“Accession” is, primarily, an episode about faith. But it’s also an episode about knowing and understanding oneself. There’s quite a bit to like about this episode, from its premise to its central conflicts. But the execution of the story is lethargic and unfocused and the resolution feels a bit perfunctory and rushed. Additionally, there’s isn’t enough done, within the episode, to explore the ramifications for what unfolds. The result is an installment which is high on potential, but relatively pedestrian in terms of performance.

As the episode begins, Sisko is, once again, performing a minor duty in his role as Emissary for the Bajorans (he blesses a newlywed couple). After remarking how uncomfortable he is in such a role, a strange thing happens: a light ship (much like the one Sisko flew in “Explorers”) suddenly appears out of the wormhole, carrying a Bajoran man, named Akorem, who had disappeared hundreds of years ago. As a result of his experiences, Akorem believes that he is The Emissary (he was unaware of the fact that Sisko had already been bestowed with the title).

The circumstances trigger a very real, very compelling conflict: Which is the *real* Emissary? And what does all of this mean for the people of Bajor?

Sisko is only too happy to relinquish a mantle for which he never felt entirely qualified, much less comfortable. But that doesn’t mean the end of the conflict. As Odo poignantly notes to Kira, the sudden shift in beliefs is … problematic, at best. Kira responds as a true believer — that faith doesn’t require a rational explanation. But it’s clear that such a sudden shift in belief ought to have some ramifications.

Unfortunately, this is where the episode begins to stumble. Akorem, in his first official act as Emissary, advocates that Bajorans return to an archaic caste system, whereby the lives are dictated by family status. During the speech, we see Kira’s unease at the proclamation. We even see a few other Bajorans with perplexed looks on their faces. But we never see any real opposition to such a drastic change in the social order.

It’s just far too simplistic to be taken seriously. Do all Bajorans really allow themselves to be led along like this? Even strong-willed, fiercely independent personalities such as Kira? I can understand some Bajorans going along with things. But to actively avoid showing any dissent? It just doesn’t ring true. This episode certainly wanted to be a serious exploration of faith, but with missteps like this, it misses the mark — badly.

On the plus side, the events force Sisko to question his own role as Emissary. True, he never felt comfortable with the role. But at seeing how devastating such drastic change could be to Bajor (and, of course, after a Bajoran is killed because of his caste), Sisko begins to wonder if, perhaps, this new Emissary really has Bajor’s best interests in mind. This of course sets up the episode’s biggest conflict: How does Sisko return to his role as Emissary?

Instead of the resolution resting on Akorem’s decision to step aside (perhaps after seeing the trauma his proclamation was causing), we get a literally deus ex machina. Sisko and Akorem head into the wormhole to ask the Prophets who the proper Emissary might be. Aside from the fact that this seems a bit too much like children asking their parents to mediate a dispute (I mean, really, they couldn’t have worked it out on their own), the Prophet sequences are filled with too much mumbo jumbo to really add any dramatic heft to the story.

Plus, their solution to send Akorem back to his own time is maddeningly simple. We never see how the Bajorans react to Sisko returning, without Akorem, and claiming that he was the rightful Emissary. Wouldn’t a few Bajorans scratch their heads and wonder about how odd that might be? And, perhaps, wonder if fool play might be involved? Or, at the very least, wonder about having their faith bandied about like a ping pong ball?

But, no, none of this gets even a mention. Sure, we see Sisko now fully embracing his role — the Prophets did all of this “for the Sisko,” afterall — but aside from that one character element, there are no repercussions for these events. It’s just plain lazy, which is surprising for a series that is usually as nuanced as DS9.

The episode’s B-plot, involving the return of a now pregnant Keiko to the station seems wholly misplaced. Indeed, every time the episode cuts to these events, it feels a bit like a commercial break. The story isn’t terrible, and it nicely reinforces the O’Brien-Bashir friendship. But the juxtaposition doesn’t work. Worse still, the marital problems between Miles and Keiko once again come off as a bit forced.

“Accession” gets some credit for its focus on religion and faith and on Sisko’s need to accept who he is (he does genuinely care for Bajor, afterall) before he can accept his role. But the episode is mindlessly simplistic in its explorations and resolution. And its support subplot sticks out like a sore thumb.

Filed under: Deep Space Nine