Yeah, “Take Me Out To The Holosuite” is campy, sentimental, and thoroughly ridiculous. But there’s just enough substance to it to make this an episode worth watching … at least once. The truth is, this is an episode about almost nothing of consequence to the series. But as a tale about finding meaning, and pleasure, in small victories against overwhelming odds? As a tale about camaraderie and fellowship? Well, it certainly manages to be successful.

When a Vulcan captain by the name of Solok docks at DS9, Sisko is tempted into a game of baseball to prove which crew is “the best.” It’s actually a fairly ridiculous and preposterous idea, but because the episode manages its tale with such aplomb, the concept actually works — provided viewers are willing to suspend their disbelief long enough to accept that Sisko would have a personal rivalry with a Vulcan and would want to defeat him at a game of baseball, no matter what.

To be blunt, this is where the episode runs into its biggest issues. In the midst of the Dominion war, would Sisko and crew really have two weeks to devote themselves to learning and training for a baseball game based on a petty rivalry? Probably not. But it’s important to note that, even in the worst of circumstances, people will look for ways to amuse themselves, or at least distract themselves. And what better way than what turns out to be a harmless game of baseball.

I do wonder how accessible this episode is for viewers who are neither fans of, nor familiar with, the game of baseball itself. But I suspect that the details of the game are minor compared to the character moments of the DS9 cast “trying out” for the team, or trying to wrap their heads around the finer points of the game. There is, of course, the wonderfully amusing scene where O’Brien replicates gum and, when asked by Bashir what flavor he used, replies with perfect sincerity: “Scotch!” Hilarious.

There are some other funny moments tucked into the episode, but in truth, they’re all so silly and campy that each is just as likely to induce groans of derision as fits of laughter. This can be amusing … if the subject matter suits the viewer … otherwise it could be a very difficult episode to sit through.

Ultimately, despite Sisko’s love and knowledge of the game, his team just isn’t skilled enough physically (or in terms of baseball prowess) to prove to be a match for the Vulcan team. They quickly fall behind. Sisko gets thrown out of the game (by Umpire Odo) and the team is unable to score. So when they finally get a run, thanks to a bunt single by Rom, in the bottom of the ninth, the Niners (Sisko’s team) start celebrating as though they won the game.

And this is where the episode gets genuinely interesting and amusing. Sisko and his team head off to Quark’s bar to celebrate the run they scored against the Vulcan team. Solok is perplexed by this “emotional” response. But it’s obvious that he is, at the very least, somewhat annoyed by the illogic of it all. And what the moment proves is that, sometimes, it’s the small victories that matter.

“Take Me Out To The Holosuite” has as much potential to be enjoyable as it does to be downright annoying. But even if you object to the fluffy story in the midst of a war, it’s nice to see that the series still has time for people to be … themselves. It’s an important element to the overall health and plausibility of the series as a whole — even if this episode itself isn’t especially plausible on its own merits.

Filed under: Deep Space Nine