Star Trek 321: Whispers

321. Whispers

FORMULA: -1(Clues + The Mind's Eye + Conspiracy)

WHY WE LIKE IT: A plot worthy of Philip K. Dick.

WHY WE DON'T: Did they have to use the word "replicant" though?

REVIEW: Wow. What a great premise. The first time you see this, it seems to be a standard, if well-executed, "Invasion of the Bodysnatchers" plot starring poor Chief O'Brien in the Donald Sutherland role. Why is everyone acting so strangely? What's come over them? O'Brien is such a "real" character that you're with him every step of the way. His comfortable ordinary man qualities makes everything strange pop out at you. Is there really something going on, or is he being paranoid?

Well, obviously, he's been locked out of systems, areas and files, so something's afoot for sure, but the episode makes everyone act suspiciously. When has Quark not remembering the exact number of a Rule of Acquisition seemed so sinister? The best scene by far is the dinner scene where Keiko isn't eating the same thing O'Brien is. All played on his perceptions, it's truly eerie. (But surely, they never told Molly and it IS a phase she's going through?)

Knowing the final twist doesn't make this any less interesting because it shows two things: 1) How good O'Brien is at his job and as a thinking, feeling human being and 2) how easily things can be misconstrued - a whisper here, a lie there. And a lot of the credit goes to the direction in this episode. A lot of tension despite the fact that most of it is a flashback, but nice touches like the way they show O'Brien's looooong computer search for answers. Knowing the truth doesn't dispel any of that, and further lends the starring character a lot of pathos. There's nothing like a tragedy to get you where it counts.

LESSON: I already knew this, but I can't wait for that Blade Runner Anniversary Edition DVD to come out in December. Now I just know it a lot more urgently.

REWATCHABILITY - High: Really creepy the first you see it, but no less fascinating on repeat viewings. A beautiful idea executed with exactly the right character.