If Wishes Were Horses (16 May 1993)

Dax investigates if an unusual energy reading is dangerous for the station when all of the sudden people's imaginations really come alive, causing chaos.

Director:

Robert Legato

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry, Rick Berman (creator),

Stars:

Avery Brooks, Rene Auberjonois, Alexander Siddig

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Avery Brooks	...	Commander Sisko
Rene Auberjonois	...	Odo
Alexander Siddig	...	Doctor Bashir (as Siddig El Fadil)
Terry Farrell	...	Lieutenant Jadzia Dax
Cirroc Lofton	...	Jake Sisko
Colm Meaney	...	Chief O'Brien
Armin Shimerman	...	Quark
Nana Visitor	...	Major Kira
Rosalind Chao	...	Keiko O'Brien
Keone Young	...	Buck Bokai
Michael J. Anderson	...	Rumpelstiltskin (as Michael John Anderson)
Hana Hatae	...	Molly O'Brien

Storyline

The crew detects an unusual energy reading; elevated thoron emissions near the Denorios belt. Sisko and Dax think it might have something to do with the increased traffic since the wormhole was found and Dax investigates to find out if it poses any danger to the station. Meanwhile chief O'Brien is telling the story of Rumpelstiltskin to his daughter Molly and after he leaves Molly tells him the fairy character appeared in her room. To his astonishment Molly tells the truth, he faces Rumpelstiltskin. All of the sudden all over the station people secret imaginations are appearing in the open, causing chaos. Quark is escorted by two beautiful ladies and seems very happy until he finds out everybody is winning with dabo. Bashir finds a Dax that is in love with him and baseball player Buck Bokai appears before Sisko. Odo must work in the snow to keep the promenade safe.

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Plot Keywords:

rumpelstiltskin | baseball | snow | fantasy becomes reality | fire | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 May 1993 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Television

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The title is based on the Scottish proverb: If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.

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Goofs

Dr. Bashir says that he might have an allergic reaction to the "replimated" antipasto. He probably meant to say either the "replicated" antipasto or the antipasto from the replimat.

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Quotes

Doctor Bashir: [to Dax, about "Jadzia"] She has a sense of humor, as... as I've always imagined *you* do.
Lieutenant Jadzia Dax: I could use one about now.

User Reviews

Be careful what you wish for

The crew's imaginations run riot and it's all great fun. There are bizarre happenings on DS9 - Rumpelstilkskin, a legendary baseball player, Bashir's dream Dax, strange animals, snow and on and on. But things quickly become more serious as a space rift threatens the station. I am reminded yet again in this episode as to how much the writers liked the Quark character - he so often get the best lines in the show. They're throwaway lines but so very often pithy and amusing. In this case Odo and Quark are having a usual acrimonious discussion and Quark makes a suggestion that Odo finds offensive and Odo says "That's disgusting," and Quark replies "It's a living." There is both tension and a wishful fantasy in this show. Since, as of yet, I don't care much for the Bashir character, his pining for the imaginary Dax is hokey. But O'Brien's distress is believable and touching. A fun and engaging episode and a meeting with a new, unknown alien species. I wonder if we'll see more of them.