Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV Series) Babel (1993) User Reviews

Experimental Episode with some Decent Character Development

[mstomaso · 7/10 · 2 February 2008]

This unusual episode takes a very different look at a standard Star Trek plot - the ship-wide seemingly insurmountable threat story.

In fact, it starts out as a comedic episode following Miles O'Brien around as he tries to repair chronically failing Cardassian technology all over DS9. Shortly after, however, the story takes a very sinister turn as O Brien becomes heavily aphasic and is followed very quickly by many others on the station. Eventually, Sisko quarantines the station, and Kira is sent on a mission of mercy to try to locate the one person who may be able to save the crew.

Brooks and Visitor turn in excellent performances in this episode, and the episode is important in the development of O'brien, Jake and Ben and Kira's characters. And there is a good amount of conservative exposition about the Bajoran underground.

A solid, if not entirely original, episode.

nervous laughter inducing in 2020

[keezo9uno · 8/10 · 3 June 2020]

Great episode. pretty unnerving though how relevant this still is in 2020.

Classic Trek episode.

[thevacinstaller · 8/10 · 8 March 2020]

This is one of those classic trek episodes of trying to uncover/solve the mystery of the week ---- Not going to lie ---- I love me some classic trek mystery episodes.

On a personal note --- My dad suffered a massive stroke and he has aphasia/apraxia because of it. I could really identify with the inability to understand communication and the frustration resulting from it.

Major Kira pulls off an ethically questionable decision of kidnapping the Bajoran in an effort to cure this synthetic virus. It could be a topic of much conversation but it felt like the correct decision for the character of Kira. She can be an 'ends justify the means' type of personality.

The quark/odo bromance continues with Quark helping to save the day to further his economic position --- or so he says. How can you not love it whenever these two characters have a scene?

Aphasia

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 14 October 2019]

A booby trap of a virus was set in Deep Space Nine years ago, a virus causing stroke like aphasia. It starts with Chief O'Brien and takes down most of the regulars before the episode is over.

Major Kira is the one who investigates and finds the how and why. The question is can she get one of the responsible parties to find an antidote.

Some unusual partnerships are forged. Never question the strength of the Ferengi immune system.

Then how about helping yourself?

[snoozejonc · 7/10 · 27 November 2021]

A strange illness starts affecting the community of DS9.

This is a solid episode that has an interesting concept done in an enjoyable way.

I love the idea of the station being riddled with technical problems and Chief O'Brien being up to his eyes in problems like some sort of tradesmen in demand. This is plausible for the early days of the Federation's takeover of DS9. Colm Meany is a very believable Engineer and this story works well.

It is also quite entertaining to see the station down to a bare minimum of staff trying to sort the problems out. Kira Nerys, Odo, and Quark have some memorable character moments during the situation, and Nana Visitor, Rene Auberjonoir, and Armin Shimerman respectively are on good form.

The actual form the virus takes is a little bit naff and slightly laughable at times, but it does not spoil the episode for me. When the solution comes in the end it's down to one character finding a suitable way to motivate someone to find the cure. This isn't very Star Trek in its approach, but it's cool all the same.

Avery Brooks reminds me (in Star Trek context) of William Shatner in that he is a strong charismatic lead actor, but in some instances he can stray a bit over the top.

Fungus Episode Rock Banana

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 23 September 2018]

A strange virus infects DS9. At first it involves aphasia and a kind of distorted, nonsensical speech, and the serious physiological consequences. Unfortunately, as the crew begins to fall away, Kira seems to be the only one that can save them, but it takes some pretty heavy handed actions to make it happen. Odo is front and center as a trader becomes a threat to the station, due to his selfishness. This is a pretty ordinary episode, but it is engaging and keeps one's interest.

Underated

[mrkyhn · 9/10 · 2 February 2021]

This is an Underrated Star Trek episode. If I watched it in another time period, I would not understand its value. However, there is currently a worldwide pandemic. In a way befitting a science fiction; It has shown very well what will happen in a pandemic. The process is lifelike, just faster. With the importance of the situation, the tempo in the episode was successful. With real life experience, I was very excited while watching the episode. An important detail was the unexpected spread of the virus. As a result, Star Trek is always one step ahead.

The Tower of Babel repeats itself

[dand1010 · 6/10 · 8 August 2021]

Any good Star Trek series needs to have an episode where the crew are affected by some alien virus that makes them act totally different than normal.

This episode scratches that itch (a future episode in season 1 goes even further).

There are several moments that made me laugh out loud. But then, the virus gets deadly.

Quark (Ferengi bar owner) shows his true Ferengi qualities and his relationship with Odo (the shape shifter) is revealed to be more than only adversarial.

