10 Dumbest Things In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
1. And You're In the Room
Truly the Ferengi laser whip of the Deep Space Nine experience is the thankfully short-lived holographic communications array used in just two episodes; Doctor Bashir, I Presume and For the Uniform.
Seemingly an inspired story choice, the holographic communications device offered a new way of storytelling. Characters didn't just need to be on the viewscreen or heard over a speaker because now they could be seen on the bridge or Sisko's office in full life-size three dimensions. On paper this probably reads well but in execution 1990's TV just couldn't pull it off making the whole process rather awkward.
In For the Uniform it does mean that Sisko can have a series of visceral one to ones with Eddington who also happens to have such a device. In Dr Bashir I Presume, the presiding admiral is in the room for the key conversations, however in the staging it's more than clear we have an actor standing in a nicely lit rectangle.
In universe, it makes perfect sense and a bold step forward but in terms of an absorbing story it's just not clever. Discovery achieved the same effect with better results, making the characters appear to be more projection than physically present. Ditched after just two episodes (which is longer than the Vortas' telekinetic ability lasted), the writers realised that it detracted from the feel of the series leaving characters to stand motionless and recite dialogue.
Why so dumb and why at the top of this list? Because it's a brilliant concept that wasn't ready for the time and wasn't completely thought through before its execution.