Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV Series) Second Sight (1993) User Reviews

A mysterious woman attracts Sisko

[Tweekums · 7/10 · 11 March 2010]

It is the anniversary of the death of Commander Sisko's wife and he can't sleep, after a talk to his son Jake he goes for a walk on the promenade where he meets a woman called Fenna who he immediately gets on well with, although strangely she vanishes . In the morning it is clear that she has had an effect on him; he is chatty and doesn't have his usual strong drink to wake him up. At the time a senior Star Fleet scientist, Professor Seyetik is visiting the station prior to a mission to attempt to be the first person to reignite a dead star. The man is a genius and insists on telling everybody whether they want to hear or not. Sisko has a bit of a shock when he is introduced to the professor's wife Nidell; she is identical to Fenna but when confronted by Sisko denies ever meeting him before. When he returns to his quarters he finds Fenna is there and she claims to have no knowledge of Nidell. When Sisko calls Dax in to scan Fenna they make a surprising discovery; there is nobody there, just energy. It turns out she is a psychic projection created by Nidell while she is asleep; it seems it isn't good for Nidell's health though. Sisko must accept that he will lose Fenna as she will vanish if Nidell dies and she will die if she doesn't stop projecting.

This was a fairly average episode of DS9, while Fenna wasn't a bad character she wasn't that interesting and Professor Seyetik was so full of himself that he came across as a caricature, this meant his final sacrifice didn't have as much impact as it might have done.

Couldn't get invested.

[thevacinstaller · 5/10 · 17 March 2020]

I love a good love story. I am a sucker for it. This story hinged on buying into Sisko's love for Fenna. It wasn't established for me ---- Fenna loves fantastic in a red dress but I get no 'love' from the writing in this episode ---- Lust? Sadness? Projecting? It just makes me want to drink a gallon of Romulan Ale thinking about it. There are beautiful women everywhere on earth --- you don't just randomly fall in love with one of them walking down the street you need to earn that!!! On the anniversary of Sisko's wife death no less!

I also disliked the story arc involve the insufferable Gideon Seyetik. Ugh, I have a lot of love in my heart for obnoxious people but they need depth and layers to gain that level of appreciation. This guy was just a self congratulating blowhard cowboy and I wanted to throw random pieces of clothing at the tv whenever he came into my field of view. He does die --- so.... that's something? Was this a commentary about insufferable jerks ultimately being capable of great noble deeds?

This was a real bummer of an episode. We didn't even get a consolation prize of a genuinely good character building moment.

A brilliant professor, a gorgeous telepath and a love-sick Commander converge on DS9.

[dand1010 · 7/10 · 2 September 2021]

1- A One Sentence Episode Synopsis: *A brilliant, egotistical professor; a gorgeous telepath and a love-sick Commander converge on DS9 and when the smoke from the wreckage clears, all that's left is brokenness.

2- VIEWERS TAKE NOTICE.....................

*SISKO GETS "CHECKED OUT" lol............. At approximately 3:27 Fenna (guest star & Sisko infatuation interest) does a complete "eye-check" of Sisko's back side and rear flank. If a man had been the one to do the same thing, we would say that he was "checking her out" or "creeping on her". But because Fenna does it - it's considered "hot". Heck, I don't really know what it is - I just know that it definitely happened. Take a look for yourself.

*PROFESSOR SEYETIK HAS A BEAUTIFUL WIFE AND SISKO HAS A FORBIDDEN CRUSH....... Random thoughts...... ..... Professor Seyetik is involved in the science of terraforming- very similar to the original Star Trek series movie about Genesis.

......Seyetik's wife is stunningly gorgeous and has Vulcan-like ears. No wonder Sisko develops a serious infatuation with her from the very first scene.

......The actor playing the role of Seyetik -Richard Kiley - is ultra famous and his voice was haunting me during the episode until I looked him up and realized his vocal talents have been used in National Geographic specials and A & E Biographies. Whew! I love when I can discover the connection like that - I don't know about for you, but for me it's very frustrating when I can't place a voice.

*IS QUARK SLOWLY EVOLVING???................, Quark (26:12) extends a friendship drink and a listening ear (pun? No- not intentionally) to Sisko who is on the promenade by himself and internally conflicted & confused. Are the writers trying to do something with his (Quark's) character? It seems so.

