Jim’s Take on Episode 3: “A Man Alone”
There’s a lot of stuff going on in this episode. Some of it is very good, and some of it maybe wasn’t thought through quite as much as it should have been. It’s early days for Deep Space Nine and there’s a learning curve, so I think we can safely let a few wobbles slide. HOWEVER, the real issue here that has to be addressed is that I, and I can only assume everyone else who has ever seen this show, have a deep and abiding love for Jadzia Dax. So, yeah, Odo’s a murder suspect, Jake and Nog get up to wacky hijinks, Keiko O’Brien forces everyone to go to school, but I’m here to talk Jadzia Dax, baby!
From the very first moment I saw her on the screen, I immediately had a massive fan crush on Dax. She is astonishing, isn’t she? I’m pretty sure that, regardless of your gender or preferences, you pretty much have to love her. Obviously, Terry Farrell is a beautiful woman, but lots of people on TV are gorgeous! What makes Dax so special? She is incredibly poised and confident, she remains calm and cool in even the most urgent crisis. Thanks to her symbiont, she is a genius with hundreds of years of experience in every field you can imagine, so she is wise well beyond her host body’s years. She’s a martial arts expert, so she can kick butt in a fight, but she can also science her way out of even the trickiest situations. But wait, there’s more! She’s also patient, kind, thoughtful, and full of empathetic advice. She’s a good friend, a loyal mentor, and just plain cool. She can gamble with Ferengi, drink and fight with Klingons, and offer up sage wisdom to a Starfleet commander in a tricky situation. And then there are those spots…
Of course, young, naive Dr. Julian Bashir and suave ladies man and entrepreneur Quark are both smitten with her! Can anyone blame them? I say no! She’s miles out of Julian’s league, obviously, but he has to try and that’s okay. Look, I’m happily married and I’d ask my wife if she was okay with it first, but I’d feel compelled to try asking for a date if I met Jadzia Dax. I’m pretty sure Rhonda would be okay with that. Honestly, I’d be disappointed if she didn’t take her shot, too! We’d all have to try, even if it’s almost certain that Dax would turn us down gently with that wry and knowing smile. Sigh. Obviously, despite his many charms, Quark’s got no chance either, but, as he rightly tells Odo, “I can SO think about it!” Yes, Quark, yes you can. Just be respectful, because this is Jadzia Dax we’re thinking about here, so watch it!
Other points of interest in this episode: Keiko O’Brien makes her first appearance in DS9, and she starts out as disagreeable and discontented as she will continue to be. Poor Miles. He deserves better! The whole “guy murders his own clone” story is weird and everyone is way too cavalier about the fact that Bashir grew a clone of this guy and just dumped it off on Bajor somewhere. What? Clones don’t get the memories of their original, so did they just release a full-grown infant into the world? And if he DID somehow retain Ibudan’s memories…that guy was a multiple murderer! I’m pretty sure Starfleet would not be okay with anything about this whole incident, so I can only assume Sisko “forgot” to mention all of this in his logs. Ooops. Odo gets to deliver the truly immortal line, “Killing your own clone is still murder!” It’s worth watching the episode for that line alone! Also, even in the future, learning from a computer monitor is less than ideal and teachers are needed. Teachers need love and appreciation, people, even if the teacher is Keiko!
Yet again, there is an on-point message that applies very much to our world. Ibudan uses lies and a ridiculous conspiracy to manipulate an angry mob to commit acts of violence and stupidity. Hmmm, sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Don’t be part of an angry mob, everyone. That way lies only fear and destruction, certainly not justice.
“A Man Alone” features some good character moments, a few really goofy ideas, a valuable theme that could make the world a better place, and, most importantly, lets us know that it is okay for all of us to have a deep, pure, abiding, and respectful love for Jadzia Dax. She probably isn’t going to to reciprocate, but that’s okay. She’ll let us down kindly and we’ll at least get to cherish that wry smile.
Return to Episode 3 Guide
Continue to Rhonda’s Take
Ponderings from the Promenade: A Journey through Star Trek Deep Space Nine 
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