Episode #36: Shadowplay
Base of Galactic Science Fiction :: SCIENCE FICTION in TELEVISION :: The Computer Age of TV Sci-Fi
Page 1 of 1 • Share •
Episode #36: Shadowplay
SHADOWPLAY (prod. #436; 16th episode of 2nd season)
written by Robert Hewitt Wolfe; Directed by Robert Scheerer


In the main story, Odo and Dax are investigating omicron particle emissions from on the other side of the wormhole and come across a peaceful village. Checking out a strange contraption in the center of the village, they are confronted by the head villager (Kenneth Mars) who, leveling a gun on them, accuses them of being responsible for the disappearances of 22 villagers. Odo & Dax convince him that they are innocent and offer to help; the missing villagers disappeared one-by-one over a period of months, including the mother of a little girl whom Odo unexpectedly gets a bit attached to. There's also the girl's grandfather (played by veteran sf actor Ken Tobey).


The story is a nice little mystery in the first half and seems like it's right up Odo's alley for his detective skills; some of his alarm bells go off when he finds out no one ever leaves the area, but the answers are... a bit unexpected. Dax & Odo determine that
- Spoiler:
- the entire village and its inhabitants are a hologram (like a holodeck on a ship but outside on a planet, the field spread to a limited distance; if a villager walks far enough, they would disappear), generated by the holographic projector in the center of the village. The villagers have been disappearing because the device is breaking down. Dax says she can probably fix it - just that she needs to turn it off first. There's another surprise when we find out who is NOT a hologram.


This episode plays around with perceptions of reality and these kinds of stories are always intriguing - how real is this particular reality, for instance? This
- Spoiler:
- holographic technology also hints at nearly godlike ability; the 'holo-people' think of themselves as real and the programming necessary to create something like this is staggering - the village has existed for about 30 years, with holo-people growing and even being born. In a way, it's just an advanced version of watching a TV show but Odo voices a possibility that it may actually represent an alternate form of life. There were similar episodes on TNG (Future Imperfect) and the later Enterprise (Oasis,also with Rene Auberjonois!), as well as films like The Matrix, but this one was the most poignant.


» Mai-Otome 0~S.ifr~ Episode 1: You'll Die If You Look Away
» Mai-Otome Episode 13: In the Crimson Sky...
» Mai-Otome Zwei Episode 4: Connecting Dreams
» Worst Episode Ever!
» Mai-Otome 0~S.ifr~ Episode 3: I Want to Live
» Mai-Otome Episode 13: In the Crimson Sky...
» Mai-Otome Zwei Episode 4: Connecting Dreams
» Worst Episode Ever!
» Mai-Otome 0~S.ifr~ Episode 3: I Want to Live
Base of Galactic Science Fiction :: SCIENCE FICTION in TELEVISION :: The Computer Age of TV Sci-Fi
Page 1 of 1
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum