Summary
Star Trek: Deep Space Nineproduced five Mirror Universe episodes across its seven seasons, but which ones have imperial status, and which ones are bound for the Agonizer? Introduced inStar Trek: The Original Seriesseason 2, episode 4, “Mirror, Mirror”, the Mirror Universe made a lasting impression on fandom and the wider public consciousness. After all, pop culture’s use of a goatee beard to denote an evil double surely originated with Mirror Spock (Leonard Nimoy) inTOS. “Mirror, Mirror” made such an impression onStar Trekfans that a return to the Mirror Universe was inevitable.
Finally, it wasDeep Space Ninethat returned to the darkestStar Trektimeline, in season 2, episode 23, “Crossover”. The episode saw Doctor Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig) and Major Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor) fight for survival as they try to escape the Mirror Universe’s version of Terok Nor. The success of “Crossover” led to subsequent Mirror Universe episodes of varying quality, featuring the evil versions ofDS9’s cast of characters.
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5Star Trek: DS9 Season 6, Episode 8, “Resurrection”
“It is an amazing resemblance. Put you in a Vedek’s robe and no one would know the difference.”
Star Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 6, episode 8, “Resurrection”, is the weakest of the five Mirror Universe episodes. “Resurrection” is unique as it’s the only one ofDS9’s Mirror Universe episodes to wholly take place in the primeStar Trekuniverse. The episode concerns the arrival of Mirror Bareil Antos (Philip Anglim), the alternate reality version of Major Kira’s lost love, Vedek Bareil. It transpires that Mirror Bareil has been sent to the prime universe by The Intendant (Nana Visitor) to play on Kira’s loss to steal one of the Bajoran orbs from DS9.
The main issue withDS9’s “Resurrection” is that it takes place years after Vedek Bareil lost his life, so it’s hard to buy into the romance between Kira and Bareil’s Mirror Universe counterpart. To make matters worse, the core story of someone meeting the Mirror Universe variant of a lost love was already done far better by Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) and the Terran Jennifer Sisko (Felicia M. Bell) inDeep Space Nineseasons 3 and 4. Showrunner Ira Steven Behr perfectly summed up the issues with “Resurrection” in theStar Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion:
“I knew we were going to get hammered forwhatevershow we came up with after the war arc and the wedding episode. People were going to say, ‘Thisis what you’re doing next?’ It’s that feeling of letdown after you’ve done something big. It was bad timing, and it probably shouldn’t have been a relationship show…”
4Star Trek: DS9 Season 7, Episode 12, “The Emperor’s New Cloak”
“Oh, oh, I get it! Your clothes, the knife, this aggressive attitude, it’s all role-playing!”
In a 2000 interview withCinefantisque, Ira Steven Behr revealed thatStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 7, episode 12, “The Emperor’s New Cloak” was borne out of a desire to embrace the wackiness of the Mirror Universe as an idea. And so Behr and Hans Beimler wrote an episode in which Quark (Armin Shimerman) and Rom (Max Grodenchik) are dispatched to the Mirror Universe to rescue Grand Nagus Zek (Wallace Shawn). Quark and Rom’s arrival ultimately helps the Terran Rebels strike a devastating blow against the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance, thanks to a faulty cloaking device.
Both “The Emperor’s New Cloak” and “Resurrection” were directed byStar Trek: The Next Generationstar LeVar Burton.
“The Emperor’s New Cloak” makes a few missteps in the tonal tightrope walk betweenFerengi comedy episodeand finale toDeep Space Nine’s Mirror Universe arc. While Mirror Universe episodes are always incredibly campy and over-the-top, the addition of Quark, Rom and Zek threatens to tip the balance too far. However, when it works, it really works. Nicole de Boer is clearly having a blast playing Mirror Ezri, who is far more confident and ruthless than her prime universe counterpart. It’s also a satisfying ending toDS9’s Mirror Universe arc as the Terrans are finally back on top after capturing Regent Worf.
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3Star Trek: DS9 Season 3, Episode 19, “Through the Looking Glass”
“I don’t think anyone suspected you weren’t Captain Sisko. At least, not once you hit Bashir.”
InStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 3, episode 19, “Through the Looking Glass”, Commander Sisko is captured by Miles “Smiley” O’Brien (Colm Meaney), who needs him to replace his Mirror Universe counterpart.Sisko’s mission is to convince the Mirror Universe version of his wife, Jennifer, to join the Terran Rebellion. The determination of Sisko not to let Jennifer die for a second time allowsDS9to show their leading man at his most heroic and charismatic. The climax, where Sisko delights in outfoxing the Intendant and Garak (Andrew J. Robinson), is a real punch-the-air moment.
