History Recap / StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS01E17TheForsaken

-->'''Bashir:''' Nothing makes them happy! They are dedicated to being ''unhappy'' and spreading their ''un''-happiness wherever they go! They are... ''The Ambassadors'' Of Unhappy!!!''

-->'''Bashir:''' Nothing makes them happy! They are dedicated to being ''unhappy'' and spreading their ''un''-happiness'' wherever they go! They are... ''The Ambassadors'' Of Unhappy!!!''

Four pain-in-the-ass Federation diplomats have come aboard [=DS9=]. And unluckily for Bashir, Sisko has foisted three of them off on him. The fourth is none other than Lwaxana Troi. While she plays at the Dabo table, she loudly exclaims her brooch has been stolen. Odo is on the case. Since Lwaxana can't sense guilt from anyone, Odo deduces that it's a random Dopterian. As distant cousins of the Ferengi, they are immune to mind-reading. And much to Odo's chagrin, Lwaxana instantly takes a shine to him.

After nearly getting the Changeling equivalent of his bones jumped by Lwaxana, Odo actually asks for Sisko's help in getting her to leave him alone. Sisko merely laughs him off and tells him to handle it.

O'Brien meanwhile has figured out the problem. The mysterious program is a lifeform that craves computer activity, so trying to shut down processes to get rid of it is exactly the wrong thing to do. Likening the program to an attention-starved puppy, he creates a subroutine to draw it's attention, calling it a "dog house." The ploy works, the program becomes benign, and all systems return to normal. O'Brien decides to keep the program and is advised by Sisko, "Just keep it off the furniture."

And as for Bashir? Our long-suffering doctor gets recommended for a commendation by the three diplomats when he saves them from an exploding corridor fire.

-->'''Bashir:''' NOTHING MAKES THEM HAPPY! They are dedicated to being ''unhappy'' and spreading their '''''un'''-happiness'' wherever they go! They ARE... '''The ''Ambassadors'' Of ''Unhappy''!!!'''

Meanwhile, O'Brien is fighting with the notoriously finicky Cardassian computer system. A problem not helped when a mysterious probe comes through the wormhole.

Lwaxana passes by the time by talking, even recounting her experiences from "Menage A Troi." Odo awkwardly tolerates her conversation but eventually opens up with some of his backstory, recounting being examined by scientists and cajoled into doing party tricks. It explains why he's so "self-sufficient."

* BlatantLies: Bashir claims that Sisko can't visit the ambassadors because of some "recalibration" going on. When pressed for details, Bashir stumbles over himself and says that it's a whole system-wide... recalibration. We don't need to be told that he's lying out of his ass. It doesn't help that the Vulcan ambassador wants to observe the "recalibration sweep", leavign Bashir scrambling to ChangeTheUncomfortableSubject.

* BlatantLies: Bashir claims that Sisko can't visit the ambassadors because of some "recalibration" going on. When pressed for details, Bashir stumbles over himself and says that it's a whole system-wide... recalibration. We don't need to be told that he's lying out of his ass.

* KnowNothingKnowItAll: One of the ambassadors is criticized for spending the whole flight to the station giving the captain advice on how to run his ship.

* YouNeedToGetLaid: When Odo complains to Sisko about Lwaxana's aggressive pursuit, Sisko suggests that he allow her to catch him.

* PunishmentDetail: How Bashir sees his assignment. Sisko mentions to him how when he was a junior officer, Curzon used to make him escort pompous ambassadors as well to keep them busy.
--> '''Sisko:''' As a matter of fact, Curzon Dax used to take perverse pleasure in assigning me to take care of VIP guests.\\
'''Bashir:''' Oh, so now you take the same perverse pleasure in doing it to me.\\
'''Sisko:''' Exactly.

* BodyHorror: Odo struggling to maintain his shape as he nears his regeneration period. This is the first time we see Odo in a deteriorating state, and it certainly won't be the last.

* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: O'Brien asks Sisko to listen closely to the computer's voice and see if he notices anything interesting. He's ''not'' actually talking about the fact that the computer has the same voice as GuestStar Lwaxana Troi.

Four pain-in-the-ass Federation diplomats have come aboard [=DS9=]. And unluckily for Bashir, Sisko has foisted three of them off on him.

The fourth? None other than Lwaxana Troi. While she plays at the Dabo table, she loudly exclaims her brooch has been stolen. Though she doesn't sense any guilt in the room, Odo deduces and proves it's a random Dopterian. Distant cousins of the Ferengi, and thus immune to mind-reading. And much to Odo's chagrin, Lwaxana instantly takes a shine to him.

After nearly getting the Changeling equivalent of his bones jumped by Lwaxana, Odo actually asks for Sisko's help in getting her to leave him alone. Sisko merely laughs him off, and tells him to handle it.

The probe meanwhile is interfering with the stations computers systems, knocking random ones out at random intervals.

And just his luck, Odo happens to be in a lift with Lwaxana when the power cuts out. The transporters are down, he can't shape-shift out, and power restoration could take hours. In short, he's having a ''really'' bad day.

Lwaxana passes by the time by talking, even recounting her experiences from "Menage A Troi". Odo, being polite as possible, tries figuring how many volts are in the lift. Though after a while, he shares his stories with her. About being examined by scientists and being used as a party favor. And why he' so "Self-sufficient".

