Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily Entertainment GuideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsCannes Film FestivalStar WarsAsian Pacific American Heritage MonthSummer Watch GuideSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
S5.E5
All episodesAll
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

The Assignment

  • Episode aired Oct 28, 1996
  • TV-PG
  • 46m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
2.1K
YOUR RATING
Colm Meaney and Rosalind Chao in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993)
ActionAdventureDramaSci-FiThriller

A Pah-wraith possesses Keiko's body and forces Chief O'Brien to complete a task, or Keiko'll be killed.A Pah-wraith possesses Keiko's body and forces Chief O'Brien to complete a task, or Keiko'll be killed.A Pah-wraith possesses Keiko's body and forces Chief O'Brien to complete a task, or Keiko'll be killed.

  • Director
    • Allan Kroeker
  • Writers
    • Gene Roddenberry
    • Rick Berman
    • Michael Piller
  • Stars
    • Avery Brooks
    • Rene Auberjonois
    • Michael Dorn
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    2.1K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Allan Kroeker
    • Writers
      • Gene Roddenberry
      • Rick Berman
      • Michael Piller
    • Stars
      • Avery Brooks
      • Rene Auberjonois
      • Michael Dorn
    • 8User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos13

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 8
    View Poster

    Top cast28

    Edit
    Avery Brooks
    Avery Brooks
    • Captain Benjamin 'Ben' Sisko
    Rene Auberjonois
    Rene Auberjonois
    • Constable Odo
    Michael Dorn
    Michael Dorn
    • Lt. Cmdr. Worf
    Terry Farrell
    Terry Farrell
    • Lt. Cmdr. Jadzia Dax
    Cirroc Lofton
    Cirroc Lofton
    • Jake Sisko
    Colm Meaney
    Colm Meaney
    • Chief Miles O'Brien
    Armin Shimerman
    Armin Shimerman
    • Quark
    Alexander Siddig
    Alexander Siddig
    • Doctor Julian Bashir
    Nana Visitor
    Nana Visitor
    • Major Kira Nerys
    • (credit only)
    Rosalind Chao
    Rosalind Chao
    • Keiko O'Brien
    Max Grodénchik
    Max Grodénchik
    • Rom
    Hana Hatae
    Hana Hatae
    • Molly O'Brien
    Patrick Egan
    • Jiyar
    • (as Patrick B. Egan)
    Rosie Malek-Yonan
    Rosie Malek-Yonan
    • Tekoa
    Judi M. Durand
    • Station Computer Voice
    • (voice)
    • (as Judi Durand)
    Majel Barrett
    Majel Barrett
    • Computer Voice
    • (voice)
    Bill Blair
    Bill Blair
    • Various Aliens
    • (uncredited)
    Jasmine Gagnier
    • Operations Division Officer
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Allan Kroeker
    • Writers
      • Gene Roddenberry
      • Rick Berman
      • Michael Piller
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews8

    7.32.1K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    7Hitchcoc

    In and Out of the Body

    Almost from the inception of the Star Trek canon, creatures have been able to take over the bodies of various characters, from Kirk to Janeway. This striking ability makes for some interesting plots, but it is kind of a cheap method of operation. Here, Keiko returns from a trip to Bajor and her body has been taken over by some entity. Miles is told that if he doesn't cotton to the demands of this thing, Keiko will die. So until he can figure out what to do, he must answer the call. The best part of this involves his enlisting Rom, Quark's hyperactive but incredibly talented brother, to assist him in bringing about these wishes. Rom is both insufferable and sweet as he plays his cards. Without him, the episode would be been dull. Almost as dull as Keiko's normal character.
    8snoozejonc

    Chief has another hammering

    Keiko returns from Bajor with her body possessed by a non-corporeal alien.

    This is a solid 'O'Brien must suffer' episode.

    The premise is simple and effective. There is no real suspense, because you know everything will get resolved and the central characters will be okay. However it is fun to see it unfold and interesting to see how the Chief gets himself out of the predicament.

