From Newsgroup: rec.arts.startrek.misc

AI/LLM Reviews: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine rCo "Visionary"

Google Gemini

Chief O'Brien is accidentally exposed to a burst of tetryon radiation, causing his consciousness to periodically jump five hours into the future. These "time shifts" allow him to witness his own death and the total destruction of Deep Space 9. As the station plays host to a delicate diplomatic mission involving a Romulan delegation and the Klingons, O'Brien and Bashir must race against time to prevent a series of catastrophes that seem destined to happen.

Critical Analysis

The "O'Brien Must Suffer" Formula

This episode is a masterclass in using Miles O'Brien as the show's "everyman."

Personal Stakes: Seeing your own death is a classic trope, but DS9 makes it visceral. O'BrienrCOs frustration and physical exhaustion from the "jumps" ground the high-concept science in a very human experience.

The Final Sacrifice: The resolutionrCowhere the "current" O'Brien dies and is replaced by the O'Brien from five hours in the futurerCois a haunting existential twist. ItrCOs a "happy ending" that leaves the viewer feeling slightly unsettled, knowing our O'Brien is gone.

Geopolitical Tension

"Visionary" succeeds because the time-travel isn't happening in a vacuum; itrCOs happening during a powder-keg summit.

The Romulans: Their presence on the station to study the Dominion threat adds a layer of espionage. The reveal that they are trying to destroy the station to seal the wormhole is perfectly in character for the Romulans of this era.

The Klingons: Having a drunken, rowdy Klingon delegation serves as the perfect "red herring," making the audience (and O'Brien) suspect them of the sabotage initially.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

Pacing: The episode builds momentum beautifully. Each jump forward reveals a bigger disaster, culminating in the destruction of the entire station.

The Bashir/O'Brien Dynamic: Their friendship is the heart of the episode. BashirrCOs frantic efforts to save Miles show how far their bond has come since Season 1.

Visual Storytelling: The use of the "future-ghost" O'Brien seeing himself is technically well-executed and narratively efficient.

Cons:

The "Replacement" Problem: Similar to "Dead Stop" or "Harry Kim's death" in Voyager, the show glosses over the fact that the protagonist we've followed for years is technically dead, replaced by a version from a slightly different timeline.

The Romulan Plan: While logical, the Romulan sabotage feels a bit rushed in the final act compared to the slow-burn mystery of the first half.

Final Rating: 8.5 / 10

"Visionary" is a top-tier standalone episode. It manages to balance a complex "closed-loop" time travel plot with the series' broader political arcs. ItrCOs exciting, clever, and provides a great showcase for Colm MeaneyrCOs ability to play the stressed, overworked hero.

Verdict: One of the best sci-fi mysteries in the series, only slightly hampered by the existential implications of its ending.

ChatGPT

HererCOs a **review of *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine rCo rCLVisionaryrCY*** (Season 3, Episode 17) based on the *Chakoteya* transcript context and broader episode information rCo plus a **rating out of 10**.

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### Efou **Episode Summary**

In *rCLVisionary,rCY* a **visiting Romulan delegation** comes to Deep Space Nine for talks about intelligence on the Dominion and related treaties. While doing routine maintenance, **Chief Miles OrCOBrien is exposed to radiation** and subsequently begins **jumping forward in time** in roughly five-hour increments. At first, these are merely curious glimpses rCo like seeing himself talking to Quark rCo but OrCOBrienrCOs visions escalate to **seeing his own death and the stationrCOs destruction**. With help from Bashir and the senior staff, OrCOBrien uses the future knowledge to try to **prevent the catastrophic events** herCOs foreseen. ([Wikipedia][1])

The investigation reveals a **cloaked Romulan Warbird** near the station with hostile intent against DS9 and the Bajoran wormhole. Using limited future insight, Sisko confronts the Romulans and averts disaster, though OrCOBrienrCOs time leaps and their consequences make for a complex story. ([jammersreviews.com][2])

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### Efai **What Works Well**

**rLo High-concept sci-fi story:**
rCLVisionaryrCY is a *time-shift/near-future mystery* that distinguishes itself from typical linear storytelling. The repeated jumps and OrCOBrien interacting with versions of himself give it a puzzle-like narrative that keeps viewers engaged. ([jammersreviews.com][2])

