Star Trek: Second Sight

Episode: "Second Sight"

Series: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Season 2, Episode 9

Original Air Date: November 20, 1993

via Memory Beta

Commander Sisko falls in love with Fenna, a beautiful and mysterious woman he meets on the promenade.  This emotional adventure coincides with the arrival of Professor Gideon Seyetik, a famous terraformer who is in the area in order to try to reignite a dead sun.  Seyetik's wife Nidell is a dead ringer for Fenna which leads to both confusion and embarrassment for Sisko.  What's going on?

"Second Sight" is not a favorite episode for either critics or the creative staff.  The Professor character doesn't work - his arrogance is off-putting and as such, the audience has no chance to like him before his self-sacrificing death (spoiler).  The writers (and critics) also felt the love story fell short of what it could have been.  I wouldn't say it was my favorite either but I didn't hate it either.  As is often the case with DS9, I see redeeming value even in the weaker stories.

There was a larger purpose in the concept of "Second Sight."  As previously discussed, the DS9 writers were charged in the second season with creating stories to set the new series apart from The Next Generation.  "Second Sight" was an effort to establish Sisko as a very different character from Picard.  The Enterprise captain is the explorer.  Sisko is the builder, much better suited to the task at hand on the space station.  In the tease for this installment, we are reminded that whatever else is going on, the commander is, on the most human level, a loving, devoted father who misses his wife, deceased.  "Second Sight" aired only a couple weeks after TNG's "Attached" in which we learn how much Picard has suppressed his feelings towards Beverly for years.  Even in that story, the idea of Jean-Luc being in love feels awkward - believable, yet uncomfortable.  There's none of that with Benjamin.  Of course he falls in love and of course Fenna falls for him, too.  Benjamin is an emotionally available person.  We know that from the beginning of the series.  That makes a big difference in a relationship, especially in the early stages.  Trust me on this.  I speak from experience!

Acting Notes

via Wikipedia

Richard Kiley (Professor Seyetik) was born March 31, 1922 in Chicago.  He studied at Loyola University for a year before leaving for the Barnum Dramatic School.  He served in the Navy during World War II, then returned to Chicago to begin his career in acting.

By any reasonable measure, Richard Kiley was a Broadway legend with two Tony Awards to his credit, the first for Redhead, the second for the role that made his career: Cervantes/Quixote in Man of La Mancha.  He led the show in the original production and two revivals.  By his own admission, he was quite possessive of the part.  The small screen was kind to him as well.  Kiley won three Emmys: one each for The Thorn Birds, A Year in the Life and Picket Fences.  For all that, the film resume is surprisingly modest.  His highest profile gig was a voice part: Tour Voice in Jurassic Park.  He was also in Blackboard Jungle, The Little Prince and Patch Adams.

Kiley passed away in 1999 from a bone marrow disease.  Broadway's lights dimmed in his honor.  He was married twice and was survived by his second wife and six children, all from his first marriage.