Ep 8. Meridian

In the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 3 episode 8 titled Meridian, Commander Sisko, Jadzia Dax, and Julian Bashir discover a planet with a unique problem. The planet, Meridian, is only in our dimension for a few days every 60 years, and the inhabitants can only corporealize during that time. After that, they spend the next 60 years in a non-corporeal state.

Dax is fascinated by the planet and its inhabitants. She meets a Meridian man named Deral and the two quickly fall in love. Deral is in a bind because he knows that he will soon lose his corporeal form for the next 60 years and will not be able to be with Dax. However, he invites her to come with him to the other side for the non-corporeal phase. Dax, who is intrigued by this new world, accepts the invitation.

The rest of the crew is skeptical and only reluctantly agrees to allow Dax to go. Sisko warns Dax of the potential dangers of staying too long on the other side and losing herself in the non-corporeal state.

Once they arrive on the planet in the corporeal phase, Dax and Deral enjoy each other's company, but Dax starts to feel uneasy about leaving the planet so quickly. She is afraid she may never see Deral again, so she decides to follow him to the other side and stay in the non-corporeal phase with him.

Meanwhile, back on DS9, the crew discovers that time is moving differently on Meridian than in their own dimension. While only a few days have passed for them, it has been over a year for Dax and Deral. Sisko sends a message to the Meridian planet warning Dax that she may be in danger of losing her corporeal form permanently if she stays on the non-corporeal side too long.

Dax learns that the inhabitants of Meridian are not actually dead, but in a state of suspended animation during the non-corporeal phase. She realizes that if she waits long enough, she may be able to return to the corporeal realm with Deral. However, Deral is hesitant about the idea, fearing for her safety.

When the crew finally finds a way to bring Dax back to their dimension, she must make a difficult decision. She must either remain in the non-corporeal realm with Deral or return to her own dimension and continue her duties aboard DS9.

The episode is a love story that explores the concept of being willing to give everything up for love. It also delves into the dangers of getting lost in a world that is not your own and losing yourself in the process.

Overall, the episode is an emotional journey that asks tough questions about what it means to be human and what lengths we will go to for love.