Take Me out to the Holosuite

An episode of almost pure frivolity, as filler eps go this one is one of the best, and certainly the most fun. Yes it's mostly very silly, but it knows that it's silly and doesn't really care. You don't have to know about baseball, but I will admit that it helps. There is one truly heartfelt moment near the end concerning Rom, and to hear Worf (kinda) yell "Death to the opposition!" makes the entire episode worth watching. A must for those who get the lighter side of Trek.

In this episode we take a break from the war for a game of baseball against some Vulcan's. Let's have a meeting about the game.

Worf Zinger #1: "We will destroy them."

And now we will take a moment to watch the crew learn the rules and say silly things. Oh look, Rom and Lita want to play, but Quark is being a party pooper.

Okay! Time for practice! We've got a very different side of Sisko here. He's all business, but in a fun way. Looks like we've got a lot of work to do.

Reluctant Umpire Odo is reluctant. Ouch everyone is hurt. Sisko is still excited though so he recruits his girl friend. Hey hey! Things are looking much better. Except for Rom, he's having struggles.

Frustrated Sisko is frustrated. Rebellion is fomenting. Scotch infused gum is Scotch infused. And now we get the story behind Sisko's rivalry with Solak. Its pretty funny. Sisko makes Cassidy promise not to tell the rest of the team. She promises. Cut to Cassidy telling the team.

Oh good! That game is starting! Let's hear some chatter 9ers!

Worf Zinger #2: "Death to the opposition!"

Fhew, this game is tense. The Vulcan's are playing to win today, that's for sure. Odo is killing it as an umpire. Hotheaded Sisko just got thrown out leaving O'Brien to take the reigns. Lita pulls a Fancy Dan! What a game!

Quark fields, throws to Worf at first! Worf throws home! He didn't touch the plate! Unbelievable!! Nog doesn't know what to do! I've never seen anything like this before!

Worf Zinger #3: "Find him and kill him!"

He's out!

New inning. Nog's on third, the 9ers could score! What's this, Rom is pinch hitting for Jake?! Unbelievable! Are you inspired? I'm inspired! He's got the crowd on his side that's for sure, let's see if he can deliver. Ouch, two strikes. The team wants him to bunt but he doesn't seem to understand. Its a hit! Nog might make it home! Vulcan scoops it up! Nog slides! Safe! The 9ers brought home a run! He did it! Rom did it! And now Solak is getting ejected for contact with the ump! What a game! What a game!

The team throws a party to celebrate their victory. Emotional Vulcan's are emotional. Nice fade out at the end.

As filler goes this is as good as it gets. I wish the producers of Discovery would watch this one. Star Trek used to be fun. The writers were confident enough in their characters to not take themselves seriously all of the time. I miss that.

Verdict: Death to the opposition!

I love this episode, in the midst of a war they have a little break. This episode reminds us to not take things too seriously. Word's line " find him and kill him" makes laugh even after watching the episode a dozen times!

The Sisko/Vulcan rivalry is at the core of this. Sisko's lifelong Vulcan adversary has taught the game of baseball to his crew. They have polish and understanding of the game. Jake and his father are really the only ones who have a knowledge of the game. Baseball can be pretty complicated to one who has no experience with it. To play the game it takes some skills practiced over time. As a lifetime fan and player, there are some things that don't wash. One is Worf's inability to even touch the ball with the bat. He is the Zen master and has that second sight. I thought it would have been fun for him to hit a 500 foot home run. The others, for all their good intentions are as hapless as can be. It's an interruption from the intense issues of the war. But as a baseball episode, it doesn't do very well.

In Quarks at the end there is clearly another Klingon sitting behind Bashir. They are trying to pass him off for Worf but it is not Michael Dorn!