Star Trek: Facets

Episode: "Facets"

Series: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Season 3, Episode 25

Original Air Date: June 12, 1995

via Memory Alpha

Jadzia performs the zhian'tara ritual in which she meets each of the Dax symbiont's previous hosts.  She asks each of seven friends - Benjamin, Kira, Odo, Bashir, O'Brien, Quark and Leeta (in her second of 16 appearances) - to embody one of the previous hosts in turn.  Meanwhile, Nog takes the Starfleet entrance exam.  

The Dax story is highly rewarding.  The idea of exploring "previous lives" is a popular fantasy in our own world, of course - white culture's egocentric oversimplification of an ancient Hindu belief.  Moving right on past that, Jadzia's relationship with the previous hosts runs deeper.  They're not exactly dead.  In a sense, they live on through the symbiont and, at least for the moment, through her.  As she meets each one, she learns more about what they all added to the complete being that is her current self.  Perhaps the more meaningful equivalent is meeting one's own ancestors, a fantasy I'll admit to entertaining myself.

However she gained her complexities, Jadzia has been one of DS9's most dynamic characters from the beginning.  I find her confrontation with Curzon (via Odo) regarding his original rejection of her as an initiate especially interesting from a broader, behind-the-scenes Star Trek perspective.  Curzon admits to falling in love with her - and being in love with her still.  He rejected her from the program because he was in love with her.

Well, isn't that interesting?  A man in power blocks the career progress of a woman.  His own infatuation with her prevents him from seeing her as someone with independent value.  Curzon repeatedly refers to Jadzia as a "little girl" even though he has only ever known her as an adult woman. (He apologizes for that - sort of)  His feelings of vulnerability lead him to see her as a threat through no fault of hers.  The frequently terrible treatment of female actors on The Next Generation is well documented.  One can't help but wonder if writer René Echevarria is unconsciously revealing all-too-typical male attitudes, within Trek's production staff, within the industry, within broader society.

"Facets" provides meaningful development for three recurring characters: Rom, Nog and Leeta.  Leeta (Chase Masterson) only became one of Jadzia's "best friends" because Rosalind Chao (Keiko) was unavailable.  Leeta will become more important moving forward, a fine example herself of a female character growing into more than just a pretty face.

Food Notes

At the bar, Curzon (Odo) orders Tranya, the same drink offered by Balok in the original series classic, "The Corbomite Maneuver."  The original prop was actually grapefruit juice.  There are numerous online recipes, including this one.  

Root beer is mentioned for the first time on DS9, the beginning of a running gag.  For Quark, the drink is emblematic of his general disappointment in human taste.

Acting Notes

via Memory Alpha

Jefrey Alan Chandler played the role of the Trill Guardian who guides Jadzia in the zhian-tara.  It was Chandler's second of two Trek appearances within just a few months, having also been in Voyager's "Emanations."  Chandler was born in New York City, September 9, 1944.  He graduated from Carnegie Mellon University.

Chandler made guest appearances on several television series, including Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law and ER.  Films included La Bamba, In the Mood and Iron Will.  He died of liver failure in 2001.

Squid Eats: Trattoria Delia

Trattoria Delia is an upscale Italian place in Burlington, Vermont.  My wife and I went on a recent Saturday night after two movies at the Vermont International Film Festival.  We were seated in a little nook not far from the front door which provided a view of the entire restaurant, great for people watching.  We were grateful to have a reservation as we saw many turned away at the door.

I had Brasato di Manzo (braised short-rib) while my wife had the Pesce del Giorno (fish of the day: halibut, in this case).  We split an order of tiramisu for dessert.  I naïvely asked for a sharp knife for my beef.  It was plenty soft enough to tear apart with just a fork.  We both cleaned our plates.

Service was friendly and professional, maybe a touch slow.  We got impatient for dessert.  Decor is dark wood with low ceilings, though still providing a surprisingly open space.  Our guess at most of the clientele was University of Vermont (UVM) parents in town, taking their kids and their kids' friends out for a nice dinner.  There was a lot of that this weekend.  Because of the spectacular fall colors, Vermont is a popular destination in October and if you can spend some time with your kids, too, why not make the trip?

Star Trek: Shakaar

Episode: "Shakaar"

Series: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Season 3, Episode 24

Original Air Date: May 22, 1995

via Memory Alpha

Kai Winn, Bajor's spiritual leader, has now also been appointed First Minister.  She pays Major Kira a visit and asks a favor.  Kira hates Winn, blaming her for the death of Kira's lover Vedek Bareil among numerous other offenses.  What's more, helping Winn involves confronting an old friend of comrade of Kira's: Shakaar Edon, her former leader in the Resistance.  Shakaar stole soil reclamators and Winn wants them back.  Reluctantly, Kira agrees to help for the sake of the greater good.

"Shakaar" is our best Bajoran political story in a while.  As ever, Kira's conflicted loyalties drive the narrative, though this time, at least, Commander Sisko supports her adventure all the way through.  

Acting Notes

via Charmed Wiki

Diane Salinger (no relation to the famous author that I could find) played the role of Lupaza, another former member of Shakaar's and Kira's Resistance cell.  Salinger was born January 25, 1951 in Wilmington, Delaware.  She will return as Lupaza in Season 5.

