When you’ve by no means seen the episode, you’re in all probability questioning why Star Trek would current the most effective resolution to authorities corruption in 2024 as riots. As normal with Deep House 9, it’s difficult: as time vacationers, Sisko and Bashir get pleasure from hindsight, and so they know that the terrible Sanctuary District circumstances they’re witnessing are destined to come back to an finish. On this case, they know {that a} man named Gabriel Bell finally stood as much as the corrupt police and led a riot that lastly improved issues.
Our Twenty third-century Star Trek heroes are caught in 2024, and so they initially haven’t any intention of collaborating within the so-called “Bell Riots” or in any other case affecting historical past. Nevertheless, when the true Gabriel Bell will get killed, Sisko takes drastic measures to protect historical past. Particularly, he impersonates Bell and personally leads the riot that helps the federal government claw a little bit of its humanity again by not treating the homeless as disposable, second-class residents.