Star Trek DS9 - Season 3 - Episode 19
Star Trek DS9 - 3x19 - Through the Looking Glass
Originally Aired: 1995-4-17
Synopsis:
In a parallel universe, Sisko must assume the role of his dead counterpart in order to save the mirror version of his late wife. [DVD]
Filler Quotient:
0, not filler, do not skip this episode.
- This is the second DS9 mirror universe episode.
Problems
None
Factoids
None
Remarkable Scenes
- Tuvok's appearance.
- Mirror Kira: "I think you'll find that random and unprovoked executions will keep your workforce alert and motivated!"
- O'Brien regarding Bashir: "Hit him! That's what the captain would do."
- Sisko outsmarting Mirror Kira with his knowledge of Terok Nor.
- Morn Appearances; 1. Not shown on screen, but Morn and Quark were caught painting numbers on voles for a vole fight.
My Review
The second installment of the DS9 mirror universe has some decent plot development, unlike the first. The Terran rebellion is in full swing now, but more interesting, Sisko's wife Jennifer is still alive in this universe and she's not quite the woman he remembers marrying. It's a nice adventure for Sisko overall. There are a few nice details in the episode. My favorite is Tuvok's appearance. There are few opportunities for crossover between DS9 and Voyager, and this one is well handled. While the episode was a nice ride, you can't help but wonder why Sisko didn't express some desire to bring Jennifer back with him to his universe. Different from the "real" Jennifer or not, Sisko was infatuated with her. Seems like a missed opportunity to me.
The following are comments submitted by my readers.
Fun episdoe but opens huge plot holes. So now the Mirror Universe people can just jump dimensions whenever they want? Uh, what?
Why didnt Mirror O'Brien ask Sisko if they could have 50 photon torpedoes, phasers, or medical supplies, replicators, etc.
Did Sisko give Mirror Kira the code or did he let Terok Nor blow up? If not, why wouldn't he?
I hate Mirror Universe episodes -- they are the ultimate contrived filler nonsense. The only reason this one gets a 3 from me instead of a 1 is because of Tuvok.
Sisko didn't bring her back because she was needed to help the Terrans in the alternate universe. That would be a totally selfish move on his part and totally out of character.
Also, I don't understand the hatred for "filler" episodes that so many people demonstrate. Trek has always had episodes that are self-contained and episodes that involve more continuity. Some episodes focus more on sci fi, and others seem to be done just for fun. To me, the mirror episodes are fun as heck because it gives the actors a chance to have fun playing twisted personalities. I didn't care if it made no sense from a sci fi angle that Kirk and his double were able to switch back to their proper universes by simply beaming back somehow in "Mirror, Mirror." It was just fun to see Spock in a goatee and Chekhov try to kill off Kirk. Yeah, my mind was smarter than the sci fi in that episode, but I easily put that aside and enjoyed the spectacle of it.
This episode was just plain fun. (Sometimes I think that Nana Visitor is better at playing the evil version of Kira than the good one.) And, yeah, Tuvok being there was great. I loved him in Voyager.
No commentary on sisko taking down dax ??
I'm a little surprised by the positive reaction to the inclusion of Tuvok. Yeah, it was a cool moment when he appears but then... he never really does anything.
I liked mirror-Rom's arc during the episode. But as others have noted, this episode had way too many questions that have no clear, good answers.
And I agree about the general dislike of the mirror universe. You can't even make any connections between the standard and mirror versions of the characters since sometimes they're totally different. While I didn't like Distant Voices, at least you can glean some connection regarding how Bashir views his colleagues by how he portrays them in his mind. But in the mirror universe, you get nothing - just two totally different characters that look similar. I'd prefer it if they used the mirror episodes as comedy.