Salinger is best known as Apollonia, one of the fortunetellers in Carnivàle.  She also had recurring roles on The Young and the Restless, Salem and Ronstadt.  Films include Pee-wee's Big Adventure, Batman Returns and Pee-wee's Big Holiday.

Squid Flicks: Joint Security Area

Title: Joint Security Area

Director: Park Chan-wook

Original Release: September 9, 2000

My Overall Rating: 4 stars out of 5

via Amazon

Two North Korean soldiers are killed in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and a South Korean soldier has confessed to the crime.  Swiss Army Major Sophie E. Jean, of Korean heritage herself, is brought in to investigate on behalf of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission.  The film is based on the novel DMZ by Park Sang-yeon.

To tell much more would be to spoil the story and I would hate to do anything to discourage anyone from seeking out this outstanding movie.  It reminds me of A Few Good Men in many ways except the narrative is told mostly from the perspective of the soldiers rather than the investigator.  The basic theme: people are basically decent.  War is the madness.  The madness runs deep when two nations are officially in a state of war for multiple generations.

Joint Security Area was a blockbuster hit in both South Korea and Japan.  It was, at the time of its release, the highest-grossing film ever in South Korea.  It also won four Grand Bell Awards, South Korea's Oscar-equivalent, including best picture.  Quentin Tarantino has claimed it as one of his favorites.

It's not just BTS, folks.  A lot of exciting creative work has been coming out of South Korea for a long time.  It was hard to see it coming when I lived in East Asia a quarter-century ago but this country historically overshadowed by Japan and China is leading the charge in the Asian Century.

Star Trek: Learning Curve

Episode: "Learning Curve"

Series: Star Trek: Voyager

Season 1, Episode 16

Original Air Date: May 22, 1995

via Memory Alpha

A few Maquis are struggling to adjust to Starfleet protocols.  Tuvok takes it upon himself to train them.  Not surprisingly, his heavy-handed approach to enforcing conformity doesn't go over too well.  Meanwhile, the ship's bio-neural gel packs are suffering from a debilitating illness and it's spreading quickly.  Also, Janeway's 19th-century England holonovel continues in the second of three installments.

As we reach the end of the first season, it's a great time for broad generalizations.  So far, I feel the most compelling Voyager episodes are the ones that adhere most closely either to the desire to get home or the struggles to integrate the Starfleet and Maquis crews.  It's not surprising.  Especially in the early going, one would imagine those two problems would be foremost in the minds of the characters so building stories built around them seems natural.  The series runs into trouble when it veers too far away from either.

"Learning Curve" is a good one for exploring the tension and also for Tuvok development.

Food Notes

Wouldn't you know, cheese from Neelix's kitchen is the cause of the gel pack trouble.  Fortunately, the same cheese also provides the solution.

Thoughts on Season One

General Impressions

For the most part, Voyager's first season is strong.  It's no stretch at all to say it's better than TNG's first (low bar).  More surprising to me personally is the fact that I might even be willing to concede that it's stronger than DS9's first.  Mind you, Voyager Season 1 is still light years short of where Deep Space Nine is by the concurrent Season 3.  But it's a strong start.

Favorite Episode: "Eye of the Needle"

The series's seventh episode is rock solid, beginning to end.  "Eye of the Needle" deals more intimately with the emotional struggles of being so far from home than any other installment thus far.  Our heroes come tantalizingly close to finding a shortcut back to the Alpha Quadrant, only to have hope snatched away.  It's cruel and it's real.  Every crew member - even so-tough-she-doesn't-care Torres - feels the sting.  

The story also provides meaningful development for the Doctor-Kes relationship, one of the best among the principals thus far.

Least Favorite Episode: "Cathexis" 

A mysterious entity is taking over the minds of the crew one at a time.  Mental possession has an unfortunate legacy in the Star Trek canon, beginning with the notoriously terrible "Spock's Brain" from TOS's third season.  "Cathexis" does little to improve the reputation for this thread.  It's also one of several stories that tread a fine line between innocuous and disrespectful when addressing Chakotay's Native American heritage.  When the wooden flute music kicks in, look out.

Favorite Recurring Character: Seska

via Memory Alpha

Honestly, it's surprising there aren't more characters on Voyager like Seska, former Maquis who simply could never be fully won over.  Of course, there's more to Seska, played by Martha Hackett.  She's Chakotay's former lover.  She turns out to be a spy and, in fact, a Cardassian in disguise.  There aren't a lot of recurring characters to choose from at this early stage but even in a more crowded field, Seska would be a strong choice.

Favorite Blast from the Past: Robert Duncan McNeill

For devotees, there was a familiar face in the principal cast when Voyager launched.  Robert Duncan McNeill, now in the role of Tom Paris, had previously played Nick Locarno in the excellent NextGen episode "The First Duty."  There are other important similarities between Tom and Nick, similarities not lost on the actor when he auditioned for the gig.  

Favorite Guest Actor, One Shot: Vaughn Armstrong

via Memory Alpha

For Armstrong, the role of Doctor Telek R'Mor is one of numerous Trek appearances over four different series.  But "The Eye of the Needle" is R'Mor's only story.  The encounter between him and Janeway is clearly intended to contrast sharply with the one between Kirk and The Romulan Commander in "Balance of Terror."  Perhaps this is indeed the different reality where a Starfleet captain and a Romulan could friends.  It couldn't have worked with a lesser actor.  Armstrong brought the goods.

