ship, Tuvok is left in charge.  Making a deal with the dreaded Vidiians for a possible cure seems a logical move, at least to most of the crew.  Tuvok, however, loyally follows Janeway's parting orders to stay away from the Vidiians and continue the journey homeward.  Tensions mount.  Kim openly challenges the acting captain on the bridge.  Later, he appeals to him in his quarters.  Tuvok doesn't budge.  Finally, Kes convinces Tuvok that while he may be unwilling to let emotions cloud his own judgment, he still has a responsibility to the emotional well-being of his crew. 

Go, Kes!

Long term, the episode is probably best remembered for the will-they-won't-they question posed regarding Janeway and Chakotay.  It was 1996, deep in the age of Ross and Rachel.  Will-they-won't-they was seemingly all anyone wanted out of television.  NextGen deftly avoided it for the most part but there's plenty of it in both DS9 and Voyager.  With "Resolutions," the writers left it to the viewers to decide what happened between the two while stranded on the planet.  I think Kate Mulgrew was right to fight against the over-sexualization of her character and this story respects that.

Plus, the brief return of Danara, the doctor's former sweetheart, is a welcome treat.  She clearly still loves him.  He's predictably officious.

Acting Notes

via Criminal Minds Wiki

Bahni Turpin played the role of Ensign Swinn.  "Resolutions" was the second of two appearances in the part.  Turpin was born June 4, 1962 in Pontiac, Michigan.  Films include Daughters of the Dust, Rain Without Thunder and Malcolm X.  Other television guest appearances include Seinfeld, ER and Criminal Minds.

A lot of actors do audiobook narrations as a side gig.  Bahni Turpin, on the other hand, is one of the best in the business and she has the accolades to prove it.  Her industry awards include 9 Aubie Awards, 14 Earphone Awards, 2 Odyssey Awards and induction into Audible's Narrator Hall of Fame.  Her narrations include The Help by Kathryn Stockett, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas and Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi.