Evil Twins

"Crossover" Plot Summary:

A problem with a roundabout's emissions strands Kira and Bashir in the same alternate universe visited by Kirk and crew a generation earlier. There, the Klingons and Cardassians rule, and humans are imprisoned and oppressed. Kira is shocked to discover thet her double, the Intendant, is a Cardassian collaborator of very few scruples, who's dallying with renegade Sisko, a politically apathetic freighter captain. After witnessing Quark's murder, she convinces Sisko and "Smiley" O'Brien to help her evade the Intendant and Garak.

Analysis:

"Crossover" is the most fun I've had watching Star Trek since - well, probably since Trek 6 when Spock said, "Not in front of the Klingons," but that's another story. My only complaint is that we didn't get to see what Kira made Sisko do just before that bathtub scene that got him so huffy! And of course we didn't get to see a scene in which the Intendant doesn't settle merely for stroking Kira's chin...kinda puts a whole new spin on the phrase "playing with yourself," doesn't it?

But I don't want to overlook the fact that there was a lot to love in this episode that had nothing to do with sex - like getting to hear a real belly laugh out of Avery Brooks, and getting to watch Quark snivel! I must confess, as an unrepentant TOS watcher, that "Crossover" did a better job of crossing over with the voyages of the first Enterprise than any other sequel has done, including TNG's Spock and Scotty episodes. Finally, a universe in which James T. Kirk gets the name recognition that he deserves! And, rich irony of ironies, our Kira doesn't even know who he is.

There's been raging debate on the Internet criticizing "Crossover," mostly dealing with pedantic questions about scientific problems with the crossover (like scientific nonsense is new to Star Trek), historical inconsistencies with TOS (ditto), and whether the "Crossover" characters were too out of character. I find this whole debate disturbing.

"Mirror, Mirror" was wonderful Trek because even though it posed serious scientific and metaphysical questions - and ended with a Big Universe-Shaking Speech from Kirk, almost but not quite as bad as his later rendition of the Constitution of the United States - "Mirror, Mirror" was campy! It was funny! And it was sexy (Sulu with his knife and Uhura in that outre outfit, "The Captain's Woman," bearded Spock forcing McCoy to meld with him - Yowza!)

So to anyone out there who disliked "Crossover" on the basis of scientific unreality, inconsistencies with earlier Trek incarnations, worry about Prime Directive breakage, or general goofiness, all I can say is, hmmph. Fun is fun. Kirk knew that.