Insufferable.

Can I call an episode insufferable? Watching “The Forsaken” is, if nothing else, an exercise is endurance – as in, can you make it to the end of the episode before your brain collapses into an amorphous pool of liquid? There are only two words Trek fans need to know in order to explain exactly how and why this particular installment is so bloody excruciating: Lwaxana Troi.

Why is DS9 so enamored with borrowing the worst possible minor characters from The Next Generation? There were the Duras sisters. Vash. Q is thrown in there, but at least he’s, you know, Q. But Lwaxana? Really? And unlike her best moments in TNG, her appearance here is the full-blown annoying, insecure attention whore who just cannot take no for an answer. Her interactions with Odo are meant to amusing and then touching. But instead, they come across as … well … insufferable.

Turns out, Lwaxana is part of a visiting group of Federation ambassadors on DS9 to inspect its operations and so forth. Bashir is given the unenviable task of catering to these luminaries – who are, predictably, nearly as insufferable as Lwaxana herself. Once again, this is meant as a comedy, but instead falls flat because the annoying characters are just as much of a nuisance to the audience as they are for Bashir.

Along side this story is another plot involving a probe which comes through the wormhole and whose programming eventually causes all manner of operational problems on board the space station, including the rather tepid circumstance of stranding Odo and Lwaxana in a turbolift for hours on end – and, yes, we have to put up with Lwaxana’s endless chatter along with Odo.

As one might guess, Lwaxana and Odo find common ground (when Odo cannot help from melting) and Bashir eventually impresses the ambassadors (when he saves them from a fire triggered by the wonky computer systems). The fire itself is supposed to generate a lot of tension but, you know, this is Star Trek and we hardly hold our breath for anyone – particularly in a comedy episode.

As it turns out, the problem with the computer systems has been triggered by a program which O’Brien sees as akin to a puppy. The whole lost-puppy analogy might have been intended to be endearing but really, it’s particularly cheesy and juvenile, further undermining the episode as a whole.

If there are any high points to the story, they come from two places. First, Sisko’s conversation with Bashir about the ambassadors is amusing thanks to Sisko’s enjoyment of watching Bashir twist in the wind a little (but not so much so that Sisko comes across as cruel). Second, despite the ridiculous build up, the turbolift scenes with Odo are notable for some revelations about his history, as well as his ability to accept having another person witness what is, for him, an exceptionally private moment.

Unfortunately, the few benefits of “The Forsaken” are buried under the absolutely agonizing story. I dunno, perhaps the title is meant to reflect the episode itself? Maybe it really ought to be cast aside and forgotten.

Filed under: Deep Space Nine