The Power of Story

Jim’s Take on Episode 13: “The Storyteller”

My life is all about stories. Almost all of my hobbies and loves in life revolve around fictional worlds and the power they contain. I’m an English teacher largely because I believe it’s vital for people to engage with stories. Great stories are obviously meant to entertain, but they have an immense amount of power to shape us, teach us, inspire us, and change us. Stories also create empathy and unity. The best way to understand someone who isn’t like you is to read their stories. So when a Deep Space Nine episode comes along that’s all about the power of stories to unite and inspire people, that’s pretty exciting. When that story also comes with great humor and character development? I am definitely all-in! Luckily, “The Storyteller” does all those things wonderfully.

The development of the relationship between O’Brien and Bashir gets some great attention in this episode. A practical and often taciturn man, with little time for any inessential nonsense, O’Brien has clearly found the enthusiastic, excitable, and over-eager Dr. Bashir annoying from the very first time they met. His transparent desperation to avoid going on this medical mission with Bashir is hilarious. Poor Julian deserves more respect! 

The exchange between these two in the runabout is wonderful! When Bashir finally comes out and asks, “Do I…annoy you?” O’Brien’s struggle to respond is priceless. The answer is so clearly “yes,” but he doesn’t want to disrespect a superior officer so he tries to blame it on thinking…about running a level one diagnostic! Even better is the look on his face when Bashir suggests he call him Julian rather than Sir. “Is that an order?”

When they arrive on Bajor and O’Brien finds himself deemed the replacement of the all-important Sirah who is tasked with saving the village from a vicious beast that attacks for five nights every year, he could not be more uncomfortable. He has suddenly become the center of all attention, both good and bad, in the village. The man who prefers to work quietly in the background being pushed into this role is just about the worst nightmare he can imagine! When the villagers start bringing him gifts, as well as his choice of women (Clearly, Bajor is a little behind the times on gender issues!), Julian’s gleeful enjoyment of all the spectacle is priceless. When things progress to the point where the Chief is being asked to bless babies, he’s clearly considering just hopping in the ship and making a run for it! When it all starts to go horribly wrong, O’Brien, in the heart of the storm, muttering an annoyed “Bloody Hell” tells you everything you need to know about him and it’s why we all love O’Brien so much. (Remember, Lower Decks does make it canon that he’s the most important person in Starfleet history. Never forget!)

This episode also has a great B plot involving Jake, Nog, and the similarly youthful Tetrarch Varis Sul, who arrives on the station to negotiate an important land issue for her people on Bajor. Nog is immediately smitten and proceeds to drag Jake into an epic quest to impress Varis. The fact that these children are not annoying, but absolutely endearing and loveable, is an immense accomplishment. How many child characters on TV shows are beloved and essential parts of the show? Not many, especially on Star Trek. Not only are Jake and Nog great characters, they are often right at the heart of key character moments for others. In this case, both Varis and Sisko learn a lot from their youthful antics. 

Jake’s love and respect for his father leads Varis to trust his guidance in her negotiations, and Nog’s Ferengi wisdom is surprisingly helpful when he suggests that her seemingly unsolvable problem could be more of an opportunity. We also learn the ninth Rule of Acquisition: Opportunity+Instinct=Profit. See, the Ferengi DO learn math!

Before Varis comes to these realizations, she is inflexible and unwilling to listen for fear of seeming “weak.” Sisko is not having any of her nonsense and when he tells her, “I believe in people working together to find reasonable solutions to their problems,” I could only dream that more of our political leaders could get this message. “A great leader is one who’s willing to risk saying ‘Yes.’” Tell it, Ben Sisko! If more of our so-called “leaders” watched Star Trek, our world would definitely be a better place.

It all ends well. Tetrarch Varis makes a good deal for her people, Nog gets a kiss, O’Brien passes on his Sirah duties to a more willing candidate, and the power of stories unifies people to save the day! 

…and Miles walks away from it all freed from his obligation to call Dr. Bashir “Julian.” 

Continue to Rhonda’s Take: “Meaney showcased while O’Brien and Bashir banter”

Skip to Ray’s Take: “Foreign saviors and kids being kids”

Skip to Matt’s Take: “Storytime with Bashir & O’Brien”

Skip to Becca’s Take: “Sir Doctor Sir”

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