Playing God (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)

"Playing God" is the 37th episode of the science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. It is the 17th episode of the second season. "Playing God" aired on syndicated television starting on February 26, 1994.[1]

"Playing God"
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode
Episode no.Season 2
Episode 17
Directed byDavid Livingston
Story byJim Trombetta
Teleplay by
Featured musicDennis McCarthy
Production code437
Original air dateFebruary 27, 1994 (1994-02-27)
Guest appearance(s)

The episode explores Star Trek's Trill aliens, and their use of implanted symbionts.[2] While Dax mentors her first Trill initiate, a proto-universe threatens to destroy the station and Bajor.

Plot

Arjin, a young Trill man, arrives on the station. Jadzia Dax is to evaluate him for suitability to be joined with a symbiont; the prospect makes him ill-at-ease and defensive, since Dax hosts have had a reputation as very harsh mentors, especially Jadzia's predecessor Curzon. When Arjin meets Jadzia he is surprised to find her laid-back and free-spirited.

Arjin's first job is to accompany Dax through the Wormhole in a runabout. An accident occurs and the two Trills bring the runabout back to the station damaged, with a strange mass of matter attached to it. Chief O'Brien removes the mass and contains it securely for further study.

Meanwhile, Dax has been getting to know Arjin. He seems aloof but preoccupied with what other people think of him, and is applying for a symbiont mainly to please his father. He seems to have few interests or goals. Dax is nervous about confronting Arjin about his motivations. Her friend Sisko reminds her that during her own training under the notorious Curzon, he was very hard on her, and challenged her confidence in herself.

There is an infestation of Cardassian voles on the station, and they are beginning to short out various equipment, including the containment-field for the unidentified mass in the lab. Arjin and Dax realize that the matter may actually be a tiny universe. It is expanding quickly and will soon pose a danger to the station. The crew prepares to destroy the universe, but are halted when Dax finds that it holds signs of life.

As Sisko ponders the matter, Dax speaks to Arjin about his performance. She reveals that Curzon's high expectations for her actually helped her become stronger and more ready to become a host. Before she was joined to Dax, Jadzia was shy and sensitive, and Curzon often reduced her to tears. Nonetheless, in the end, she got her symbiont, and she encourages Arjin to strive for more.

Sisko decides the proto-universe must be removed from Deep Space Nine. Dax and Arjin board a runabout to ferry the universe back through the Wormhole. She allows Arjin to take the helm, a challenge that he accepts.

As they rush through the Wormhole, the expanding proto-universe becomes unstable, making the runabout difficult to fly. Arjin's careful navigation safely brings them out of danger and releases the little universe out into space; thus he proves himself and earns his positive recommendation from Jadzia Dax.

Character notes

In 2018, SyFy included this episode on their Jadzia Dax binge-watching guide.[3]

Quark's nose makeup piece was not ready, so a different one was used giving him a slightly different look than in other episodes.[4]

References
  1. Westfahl, Gary; Slusser, George Edgar; Leiby, David (2002). Worlds Enough and Time: Explorations of Time in Science Fiction and Fantasy. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 9780313317064.
  2. Okuda, Michael; Okuda, Denise; Mirek, Debbie (2011-05-17). The Star Trek Encyclopedia. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781451646887.
  3. Lane, Carly (2018-02-05). "A binge-watching guide to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Jadzia Dax". SYFY WIRE. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
  4. DeCandido, Keith R. A. (2013-09-09). "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Rewatch: "Playing God"". Tor.com. Retrieved 2019-06-25.
  • Star Trek: Deep Space Nine DVD set, volume 2, disc 5, selection 1.
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