Spoilers Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

[Gradine]

It’s a common joke at our table that as soon as Sisko gets to go to the Mirror Universe he immediately has sex with his coworkers with no consequences. Says a lot about him.

Especially when he otherwise acts completely uncomfortable about the idea of being romantically/sexually connected to either of them in the normal universe. I mean, power/workplace dynamics in relationships has never been treated at all seriously in basically any iteration of Starfleet, so that's not really an issue either. Here Sisko is playing a role and his life and a lot of people's lives depend on him being convincing, ...but on the other hand it's also very clear he is enjoying all of this (bonus points for getting to punch Bashir in the face). Other high point of this episode is when you find out Rom was a real one the entire time. Just an absolute bro in any universe.

Cardassia is indeed a fantastic setting (so much more so than Bajor, sorry not sorry Bajor) because it’s such a rigid and controlling culture that goes through about three Chinese dynasties’ worth of upheaval in 7 years. And it’s cataclysmic and horrible (and mostly Dukat’s fault) but it’s fascinating. Other worlds in ST could use this kind of deep dive, Romulus for instance.

I feel like there was one really good episode in TNG about a defecting admiral or something, but yeah we really don't get much of a deep dive on Romulus at all (and then Abrams decided to just blow it up)

 

[pukunui]

Not only is Keiko fine but she could honestly do way better than Miles. And I like Miles! Molly is also the most adorable.

Honestly, Keiko is one of my faves. I really wish she'd gotten more screen time. Miles is a lovable dork, and their relationship just feels so real to me in the way that many other TV relationships don't. That episode where Miles can see Keiko is unhappy because the school has closed and so he sets about trying to find things for her to do until he finally realizes that he needs to let her go be a botanist for real instead of just play at being one was a real gem for me.