Facets (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)

"Facets" is the 71st episode of the American syndicated science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the 25th and penultimate episode of the third season, originally airing June 12, 1995.

"Facets"
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode
Episode no.Season 3
Episode 25
Directed byCliff Bole
Written byRené Echevarria
Featured musicDennis McCarthy
Cinematography byJonathan West
Production code471
Original air dateJune 12, 1995 (1995-06-12)
Guest appearance(s)

In this episode, Jadzia Dax undergoes a Trill rite of closure that brings her face to face with the past hosts of her symbiont, forcing her to deal with feelings of inferiority as a Dax host herself. Also, Nog takes a simulator test as part of his Starfleet Academy admissions process, much to the dismay of his uncle Quark.

The episode achieved a Nielsen rating of 5.9 points when it debuted on syndicated television in June 1995.[1]

Plot

Jadzia Dax undergoes her Zhian'tara, the Trill rite of closure, in which she has the chance to meet Dax's previous hosts by temporarily transferring each one's memories from the symbiont into the minds of her friends. Commander Sisko, Major Kira, Dr. Bashir, Odo, Quark, Chief O'Brien, and Leeta have agreed to participate.

Kira accepts Lela Dax, and Jadzia sees that she is the origin of many of Dax's personality traits, which she herself now exhibits. O'Brien becomes the shy but friendly Tobin Dax. Leeta receives the personality of Emony Dax, a cheerful and talented gymnast. Quark is annoyed by having to take on the personality of the female Audrid Dax, who tells Jadzia about motherhood. Bashir is Torias Dax, an adventurous pilot. Sisko is restrained in a holding cell to receive the personality of Joran Dax, a violent murderer. When Jadzia comes to meet him he tricks her into lowering the force field between them, and tries to strangle her. After a brief struggle, Sisko regains control of his body.

Jadzia expresses anxiety about meeting her next host, Curzon. Curzon trained Jadzia when she was applying to receive a symbiont and recommended that she not be approved for joining. She later reapplied and was accepted, but despite having the Dax symbiont within her, she does not know Curzon's motivations for flunking her.

Odo accepts Curzon Dax, reshaping his face to resemble Curzon. He evades her questions and declares he intends to stay within Odo, leaving Jadzia's self-esteem in tatters. Sisko offers to talk to Curzon, who had been his mentor and friend many years ago, but Jadzia resolves to face the Old Man herself. When she demands to hear Curzon's story he finally admits that he flunked Jadzia because he was in love with her. When Jadzia reassures Curzon he will always be a part of her, he is satisfied and leaves Odo's body.

Also in this episode, Nog takes the exam that will allow him to later take the Starfleet Academy entrance exam. He is despondent when he learns that he failed, but his father Rom discovers that Quark rigged the exam so that Nog would fail. Furious, Rom confronts Quark for interfering in Nog's choice to enter Starfleet and threatens to destroy the bar if Quark continues meddling. Sisko allows Nog to retake his exam, and this time he passes.

Reception

In 2018, SyFy included this episode on their Jadzia Dax binge-watching guide.[2]

In 2019, Tor.com noted this as an "essential" episode for the character of Odo, remarking that while it is not actually about Odo per se, it allowed the actor's abilities to be demonstrated as he must display different memories of the Dax symbiont.[3] This episode is noted for focusing on the story of the character Jadzia Dax, demonstrating old personalities in the Dax symbiont such as displayed by Odo.[3]

References
  1. http://users.telenet.be/WebTrek/Ds9/Ratings/ratings.html
  2. Lane, Carly (February 5, 2018). "A binge-watching guide to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Jadzia Dax". SYFY WIRE. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
  3. Britt, Ryan (December 9, 2019). "Remembering René Auberjonois: 8 Essential Odo Episodes of Deep Space Nine". Tor.com. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
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