While the ops station tries figuring out how to expel the probes influence from their computers, Sisko asks Kira if she knows Odo's regeneration cycle schedule.

Turns out it's hour 15 of his 16 hour cycle. And he can barely hold himself together. He's more than ashamed of being in this state around someone. As he explains, it's very private. So Lwaxana shares a private secret with him. Her "hair". Well, her wig. She wears it because he regular hair is "Too normal." After sharing this little moment, Lwaxana makes a bucket out of her skirt so Odo can revert to his liquid state.

O'Brien meanwhile has figured out the problem. Comparing the mysterious program to a puppy, he realizes he's been trying to deprive it of what it wants. And after giving it just that, the program becomes benign and all systems are returned to normal. O'Brien decides to keep it, and is advised by Sisko to "Keep it off the furniture."

And as for Bashir? He gets recommended for a commendation by the three diplomats when he saves them from an exploding corridor fire.

* CallBack: At one point, Odo sticks his head out of a turbolift, looks both ways to see if Lwaxana's nearby, and walks out just in time for her to ambush him--just like Picard did in the ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' episode "Half a Life."

* DoubleStandardStalkingFemaleAfterMale: An JustForFun/{{egregious}} example. Odo's discomfiture over Lwaxana's unwanted attentions is PlayedForLaughs throughout, and Sisko gives him the brush-off when he asks for help. Try to imagine a female officer with a difficult upbringing and poor social skills dealing with a male suitor who won't take no for an answer getting treated the same way. What makes it worse is that Sisko comments '''in this very episode''' that once when he saw a male ambassador sexually harassing a female officer, he dealt with it by punching the ambassador in question.

* FirstNameBasis: After spending TheTeaser being fairly uptight and demanding Julian refer to her by her full proper title, the Arbazan ambassador, after Julian rescues her and her colleagues from a fire, asks that he now refer to her as "Taxco".

* NotSoAboveItAll: Sisko assigned Bashir to three of the ambassadors, and admits he took some enjoyment in it.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: The "puppy" AI is never mentioned again, even though you'd think it would come up during the Dominion occupation.

* PleaseDontLeaveMe: The alien probe's computer program is starved for attention and willing to do anything to ensure O'Brien gives it attention, up to and including interfereing with the station's computer and putting its occupants in mortal peril.

* {{Adorkable}}: You wouldn't think ''Odo'' of all people could be this. But his sheer confusion about Lwaxana's flirting is most assuredly this.

* WouldRatherSuffer: Odo, trapped in a turbolift with Lwaxana and listening to her prattle on, finds himself wondering how many volts are in an open panel.

* OddFriendship: Odo and Lwaxana seem to have formed one of these at the end of the episode.

* DoubleStandardStalkingFemaleAfterMale: An JustForFun/{{egregious}} example. Odo's discomfiture over Lwaxana's unwanted attentions is PlayedForLaughs throughout, and Sisko gives him the brush-off when he asks for help. Try to imagine a female officer with a difficult upbringing and poor social skills dealing with a male suitor who won't take no for an answer getting treated the same way. Sisko comments in this very episode that once when he saw a male ambassador sexually harassing a female officer, he dealt with it by punching the ambassador in question.

* NotMeThisTime: Quark may have little respect for others' property rights, but he didn't steal Lwaxana's hair brooch. Odo even sides with him on that one.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: When he's trapped by Lwaxana, Odo says "Good Lord."
** Then again, he might be just startled (or, worse, ''scared'') enough that he uses the single interjection he could think for it, one he likely learned...

* CallBack: While trapped in the lift, Lwaxana recounts her experiences from the [[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration Next Generation]] episode "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS3E24MenageATroi Menage A Troi]]".

* ContinuityNod: At one point, Odo sticks his head out of a turbolift, looks both ways to see if Lwaxana's nearby, and walks out just in time for her to ambush him--just like Picard did in the ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' episode "Half a Life."

Four pain-in-the-ass federation diplomats have come aboard [=DS9=]. And unluckily for Bashir, Sisko has foisted three of them off on him.

The fourth? None other than Lwaxana Troi. While she plays at the Dabo table, she loudly exclaims her broach has been stolen. Though she doesn't sense any guilt in the room, Odo deduces and proves it's a random Dopterian. Distant cousins of the Ferengi, and thus immune to mind-reading. And much to Odo's chagrin, Lwaxana instantly takes a shine to him.

And as for Bashir? He get's recommended for a commendation by the three diplomats when he saves them from an exploding corridor fire.

* NotMeThisTime: Quark may have little respect for others' property rights, but he didn't steal Lwaxana's hair broach. Odo even sides with him on that one.

* RescueRomance: Sort of. Odo saves Lwaxana's hair broach instead of her life, but that's apparently enough.

* DoubleStandardStalkingFemaleAfterMale: An JustForFun/{{egregious}} example. Odo's discomfiture over Lwaxana's unwanted attentions is PlayedForLaughs throughout, and Sisko gives him the brush-off when he asks for help. Try to imagine a female officer with a difficult upbringing and poor social skills dealing with a male suitor who won't take no for an answer getting treated the same way. (And as it happened, Sisko once observed a similar situation and dealt with it by punching the male suitor in question.)

* UncomfortableElevatorMoment: Odo spends half the episode in one with Lwaxana, courtesy of an ElevatorFailure.