*CLASS IS NOW IN SESSION- KISSING 101.......... Sisko and Fenna (28:50) engage in one of the most sensual kisses, to date, on DS9. The Commander's technique is awesome and if you are a person open to improving your kissing skills - take a serious look-see at Sisko's skillz (yes.... I really just spelled it with a "Z" at the end -lol). After Sisko engages in the first act of sensual intimacy with a lady since the tragic death of his wife Jennifer (exactly 4 years earlier) something occurs which leaves Benjamin and myself utterly flabbergasted. Are you freaking kidding me?!?!?!

*THE CAMERA WITH SPECIAL POWERS OF TRANSFIXATION...... At 35:58 the actress playing the role of Fenna is being escorted out of the scene and out of the room by Dax. As Dax is leading her out, Fenna stops for a brief moment and looks directly into the camera - I mean both eyes, transfixed.... Lol.

*THE GOD OF SCIENCE DEMANDS ALTARS OF WORSHIP - especially in the modern era......... Without giving away a spoiler - the phrase "Sacrificed on the Altar of Science" (41:35) is fascinating. When I heard it used in this episode I wondered how much of our modern culture is figuratively & ritually sacrificed on the altars of science? Science has become, in some ways, a modern god and we have become its worshipers. In our culture it is highly discouraged to challenge science in any way, shape or form and if you do challenge the god of science you are looked at in a very negative way.

3- WHAT DID YOU THINK? Final Reflective Analysis and Final Grade:....................... *Interesting episode. I could feel Benjamin Sisko's pain throughout. Will Sisko ever find love in outer space again? So much brokenness and hurt.

From a parental perspective-the relationship between Jake Sisko & his dad is being developed in a very solid way.

Final Grade: B.

Sisko meets a girl

[Nominahorn · 6/10 · 23 February 2021]

2.09 "Second Sight"

While strolling the promenade, Sisko meets a woman named Fenna and they have immediate chemistry. Meanwhile, an egotistical terraformer named Seyetik is on the station preparing for a mission to reignite a dead star. However, Fenna keeps disappearing and can't seem to recall anything about herself, causing Sisko to worry about her and wonder who she really is. He gets his answer when he meet Seyetik's wife and is shocked to find that she looks exactly like Fenna.

This is a decent ep. We get some character development for Sisko as he tries to move on from losing his wife four years earlier. The chemistry between he and Fenna is very evident. Aside from that, the episode is largely irrelevant, and the sad ending doesn't leave a great taste in your mouth.

THE GOOD

-Salli Richardson-Whitfield is wonderful as the vibrant and exuberant Fenna.

-Nice to have a Sisko ep after a string of eps where he played little to no role.

THE BAD

-Ending is sad for everyone. Seyetik kills himself, Fenna is gone and effectively dead, Nidell is a widow, and Sisko is still lonely and now mourning the loss of not one but two women he loved. Brutal.

-Mostly inconsequential ep

THE UGLY

-Dax: "There's nothing I can do for her." Me: "Call a doctor?"

-If the star went nova, warp 1 would be more than fast enough to escape. The stuff about increasing the ship's speed is pointless on every level.

She's Only A Dream

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 27 November 2019]

Avery Brooks gets an episode where in fact Commander Sisko gets some romance into his life. He's had none since his wife was killed, no woman has stirred anything in him.

I have to say that the premise of the story intrigued me. Sisko is hosting prominent scientist Richard Kiley who is experimenting with re-igniting dead stars which could have lots of implications for the existence of life itself. He's married to Salli Richardson-Whtitfied who before Sisko is introduced to her has a romantic encounter with Avery Brooks.

What we learn later about her is that she comes from a race of telepaths who are capable of projecting versions of themselves into reality. It is one of these that Sisko falls for. But if the dream is too powerful it can weaken the dreamer.

I liked giving the Commander a bit of romance and who with. Like the song lyric from Laura, "but she's only a dream".

Let there be light

[snoozejonc · 6/10 · 11 February 2022]

Sisko meets a mysterious female who periodically appears and disappears.

'Second Sight' is an okay attempt at romance for Star Trek writers.

There is nothing wrong with the story, nor is it badly made. In fact some of the themes such as being trapped in a relationship and the fears associated with love after a bereavement are quite good. However, I struggle, as I always do, to fully engage with the couple.

