Jim’s Take on Episode 8: “The Passenger”
Poor Julian Bashir! He has so many advantages. He’s undeniably young and handsome, he’s a fully-qualified Starfleet Doctor and obviously a bit of a prodigy. He saves lives every day and has reached a level of success in his career that is very impressive already, but which promises to reach even greater heights. He has it all! But…he really does manage to be a socially inept goofball whenever he is given even the faintest opportunity.
Case in point: “The Passenger.” First of all, that conversation with Major Kira! Not only is he all too impressed with himself, he is completely incapable of detecting her very heavy and obvious sarcasm when he accepts her compliments all-too-willingly and then goes ahead and builds on them himself. “I have a gift, really.” Indeed you do, Julian. But it is not a gift for making anyone else want to be stuck in a runabout with you!
Not only does he completely bungle this interaction with the Major, he then spectacularly screws up and kicks off the main plot of this episode by getting himself possessed by master criminal, and apparent mass-murderer, Rao Vantika. I fully appreciate that his duty as a doctor is to do anything he can to help a patient in distress, but he is warned repeatedly by Security Officer Kajada to stay away from Vantika. Don’t open that door! Don’t go in there! Don’t touch him! Maybe the person on this ship who knows more about whatever is going on than you do should be listened to before you go opening doors and touching people willy-nilly, Julian. Just something to think about.
Of course, the good doctor does not heed these warnings, promptly gets possessed by the evil Vantika, and murderous criminal hijinks ensue. Though I’m pretty sure everybody watching quickly figures out that Vantika’s brain print is in Bashir’s head, not Kajada’s, the hilariously melodramatic black gloves and raspy voice employed to keep us guessing that little bit longer are a wonderfully silly touch. Young Siddig El Fadil makes some…interesting choices playing Vantika, but it is still quite disturbing seeing our sweet and harmless young doctor suddenly murdering people and glaring ominously from the shadows.
The hilariously melodramatic black gloves and raspy voice employed to keep us guessing that little bit longer are a wonderfully silly touch.
Another interesting element of this episode is the introduction of Starfleet Security Officer Lt. Primmen to question Odo’s methods and get all up in his grill. What a smug, smirking, loser! How dare he show up and question Odo’s methods? The looks Odo gives him! If looks could kill, this guy would also be in one of Dr. Bashir’s stasis drawers. His exchange with Sisko says it all:
Primmen: “If you want my opinion…”
Sisko: “Actually, I don’t.”
Ha! No one wants your opinion, Primmen. Admittedly, he does make one pretty helpful and clever deduction, but still. This guy does not inspire confidence in Starfleet Security. It’s unfortunate that, at this point in the series’ history, security no longer wear their notorious red shirts, because Lt. Primmen needs one.
There are some other fun highlights here, including the discussion between Quark and Odo about the value of wanting things, especially the things you can’t have. Also, Odo’s rigid inflexibility when he is questioned in any way reveals both the moral certainty and hidden insecurity of his character.
Kajada: “What kind of fool are you?”
Odo: “My own special variety.”
These are all fun little moments that pack in quite a bit of character for our supporting cast.
But back to poor Dr. Bashir. Our man Julian just can’t get a break. After failing to figure out that he, himself, has been housing Vantika’s evil brain, he goes on a crime spree, wakes up in a stolen ship with a splitting headache and no idea what he’s been up to, and gets rescued by Jadzia just to be promptly phasered by Sisko. Maybe he will take on board a few lessons here and learn a little humility? We can only hope…
Return to Episode 8 Guide
Continue to Rhonda’s Take: “Threads left untied“
Skip to Ray’s Take: “Technological possession ends in technological exorcism“
Ponderings from the Promenade: A Journey through Star Trek Deep Space Nine 
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