Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV Series) Distant Voices (1995) User Reviews

Solid episode that could haved use a re-write to tighten up the plot

[thevacinstaller · 7/10 · 31 March 2020]

I love the idea for this episode. Through science magic attack you are trapped inside your own mind with your friends representing different parts of your consciousness.

It would have landed better for me if bashir was able to harness the power of his mind / the actors and used them and there skill set to attack or defend against the alien.

It is an interesting exploration but it could have pushed further. The ending sequence between Garak and Bashir should have been prevalent throughout the entire episode with the other actors as well.

We get some good bashir backstory and insights into how his mind works.

The build up to turning 30 is depressing, but when you get there it's fine

[snoozejonc · 6/10 · 5 June 2022]

Dr Bashir is attacked and finds DS9 in a strange situation.

This is an okay episode with a decent performance from Alexander Siddig.

The start is excellent with a great opening exchange between Garak and Bashir, that is followed by a very promising set up of the 'what's going on' type of narrative where everything and everyone seems weirdly changed.

When the big reveal comes it is not too bad, but from then on (quite early) it goes downhill for me. I find the characters generally annoying and it seems a rather pointless way to explore aspects Bashir's backstory. His reflective mood on turning thirty is well portrayed though I must say. I was close to this level of early midlife crisis myself!

The actors do a good job with the material they have, especially Siddig who conveys a lot of feeling beneath makeup.

Enjoyable episode

[dirvingman-62136 · 6/10 · 21 July 2023]

An enjoyable episode that's only fault is how inconsequential it is. Bashir gets attacked by a telepathic alien that puts him in a coma - placing him in a mental representation of DS9, with the other cast members appearing as representations of Bashir's personality. Bashir must fight to survive while the alien wrecks havock on his mind and tempts him to give up his struggle for life.

It does give a unique glimpse inside Bashir's character - some backstory is filled in, and his feelings for Dax are laid bare near the climax of the episode. What ultimately makes it a 6 for me is just that the episode is one of those "it was just a dream" stories that doesn't meaningfully change anything. So objectively, not that much actually happens.

But, I will say that the true triumph of the episode is the make-up and Alexander Siddig's acting. Bashir ages rapidly in the episode, and it's arresting just how convincingly old and frail they make him look. And Siddig's acting, in regards to his struggle for survival and his rapid aging, is masterfully done. Siddig's acting and the character of Bashir were both weak points of Season 1, but it's amazing how both got a massive turnaround in Season 2, to the point where he can carry a challenging episode like this one must have been. It's an enjoyable character-building episode for him.

Bashir in Wonderland

[Hitchcoc · 6/10 · 16 October 2018]

We have two consecutive episodes based on some pretty contrived events. We have O'Brien getting unstuck in time and Bashir, seeing things while in a coma (and aging rapidly as well). If you set things in a dream and you know it's a dream, then reality is sold out. It also creates a plot where the usual suspects start to act in completely aberrant ways. I have no idea how it ended because it really made no sense most of the way.

A surreal experience for Doctor Bashir

[cheesustoast · 9/10 · 19 June 2014]

I have been careful to avoid spoilers in this review so I have tried to explain why I see it as a great episode without revealing the plot.

I love this episode and I am slightly surprised that it has such a low score. The episode delves into a philosophical exploration of the mind.

The episode handles the topic well and proceeds at a pace that only reveals the eventual plot with care. It is somewhat unclear what is happening at first but it all becomes clear as it progresses. It is well executed and intriguing in concept.

This is a great episode for revealing the character of doctor Bashir. It helps to expand upon his character in respect to later episodes.

Dull and obnoxious

[guy_in_oxford · 1/10 · 31 December 2014]

Of all of the DS9 episodes I've watched so far, and I've revisited the series from the beginning, this is the only one I've found unwatchable.

It starts with the highly improbable request for bio-mimetic gel. Then there's an attack and a generic "people inhabiting my head" plot. The characters are annoying and I found myself fast-forwarding.