Onward

Keeping both Voyager and Deep Space Nine going at the same time was clearly not easy.  It was hard enough coming up with 25 quality episodes a season, never mind over 50.  By Season 4, DS9 was humming along beautifully.  Could Voyager keep up? 

We shall find out together.

Squid Flicks: Ikiru

Title: Ikiru

Director: Akira Kurosawa

Original Release: October 9, 1952

My Overall Rating: 4 stars out of 5

via Wikipedia

Kanji Watanabe is a government bureaucrat.  One day, he discovers (or correctly guesses) that he has terminal stomach cancer and only has a few months to live.  Inspired by a cheerful young colleague, he turns his life around.  Trapped in a career of aimless drudgery, he devotes his final days to championing the construction of a new public park.

Many critics, including Roger Ebert, have named Ikiru as Kurosawa's greatest masterpiece, a distinction which automatically places it on a short list of the best films ever made.  The story was inspired in part by Tolstoy's The Death of Ivan Illych.  Watanabe is performed by Takashi Shimura who appeared in 21 of Kurosawa's 30 movies, more than any other actor.  Shimura played the very different Kambei Shimada, the leader of the Seven Samurai, if you want a sense of his range.  The director's cinematographic genius shines throughout.  In Ikiru, I was particularly aware of his shots of characters (usually Watanabe) in silhouette against the sky.

The pacing is on the slow side at times but it's nearly impossible not to feel moved by the story by the end.  It is the most universal tale of all: the search for meaning in life.  Is it Kurosawa's best?  For me, it's hard to put anything above Seven Samurai but it's a bit like picking among Shakespeare plays.  They're all works of genius.

Star Trek: Family Business

Episode: "Family Business"

Series: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Season 3, Episode 23

Original Air Date: May 15, 1995

via Memory Beta

Quark is in trouble.  More accurately, his mother Ishka is in trouble and Quark, as her eldest son, will be expected to shoulder the blame.  She has earned profit, one of many things Ferengi females are not supposed to do.  Quark shuts down the bar and rushes off to the home world of Ferenginar, hoping to sort things out.  Rom insists on tagging along.  

Meanwhile, Jake Sisko succeeds in setting his father up on a date with freighter captain Kasidy Yates.  The evening goes well then really takes off when Yates reveals her brother is a baseball player, the game being one of Benjamin's great passions, esoteric by 24th century standards.  Spoiler alert: while it takes a while for the relationship to achieve permanent status, Yates will be a recurring character for the rest of the series.

"Family Business" has a lot going for it.  Ferengi sexual politics are downright icky.  Females are expected to stay naked, to remain at home, to refrain from speaking to a male outside the immediate family, to not only prepare but also pre-chew the family's food and to refrain from business.  Ishka rebels against all of it, a source of endless frustration and embarrassment for Quark.  

Rom is ultimately the story's hero.  Rom adores his mother - only ever referring to her by the endearment Moogie - and she him.  We soon learn that the boys' deceased father had been a constant failure in business.  Ishka herself was the financial genius, teaching Quark everything she knew while accumulating her own well-concealed fortune.  Rom inherited his gentler demeanor and his devotion to family from dear old Dad.  Rom is the one who finally stands up to both Quark and Ishka, forcing them to reconcile and saving the day for all.

As I've said before, much of Deep Space Nine's strength derives from its deep bench.  Garack will always be my favorite recurring character but not for lack of other worthy candidates.  "Family Business" is a fantastic Rom episode and he only gets better over the rest of the series.  Yates herself will be essential to Benjamin's character development.  The episode also introduces Brunt, one of so many Star Trek characters played by Jeffrey Combs.  Brunt exits this story saying he hopes he never sees the others again.  He'll be back for six more episodes.

Acting Notes

via Hanna-Barbera Wiki

Andrea Martin (Ishka) was born January 15, 1947 in Portland, Maine.  She graduated from Emerson College in Boston.  She was the first of two actors to play the role of Ishka.

Though American, Martin built her early career in the company of Canadian comedy royalty.  After relocating to Toronto, she was cast in a production of Godspell with then-unknowns Gilda Radner, Martin Short, Eugene Levy and Victor Garber.  Later, she joined the legendary sketch show SCTV, appearing alongside Levy, John Candy, Dave Thomas, Catherine O'Hara, Harold Ramis and Joe Flaherty.  Martin was nominated for ten Emmys for her work on the show, one for acting, the rest for writing.  She won twice, both for writing. 

Martin made her Broadway debut in 1992 and has since been nominated for a Best Featured Actress Tony six times.  She's won twice, for My Favorite Year in 1993 and a Pippin revival in 2013.  As if all of that weren't enough, there have been films, too, including Wag the Dog, Hedwig and the Angry Inch and My Big Fat Greek Wedding.

Squid Eats: Waterworks

Winooski, Vermont is an old textile mill town.  When we first moved to Vermont in 2002 - just across the river in Burlington - Winooski was in the early stages of a Renaissance.  Long abandoned mill buildings were finally finding new life in the form of apartment complexes and retail space.  The once rundown embarrassment has become one of Chittenden County's hip night spots.  One well-established restaurant was Waterworks, occupying a space in the Champlain Mill, providing an elegant view of the river cascading over the falls just before it hits a dam.  The current iteration of Waterworks Food + Drink has been in operation since 2014.

