DS9: Past Tense, Part I

         I remember the episodes where Sisko is a 50's science fiction writer and the one where Quark gets sent back to Roswell, but I had forgotten this time travel episode. The idea of having the characters travel back in time but to a time that is still the future for us seems a little strange. I guess it lets them make social commentary on our times without offending people, but really? It just seems like a bit of a waste to have a two part time travel episode that doesn't even go back as far in time as when the episode was shot. What I have seen so far seems fine, but not mind blowing.
         The episode opens with the Defiant entering Earth orbit. They are there for a conference or something but that doesn't matter since when Sisko, Bashir and Dax beam down O'Brien loses them and they end up in the year 2024. Sisko and Bashir are robbed before they wake up and when they do they are being arrested for sleeping in public. When it becomes clear they aren't just missing their ID, they never had ID to start with they are put in a sanctuary zone, basically a walled ghetto for the poor. Dax meanwhile gets found by a rich media executive who gets her the ID she needs to be safe and finds a place for her to stay. In the future O'Brien eventually figures out what happened and they come up with a plan to travel into the past to save their friends.
         Sisko and Bashir try to not do anything to change the future but they encounter a gang of toughs led by Biddle Coleridge. They eventually get away and find an alley to sleep in. Sisko has figured out they are here during a pivotal time in history. There is about to be a huge riot where a bunch of hostages get taken and they are only saved by a man named Gabriel Bell. Later that day Biddle tries to rob Bashir of his ration card and Bashir fights back. Sisko jumps in too but it isn't going well. A man steps from the crowd to help but gets stabbed to death. Sisko grabs his ration card as they flee and discovers they are responsible for the death of Gabriel Bell. They join the underground but it doesn't seem to matter, the riots have broken out. In the future O'Brien tries calling down to Earth, but there is no answer. The Federation is totally gone and Romulans are the only ones near by with subspace communications. In the past Sisko saves a guard but also grabs his gun and joins the hostage takers. They find the hostage takers are being led by Biddle. Sisko agrees to join and introduces himself as Gabriel Bell.
        
         Review: Only half an episode, but I am actually looking forward to Part II tomorrow. The fact that Sisko is willing to step into the role of one of (future) histories great civil rights leaders says a lot about who he is as a person and that is certainly a cool story to see. 

6 out of 10