This is one of those episodes that would be entirely average if it weren't for one particularly touching scene. And the fact that the scene is between Odo and Lwaxana Troi is extra remarkable. Also, of all the TNG characters to bring into DS9 for a single episode appearance she isn't the one I would pick. We are also getting to the point in DS9 where A and B stories aren't as obviously differentiated as they were in TNG. I guess the A story this time is the one where O'Brien is struggling to keep the station running since it ends up effecting both the Odo/Lwaxana story and the Ambassador Bashir story, but that one kinda disappears for the last third so it is clearly the C story. My back is still hurting a lot and leaning forward to type is pretty excruciating so this is going to be another short write up.
The episode opens in Quarks with Bashir trying to entertain three ambassadors. Lwaxana isn't having any problems staying entertained but is very upset when she notices her broach has been stolen. Odo shows up and apprehends the thief which really impresses Lwaxana. In ops O'Brien is struggling to make the computer do what he wants. The ambassadors show up in ops just as the wormhole opens and an unknown computer ship flies through. They don't let it dock, but do interface their computer systems with it. Lwaxana meanwhile makes her way to Odo's security station where she flirts with him until he runs to ops to get Sisko's advice on how to handle it. He doesn't really help and Lwaxana follows Odo into a turbolift to try and convince him to go on a picnic with her.
Right about then is when things start to go bad. The turbolift stops and the transporters are down. Fires start breaking out across the station and the fire suppression systems aren't working. Bashir gets to try and keep the ambassadors safe while Odo tries to keep himself solid since he is very embarrassed about letting solids see him revert to liquid form. O'Brien is racing to try and get the computer working but nothing seems to help. He eventually realizes the probes computer is like a puppy so he works on giving it something to do. In the turbolift Lwaxana takes off her wig and tells Odo she never lets anyone see her like that which really sets him at ease and he reverts to a liquid and she holds him lovingly in her dress. Just in time O'Brien gets things working and we learn Bashir has saved and impressed with ambassadors with his quick thinking. Odo and Lwaxana have an emotional good bye and that's it.
Review: An average episode that is helped by some really good character moments. Unlike the Q episode earlier this season this link to TNG actually works. I never thought I would be praising a Lwaxana episode over a Q episode, but there it is.
6 out of 10
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