It's a relatively fancy restaurant by Vermont standards, a nice spot to go when my parents are in town.  It's a bustling space with high ceilings, dark wood fixtures and large windows to accommodate the view.  We went recently with a large group.  Our friends the Mocks were in town, inspiring a dinner gathering.

I really wanted the butter poached lobster tail.  I adore lobster and despite the expense, always order it whenever I feel I can reasonably justify it.  The only problem on this visit was that the lobster tail was offered only as an add on at $17.  I was tempted to tell the waitress I'd be happy to simply order two.  For the sake of a more balanced meal, I ordered the Caeser salad at $12.  So yes, the add on cost more than the salad.  Totally worth it.  The salad was perfectly nice.  The lobster was divine.  I wasn't provided much in the way of utensils for eating it but my dinner companions didn't seem to mind me ripping it open with my bare hands.  Not that I would have cared if they did.  I have little shame when it comes to shellfish.

Overall, it was a lovely meal and a wonderful gathering.  We'll be back.

Star Trek: Jetrel

Episode: "Jetrel"

Series: Star Trek: Voyager

Season 1, Episode 15

Original Air Date: May 15, 1995

via Memory Alpha

A Haakonian shuttle approaches Voyager, its occupant wishing to speak with Neelix.  The man introduces himself Dr. Ma'Bor Jetrel, a name which immediate horror into the Neelix's heart.  We soon learn the Haakonians had conquered Neelix's homeworld some fifteen years before and Jetrel had been the inventor of a horrifying weapon of mass destruction, an obvious Oppenheimer/atomic bomb parallel.  Jetrel claims Neelix is terminally ill, the long-term consequence of the weapon's wrath.

29 years after this episode aired, we are a year removed from the film release of Oppenheimer so our world society has spent some time recently confronting the same issues raised in "Jetrel."  It's a strong Neelix episode as he must navigate personal demons in regards to his own role in the war.  

As I write this, I have not yet watched Oppenheimer.  However, I've devoted significant personal time to learning about the bomb, mostly from the Japanese perspective.  In my early 20s, I visited Nagasaki, a city forever haunted by that horrible day but also determined to lead world peace efforts to help ensure it never happens again.  Here on the blog, I've reviewed books that deal with the subject, most meaningfully the excellent Barefoot Gen manga series by Keiji Nakazawa about the Hiroshima bombing and its aftermath (see Volume 1 and Volume 2).  I also reviewed Trinity, a graphic novel by Jonathan Fetter-Vorm about the creation of the first atomic bomb.

Acting Notes

via WikiSein

Character actor Larry Hankin played the role of Gaunt Gary, a pool hustler in Tom Paris's Chez Sardine holodeck program in the light-hearted beginning of this unusually heavy episode.  Hankin was born December 7, 1937 in New York City.  He graduated from Syracuse University, then trained at Second City in Chicago.  "Jetrel" is his second Star Trek appearance, his first of three as Gaunt Gary.

via Friends Central

No one would call Larry Hankin famous, yet anyone who watched American television and/or movies in the 1980s and '90s would recognize him instantly.  Films include Escape from Alcatraz, Running Scared and Billy Madison.  He has appeared on numerous high-profile television shows in memorable roles, including Tom Pepper, the actor cast as Kramer in Seinfeld's "The Pilot," Mr. Heckles, the cranky downstairs neighbor on Friends and junkyard owner Old Joe on Breaking Bad.  He has an Oscar nomination to his name: Best Live Action Short Film in 1980 for Solly's Diner.

Squid Perks: Uncommon Coffee

Uncommon Coffee opened their Essex Junction location in September 2020, a brave move mid-pandemic.  It's been one of our family favorites ever since.  In fact, when the kid is home, it's one of their preferred hangout spots, with friends or on their own.  As it's located in The Essex Experience, it's an ideal spot for a quick caffeine fix while we're out running errands on the weekend.

It's a nice open space with loads of dark wood and old furniture.  Staff is both friendly and professional.  Most importantly, the coffee's good.

We shared a piece of lemon olive oil cake, already partly eaten before I thought to take a photo.  I got a cappuccino, my standard café order.  My wife got a chai latte.

Star Trek: Explorers

Episode: "Explorers"

Series: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Season 3, Episode 22

Original Air Date: May 8, 1995

via Memory Alpha

Benjamin and Jake Sisko embark upon a Kon-Tiki-esque journey to prove a Bajoran space-travel legend was possible, despite the skepticism and outright denial of the Cardassians.

Deep Space Nine was our big family lockdown binge.  I'm fairly certain we all agree that it's our favorite Star Trek series - no doubt for our child and myself.  For the kid, the enthusiasm has taken on near religious devotion.  For three college semesters running, now, they've managed to incorporate Trek into one of their final projects.  "Explorers" is one of their favorites and I've asked them to throw together a little something for my post.  They write about Trek quite a lot on their tumblr, @purplespacekitty.

And so my friends, the Purple Penguin...

“Explorers” provides a window into which we, the audience, peer and see dimensions of Sisko’s character and his relationship with Jake that he is not often allowed to nurture. He’s the captain of a space station; he’s busy at all times of the day with the demands of his crew, of the governments of Bajor and Cardassia and with the imminent threat of invasion from the elusive yet brutal Dominion. In this episode, Sisko gets the time to spend doing something he is purely passionate about, exercising his creativity and the side of him that’s a big history nerd (”Why [build an ancient Bajoran lightship by hand]? Because it’ll be fun!”). We also get to see him spend some quality time with his son, Jake.

