What effects on the Star Trek: DS9 episode "Visionary" did "The Deadly Years" have?
Chief O'Brien comes into radiation in the "Visionary" episode that allows him to travel through time. Influential on the writing, Ronald D. Moore included a citation to the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "The Deadly Years". Doctor Bashir treats O'Brien's radiation poisoning specifically with a medication called Hyronalin. Previously discussed in "The Deadly Years" as a possible remedy for the consequences of fast-aging radiation was hyronaline.
Ever specifically reference the "Deadly Years" episode in Star Trek: DS9?
Though Hyronalin, a treatment discussed in "The Deadly Years," was used in the "Visionary" episode, there is no clear, on-screen citation to the original series episode. For those who know Star Trek: TOS, the link is subdued and more of an Easter egg.
Does "Visionary" establish a link to another Star Trek: DS9 episode?
Indeed, the usage of Hyronalin in "Visionary" inadvertently created a link to the next episode, "Distant Voices," in which Doctor Bashir suffers a hallucination reality whereby he progressively aged, much as the cast in "The Deadly Years." Although this relationship is accidental, it gives the story more complexity especially for those who recall the original show.
How did Star Trek: DS9 reference "The Deadly Years" visually?
Doctor Bashir fast ages in the episode "Distant Voices" from the illusory reality he encounters. Bashir's remarkable old-age makeup won Star Trek: Deep Space Nine an Emmy award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Makeup for a Series. This graphically reflects the drastic aging effects in "The Deadly Years," therefore tying the two episodes even further.
Why did Ronald D. Moore call for these TOS references?
Dedicated Star Trek: The Original Series enthusiast, Ronald D. Moore frequently included references to it into his work. These references helped him to link the original series canon with the 1990s Star Trek episodes like DS9. Since he freely acknowledged to have a superior recollection for these references than for his more recent work on other Star Trek shows, he also believed that these references represented his personal fandom.
Did the Star Trek series have any further examples of Hyronalin use?
Although Star Trek: DS9 and "Visionary" mostly highlight Hyronalin, the medication was also used in other shows including Star Trek: The Next Generation in episodes like "Final Mission" and "Disaster". Even Star Trek: Voyager cited it in the "Real Life" episode. This indicates that from "The Deadly Years" and displays a constant advancement in medical technology, Starfleet's medical procedures kept consistency with anti-radiation therapies.