“Through the Looking Glass” is a wildly entertaining romp through the Mirror Universe with a genuinely moving emotional core.
Avery Brooks gives one of his most confident early performances in “Through the Looking Glass”, and it seems that he’s finally becoming comfortable asStar Trek: Deep Space Nine’s leading man. Given the plot, “Through the Looking Glass” could have been an emotionally fraught episode ofDS9, but it balances Sisko and Jennifer’s strange “reunion” with high camp. While Terry Farrell vamps it up as Mirror Dax, Felecia M. Bell’s understated but affecting performance provides the perfect counterpoint. “Through the Looking Glass” is a wildly entertaining romp through the Mirror Universe with a genuinely moving emotional core.
2Star Trek: DS9 Season 4, Episode 19, “Shattered Mirror”
“When we first met, there was a… a connection between us. Now because of what I’ve done it’s gone, isn’t it?”
Star Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 4, episode 19, “Shattered Mirror” is a rare sequel that is better than the original.After Mirror Jennifer was introduced in “Through the Looking Glass”, Ira Steven Behr and theDS9writers were keen that she should meet Jake Sisko (Cirroc Lofton). This idea spawned “Shattered Mirror”, in which Jennifer kidnaps Jake to convince Captain Sisko to build the Terran Rebellion their own version ofDeep Space Nine’s Defiant. Devastatingly, Jennifer is killed by the Intendant, meaning that Jake and Sisko are forced to face the pain of her death all over again.
“Shattered Mirror” is Nana Visitor’s favorite of the first three Mirror Universe episodes because of how the Intendant was written, tellingStar Trek Monthlythat “I think I found a darker place for her, because of the way they wrote it, and I liked it.”
“Shattered Mirror” provides some of the strongest material for Cirroc Lofton as Jake Sisko, who handles the tragic Jennifer arc beautifully. As well as being an emotionally powerful episode ofStar Trek: Deep Space Nine, “Shattered Mirror” introduces Regent Worf (Michael Dorn).The fan response to Regent Worf led theDS9writers to consider making him the focus of the next Mirror Universe episode, but instead they opted for the Mirror Bareil plot in season 6. Dorn is clearly relishing the chance to play a more outrageous version of Worf after so many years, and his glee is utterly infectious.
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1Star Trek: DS9 Season 2, Episode 23, “Crossover”
“… whatever it’s like where he’s from, it’s gotta be better than this. There’s got to be something better than this.”
“Crossover”,Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s original Mirror Universe episode, is also its best. InDS9season 2, episode 23, Doctor Bashir and Major Kira emerge from the wormhole to find themselves in the Mirror Universe’s version ofCardassian space station Terok Nor. “Crossover” isDS9’s best Mirror Universe episode because of the work involved in filling in the gaps of what happened in the intervening century betweenStar Trek: The Original Series' “Mirror, Mirror” and the start ofDeep Space Nine. The reforms led by Mirror Spock left the Terran Empire vulnerable to attack, and now they’re enslaved by the Klingon-Federation Alliance.
An original plan to feature Michael Dorn as a Mirror Universe version of Worf was abandoned when theTNGstar proved to be unavailable to film his cameo.
This was an incredibly smart story decision because it allows “Crossover” to completely flip the existing dynamic ofDeep Space Nine’s main characters. The Mirror Universe’s Kira is in charge of the station, while Mirror Odo (Rene Auberjonois) is a cruel oppressor, keeping a watchful eye on Terok Nor’s Terran slaves. The best aspect of “Crossover” is how it puts Kira face to face with a version of herself that she can barely recognize. Prime Kira spent decades fighting the oppression of cruel dictators, so its stomach churning for her to discover her Mirror Universe counterpart is yet another tyrant to be defeated.
Peter Allen Field and Michael Piller’s script for “Crossover” delivers a far more nuanced take on the concept of dark opposites than Spock’s beard or the shouty, primal Mirror Kirk (William Shatner) fromStar Trek: TOS.Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s first Mirror Universe episode establishes that it’s a perverse and corrupt reality that twists Starfleet and Bajor’s greatest heroes into something cruel. However, like Mirror Spock before him, Mirror O’Brien provides hope that the Terrans can always strive for something better than galactic dominance, perfectly mirroring the climax of the classicTOSepisode.
