Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — 2x23 — Crossover

Aired 1994-05-15

SpaceOpera.com rating:5

Average reader rating:6.39

Synopsis

A mishap in the wormhole sends Kira and Bashir into the mirror universe where Bajor is a tyrannical power and humans are slaves.

Filler rating: not filler

This is the first of many DS9 mirror universe episodes and serves as a sequel to TOS: Mirror, Mirror. It also establishes the colony of "New Bajor" having been settled in the Gamma Quadrant.

Remarkable scenes

Kira and Bashir crossing over into the mirror universe.
Evil Kira describing the events of TOS: Mirror, Mirror.
Mirror Quark: "Gold pressed what?"
Mirror Quark shot down a hero.
Mirror Sisko calling Mirror O'Brien "smiley."
Bashir killing Mirror Odo.

Review

A sequel to TOS: Mirror, Mirror. It seems the Terran Empire has been destroyed thanks to Kirk convincing Mirror Spock to initiate reform. In its place, the Alliance has formed. Some kind of joint Klingon, Cardassian, and Bajoran Empire. While I like the idea behind these types of episodes, this one serves as little more than as an introduction to the DS9 mirror characters and as a result features not very much else content. The whole setting is delightfully well conceived though and is just begging for more episodes to told there.

7 reader comments

I absolutely despise mirror universe episodes. I couldn't hardly stand to watch this one. It's almost painful to watch.
by Pete Miller | 06/12/2006 at 1:04 am

The mirror universe episode are my own personal favourites, as they always give fascinating insight into the hidden depths of a character, and this one is no exceptions. It is interesting to see how the main cast would have turned out had things been different, and thus episode features some convincing writing and acting for these possible personalities. In particular Sisko is well acted, striking true as being the same character. I also enjoyed seeing how Kira would have ended up had her life been the opposite of what it was. Still a complete mess, but in quite a different way! Also, a big plus for showing Terok Nor orbiting Bajor.
I give it a 10.
by EKH | 05/02/2007 at 8:30 pm

At the end, when Sisko asks Bashir and Kira where they have been, Kira replies: "Through the looking-glass". It's unlikely that a former Bajoran slave-turned-terrorist knows about such an ancient Earth book.
by Remco | 10/23/2008 at 3:00 pm

I must agree with Pete Miller above; I despise mirror episodes. This one is entertaining, though.
by JRPoole | 12/26/2008 at 9:50 pm

The problem with the Mirror universe episodes is that the writers tend to spend more time coming up with clever "opposites" for the characters than writing a decent story. This one is no exception.
It's worth mentioning that Quark's line "I don't stick my neck out for anybody" when asked if he has been helping Terrans escape is a reference to the famous Bogart line in Casablanca, "I don't stick my neck out for nobody" when Rick is asked something similar.
by Rob Herbert | 07/28/2010 at 2:48 pm

Rules for watching the mirror universe episodes:
Suspend your disbelief completely. If you think about it for even a millisecond you realise that in an alternate universe if so much was changed (terrans being all conquering and then becoming benign for example) then none of the characters we know and love would even have been born… and even if they were they would likely not end up in the same place!
Enjoy watching the actors having fun
Check your brains in on the way in, don't expect any thought provoking sci-fi or heart wrenching drama.
I really like this episode for reasons I can't explain it works very well. The actors have a blast, especially Avery Brooks. I love his performance too, you can see his talent is playing off the wall characters.
The problem is that we revisit this universe in the future! I can't hold this episode responsible for that though and would give it a strong 8.
by Bernard | 07/16/2011 at 8:12 am

Loved Bizarro-world rogue Sisko in this episode! I was disappointed that Garak wasnt given an "altered" character aside from rank, as I was watching I was thinking how cool it would be if he behaved more like a Gul Dukat in the alternate reality.
by Spencer Miller | 04/10/2012 at 5:18 pm