“Through The Looking Glass” is an episode which, despite its uneven presentation, becomes a thoroughly compelling and moving experience, thanks to its character-driven focus. To be sure, it’s an obscure kind of story which, without knowing the backstories of the characters, tends to lose a bit of its immediacy and impact. But for those who have been following the series from the start, there are some legitimate and profound payoffs.

The episode returns to the “alternate universe” introduced in Season Two’s “Crossover” – itself a re-introduction of the universe first seen in the Original Series, Season Two installment titled, “Mirror, Mirror.” It’s certainly a fascinating and praiseworthy decision to continue stories within this “universe,” rather than utilize it for a one-off story with no consequences whatsoever. The downside, though, is that the continuing story relies on the audience’s ability to suspend a great deal of disbelief – particularly in terms of the interconnected relationships of characters on both sides of the “mirror.” This isn’t exactly a criticism, but it does represent a significant barrier to the story itself.

In this episode, the alternate O’Brien kidnaps Sisko from Deep Space Nine and whisks him away to the alternate reality where the Terrans have forged a full-scale rebellion against the oppressive Alliance. The alternate Sisko has already been killed, and the rebellion is in danger of being destroyed thanks to the efforts of a collaborating Terran … named Jennifer Sisko. Benjamin then has to confront his wife, and convince her to change her allegiances.

The obscurity of the setup makes the opening paces of the episode seem a bit disjointed and unsteady. But once Sisko finally confronts Jennifer, the episode really takes off. The alternate Ben-Jennifer marriage had been rocky at best, and the two had not seen one another for five years. It’s up to Ben to work through Jennifer’s legitimate emotional hesitation, as well as his own feelings at confronting a woman whom he thought he’d lost five years earlier. This emotional pull really gives their conversations about the legitimacy of the rebellion a great deal of dramatic heft. It’s the centerpiece of the episode, and it works masterfully.

Just as important to the episode are the twists and turns of the plot as Sisko manages to infiltrate the station, meet Jennifer, then affect his escape – all with the help of the alternate O’Brien. The machinations of the episode are well-planned and executed, even if Miles and Ben find a hitch or two in their plans. More importantly, though, the plot elements allow the characters to be themselves, rather than forcing characters to modify their actions just to suit a plot twist. In that sense, the episode is also very strong.

“Through The Looking Glass” is an example of an episode which is operating at a very high level. The balance between character and narrative elements is nicely achieved. Its biggest drawback, though, is the labyrinthine path viewers must take to get into the story itself. There’s a danger in drawing viewers “Through The Looking Glass,” but while the episode isn’t easy to access, it manages to ply its trade with a great deal of craft.

Filed under: Deep Space Nine