Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — 3x12 — Past Tense, Part II

Aired 1995-01-09

SpaceOpera.com rating:6

Average reader rating:6.26

Synopsis

Trapped in Earth's past, Sisko must assume the role of a pivotal historic figure in order to restore the future.

Filler rating: partial filler

There is a minor reference in a future episode (DS9: Little Green Men) that won't make sense unless you see this episode, but otherwise there's nothing essential here unless you're interested in some historical trivia about what the year 2024 was like in Star Trek's alternate history of Earth.

Remarkable scenes

Kira's disguise on her "Bajoran heritage."
Kira and O'Brien beaming into the 60s.
Jadzia's scene with the crazy guy, declaring she's an alien.
The chaos as the government attacks the Sanctuary.
Sisko's photo appearing in the historical records for Gabriel Bell.

Review

The second part of the episode has a nice ending. I'm glad to see they handled Sisko's involvement in the past so eloquently. I'm also fond of the little surprise at the end to find Sisko's photo in the place of Gabriel Bell's. In the end, this episode was trying to make a point about American social policy. A paradise can easily become oppression if social programs put in place to help people are allowed to be corrupted. Maintaining true freedom takes constant vigilance. Overall, I'm usually very displeased with time travel stories in general, but this one avoided a lot of the common pitfalls. Overall a fine two parter if not terribly profound.

4 reader comments

When O'Brien and Kira transported to the '60s there was Hey Joe by Jimi Hendrix playing so loud that they had to shout to hear each other. That was sooo awesome! :D
by Popescu | 08/22/2010 at 4:25 pm

I enjoyed this 2 part-er quite a bit. It was an interesting story and I really enjoyed the guest characters. The social worker, the security guards, the residents of the sanctuary, even the mogul.. all played well and convincing. I tend to really like these time travel outings. I think I find Star Trek the most interesting when characters are out of their element. Also Bashir and Dax are becoming less annoying characters and starting to come into their own (well Bashir at least.. Dax still has a long way to go).
by Zorak | 05/16/2016 at 11:31 am

A very enjoyable two-parter that gives good commentary on social issues that indeed do plague the 21st century, albeit a bit stylized. Trek has always had this social consciousness and it is indeed better for it.
by Gaius Gracchua | 08/15/2021 at 7:07 pm

Interesting to me that the older guard says: "best ball club I ever saw,'99 Yankees, no doubt about it". In fact, they won the World Series in 1999. The episode aired in 1995, the Trek writers called it.
by Steven Wrieden | 08/29/2023 at 7:24 am