Series: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Season 4, Episode 3
Original Air Date: October 9, 1995
 |
| via Memory Alpha |
Jake Sisko watches his father die in the engine room of the Defiant, or so it would appear. Understandably, the experience sends him into a tailspin. Over the next 50+ years, he is driven to find a way to bring Benjamin back, a drive that destroys the rest of his life. The story is told from the perspective of Jake as an old man. A young aspiring writer shows up at his Louisiana Bayou door looking for answers. Jake generously grants them.
"The Visitor" is a grand slam, on a very short list of the greatest Star Trek episodes of all. For screenwriter Michael Taylor, it was his first of many Trek scripts and one could imagine it working as a standalone science fiction tale. But it brings so much to the franchise and truthfully, could not have had the same power in any other Trek series. It works because of the relationship already established between Ben and Jake. The producers wanted to create a sense of family among the DS9 principals. If that atmosphere hadn't been firmly established already, "The Visitor" is the story that cements it. Permanently.
There are loads of accolades to pass around. I wish to focus on Tony Todd who plays the adult Jake. At first, the plan was to let Cirroc Lofton play his older self but they couldn't make it believable with the makeup. Todd was already established within the franchise, having played Worf's brother Kurn on NextGen (see my profile here). Todd, like Lofton, is also quite tall, making for a believable stand-in. In hindsight, it's difficult to imagine anyone else in the role.
 |
| via Memory Alpha |
Todd is a natural storyteller, his rich, melodic voice well-suited to the flashback scenes. He's stunningly handsome, yet heartbreakingly sensitive as Young Man Jake. As Old Man Jake, he knocks it out of the park. The makeup is still weird but you can see how it works better on him than it would have on Lofton. His final, tender, emotional scene with Benjamin is far beyond anything seen on Star Trek before or since. Avery Brooks has spoken of two Black adult men sharing that level of emotional intimacy as an unprecedented revelation in television. Sure, the writing's amazing. But it couldn't have worked without the generosity and vulnerability of both actors.
It's Kirk and the Romulan Commander. It's Lal and Data. It's so much more than either.
While this is certainly a high point, DS9 is dependably awesome from here on out. At the end (assuming I make it that far), I'll come up with a top ten episode list and regret the numerous gems that don't quite make the cut. Someone like Tony Laplume will ask how I can possibly leave off this one or that one. I'll only be able to agree. Yes, that one's awesome, too. DS9 is just that good.
I have no problem guaranteeing, though, that "The Visitor" will be at or damn near the top.
A few parting notes...
Tony Todd had lost his aunt, the woman who had raised him, just a few months before taking on the role: "This script got me out of my shell. It's like she was whispering to me 'Go back to work.' … Doing this was as close to heaven as I can imagine."
It all seems right in line with the story.
Todd himself passed away in November.
The idea of young writer Melanie (played by Rachel Robinson, Andrew's daughter) turning up on Jake's doorstep is based on the true story of a 1980 interview granted by the notoriously reclusive J.D. Salinger when a high school student knocked on his door.
Acting Notes
 |
| via Wikipedia |
Galyn Görg played the role of Korena, Adult Jake's wife. Görg was born in Los Angeles, July 15, 1964, then was raised in Hawaii. She graduated from Santa Monica City College.
Görg was a dancer first, actor second. She trained at the Roland Dupree Dance Academy and the Alvin Ailey Summer Program and was accomplished in numerous disciplines, including jazz, ballet, hula, funk and several Caribbean and African forms. She was the starring dancer on two Italian variety shows: Fantastico and SandraRaimondo Show. She also played the dancing romantic lead in ZZ Top's "Sharp Dressed Man" video:
On American television, she had a principal role in M.A.N.T.I.S. and a recurring role in Twin Peaks. Films include RoboCop 2, Point Break and Storyville.
Görg died of cancer in 2020, one day short of her 56th birthday.