These early episodes are essential with character development and DS9's actors teamed with the awesome cohort of writers/producers do a stellar job giving 1st season viewers a foundation from which to build a personal bond with the characters.

This episode, as with many Star Trek series episodes, has dire live or die consequences if some act of heroism isn't performed by a member of the crew.

Cosmic principles for discussion (especially for Bible-believing viewers): relate what happens with this episode to the Biblical story of the Tower of Babel.

Very suspenseful and fascinating episode

[Paularoc · 9/10 · 5 October 2012]

O'Brien is way overworked trying to repair the many breakdowns in several ship systems. When repairing the replicator system O'Brien accidentally releases a virus; a virus that results in its victims becoming severely aphasic and unable to speak coherently. Come to find out, the device releasing the virus was placed many years ago by the Bajoran underground in their fight against the Cardassians. It is then a race to find one of the scientists who planted the device and to prevent one of the merchants from taking his ship away from the station. It's all very tense and interesting to see how Quark and Odo work together to prevent the merchant from leaving; Quark is his usual smarmy but oddly engaging self. A superior episode.

Another terrarium episode

[Nominahorn · 6/10 · 11 September 2018]

1.04 "Babel"

A virus that causes people to talk gibberish starts spreading through the station. It's a race against time to find a cure before everyone is incapacitated...or worse.

Like the previous episode, this is another inconsequential "terrarium" ep. The "virus that makes people act weird and it's kind of humorous but then we find out it's actually killing them" trope has been done a lot (and a lot better) in ST and it really has worn thin by now. Aside from some very minor character development for Quark and some great early scenes with O'Brien, this is a very forgettable episode.

THE GOOD

-The O'Brien scenes at the start are great. I love his sarcastic comments, and Colm Meaney is such a great actor (with an awesome accent) that I would be entertained watching him read lines from a quarterly earnings report.

-The shot where it pans through the inner workings of the replicator and then focuses on the sabotage device right as it turns on is a cool one.

-Some good Quark scenes. It's interesting how he fluctuates between bravado and cowardice seemingly at random, a trend that holds throughout the show's run.

-Nice continuity mentioning Keiko's school established in the previous ep. It's easy to take for granted since all shows do it nowadays, but at the time DS9's serial storytelling was brand new for ST (and relatively uncommon on TV in general), and the fact that I don't even notice it most of the time is probably a testament to how well it is done.

THE BAD

-Another claustrophobic episode that takes place essentially all on DS9 (aside from one scene on a runabout).

-*Sisko takes sip of coffee* "O'Brien!" I cringed. They may as well have used a laugh track and a *womp womp* trombone to go along with that dumb gag.

-A lot of really bad acting from Avery Brooks.

-Jadzia gets nothing to do for the second time in three eps.

THE UGLY

-Odo shapeshift count: 1 (a metal cart...and also the handheld device on top of the cart, oddly enough), 4 total for the series

-Not sure which runabout Kira takes. It's either the Yangtzee Kiang or the Rio Grande because it doesn't have the Ganges' extra module on it.

-The ship that is trying to escape DS9 isn't visible during the exterior shots of the station and the runabout.

Problems with communication

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 8 February 2010]

As this episode opens Chief O'Brien is being swamped by the number of repairs being required to the station's systems. A repair to the replicators seems a fairly minor thing but when he fixes the system he activates a device which create a virus that contaminates all the food and drink created. This has the effect of making the suffer be unable talk normally; whenever they speak they just come out with a stream of random words, the same thing happens if they try to write anything. As it becomes clear what is happening the crew must race to find a cure and the cause before the whole station is effected. When they find the cause they are shocked to see the booby trap has been their since the station was built but never activated as its Bajoran creator was caught by the Cardassians before he could activate it. He is now dead but his former assistant is still alive so Kira must secure his help whether he want to help or not.

This was a good stand alone episode where most of the main characters featured, it was fun to see Quark taking a role in a position of responsibility when the command officers had all been effected by the virus. Just in case saving everybody from the virus wasn't exciting enough they have a problem when a ship tries to break quarantine which threatens to cause an explosion as it is still clamped to the station when it powers up its engines.

Ok despite some misssed opportunities

[brianjohnson-20043 · 7/10 · 2 April 2019]

This episode seems like it could have been better with an extra few minutes to tell it's story. Which is interesting. More often it feels the episodes could lose about 10 minutes.

What I wish the episode included was a scene showing the Bajoran doctor discover the cure from Bashir's initial work. This is kind of the climatic moment the story was leading up to. And they just kind of skip it and just tell us via Sisko's log that it happens. I call that a downer.