The appearance of the Lethean, with his typical macho posturing is what is especially annoying. The cheesy "uber male" voice.... the tedious dialogue.... and where are the female Letheans? That's right, there aren't any — because this is just another example of the Star Trek speed bump race: All male. All ugly. All irritatingly macho.

There really are no memorable moments to speak of, unless you want to see the makeup artist's progressive aging of Bashir.

The doctor gets older

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 30 April 2010]

When Dr Bashir finds an alien trying to rob his infirmary he is attacked, as he awakens he realises something is wrong; there doesn't appear to be anybody else on the station, he also appears to have gained a few grey hairs. As he searches the station he eventually finds some other people but none of them are acting quite as they should. He has other problems too; he is ageing rapidly and the alien who attacked him is there too and he hasn't finished with the doctor.

For much of the episode I had no idea what was causing the doctor's ageing problem or the disappearance of all the inhabitants of DS9 this gave the episode a rather claustrophobic feel. Alexander Siddig did well as the ageing doctor and those responsible for his ageing make-up also did a fine job.

A lousy episode which follows another lousy episode.

[planktonrules · 2/10 · 24 December 2014]

The previous episode, "Visionary" is one that is very low energy (even when you see the station about to explode) and is way too cerebral and slow. Unfortunately, "Distant Voices" has these in common and is even worse.

When the show begins, some alien attacks Dr. Bashir but unfortunately doesn't kill him. Instead, the doctor awakens and is in a dream world where the various crew members represent things in the Doctor's personality. It's all very symbolic and consists of lots of time shifts (just like the last show) and Mr. Death.

This really felt like a badly written episode...which it was. Slow, slow and slow--just the sorts of cerebral and glacial episodes I hate. I sure hope that the next episode is more action-packed and interesting! This one was just awful-- something I really don't think some Trekkies are willing to admit ever happens with any episode. As for my family, they could admit it--and begged me to turn this one off!

Bashir's Birthday

[XweAponX · 10/10 · 6 May 2022]

Today is Dr. Bashir's birthday. Featuring a "Lethian-Cake with Mint Frosting", a birthday party with pseudo Marilyn Monroe and Garak in ops, and tennis balls, lots and lots of tennis balls.

This is Alex Siddig's breakout episode. He has to solve a conundrum while aging past the point of decrepitude. It gets more difficult as he ages. And funnier... Also, more and more ridiculous. But that does not take away from the episode, it actually adds to it.

This episode introduces "The Lethian", A race of lizard-aliens that can suck memories straight out of your brain.

The problem is, this is usually fatal to the "Memorysuckee".

This episode does not really take place on the station. Everything that happens, is happening within Bashir's point of view. And so every person that he interacts with, Odo, O'Brien, Dax, Kira, and The Sisko, are not acting the way that those people normally act. They are representational caricatures, for the doctors benefit.

But there is also Garak and The Lethian, The Lethian appearing to be much more menacing than he actually was "in reality". And although Garak appears to be "helping" like he normally does, his attitude is a little bit more fatalistic than the way that we know Garak is, and so there is something wrong with that picture as well.

Basically the doctor has to dig himself out of a hole, which can only be done by repairing "the station", but the problem is the station cannot be repaired from the normal places where it is usually repaired from, and every time Julian tries, lots of tennis balls magically appear.

Another reviewer said something like "Bashir in Wonderland", and that is appropriate as well. That is actually pretty good because that is what this is. One pill makes Julian old, another makes him even older.

The doctor is subjected to one ridiculous scenario after another, but in the course of this we learn a lot about the doctor. By this time in the series, we knew a lot, at least regarding some of the watershed events of his life, like mistaking a "post ganglionic fiber for a preganglionic nerve" which he actually mistook on purpose... But we never really knew the doctors motivations and aspirations. Those get looked at, here, with the doctors own medical tricorder.

It's one thing to have to solve a conundrum and you don't have much help, but it is a totally different thing when you keep aging and aging. And Alex Siddig really convinces us that he is aging.

There is one other episode where the Lethian appears. It is too bad that we did not see more of that race in DS9. But this episode is pivotal as an introduction.

And... this is another episode that was declined for no reason. I don't understand this.