Playing God (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)

Last updated
"Playing God"
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode
Episode no.Season 2
Episode 17
Directed by David Livingston
Story byJim Trombetta
Teleplay by
Featured music Dennis McCarthy
Production code437
Original air dateFebruary 28, 1994 (1994-02-28)
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
← Previous
"Shadowplay"		Next →
"Profit and Loss"
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 2
List of episodes

"Playing God" is the 37th episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . It is the 17th episode of the second season. "Playing God" aired on syndicated television starting on February 26, 1994. [1]

Contents

Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures on Deep Space Nine, a space station located adjacent to a stable wormhole between the Alpha and Gamma quadrants of the Milky Way Galaxy, near the planet Bajor. This episode explores the species known as the Trill, some of whom are symbiotically joined to long-lived creatures known as "symbionts". [2] In this episode, while Trill officer Jadzia Dax mentors a candidate for joining, a proto-universe threatens to destroy the station and Bajor.

Plot

Arjin, a young Trill man, arrives on Deep Space Nine. Jadzia Dax is to evaluate him for suitability to be joined with a symbiont; the prospect makes him ill-at-ease and defensive, since hosts of the Dax symbiont have had a reputation as very harsh mentors, especially Jadzia's predecessor Curzon. When Arjin meets Jadzia he is surprised to find her laid-back and free-spirited.

Arjin's first job is to accompany Dax through the Wormhole in a runabout. An accident occurs and the two Trills bring the runabout back to the station damaged, with a strange mass attached to it. Chief O'Brien removes the mass and contains it securely for further study.

Meanwhile, Dax has been getting to know Arjin. He seems aloof but preoccupied with what other people think of him, and is applying for a symbiont mainly to please his father. He seems to have few interests or goals. Dax is nervous about confronting Arjin about his motivations. Her friend Benjamin Sisko reminds her that during her own training under the notorious Curzon, he was very hard on her, and challenged her confidence in herself.

An infestation of Cardassian voles shorts out various equipment, including the containment-field for the unidentified mass in the lab. Arjin and Dax realize that the matter may actually be a tiny universe. It is expanding quickly and will soon pose a danger to the station. The crew prepares to destroy the universe, but are halted when Dax finds that it holds signs of life.

As Sisko ponders the matter, Dax speaks to Arjin about his performance. She reveals that Curzon's high expectations for her actually helped her become stronger and more ready to become a host. Before she was joined to Dax, Jadzia was shy and sensitive, and Curzon often reduced her to tears. Nonetheless, in the end, she got her symbiont, and she encourages Arjin to strive for more.

Sisko decides the proto-universe must be removed from Deep Space Nine. Dax and Arjin board a runabout to ferry the universe back through the wormhole. She allows Arjin to take the helm, a challenge that he accepts.

As they rush through the wormhole, the expanding proto-universe becomes unstable, making the runabout difficult to fly. Arjin's careful navigation safely brings them out of danger and releases the little universe out into space; thus he proves himself and earns his positive recommendation from Jadzia Dax.

Character notes

In 2018, SyFy included this episode on their Jadzia Dax binge-watching guide. [3]

Armin Shimerman's nose makeup piece for the character Quark was not ready, so a different one was used, giving him a slightly different look than in other episodes. [4]

Releases

On April 1, 2003, Season 2 of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was released on DVD video discs, with 26 episodes on seven discs. [5]

This episode was released in 2017 on DVD with the complete series box set, which had 176 episodes on 48 discs. [6] [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benjamin Sisko</span> Character from TV series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Benjamin Lafayette Sisko is a fictional character in the Star Trek franchise portrayed by Avery Brooks. He was the main character of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9), which was originally broadcast between 1993 and 1999. The character has also appeared in various books, comics, and video games within the Star Trek franchise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jadzia Dax</span> Fictional character

Jadzia Dax, played by Terry Farrell, is a fictional character from the science-fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ezri Dax</span> Fictional Character

Ezri Dax is a fictional character who appears in the seventh and final season of the American science fiction TV series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Portrayed by Nicole de Boer, she is a counselor aboard the Bajoran space station Deep Space Nine. The character is a member of the Trill species, and is formed of both a host and a symbiont—referred to as Dax. Ezri was introduced to the series following the death of the previous Dax host, Jadzia at the end of season six. The producers made the decision that the new symbiont bearer would be female in order to ensure that Nana Visitor was not the only female member of the main cast. There were initial difficulties in casting, and the character changed from one intended to be "spooky" to one struggling to deal with all her previous personalities, having taken on the Dax symbiont without the usual preparation. De Boer was not considered for the part until co-producer Hans Beimler suggested that she submit an audition tape, which resulted in her meeting the producers in Los Angeles and subsequently gaining the role.

