Friday, July 4, 2014

Best of the Best----In the Hands of the Prophets

I've picked my favorite episode of Deep Space 9. "In the Hands of the Prophets" was the last episode of the 1st season and was written by Robert Hewitt Wolfe.

This episode highlights a theme of where the series should have gone, sticking to the science of artificially constructed wormholes by aliens to create a stable passageway between quadrants. Instead, the series veered off into religious myths with the wormhole aliens becoming god-like figures who gave birth to a savior in the form of Benjamin Sisko, AKA "The Sisko."

Here's my original review and summation of the episode:

http://voyzovrezon.blogspot.com/2013/12/best-of-star-trek-deep-space-9-in-hands.html

For me, the episode speaks to today's battle against ignorance and religious superstition in our culture that has permeated into our public education system. The figure of Vedek Winn, played by Louise Fletcher, represents the religious leaders who have gained influence with our politicians and helped draft policies that allow public schools to teach "intelligent design" over or along side scientific theories such as "the big bang" and evolution.

In this episode, a teacher, Keiko O'Brien, played by Rosalind Chao, fights against religious dogma and for instruction that opens student's minds to new theories and possibilities using science and time-tested theories through scientific methods.

I've recorded a couple of scenes to illustrated those points. Visual quality is poor, with my fingers holding the camera appearing in background shadow, but the dialogue is what's most important.







3 comments:

  1. Wow. I would seriously debate that choice. Hands is a fine season one ep and a fine ep overall but I would be pushed to stick it in the ten best let alone the best overall. I would even say as a Bajoran episode there are better - the opening of the following year for instance with the three parter. Interesting reasoning behind your choice but season one was just the pinnacle of a colossal iceberg.

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  2. Yes, it is season 1, before the Dominion and before Sisko accepted the wormhole aliens as prophets. I liked the series better in the first seasons before it got bogged down in mythology. Here is how I'd round out my top 10 (in no particular order)

    In the Pale Moonlight
    The Begotten
    Nor the Battle to the Strong
    Little Green Men
    The Way of the Warrior
    Past Tense
    The Search
    Necessary Evil
    Civil Defense

    the begotten


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    Replies
    1. I thought the mythology was the big winner actually - and the fact that DS9 marked itself out against the other shows with the plethora of differences. Top ten? OK here goes and likewise, no particular order...

      In the Pale Moonlight
      Call to Arms
      Trials and Tribble-ations
      The Visitor
      The Way of the Warrior
      Far Beyond the Stars
      Tacking into the Wind
      For the Uniform
      Duet
      Children of Time

      That's off the top of my head anyway.

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