Avery Brooks and Salli Richardson do good work with the material they have. Richardson in particular has to play two different roles and she does it convincingly. Her screen presence (in THAT dress) is quite powerful, but there is very little time to make it feel like anything other than an initial attraction between two people who just met.

For me, romances are difficult to pull off on episodic television. To get me interested the protagonists have to go through something meaningful together from which the love develops. If not, the actors must have spectacularly good chemistry. None of this applies to the scenes with Sisko and Fenna. Like so many Trek couplings, they are in love because the writers say so.

The tone frequently shifts towards humorous in the scenes involving Richard Kiley's character and (although amusing) it throws everything out of sync. You'd think a doomed romance that has a tragic ending for one character wouldn't put so much emphasis on the comedy arrogance of a key character.

When we finally have the explanation for the big mystery of Fenna's disappearances it feels very much like a quick tick in the box to remind everyone the writers haven't forgot DS9 is a sci-fi show.

Sisko meets a woman during a very vulnerable time...

[planktonrules · 5/10 · 18 December 2014]

It's the fourth anniversary of the death of Commander Sisko's wife. Because of this he's naturally very introspective and vulnerable. Coincidentally, he meets a mysterious and wonderful woman named Fenna--and she seems like the woman of his dreams. However, she is very cagey about who she is and when Sisko investigates, who Fenna is becomes very confusing and murky. Oddly, it also relates to the arrival of a famous terra-former, Dr. Gideon Seyetik (Richard Kiley)...but how?! And what exactly is Fenna? Is she a woman, a ghost, an alien...what?! Or, could Sisko simply be losing his mind?!

This is a pretty weird episode. I don't mean this in a bad way...it's just very strange and unusual. But, now that I think about it, the answer to all this mystery is pretty lame. Not terrible but not very good either.

What kind of logic is that?

[laurengreenleaf · 5/10 · 30 June 2020]

She gets put under stress and her resulting psycho projections threaten her physical wellbeing? Her life? What a shite involutionary trait, if you ask me.

And then this guy who loves himself more than anything figures he's just gonna throw himself into a star so she can move on with her life? I don't buy it. You don't have to live together to be married, I'm just saying..

Slower paced average episode saved by one character.

[wdllofzepia · 10/10 · 12 December 2021]

I won't go into details on the episode so that to avoid any spoilers. I will say it is a slower pace episode with some romantic tones.

What makes the episode, at least for me, go from say an average 6/10 to a 10/10 is one of the guest characters, the scientist Gideon Seyetik. I just fell in love with this character, his whole presence, his attitude, brain and decisions/actions he took. I wish I could write more, but it would be impossible for me to do so without repeating myself or spoiling the story.

Wonderful character lifting the whole episode to stardom.

A Dull OST-like Episode

[Hitchcoc · 5/10 · 1 October 2018]

Imagine Captain Kirk getting all emotional over a woman who keeps disappearing at the worst times. Imagine Richard Kiley arriving on the Enterprise, a ridiculous megalomaniac. Sisko plays Kirk here and lets himself fall for what is basically a ghost. The whole thing couldn't be any more boring. Once again, if people would only communicate we wouldn't have all these strange silences.

Sisko done wrong

[markbyrn-1 · 4/10 · 9 January 2024]

The storyline involves a genius human scientist who constantly brags on himself and this causes his alien wife to fall out of love with him. The customs of the alien include mating for life and only death can break the bond. However, the alien has super telepathic abilities that allow her to subconsciously project herself in corporeal form and attempt to have an affair with Sisko. The downside is Sisko is trying to have a relationship with an illusion and unless the alien stops the telepathic projecting, her real self will die. When the scientist realizes this, he decides to save his wife by ending himself. His widow decides to go back to her home planet without remembering her telepathic encounter with Sisko. I feel bad for Sisko because he got shafted and he had to endure this nonsensical script.

Underrated Episode

[apinkpanda-92531 · 10/10 · 22 March 2023]

After watching this episode twice over the years and thoroughly enjoying it both times, I was surprised to see such a low IMDb rating.

The episode features a brilliant but arrogant professor, and his remarkably gorgeous telepathic wife.

The story is relatable to anyone who's been smothered in a relationship (workplace or professional) and lusts for escape. The professor's telepathic wife typically dresses and acts conservatively, but telepathically projects a stunning alter ego of herself whom Sisko falls in love with.