    A big positive is seeing Rosalind Chao play a different character and she a great job acting malevolent. It gives all her scenes with Colm Meaney a very different edge. His birthday party is very well portrayed.

    It is a good episode for Rom, who gets to make a strong contribution to the story. You do have to suspend the disbelief during certain contrivances associated with this character, but his scenes do entertain.

    Meaney, Chao, and Max Grodénchik are all superb.

    For me it's a 7.5/10 but I round upwards.
    hippiefreak

    Not recommended for abused men.

    If any man has ever been on a short leash with his wife or lived under fear of what she could do to him in a divorce, do not watch this episode or you will have PTSD trauma. This is nightmarish for abused men who have survived such marital treatment. Keiko is the wife from h*ll who everyone thinks is the sweetest thing. She has Miles jumping, and tells him when to jump and how high. Or else...
    7planktonrules

    I much prefer Keiko this way and wish they'd done this sooner.

    When the episode begins, Miles, Julian and Molly are worried because during Keiko's absence, they let her plants die. However, oddly, Keiko is just fine with this and all smiles...until she reveals that she's possessed!!! And, the possessed Keiko promises to murder her host unless Miles helps her! What follows is a really cool version of Keiko--evil, scheming and yet sweet and normal when anyone other than Miles sees her. Personally, I loved this version--especially since 'normal' Keiko was one of the most boring recurring characters on the show. This is not a slam against the actress playing her, Rosilind Chao, as she could only be who the writers let her be. Unfortunately, the possessed Keiko only lasts this episode!

    This episode was nice as an introduction to the Pah Wraiths--nasties who would appear in some interesting future episodes. However, the episode also is a bit hard to accept because you would think anyone in this situation would IMMEDIATELY alert the crew as to what was happening--yet Miles O'Brien keeps it to himself throughout the show. Odd to say the least--as are ALL his actions during the episode. Perhaps he just thought the new and improved Keiko was better than the boring old one...like I did.
    9skinnybert

    Rosalind Chao rocks!

    Too often, the character of Keiko wa just sorta there: fretting about something, annoyed about something, or bland Stepford-wife furniture. This was partly due to Ms Chao's decision to prioritize family over work, and not be regular cast, which we are bound to admire and respect -- but it evidently hampered the writers from really giving her anything of interest to do.

    And then comes this! A Keiko-centered episode, and an utter delight -- and entirely dependent on Chao's performance. This could have been done more politely, but fortunately wasn't. From the very first scene, she takes control of the screen and doesn't let go. Arguably it sorta breaks some of the norms of the show (couldn't O'Brien have told anyone?) -- but so what? TNG and DS9 both had difficulty pursuing real fun, but here they went all in, to the possessed-other story this needed to be.

    So: thank you, Rosalind Chao! One of my top 10 DS9 episodes.

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" is used at the Chief's birthday party because the "Happy Birthday" song was too expensive. In September 2015, "Happy Birthday" entered public domain and it can now be sung anywhere for free.
    • Goofs
      Bashir says that Keiko has a "hairline fracture of the right parietal lobe." The parietal lobe is part of the brain; he meant to say "parietal bone", part of the skull.
    • Quotes

      [O'Brien prepares Rom for a secret mission and urges him to talk to no one about it]

      Rom: Culpable deniability - I understand. Don't worry about me, Chief; my lips are sealed. Nobody will get anything out of me, not even my name!

      O'Brien: Rom - everybody on the station knows your name.

      Rom: [reflecting] Right... But I won't confirm it!

    • Connections
      Featured in What We Left Behind: Looking Back at Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (2018)
    • Soundtracks
      Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Main Title
      (uncredited)

      Written by Dennis McCarthy

      Performed by Dennis McCarthy

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 28, 1996 (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(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Paramount Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Colm Meaney and Rosalind Chao in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993)
    Top Gap
    What is the Spanish language plot outline for The Assignment (1996)?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb app
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb app
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb app
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.