Proving imagination helps us create and achieve

Jim’s Take on Episode 15: “If Wishes Were Horses”

Once and for all, “If Wishes Were Horses” absolutely proves that Doctor Julian Bashir is the greatest mind on DS9, and possibly in the whole Federation. We knew he was handsome, we knew he was charming in his adorable and over-eager way, we even knew he was a truly great doctor, but the sheer, staggering, depth of his genius is revealed here. When his subconscious is given the opportunity to create ANYTHING he can possibly imagine, does he come up with a station-destroying anomaly, a child-stealing miscreant from a kid’s story, or even the greatest baseball player of all time? Oh no. Julian Bashir, genius and bon vivant, creates Jadzia Dax: Fantasy Girlfriend! That, my friends, is truly the product of a great thinker. Maybe even the greatest thinker of all time? I say it is so and applaud him for his wisdom. Well done, Julian, well done!

Wait. Some other stuff happened in this episode? Oh. I think I missed all of that. Maybe I should watch it again and see if I can pay attention to the rest of the story.  On second consideration, “If Wishes Were Horse” actually turns out to be a delightful romp full of lots of fun stuff to discuss. Who knew? Look, I’m easily distracted by anything involving Jadzia Dax and I would apologize, but…I’m not actually sorry. She’s amazing and I will never feel bad for being a little obsessed with Jadzia. She deserves all of our attention, people. 

An episode that speaks to the power of imagination is going to directly address my beliefs on many levels, so it is worth forcibly dragging my attention away from Julian’s Fantasy Jadzia, but I’m not going to promise that I’ll stay away. (Spoiler: I won’t!) The opening debate between the ever-practical Odo, who has “no time for fantasies” and Quark, who not only makes a living indulging people’s fantasies, but has some very vivid ones himself, provides wonderful foreshadowing about the misadventures to come.

All across the station, people’s imaginations are unexpectedly coming to life. Rumplestiltskin appears in Molly O’Brien’s bedroom after Miles finishes reading her the fairy tale, Buck Bokai follows Jake and his “baseball mitten” out of the holodeck, alien birds turn up on the promenade, and freak weather breaks out inside the station. As an aside, not only is little Molly O’Brien ridiculously cute, but I really want Miles O’Brien to read bedtime stories to me. Despite his performance in the previous episode, he’s a pretty good storyteller, afterall! Oh, and Juian Bashir finds a very frisky and romantically-inclined Jadzia in his quarters. “Why am I fighting this? Why AM I fighting this?” Why indeed, Julian? This brilliant man is too much of a gentleman to take advantage of his own fantasies. Give him the respect he so obviously deserves, everyone!

I’m sure most viewers see it coming, but the moment it’s revealed that this sweetly amorous Jadzia is not, in fact, the real thing at all, but the creation of Julian’s mind, is utterly hilarious. The look of desperation on Bashir’s face as he frantically tried to explain is even funnier. It’s lovely how the mature and wise far beyond her years Jadzia understands Julian’s fantasy and doesn’t judge him for it…until her doppleganger starts talking trash about what a cold fish she appears to be. Watching this scene, it really feels like Terry Farrell had an absolute blast playing the part of her fantasy self and having this little throw-down between the two of them. 

I love that this is all about learning to understand each other.

The consequences of other people’s imaginations are pretty revealing as well. O’Brien creates something that terrifies him, because Rumplestiltskin represents a threat to take his child away. It’s ultimately unclear whether it is Jake or Ben Sisko that brings Buck Bokai to life, but he is a wise mentor full of helpful advice to both of them as they try to come to terms with whatever is happening on the station. Kira dreams up explosive destruction and flailing crewmembers consumed by flames! (Yikes.) Dax manages to create an anomaly that is a threat to the station, Bajor, and the entire system. Quark imagines a pair of “trollops” and Odo just dreams up the satisfaction of locking Quark in one of his cells.   

For all of us mere humans, imagination is a powerful tool. It allows us to imagine what can be, helps us create and achieve great things, or leads us to destructive and devastating consequences. I love that this is all about learning to understand each other. Even better, this speaks directly to our fannish selves when “Buck” points out how amazing it is that we can, thanks to our imaginations, have so much affection for people we’ve never met. Like the made up, but also very real, characters on this show. Not only do we love them, but we can be inspired and encouraged by them. These people we’ve never met can actually make us better humans! That is truly a gift, rather than a curse, irritation, or waste of time.

Most of all, let’s give thanks to Julian Bashir. Not only did he share his personal, private, fantasy with us, he showed us that it’s alright if we all have a similar Jadzia somewhere in our own heads. Or whoever you might choose to dream about from time to time.  It’s perfectly normal and okay to imagine and wish for the things we can’t have. But, whoever you are and whatever your preferences, I hope you have room somewhere in your very wildest dreams for Jadzia Dax: Fantasy Girlfriend. 

Continue to Rhonda’s Take: “What our dreams say about our reality”

Skip to Ray’s Take: “Imagination of Biochemistry?”

Skip to Matt’s Take: “Sweet Dreams are Made of This”

Return to Episode Logs or Episode 15 Guide