For a project of mine exploring Afrofuturism and Black masculinity, I chose this episode as one of three to study and analyze under Sisko’s importance as a character not just within the Star Trek franchise but in the broader world of television.

Benjamin Sisko’s role as a Black father is particularly pertinent to the plot of “Explorers”. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine first aired in 1993, not far removed from the hell that was the Reagan Administration. Reagan contributed grossly during his presidency to the denigration and humiliation of popular notions of the Black family and the framing of Black Americans as criminals. Mainstream films and television during and before the era, if they include Black characters at all, portray Black men as aggressive, violent and insolent, an image very much in line with Reagan’s manipulative message. Avery Brooks’ casting in Deep Space Nine as it’s Starfleet commander was an historic first for the Star Trek franchise and a step against the popular stereotypes of “welfare queens” and “absent Black fathers.” Ben Sisko - whose most defining characteristic aside from being the commander and later, captain of a space station is being a father to his son Jake - completely demolishes the “absent Black father” stereotype and all the others, firstly, by just existing. Sisko is very present in Jake’s life. Even with his duties keeping him at the station’s beck and call, he makes the time he spends with his son an unconditional priority and is quick to assure Jake of that fact. The two of them share common interests in cooking and baseball, threads that bind them to each other and to Jake’s grandfather, Joseph, who owns and runs the family restaurant back on Earth. Sisko is diligent in his care of Jake as he is for all that he loves. He is an actively loving, caring, protective and supportive father every step of the way. Sisko’s strong sense of justice means that Jake can’t really get away with his and Nog’s various shenanigans, but he is lenient and fair and always there to comfort Jake when anything goes wrong. There are multiple moments throughout the series in which they both learn from each other (this episode being one of them): a quality of their relationship that Sisko warmly welcomes. It is Jake’s care for and faith in his Ferengi friend that helps Nog earn Sisko’s respect. Their closeness allows them to have difficult conversations, to resolve arguments in a place of understanding and compassion, to be vulnerable with one another unconditionally. While initially disappointed when Jake tells him he’d rather be a writer than follow in his father’s footsteps by enrolling in Starfleet Academy, Sisko is ultimately supportive of his son’s interests because all he wants is for Jake to be safe and happy. Which is where this episode picks up from the last time the two of them discussed Jake’s future.

At this point in the series, Jake is ready to apply to college and has been hard at work writing pieces to submit to schools he’s interested in. Yet, even with his father’s enthusiastic blessing to pursue what brings him joy, Jake is hesitant to share his acceptance to Pennington back on Earth. Not because he thinks his father will be angry with him about going behind his back but because he doesn’t want his dad to be alone. By no means would they be losing each other to this new stage of Jake’s life. However, it would be the longest time they’ve spent truly apart from each other and they wouldn’t even be in the same region of space. They certainly won’t be able to go off on impromptu trips in ancient space ships on a whim or watch historical baseball games in the holosuites together as often as they do on DS9. And above all, what this episode most emphasizes is their father-son relationship, this relationship in which they are each other’s security in a turbulent, violent world that placed them at the threshold of a wormhole in the middle of a war-torn sector of the galaxy directly after losing Jake’s mother and Ben’s wife, Jennifer. Whether or not either of them are ready for it, Jake going off to Pennington means that that security in each other will change. Hence Jake’s ultimate decision to defer admission for a year to spend more time with his father and gather more experiences to write about.

This episode showcases our hero doing exactly what Starfleet is all about: exploring the cultures of other worlds and engaging with their ways of knowledge. At the same time, he is beginning an exploration of what life will be like with Jake off at school (and what life will be like with a beard) and he is also getting an insight into his son’s inner world. Both are journeys the two of them embark on together, even if one must be undertaken across many lightyears of space.

Sisko stands out as an intentionally Black character against the backdrop of the undeniably important if, comparatively, rather flat representation in Lt. Nyota Uhura and Lt. Geordi LaForge. Deep Space Nine’s writers and Avery Brooks made a conscious effort to ensure that Benjamin Sisko’s Blackness was not simply seasoning sprinkled sparsely on top of his character, but instead the essential binding factor that brought all the elements of the Captain’s personality together. Not only do we know he has his family’s Creole restaurant to thank for his cooking skills, but we get to see him be at home and with family more than once in this series. And aside from what is clearly directly tied to his Blackness, he has other interests and hobbies, like baseball, building, art and studying ancient technologies. He uses his experience as a Black man and father and his deep knowledge of Black Earth history to inform his actions multiple times throughout the series (i.e. “Far Beyond the Stars”, “Past Tense“, “Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang”, “The Abandoned”, “By Inferno’s Light”, “Waltz” and “The Maquis”, to name a few). In this episode, we even see him wearing a top inspired by West African dashiki patterns.

