Deep Space Nine definitely did some odd stand alone episodes in which the characters were in little to no peril. Oftentimes, they fell flat. Add in the occasional holdout story, and the situation gets far worse. “Badda Bing, Badda Bing’ is both a frivolous story and a holdout show, so ought to be nearly unbearable. But you know what? It is so weird, it is too fun to dismiss.The program designer for Vic Fontaine’s lounge added a buried element that as designed to eventually pop up to keep things from getting boring--Vic’s place gets taken over by the mob. The DS9 staff is not happy about the change, so they plan to rob the casino, thereby cutting off the mob boss’ cut, and running the new owner out of town.
No, seriously.
All of the senior staff, sans Worf, but plus Kassidy Yates, take part in the Ocean’s Eleven homage. It does not go as smoothly as planned, but it does all work out in the end. Because this is all a holdout program, the entertainment value has to come from fun character moments rather than any danger. Some stuff is definitely corny--Odo obsessed with the dancing girls, O’Brien taken of to be strip searched, Bashir obviously pretending to be James Bond, and Sisko singing a duet with Vic to close out the show are true stand outs.
So is that outfit Nicole DeBoer is wearing. I do not know what is wrong with those of you hating on her. She was hot stuff back then.
The only peculiar part of the story is Sisko’s initial objection to joining in the program. It is set in 1962 before the civil rights movement was really underway. He resents that Kassidy is playing along in a world she would not have been welcomed in. Her response is to the gist of it being all right to play along because there is total equality in the 24th century. With that, she convinces him to play along. The only reason I can think of for that sequence to be in the episode was asa trade off to Avery Brooks, who is big on civil rights history, in order to cajole him into singing.
Normally, I would dismiss such an episode, but for whatever reason, I liked it. It is not one of the best episodes of the series, but it is worth seeing after you have known most of these characters for years. “Badda Bing, Badda Bing" serves as a nice breather before the final arc begins. There will not be a quiet moment left until the clock runs out.
Rating: *** (out of 5)
