Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — 5x05 — The Assignment

Aired 1996-10-28

SpaceOpera.com rating:5

Average reader rating:4.62

Synopsis

Keiko O'Brien is taken over by a Pah-wraith.

Filler rating: partial filler

This episode establishes the Pah-wraiths. who will become highly relevant later. However their relevance, purpose, and backstory can be understood in context later. This episode also establishes Rom's promotion, but that too isn't necessarily an essential detail as it can be understood in context later. Both details, however, while not entirely necessary are still nice bits of texture to actually see established though.

Remarkable scenes

O'Brien meeting a possessed Keiko.
O'Brien calculating the time various methods of incapacitating Keiko would take.
O'Brien breaking his glass with his bare hand out of anger at his party.
O'Brien waking up to a possessed Keiko, briefly forgetting about the possession.
O'Brien enlisting Rom for his "top secret operation."
Rom and O'Brien figuring everything out.
O'Brien using the pah wraith's plan against it.
Morn Appearances; 1. First scene in Quark's bar. 2. The final scene, Quark's bar while Rom tells Quark about his celebrations for his promotion.

Review

Another rare episode to mention the fire caves, Keiko was possessed by a Pah-wraith there. One wonders why anyone is allowed to visit such a dangerous place. This is Keiko's episode, which is ironic seeing as how it isn't really her. O'Brien also gets a nice showing; we get to see him interact with his Engineering staff, which kind of like TNG: Lower Decks, is a nice change of pace. I like how Rom figures everything out, proving that he's not as stupid as everyone thinks he is. In fact, he's pretty damn smart; maybe a bit autistic. Oh, and when Dax can't sleep, she scans the wormhole randomly for anomalies. ;)

3 reader comments

The beginning of this episode moves a little fast. I would think the Chief would try to establish who-or what-has taken possession of Keiko almost immediately. I know they were trying to reveal the Pah-Wraith thing slowly but I ding it a little bit for this since it didn't make sense.
Very nice episode for Rom, though…and I guess now Miles and his wife have something else in common: they've both had their bodies taken over by other life forms (see TNG: Power Play).
by MJ | 08/04/2011 at 8:17 pm

I gave this episode a 10. I thought everything about it was superb.
I knew this was going to be a special one when wraith-Keiko immediately warned O'Brian that any attempt at some techno deus ex solution would fail. It became apparent that ti had access to all of Keiko's thoughts which put O'Brian on the back foot - and there he stayed throughout the episode right until the very end.
He never had an opportunity to do anything but follow wraith-Keiko's orders, and I really liked see him struggle with what he was doing. He couldn't refuse to do its bidding so played it straight while al the time desperately looking for a way out.
The script writing and the acting were excellent throughout the episode, there were some beautiful dark moments and some hilarious light relief (Rom: "I will refuse even to tell them my name!" O'Brian: "Rom, everyone on the station already knows your name." Rom: "Oh… then I will refuse to confirm it!").
I nearly fell off my chair when Odo later complained it had taken 40 minutes for him to get Rom to confirm his name.
I can't comprehend how you gan give this a 5 and Apocalypse Rising a 7, but I guess that this sort of difference of opinion can only be a good thing since it shows that DS9 is just oozing with quality everywhere and that different kinds of episodes appeal to different people.
I'm so glad to have watched this straight after the abomination that is Into Darkness, it really lifted the sould, but more on that after you've given it your review… (it's getting a non-canon 0 from me)
by Selador | 05/12/2013 at 7:51 pm

I have to complete agree with Selador's comment. This episode was amazing. I barely even remember this one from when I was a kid, but re-watching it now as an adult, I was completely blown away. A definite 10 from me. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.
by Zorak | 05/28/2016 at 3:27 am