Synopsis: Commander Sisko falls in love with a mysterious woman.
In this episode the concept of projection is illustrated in a variety of ways. In depth psychology, projection is one way in which bits of material from one’s Eros-driven irrational unconscious is made visible to the Logos-driven rational conscious ego. If the bits of unconscious material are considered positive, projection leads to attraction; if the bits of unconscious material are considered negative, then it is a sign that there is something that is causing a psychic imbalance.
In “Second Sight” Commander Benjamin Sisko meets two feminine figures that outwardly are identical. Fenna is a beautiful, intelligent female; and as such Sisko projects his anima, his ideal inner mate upon her. This is what her appearance is activating inside him psychically. However, Nidell is a woman who is psychically unhappy in her marriage to the overbearing Dr. Gideon Seyetik. Sevetik’s other wives were initially attracted to him and left when his true self was revealed – or in depth psychological terms, when he could no longer hold the projections of their animus’s – their inner ideal mates. But Nidell, coming from a society that mates for life, New Halada, does not have that option.
In the episode Seyetik identifies the appearance of Fenna for what it means to Nidell, it is a cry from her unconscious for help. He understands that Nidell is unhappy being married to him, but culturally she is not able to express this consciously. Her unconscious takes over and creates Fenna; but Fenna coming into physical form has a disastrous affect upon Nidell. In the end, Seyetik is able to once again become the man that can accept Nidell’s inner animus projection, as he sacrifices his life in order to save her. At that moment, Fenna disappears. She is no longer needed as the psychic conflict has been resolved.
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