The other scene I would have liked to see would have been a scene addressing whether the Major's action of capturing and infecting the bajoran doctor against his will was or wasn't acceptable or ethical.

But overall the contagious babeling storyline was good. And It has some interesting twists in determining the provenance of the contagion.

Overall it seems do deserve a 7. But it seems a few easy changes I recommended could have make it a 9 without much difficulty.

Where is Keiko in All This?

[Samuel-Shovel · 5/10 · 30 June 2020]

In "Babel" a mysterious virus has infected the space station, causing those who catch it to be completely unable to be understood by those around him, with a bad fever to boot. Sisko & Co. discover that the virus is actually a long dormant weapon planted by the Bajoran terrorists long ago with Cardassians still controlled the station. Major Kira must go track down someone who can help find an antidote for the virus while the rest of the station is under quarantine.

Watching this in quarantine myself, some of this felt a little too real as we deal with real life coronavirus issues. The captain who refuses to quarantine and decides to force his ship off the station comes to mind.

But the whole Babel parallel here is an okay idea that doesn't really ever pick up steam. I also found it odd how, even after O'Brien gets infected, we never ever see Keiko or their daughter, even as he's on death's door. At the very least you could say they're quarantined in their apartment, but it's odd that we never even hear a mention of them. As writers, you have to address them in episodes like this, it's a no-brainer!

An unusual concept--an okay episode.

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 9 December 2014]

Have you ever seen an episode of a show that you enjoyed but you also felt that if you hadn't seen it your life wouldn't have changed one bit? Well, that's how I felt about "Babel". It's not a bad show to watch but is very slight to say the least and does nothing to really advance the narrative.

When the show begins, O'Brien is frustrated with all the broken systems on the station. However, everyone's frustration soon is stretched to the limits when a weird virus breaks out on Deep Space 9. Suddenly, and without warning, people begin speaking gibberish-- long strings of random words with no meaning. And, oddly, they write the same way and no one can understand anyone who comes down with the virus. Not surprisingly this virus is NOT naturally occurring but was created by someone--but who and why and how to stop it is a HUGE concern.

This is a silly episode that is quite original but also pretty dumb at the same time. Not terrible but not exactly one of the series' finest moments.

"Let birds go further loose maybe."

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 15 May 2024]

This was an interesting episode to view for the first time today since it calls to mind the diagnosis of aphasia for actor Bruce Willis about five years ago (as I write this). It curtailed his acting career until 2023 when his family announced he would do no more films. It's a sad thing to see in a popular actor like Willis, especially given his stature in action films like the 'Die Hard' franchise.

Symptoms of aphasia first appear in Chief Miles O'Brien (Colm Meaney) in the story, and one would think that given the stress he was under running around to fix all the things wrong on Deep Space Nine, that that might have been the cause of his nonsensical speech. But then it affects Lieutenant Dax (Terry Farrell), and the virus causing it discovered by Dr. Bashir (Alexander Siddig) begins to make its way around the entire station until more than half the population is affected. Major Kira's (Nana Visitor) investigation into the history of DS9 around the time the Cardassians took it over from the Bajorans sixteen years prior leads her to the work of a deceased renegade scientist who created the virus but never got a chance to release it against the enemy. However, his assistant, still alive, was familiar with the research but refused to help Kira until she decided to kidnap him with the threat that now he was infected with the virus as well.

Parallel to this story, Constable Odo (Rene Auberjonois) and Ferengi Quark (Armin Shimerman) verbally spar over how to rescue a cargo captain who defied Commander Sisko's (Avery Brooks) quarantine order and commandeered his ship away from DS9, only to find himself in danger of the ship blowing apart. With Quark's knowledge of running a transporter, he managed to beam Odo out to the vessel and retrieve Captain Jaheel (Jack Kehler) in the Star Trek standard nick of time with not a moment to spare.

By themselves the parallel stories seemed to be handled rather easily, and as another reviewer mentioned, it might have been more appropriate to delve into how Dr. Surmak Ren (Matthew Faison) was able to come up with the aphasia antidote. That was entirely glossed over and gave the episode's ending a rather abrupt feeling.

Viral Epidemic and No Masks??

[AnnieLola · 8/10 · 14 March 2022]

Pretty good premise and treatment of the science aspect, but guys, it's a virus and NOBODY puts on a mask? Sisko cuddles his afflicted son Jake, when as a leader he needs to avoid infection. As-yet unaffected personnel don't practice distancing. What-- are we to infer that people in the future have outgrown or forgotten such basic precautions?

Still very watchable, though the suspense is somewhat dulled by the certainty that as in all medical mystery Treks, the cure will be found in under 50 minutes screen time-- unless it goes to a two-parter.