“Resurrection” is an appallingly bad episode. From premise to script to production nothing works at all. “Mirror universe” stories are usually fun or insightful. This one commits the worst sin of all: it is downright boring. Oh sure, it’s got plenty of built-in action or drama or suspense. Problem is, the action is pedestrian, the drama is hollow and the suspense is predictable. It’s the worst sort of collection of elements all rolled into one really dreadful episode.

The premise revolves around the sudden appearance of Mirror Bareil. He beams onto the station (when will DS9 figure out how to stop all these inter-universe transports, btw?), kidnaps Kira and demands a shuttle. The whole sequence is just oddly paced and executed. And, furthermore, what’s the real plan here? Ultimately, Bareil is there steal steal a Bajoran Orb of Prophecy. But he demands to be taken to a shuttle? To go where? The Orb is on the station. Was his ploy (along with the broken disruptor) all a ruse just to get into Kira’s heart? He’s summarily thrown into the brig. What if Sisko didn’t let him out? His whole plan relies on way too many unpredictable and implausible elements to be taken seriously.

And this is an episode that actually wants to be taken seriously.

Bareil begins worming his way into Kira’s life by spouting platitudes about being a thief — who just wants to change his ways in his new world. Apparently this, along with his resemblance to Kira’s former lover, is enough to get Kira to fall completely head over heels for him — to the point where she completely loses all perspective and ends up bedding him in some bizarre romantic swoon.

The problem here is that Bareil’s statements that he wants to reform are wholly unbelievable. Nothing in either the dialogue or the performance is anything close to convincing. Which makes Kira into a mindless fool, totally blinded by emotions. I suppose one could take the point of view that the familiarity with Bareil is enough to reignite the emotions Kira had thought she had gotten over with Bareil’s passing. But that’s not what the episode is about. Kira bedding Bareil is just another plot device. It happens and they are off to some other nonsensical element.

And then Kira’s double, the Intendent shows up. She’s as naughty as ever and, as chance (contrivance) would have it, she is *also* involved with Bareil. They’re plan to steal the Orb is centered around their desire to use it to inspire the Mirror-Bajorans to worship them as King and Queen (as if the Intendent would be accepted so warmly anyway). But Bareil gets cold feet because he’s had an Orb experience. It’s all suppose to lend another layer of suspense and tension, but really, it ends up being rather empty of anything worthwhile. Even worse, it trots out old characters for no purpose whatsoever.

Really, did any of this have anything to do with the characters we actually care about? The fact that Kira is so readily swept off her feet seems so inappropriate to what we know about her character that the episode is more like an aberration than anything else. None of the other DS9 crew factor prominently. The *only* salvation to the episode is Quark. He uses his role as barkeeper to figure out Bareil’s plan and inform Kira. And, to Kira’s credit, she actually listens to Quark when he speaks ill of her latest fling. The level of trust between Kira and Quark is a good addition to the episode — though, it’s tough to take it as little more than plot contrivance, considering how poor the rest of the story works.

“Resurrection” would have been better off left for dead. It was an aimless, pointless, and uninspired affair.

Filed under: Deep Space Nine