"Emissary" is the series premiere of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. It was aired as a single two-hour episode on its initial broadcast, but was divided into two one-hour episodes when it aired in reruns.

"Melora" is the 26th episode of the American syndicated science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the sixth episode of the second season.

"Blood Oath" is the 19th episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and originally aired on March 27, 1994 in broadcast syndication. The story was created by Peter Allan Fields and the episode was directed by Winrich Kolbe. The choreography of the ending fight scene was created by Dan Curry and Dennis Madalone, while the score was created by Dennis McCarthy.

"Facets" is the 71st episode of the American syndicated science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the 25th and penultimate episode of the third season, originally airing June 12, 1995.

"The Homecoming" is the 21st episode of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. It is the first of the franchise-first three-part episode story arc, and the first episode of the second season.

"Invasive Procedures" is the 24th episode of the American syndicated science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. It is the fourth episode of the second season.

"Battle Lines" is the 13th episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

"Dax" is the eighth episode of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rejoined</span> 5th episode of the 4th season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

"Rejoined" is the 78th episode of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the fifth of the fourth season. It originally aired on October 30, 1995, in broadcast syndication. The episode received a record volume of feedback from viewers for the series, both positive and negative, as it marked one of the first televised lesbian kisses.

"Call to Arms" is the 26th and final episode of the fifth season of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the 124th episode overall. This episode marks the start of the show's celebrated Dominion war story arc.

"Penumbra" is the 167th episode of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the 17th episode of the seventh season. It aired on syndicated television the week of April 5, 1999.

"Image in the Sand" is the 151st episode of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the opening episode for the series' seventh and final season. It was first aired the week of September 28, 1998.

"Equilibrium" is the 50th episode of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the fourth episode of the third season.

"Fascination" is the tenth episode of season three of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the 56th episode overall.

"Tears of the Prophets" is the 26th and final episode of the sixth season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the 150th episode overall. It was first broadcast in broadcast syndication in the United States the week of June 15, 1998. It was written by Ira Steven Behr and Hans Beimler, and directed by Allan Kroeker. The episode featured the death of the character Jadzia Dax and the final appearance on the series of actress Terry Farrell.

"Shadows and Symbols" is the second episode of the seventh season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the 152nd overall, premiering the week of October 5, 1998. The episode's premiere received Nielsen ratings of 4.2 points corresponding to over 4.1 million viewers. This episode was written by Ira Steven Behr and Hans Beimler, and directed by Allan Kroeker.

References

  1. ↑ Westfahl, Gary; Slusser, George Edgar; Leiby, David (2002). Worlds Enough and Time: Explorations of Time in Science Fiction and Fantasy. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN   9780313317064.
  2. ↑ Okuda, Michael; Okuda, Denise; Mirek, Debbie (2011-05-17). The Star Trek Encyclopedia. Simon and Schuster. ISBN   9781451646887.
  3. ↑ Lane, Carly (2018-02-05). "A binge-watching guide to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Jadzia Dax". SYFY WIRE. Archived from the original on 2019-07-23. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
  4. ↑ DeCandido, Keith R. A. (2013-09-09). "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Rewatch: "Playing God"". Tor.com. Retrieved 2019-06-25.
  5. ↑ "DVD Talk". www.dvdtalk.com. Retrieved 2021-02-22.
  6. ↑ Staff, TrekNews net (2017-02-10). "[REVIEW] Deep Space Nine Complete Series DVD Box Set". TREKNEWS.NET | Your daily dose of Star Trek news and opinion. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  7. ↑ Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Season Two - IGN, 26 March 2003, retrieved 2021-02-22
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.