**rLo OrCOBrien-centered character work:**
This episode puts Miles OrCOBrien at the center in a way thatrCOs both entertaining and satisfying. His reactions rCo especially to seeing versions of himself and trying to avert disastrous outcomes rCo show Colm MeaneyrCOs range and make the stakes feel personal. ([jammersreviews.com][2])

**rLo Integration with politics and Dominion arc:**
The Romulan subplot gives the episode connective tissue to the broader *DS9* narrative, revealing that the Romulans are wary of the Dominion threat and willing to take drastic, covert action. It helps keep the story grounded in the showrCOs larger conflicts rather than making the time-travel gimmick wholly isolated. ([jammersreviews.com][2])

**rLo Memorable moments & suspense:**
The escalating visions rCo from bar scenes to OrCOBrienrCOs own death to a station evacuation rCo build a sense of urgency and mystery that encourages viewers to piece together the cause and effect alongside the characters. ([jammersreviews.com][2])

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### rUaN+A **What DoesnrCOt Work As Well**

**rLu Heavy reliance on technobabble:**
Critics (including *Tor.com* rewatchers) have often pointed out that the science-fiction mechanics hinge on convenient exposition and technobabble rCo the kind of explanation that feels more like a plot contrivance than grounded storytelling. ([Wikipedia][1])

**rLu Mixed execution of the mystery:**
Some reviewers argue that while the episode tries to create a tense puzzle, certain elements rCo like why the singularity wasnrCOt immediately identified as a cloaked Romulan vessel despite Romulans being present on the station rCo feel illogical or unearned. ([ex-astris-scientia.org][3])

**rLu Tonal fit for *DS9***
Traditional *DS9* tends to emphasize character and political drama over high-concept time-travel. Some fans and even writers have noted that rCLVisionaryrCY feels more in the style of *TNG* or *Voyager*. ([the m0vie blog][4])

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### Efoa **Reception & Ratings**

* **IMDb rating:** ~7.8/10 from user ratings, making it a solidly above-average episode. ([IMDb][5])
* **Critics:** *Tor.comrCOs* Keith R.A. DeCandido gave it **6/10**, praising the performances and connections to larger arcs but criticizing the plotrCOs reliance on technobabble. ([Wikipedia][1])
* **Fan views:** Discussions on Reddit and fan sites show a mix of appreciation for the suspense and OrCOBrien focus, and frustration with narrative conveniences or weaker logic. ([Reddit][6])

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### r!E **Overall Review & Rating**

**Effo Rating: 7.5 / 10**

**Why:**
*rCLVisionaryrCY* is an **engaging, high-concept science-fiction story** that stands out in *Deep Space NinerCOs* third season because of its inventive use of time jumps and its focus on OrCOBrienrCOs experience. The episode combines mystery, suspense, and franchise lore in ways that make it memorable, even if its reliance on technobabble and some logical niggles keep it from reaching *great* status.

**Best For:**
rLo Fans of time-shift and near-future sci-fi plot mechanics
rLo Viewers who enjoy OrCOBrien-centric episodes
rLo Those interested in how *DS9* connects political tension with unusual sci-fi frameworks

**Less Good For:**
rLu Viewers who dislike technobabble or plot convenience explanations
rLu Those expecting heavier character drama or deeper thematic exploration

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If yourCOd like a **scene-by-scene breakdown based on the *Chakoteya* transcript itself**, I can provide that too!

[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visionary_%28Star_Trek%3A_Deep_Space_Nine%29?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Visionary (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)"
[2]: https://www.jammersreviews.com/st-ds9/s3/visionary.php?utm_source=chatgpt.com "\"Visionary\" | Star Trek: DS9 | Jammer's Reviews"
[3]: https://www.ex-astris-scientia.org/episodes/ds93.htm?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Ex Astris Scientia - Deep Space Nine (DS9) Season 3 Reviews"
[4]: https://them0vieblog.com/2014/10/02/star-trek-deep-space-nine-visionary-review/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine rCo Visionary (Review) | the m0vie blog"
[5]: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0708658/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "\"Star Trek: Deep Space Nine\" Visionary (TV Episode 1995) - IMDb"
[6]: https://www.reddit.com/r/DeepSpaceNine/comments/1kmx4sb?utm_source=chatgpt.com "S3 E17 Visionary!"
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