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.