In addition to the story, I enjoyed the interplay between screen time on the station vs on the professor's ship (or at least the ship assigned to the professor?). At the end we even see the bridge of this ship. Recall that the Defiant has not yet been introduced at this point in DS9. I speculate this episode also served as a production team demo for how to effectively orchestrate the interplay between on-station vs on-ship.

Overall, highly recommended and well worth a watch.

Ahh...The One that got away.

[jseph1234-262-617488 · 10/10 · 26 July 2022]

This was such a touching episode and the way that Fenna just drops "Out of Heaven" into Commander Sisko life was very nicely done.

I love how the plot twist in this and ending was very appropiate. Fenna the Beautiful!

Some interesting things here...

[XweAponX · 10/10 · 13 July 2022]

Salli Richardson-Whitfield portrays a remarkable woman, Fenna, which The Sisko meets on the 4th anniversary of Wolf-359. A woman with double Vulcan ears, and an incredible red dress. The Sisko is quite intrigued with her...

But she keeps on vanishing, much to his frustration. Initially, we think she is just very good at being mysterious, running off in the middle of a conversation and hiding, but it is much more than that.

Meanwhile, Richard Kiley is "Seyetik", A genius, Terraformer, scientist, artist, basically conceited and irritating... he is there with a nova class starship, "the Prometheus", aptly named, for a project that is similar to what "Winston" from MASH was trying to do in the TNG episode "Half a Life", A project that was unfortunately less than successful.

As we get to know Gideon Seyetik, we have to ask ourselves, is there anybody so full of themselves that we have ever seen on Deep Space Nine, even more so than Gul Dukat? But at least Seyetik has some positive, likable qualities, and of course he does produce useful things for the Federation. Just wait a couple of minutes, he will tell you all about it!

One of those useful things was the planet called New Halana.

Which was where he met his wife, "Nidell". Hold that "thought"...

The Sisko is so intrigued by Fenna that he hires Odo to try to find out where she came from... which he fails to do. She just does not appear to exist...

However, Dax had seen The Sisko giving Fenna a tour of the station, so there was at least one DS9 crewmember that had actually seen this woman. So this confirms that The Sisko was in fact not imagining any of this.

But when Seyetik invites them to dinner on the Prometheus, let's just say that it gets more complicated starting from that spot.

Fenna apparently is not what, or who, she appears to be.

Meanwhile, we met Seyetik's Halanan wife "Nidell", and so does The Sisko, and it is a deucedly awkward situation. At first I thought that this race was a makeup update for the "Haliians" (TNG "Aquiel") like they did for The Trill when we first met Odan (Franc Luz) and they "updated" the makeup for Jadzia Dax. But apparently, the Halanans and Haliians are two different races, although sharing some telepathic qualities. Sadly we never learn that much about either race.

We find out that Seyetik's wife is a "Psychoprojective Telepath", and we learn a little bit about what that means, but not a whole lot. I cannot say much more about it at this point, the episode reveals what needs to be revealed. Think about Jean Grey of "The X-Men", that should give you a small idea of what's happening.

Salli Richardson-Whitfield plays two different characters here that are practically polar opposites but somehow, connected. At first it is difficult to tell that they are the same actress, it is only the "double Vulcan ear" that gives it away.

Behind the conundrum going on with Fenna/Nidell, there is also the project that Seyetik is involved with.

They did a very good job creating the bridge of the Prometheus here, using sets that already existed. They used some of the same set for the Odyssey bridge in "The Jem'Hadar", but we did not get to see a lot of that.

The remarkable thing is what Seyetik actually pulls off, and where it failed in "Half a Life", it does not fail here, we get to see a dead star, Epsilon 119, totally reignited.

But in such a way that a costs Seyetik dearly. The visuals here are totally remarkable, renewing the argument for HD versions of Deep Space Nine and Voyager.

You may, or may not, recognize Gideon Seyetik (Richard Kiley) as the teacher in "Blackboard Jungle" who had the rare collection of jazz records that Vic Morrow plays frisbee with. Sadly the actor passed away in 1999 after a long and colorful career.

Whereas Salli Richardson-Whitfield is not only a great actress but a very good Director as well, read through her credits.

One of the best episodes of DS9

[rskolek · 10/10 · 16 July 2020]

I do not understand the low rating, this was a magnificent episode!