In case it wasn't clear this whole time, Sisko is the main character of DS9 and was hand picked (non-corporeal life forms have hands?) to lead Bajor into a glorious future. Or at least a non-destroyed future. This episode is mostly about Sisko learning to accept that not only is he the Emissary to the Bajorans, he is the Emissary to the prophets too and while they don't reach out and change things very often, they are powerful and should not be messed with. As a side note Miles is lucky to have such a good wife.
As is pretty much the rule at this point we begin with the B story, O'Brien and Bashir have been fighting the battle of Britain again but now Keiko is returning from her botanical trip to Bajor and it is time to clean things up. Next Kira welcomes Vedek Porta to Ops, he has brought a young couple who just got married and are seeking the blessing of the Emissary. They come into Sisko's office and he manages to be enthusiastic, but we see his heart isn't really in it. The couple and vedek leave but as soon as she walks out Kira calls Sisko out of his office, a Bajoran light ship is emerging from the wormhole, and it has someone on board. They beam the passenger to sickbay and tractor beam in his ship. The man is uninjured, but when he starts talking they realize he is Akorem Laan, the famous Bajoran poet. Before they can get that out of him though he introduces himself as "The Emissary." He is shocked to learn he has been missing for over 200 years and pretty upset that everyone he knew is dead. He is however pleased to learn that his poetry is much more well known that during his lifetime.
Sisko is only too happy to let someone else take over as Emissary and doesn't put up a fight. But the next day Akorem gives a speech on the promenade and announces among other things that he is calling for the reintroduction of the d'jarras, the Bajor caste system enforced by law. Kira is visibly upset, presumably because this means she is now an artist. This also means that Bajor can't join the Federation and that Sisko has failed at his mission to get them to join. O'Brien is clearly missing his time with Julian. He teaches Molly to play darts, but it isn't the same. He stops by for a drink after work, but doesn't have time for the holosuite any more. Kira is having a hard time, she has to give up her job and become a sculpture or something and although she has a lot of faith, this is a big test for her. Things come to a head when Vedek Porta murders another vedek for refusing to give up his position, apparently he comes from an unclean caste.
While trying to decide what to do Sisko has a vision from the prophets of Kai Opaka showing up and asking him who he is. This plus the business with the d'jarras makes Sisko decide he has to do something. He confronts Akorem and challenges his standing as Emissary. They do the only reasonable thing (honestly Akorem is clearly a good guy from his willingness to go along with this and then go with the will of the prophets when it becomes clear) and go into the wormhole to talk to the prophets. They have the usual crazy vision thing where the prophets appear as memories of theirs. Akorem asks if he is the Emissary, but they don't really answer. But when Sisko asks about the d'jarras they agree they are something that should stay in the past. Akorem realizes he isn't the Emissary and agrees to be returned to his own time. Before he goes the prophets tell Sisko they are of Bajor, and so is he. Back on the station Keiko tells O'Brien Bashir has been looking depressed and he should go hang out with him, and then calls Bashir and tells him the same thing about Miles. Finally we see Sisko being asked to provide another blessing as Emissary and this time he is enthusiastic.
Review: The wormhole aliens don't get involved much, and most of the time it isn't really clear what they want, but this is one of the exceptions to both rules. They need Sisko to be the Emissary and have plans for the future of Bajor. Pretty much every thing in this episode works well. The only thing holding it back from true greatness is its limited scope.
8 out of 10
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