Commissioned on Deep Space Nine, his identity as a Black man, even in the supposedly utopian Federation, positions him as someone able to sympathize with the Bajorans in a way that none of his contemporaries Kirk, Picard, Archer, Pike, Lorca or Janeway ever could: both his people and theirs have histories of violent systemic oppression and persecution, as well as continuously developing histories of liberation. He understands their need to reclaim their land, knowledge and ways of life because that is what his ancestors began and saw through. And it is what he, Jake, Joseph and Kasidy, their descendants, carry on and embody in the 24th century. He builds the Bajoran lightship in order to prove that the ancient Bajorans were capable of such technological prowess as to get all the way to Cardassia without a warp drive despite dubiety from both his coworkers and the Cardassians themselves. So not only does he connect with the Bajorans’ struggles in a way that a white human captain cannot, but he actively participates in bolstering the repatriation of their history. Little wonder why the Prophets chose him as their Emissary.

Acting Notes

via Sports Night Wiki

Bari Hochwald plays the role of Elizabeth Lense, Bashir's med school rival.  Hochwald was born in New York City, March 12, 1964.  "Explorers" is her first of three Star Trek appearances.  She had recurring roles on Party of Five and The Practice as well as guest appearances on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, Walker, Texas Ranger and The Drew Carey Show among others.  

Squid Mixes: Strawberry Basil Martini

Our child recently turned 21 years old, legal drinking age in the United States.  Regular readers will probably not be the least bit surprised to know that I've been thinking about the first cocktail I'm going to make for them for a long time.  This summer, in particular, I paid close attention to the non-alcoholic beverages they gravitate towards.  And I asked them loads of questions, of course.  

Gradually, a flavor profile took shape.  They like fruit, preferably paired with an herb.  By the end of the summer, we both reached the same conclusion for the ideal combination: strawberry and basil.

I found a recipe by Judy at I'm Bored Let's Go.  A Strawberry Basil Martini combines strawberries, basil leaves, vodka, lemon juice, club soda and simple syrup.  Vodka seemed like the best base liquor for this first cocktail - minimal flavor interference.

Unfortunately, the kid goes to college out of state so it's going to be a while before I'll be able to make one for them.  On the bright side, my wife and I get to test the recipe.  Round 1...

First, I was pleased with the color.  I was worried it wouldn't turn out red enough without an artificial boost.  Not only were they fine but it felt like the correct red - a true strawberry red and the tiny flecks of basil that make it through the strainer bring the correct leafy green.

The basil flavor came through nicely and I love the tartness from the lemon juice.  We agreed that the berries could shine more.  So, for Round 2...

I added a couple more berries than the recipe calls for along with two pinches of sugar before muddling the strawberries and basil leaves.  By the way, muddling strawberries is highly satisfying.  Anyway, the additions successfully enhanced both color and flavor.  

I think it's ready.  I hope they like it.  I'll report back after Thanksgiving.

Star Trek: Faces

Episode: "Faces"

Series: Star Trek: Voyager

Season 1, Episode 14

Original Air Date: May 8, 1995

via Wikipedia

Torres, Paris and Lt. Durst are all captured by Vidiians, the organ-harvesting species we first met in "Phage."  As if that weren't trouble enough, B'Elanna has been split into two beings: one representing her Klingon side, the other her human side.  Can the rest of the Voyager crew rescue them and return Torres to "normal?"

We have important matters to discuss.

On the surface, "Faces" is certainly a compelling story.  The prison escape narrative is fine.  The Torres character exploration is meaningful, for both the audience and the actor.  But this latter tale reveals deeper issues - with the character, with Star Trek, indeed with the typical attitudes of white America in the 1990s and beyond.  For all of Trek's tolerance preaching, the franchise is not immune to falling in the same racial pitfalls everyone else does.  It's something I've danced around with Star Trek for a while.  It's time to take a deeper dive.

Before I dig in, I must acknowledge that I am a middle-aged white man.  While it's essential I confront racial issues - racism is a white problem, not a POC problem - it's also important to share the perspectives of people of color.  To that end, I highly recommend two articles:

"Mr. Spock, Mixed-Race Pioneer" by Steve Haruch, NPR

"Star Trek's Tragic Hybrids" by Larissa Maestro, Women at Warp

In particular, let's examine Star Trek's portrayal of biracial characters, a central element of the saga from the beginning.  It all starts with Spock, half-Vulcan, half-human.  As Haruch discusses in his article, Spock is the main principal through whom we explore the concept of otherness.  Uhura and Sulu are both significant for racial representation but the writers devote zero material to the experiences of either as an African or an Asian among what is still predominantly a white crew.  With Spock on the other hand, we often see prejudices laid plain, even with Kirk and McCoy who are meant to be his friends.  

The duality of Spock's racial identity - feeling simultaneously both and neither - is certainly something many biracial people in the real world wrestle with every day.  So, too, the desire to suppress one identity in favor of the other depending on the circumstances is very real for some.  Indeed, Star Trek probably deserves a lot of credit for exploring such a taboo issue.  In 1966, when the show began, interracial marriage was still illegal in much of the United States.  So Trek is firmly on the correct side of history, right?

To a point.

B'Elanna Torres is a problematic character and "Faces" provides an excellent demonstration of why.  She loathes her Klingon side.  At several different points in the story, she makes clear she wants to be rid of it.  Throughout, the Klingon Torres is violent, impulsive, manipulative, animalistic.  The human Torres is, while scared and submissive, also smart and level-headed.  For each, the counterpart is seen as a burden.  Clearly, we are meant to sympathize with her human half and the death of the Klingon half feels like more than just long-term narrative convenience.  

