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Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Distant Voices

  • Episode aired Apr 10, 1995
  • TV-PGTV-PG
  • 45m
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
S3.E18
  • S3
  • E18
All episodes
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  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Alexander Siddig in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993)
  • Action
  • Adventure
  • Drama
After being attacked in the infirmary, Dr. Bashir has a dual mystery on his hands: what has happened to the station while he was out and why is he aging so rapidly now?After being attacked in the infirmary, Dr. Bashir has a dual mystery on his hands: what has happened to the station while he was out and why is he aging so rapidly now?After being attacked in the infirmary, Dr. Bashir has a dual mystery on his hands: what has happened to the station while he was out and why is he aging so rapidly now?
IMDb RATING
6.4/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Alexander Singer
  • Writers
    • Gene Roddenberry(based upon "Star Trek" created by)
    • Rick Berman
    • Michael Piller(showrunner)
  • Stars
    • Avery Brooks
    • Rene Auberjonois
    • Alexander Siddig
Top credits
  • Director
    • Alexander Singer
  • Writers
    • Gene Roddenberry(based upon "Star Trek" created by)
    • Rick Berman
    • Michael Piller(showrunner)
  • Stars
    • Avery Brooks
    • Rene Auberjonois
    • Alexander Siddig
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 7User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos21

    Victor Rivers and Alexander Siddig in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993)
    Andrew Robinson and Alexander Siddig in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993)
    Alexander Siddig in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993)
    Andrew Robinson and Alexander Siddig in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993)
    Andrew Robinson and Alexander Siddig in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993)
    Alexander Siddig in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993)
    Rene Auberjonois in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993)
    Alexander Siddig in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993)
    Avery Brooks and Ann Gillespie in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993)
    Alexander Siddig in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993)
    Terry Farrell, Colm Meaney, Nana Visitor, and Alexander Siddig in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993)
    Alexander Siddig in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Avery Brooks
    Avery Brooks
    • Cmdr. Benjamin Siskoas Cmdr. Benjamin Sisko
    Rene Auberjonois
    Rene Auberjonois
    • Odoas Odo
    Alexander Siddig
    Alexander Siddig
    • Doctor Bashiras Doctor Bashir
    Terry Farrell
    Terry Farrell
    • Lt. Jadzia Daxas Lt. Jadzia Dax
    Cirroc Lofton
    Cirroc Lofton
    • Jake Siskoas Jake Sisko
    • (credit only)
    Colm Meaney
    Colm Meaney
    • Chief Miles O'Brienas Chief Miles O'Brien
    Armin Shimerman
    Armin Shimerman
    • Quarkas Quark
    Nana Visitor
    Nana Visitor
    • Major Kiraas Major Kira
    Andrew Robinson
    Andrew Robinson
    • Garakas Garak
    Victor Rivers
    Victor Rivers
    • Altovaras Altovar
    Ann Gillespie
    Ann Gillespie
    • Nurse Jabaraas Nurse Jabara
    Nicole Forester
    Nicole Forester
    • Dabo Girlas Dabo Girl
    Mary D. Mascari
    • Bajoran Womanas Bajoran Woman
    • (uncredited)
    Michael Wajacs
    Michael Wajacs
    • Bajoran Civilianas Bajoran Civilian
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Alexander Singer
    • Writers
      • Gene Roddenberry(based upon "Star Trek" created by)
      • Rick Berman
      • Michael Piller(showrunner)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    Storyline

    Edit
    Quark introduces Altovar, a Lethean, to Dr. Bashir. He wants to buy biomimetic gel. Being a restricted substance, Bashir rebuffs the request. Soon, he finds the Lethean breaking in to the infirmary. Altovar attacks Bashir with a telepathic weapon and the doctor passes out. When he awakes, the lights are malfunctioning. No one answers their communicator, and the entire station seems to be deserted and in a state of disarray. Julian catches a glimpse of himself, notices he has gray hair, and seems to be rapidly aging. The sound of whispers and loud noises coming from the bar sends Julian there where he finds Quark, afraid and trying to hide. Quark mentions someone is going to kill them all, then runs for his life. The questions are: who is going to kill them, why does Dr. Bashir appear to be aging rapidly, and why are the few people still on DS9 acting so abnormally? —Arnoud Tiele (imdb@tiele.nl)
    • elim garak character
    • rapid aging
    • psychic attack
    • 30th birthday
    • birthday
    • 5 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Adventure
      • Drama
      • Sci-Fi
    • Certificate
      • TV-PG
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This episode won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Makeup for a Series.
    • Quotes

      Doctor Bashir: I am aware that aging is part of the natural process of life; it's just that I don't wanna be reminded of it, that's all. And look, Garak - in two days I turn thirty. If I choose to be grumpy about it, that's my prerogative!

      Garak: Oh, by all means, Doctor, be as grumpy as you like.

      Doctor Bashir: Well, thank you for the support!

    • Soundtracks
      Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Main Title
      (uncredited)

      Written by Dennis McCarthy

      Performed by Dennis McCarthy

    User reviews7

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Bashir's Birthday
    Today is Dr. Bashir's birthday. Featuring a "Lethian-Cake with Mint Frosting", a birthday party with pseudo Marilyn Monroe and Garak in ops, and tennis balls, lots and lots of tennis balls.

    This is Alex Siddig's breakout episode. He has to solve a conundrum while aging past the point of decrepitude. It gets more difficult as he ages. And funnier... Also, more and more ridiculous. But that does not take away from the episode, it actually adds to it.

    This episode introduces "The Lethian", A race of lizard-aliens that can suck memories straight out of your brain.

    The problem is, this is usually fatal to the "Memorysuckee".

    This episode does not really take place on the station. Everything that happens, is happening within Bashir's point of view. And so every person that he interacts with, Odo, O'Brien, Dax, Kira, and The Sisko, are not acting the way that those people normally act. They are representational caricatures, for the doctors benefit.

    But there is also Garak and The Lethian, The Lethian appearing to be much more menacing than he actually was "in reality". And although Garak appears to be "helping" like he normally does, his attitude is a little bit more fatalistic than the way that we know Garak is, and so there is something wrong with that picture as well.

    Basically the doctor has to dig himself out of a hole, which can only be done by repairing "the station", but the problem is the station cannot be repaired from the normal places where it is usually repaired from, and every time Julian tries, lots of tennis balls magically appear.

    Another reviewer said something like "Bashir in Wonderland", and that is appropriate as well. That is actually pretty good because that is what this is. One pill makes Julian old, another makes him even older.

    The doctor is subjected to one ridiculous scenario after another, but in the course of this we learn a lot about the doctor. By this time in the series, we knew a lot, at least regarding some of the watershed events of his life, like mistaking a "post ganglionic fiber for a preganglionic nerve" which he actually mistook on purpose... But we never really knew the doctors motivations and aspirations. Those get looked at, here, with the doctors own medical tricorder.

    It's one thing to have to solve a conundrum and you don't have much help, but it is a totally different thing when you keep aging and aging. And Alex Siddig really convinces us that he is aging.

    There is one other episode where the Lethian appears. It is too bad that we did not see more of that race in DS9. But this episode is pivotal as an introduction.

    And... this is another episode that was declined for no reason. I don't understand this.
    helpful•1
    0
    • XweAponX
    • May 6, 2022

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 10, 1995 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Paramount Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      45 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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