ST:DS9, Doctor Bashir, I presume?, Episode 516

This episode is interesting.

It follows episodes 514/515, which is a two-part episode where the Cardassian Empire joins the Dominion, a Dominion Fleet invades, Worf, Bashir, and Garak are taken prisoner in a Dominion prison, and all sorts of crazy, awesome stuff happens.

And this episode has to follow that act. In prior Treks, this would be a filler episode. Some light-hearted holodeck mishap, a mysterious visitor on the ship for X to fall in love with, etc. etc. And this was a filler episode. But it was a filler episode in which something actually happens. And has consequences. And adds something interesting to the Star Trek universe.

The show has been off the air for more than 10 years, but feel free to stop reading if you think you'll be spoilered.

Dr. Zimmerman, of Voyager's EMH fame, comes to DS9 to make a long-term hologram out of Dr. Bashir. In his investigations, it is revealed that Bashir's parents took him to be genetically enhanced (in response to his being subject to some non-specific developmental issues as a child). The procedure, being illegal, threatens to end Dr. Bashir's career, and shame him and his family for their "secret."

As a side story, Dr. Zimmerman romantically pursues Leeta (the Dabo girl in Quark's bar), much to the disdain of Rom, who is secretly in love with her.

Things that I like about this episode:

• For the first time, a character's ability to pull magical, technological/medical solutions out of thin air is given some credence by virtue of the "genetic enhancement."
• Julian and his father have brutal conversations about achievement, success, and failure to acquire either.
• Chase Masterson in a bath towel.
• Julian's father actually accepts jail time in a plea bargain to let his son keep his Starfleet career.
• Find out that despite the EMH's personality, Dr. Zimmerman is actually a man-slut.

Things that I don't like:

• Nobody really brings conclusion to whether Dr. Bashir's LMH program will still be used.