In the end, the Doctor restores Torres to the way she was, both human and Klingon DNA intact, not because she wants it - she clearly doesn't - but because it's necessary to keep her alive.

In the article linked above, Maestro examines Torres as a literary archetype known as the "tragic mulatto," first established by abolitionist Lydia Maria Child in two short stories she wrote in the 1840s.  Maestro updates the term as "tragic hybrid."  According to Maestro, tragic hybrid characters are "usually women, and tend to be troubled, outcast, unlucky, lonely, perverse, and often die untimely or suicidal deaths."  That sounds an awful lot like B'Elanna.  

Now back to Spock.  True, he is proud of his Vulcan identity, even favoring it over his human side.  However, it's equally clear that everyone else on the ship would prefer him to be more human.  Even in Kirk's touching eulogy for his friend in Wrath of Khan, he describes Spock as the "most human" soul he has ever encountered.  This is intended as the highest compliment from Kirk, from Starfleet, from the franchise, from the audience.  

Unfortunately, this is the message we see in Star Trek rather often.  Differences are all well and good but it really would be better if you were more like us.  It was the message with Spock, with Data, with Worf and many other characters and species.  If you don't think that paralleled racial attitudes in the time these shows were made, you're kidding yourself.

I graduated from college in May 1995.  I remember the typical white perspective.  Diversity is fine - even wonderful, often fetishized (which is not the same as acceptance).  But assimilation is better.  Of course, that's awfully tricky when physical differences are obvious.  But that's on you.  Try harder.  Be whiter than white people.  Be better than us.  Because anything else isn't good enough.  

And things haven't changed much since.

Does everyone feel that way?  Of course not - at least not consciously.  Indeed, many are horrified if and when their own unconscious racism is pointed out to them.  

Is it fair to expect Star Trek, a mere TV show, to be better than the rest of society?  You're damn right, it is.  They took on the challenge themselves in 1966.  The entire premise is predicated upon a better, more tolerant future.  If we as the audience believe in that future, we have to hold both the creators and ourselves accountable to it.  

Food Notes

On a lighter note, the first act begins with Neelix serving a bowl of plomeek soup to Tuvok in the mess hall.  Neelix intends to research home world comfort meals for every member of the crew.  It's a worthy goal, though Tuvok is unimpressed by his creation.  Evidently, plomeek soup is meant to be bland and Neelix's version is quite spicy.  I expect I would prefer Neelix's version.

via Memory Alpha

Plomeek soup first appeared in the original series episode "Amok Time."  Predictably, there are numerous recipes online.

Acting Notes

via Supernatural Wiki

Rob LaBelle plays a Talaxian prisoner who helps our friends to escape.  It's fun, at this point in the season, to see a Talaxian other than Neelix.  This is his first of three Star Trek appearances.  LaBelle was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, August 2, 1962.  He had a principal cast role on First Wave.  Films include Wes Craven's New Nightmare, Jack Frost and Watchmen.  

On the Road: Junior Year Drop Off

Our child has just begun their third year of college.  The adventure sure goes a lot faster from the parental perspective.  I can't believe we're already halfway through.

Northampton, Massachusetts is a charming city, well worth a stop whether you're a student or not.  It's female-forward in a way most places are not.  Smith College, an all-women's college since it opened in 1875, likely has a lot to do with that.  Northampton also has a strong reputation as one of the most queer-friendly communities in the United States.

The biggest tourist attraction is the beautiful campus itself.  I'm confident Smith clinches the deal with many prospective students in this exact spot.

Smith's is an especially appealing campus for tree and plant enthusiasts with numerous gorgeous specimens both outside

and in at the Botanic Garden

When I think of Northampton, this is the image that comes most readily to my mind's eye:

The view down Pleasant Street from our room at Hotel Northampton:

Strong Avenue on Labor Day morning:

This is Booky, my own childhood teddy bear:

He's been all over the world with me - Europe, Japan, etc.  He'd been in one house for too long so I sent him with the kid to college.  As you can see, he's made friends.

Star Trek: The Die Is Cast

Episode: "The Die Is Cast"

Series: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Season 3, Episode 21

Original Air Date: May 1, 1995

via Memory Alpha

Garak episode!

"The Die Is Cast" is a continuation of the previous week's episode, "Improbable Cause."  A quick catch up... the last installment ended with Odo and Garak finding Enabran Tain, the former leader of the Obsidian Order and thus Garak's former boss.  Tain is plotting with the Romulans to attack the Founders' home world, a preemptive first strike against the Dominion.  Garak eagerly re-aligns himself with Tain.  Odo is essentially left a prisoner.

Now the real fun begins.  The gang back on the station is surprised when fleets of Romulan and Cardassian ships turn up on their doorstep, clearly expecting an attack from the Dominion.  Our friends ignore Starfleet orders and head off in the Defiant to try to rescue Odo, unfortunately not knowing at all where he is (though they sure make a lucky guess).  Meanwhile, Tain orders Garak to interrogate Odo in hopes he knows if the Founders have any as yet unknown defense systems.  Things get ugly for our good constable.  All comes to a climax as Tain and company launch their attack.

I'm more comfortable putting this second part among DS9's elite episodes.  So many important dimensions are explored: the conflicted loyalties of both Odo and Garak, tantalizing hints (always just short of revelations) about Garak's past, the opening moves of the chess match between the Dominion and the Alpha Quadrant powers and on and on.  

The compelling thread driving it all is the fascinating relationship developing between Odo and Garak, DS9's two best characters, arguably performed by the two most gifted actors in the cast.  The constable strives for truth and clarity whereas the tailor constantly dances away from both.  Yet Garak is not wrong when he states the two are alike.  Both are motivated by loyalty and justice, even if they might define those ideals in different terms.  The writing is stellar, of course, and some of the camera shot choices are inspired.  But the real magic comes from the actors themselves.

Acting Notes

via Scandal Wiki

Leland Orser plays the role of Lovok, the Romulan Colonel in command of the warbird that leads the attack on the Founders' world.  Orser was born in San Francisco, August 6, 1960.  He graduated from Connecticut College, then trained at the Drama Studio London.

Films include Seven (in a particularly chilling role as a man recruited to kill a prostitute against his will), The Bone Collector and the Taken film series.  He had a recurring role on ER with 62 appearances as Dr. Lucien Dubenko.  He made guest appearances on The Golden Girls, Cheers and The X-Files among others.  He wrote and directed the film Morning, released in 2010.  "The Die Is Cast" is his first of three Star Trek appearances.

On the Road: Westchester County

Our reasons for visiting Westchester County in New York were twofold.  First and most enjoyably, we got to see Commish and Wild Turkey.  They are college friends of mine and they introduced me to my wife.  I last blogged about them here.  Secondly, we visited the Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture.

Earlier this summer, we binged The Bear's third season.  The first episode, entitled "Tomorrow," is a video montage of Carmy's personal history in the culinary industry.  In one of the vignettes, we see him in the garden at Noma in Copenhagen, considered one of the greatest restaurants in the world.  Noma is famous for many things including the fact that many of its ingredients are grown onsite.  Watching this scene, our child said simply, "That's it.  That's what I want to do."

Food and agriculture are not new interests.  They have worked on a farm each of the past three summers, moving into kitchen staff this year, helping prepare lunch for the 80+ farm crew workers everyday.  This pairs nicely with their Environmental Science and Policy major, focusing on plants.  Seeing all of their interests coming into synthesis on the screen was profound.

Farm-to-table is, of course, a growing trend for restaurants nationwide (also worldwide perhaps?).  The Noma arrangement of growing onsite is more unusual but not unique.  The Stone Barns Center, an agriculture research center on what was once an 80-acre Rockefeller estate, has a partnership with Blue Hill at Stone Barns, a two-Michelin-star restaurant, also on the estate.  We went for lunch and a tour.  Actually, only wife and child went on the tour, featuring the farm's potato research.  Tickets are pricey so I took the self-guided option myself.  

The grounds are predictably beautiful and the farm works impressive.  It reminded me of Shelburne Farms in Vermont, 1,400 acres of Vanderbilt land in its own right.  While much of the research is in direct service to the restaurant, Stone Barns also partners with universities.  The potato project, for instance, is in conjunction with Cornell.  

Worth noting, this isn't exactly food for the masses.  Our lovely lunch (photo above) was only $40 for each of us, not a terrible price at all for the quality.  Dinner at Blue Hill, on the other hand, is more in the $300/head range.  I expect our child's altruistic nature might ultimately lead them in another direction but they were impressed.  

Back to our friends...

The last time we saw them, their daughter was just beginning the college search.  Now, the decision is made and they're off to school soon.  Fortunately for us, her college is only 16 miles from our child's.  So, we may have opportunities to gather in western Massachusetts from time to time.

Star Trek: Cathexis

Episode: "Cathexis"

Series: Star Trek: Voyager

Season 1, Episode 13

Original Air Date: May 1, 1995

via Memory Alpha

Chakotay and Tuvok's shuttle is attacked on their way back from a trade mission.  Tuvok escaped with a concussion but Chakotay is left brain dead.  Voyager tries to return to the point of attack but something keeps turning them back.  Meanwhile, a mysterious entity is taking over the minds of crew members one at a time.

It's not the greatest episode, aliens taking mental possession of crew members being well-tread territory for Star Trek.  The most obvious precedent is the notoriously terrible "Spock's Brain."  The plot twist at the end isn't bad, though.  The most important element long-term is the glimpse into Captain Janeway's fantasy world.  The episode opens in the holodeck with Janeway taking on the role of governess for the children of a widower in "ancient England."  The 19th century costume drama will resume in two future episodes.  I find the story an odd choice for a woman who has worked hard to attain a position of authority but the idea came from Jeri Taylor so what do I know.

The main story was inspired by Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None.  The holonovel draws from Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre, Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca and Henry James's The Turn of the Screw.  

Acting Notes

via Arrowverse Wiki

Brian Markinson played the role of Lieutenant Pete Durst, a bridge officer.  Markinson was born in New York City.  He graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.  "Cathexis" marked his second of four Star Trek appearances.  He'll be back as Durst in the next episode.

Films include Shooter, Godzilla (2014) and three Woody Allen films: Sweet and Lowdown, Small Time Crooks and The Curse of the Jade Scorpion.  His most prominent television work has been in Canada, playing Police Chief Bill Jacobs and Da Vinci's Inquest and Da Vinci's City Hall.  On stage, Markinson led Lost in Yonkers on Broadway and Angels in America at the Arts Club Theatre Company in Vancouver.