Episode Review - The Begotten (Deep Space Nine, Season 5)

For those who are new to my episode reviews, you can find the post where I establish my point criteria here

Overview – Quark sells Odo what he believes to be a dead Changeling. It turns out that it is actually an infant, albeit sick, Changeling, and Odo begins to nurse it back to health. As Odo begins to raise and teach the infant, he is visited by Doctor Mora Pol, the Bajoran scientist who raised Odo. The two individuals clash and then cooperate in the endeavor, but when the infant takes a turn for the worse, it gives Odo a special gift. Meanwhile, the O’Briens are preparing for the birth of their son, who has been carried by Kira to full term. When her romantic partner Shakar shows up, he and Miles clash over how the birth should be handled.

Score: 8/10 – In one of the most important episodes of the fifth season, we see Odo come to a major turning point. Not only does he get to bond with an infant Changeling, but through the unfortunate passing of it, it restores to Odo his ability to shape shift. For much of the season we wondered whether or not Odo would forever be a solid. In addition to regaining his abilities, he is able to reach a new level of understanding and resolution with his own “father”, Doctor Mora. We also have the birth of the newest member of the O’Brien family, and the end of Kira’s pregnancy that was written in to deal with the real-life pregnancy of actor Nana Visitor. Here is where the story weakens just a little bit. Miles and Shakar arguing with each other gets a bit annoying, and you can’t help but cheer when Kira kicks them both out of the delivery room. It is too bad that this is the last time we see Shakar, and I also think there was a missed moment with Kira here.  In the ending of the episode Kira expresses to Odo some remorse over no longer having the baby in her life. It is a nice moment as each reflects upon the loss of their pseudo-child and the gifts they gave them. It would have been interesting to have followed up on Kira’s missing the baby and wanting to be a bigger part of his life as she had just spent about five months being the surrogate mother. Still, this is quite a moving episode.

Relevance – 3 points. More than anything, this episode is relevant in that we see Odo regain his shapeshifting abilities as the young Changeling reverts Odo back to his previous self. Whether or not he Founders wanted this, Odo’s sentence from “Broken Link” to live as a solid has finished. Second, the birth of Kirayoshi O’Brien ends the Kira-pregnancy storyline. Finally, we see Doctor Mora Pol for the second and final time, as well as the last appearance of Shakar Edon. We also have mention that Miles missed the birth of Molly (which occurred in the TNG episode “Disaster”).

Continuity – 3 points. Character continuity is a big check. Odo’s journey through parenthood/teacher/mentor sees the Constable face a variety of emotions, and he behaves as one would expect. We also see Miles, Kira, Keiko, and pretty much everyone else involved in the delivery act in their comedic ways as well. Story continuity is a bit of issue here. When people factor in dates and events, it is the Changeling masquerading as Bashir that delivers Kirayoshi and witnesses the death of the infant Changeling. This is has caused some fans to question whether or not Changeling-Bashir would have or should have done more for the Changeling. As I thought about this, I felt that it made sense that things progressed as they did. To keep his cover, Bashir-Changeling was very limited in what he could do. Universe continuity is also good here, so full marks for this section.

Character Development – 3 points. Definitely an important episode for Odo’s development. It is one of his Top 5 episodes for his character. He goes through a roller coaster ride of emotions, experiencing hope, joy, fear, and loss, with his ultimate high point of becoming a Changeling again. I would offer that this journey allows him to reconcile with Mora and he finds himself in a far better place than he has been in for a long time. There is also some for Kira and, to a lesser extent, Miles with the delivery of Kirayoshi. I stated earlier that I wish they would have developed the post-partum separation a little more, but we at least het a glimpse of it at the end of the episode as Odo and Kira share what they have gained in the loss of their “children”. I was quite touched by the parallel that these two characters had with being parents. It brought two close friends even closer.

Social Commentary – 3 points. I have touched on this already but let us examine the idea of losing a child more closely. Both Kira and Odo lost their respective child. Odo’s was due to death, and Kira gave hers up. Yes, Kira was a surrogate mother, but she still formed a unique bond with it. In both instances having the child, no matter how briefly, gave something to each of them. Kira gained an appreciation for the power of motherhood, something she had previously discarded as being something she wanted. Odo, in addition to regaining his shape-shifting abilities, gained something equally if not more valuable. He gained an appreciation and understanding for his own “father”, Doctor Mora. Odo came to understand what Mora experienced raising Odo. It allowed the two of them to repair their relationship. One thing that being a parent does is cause you to fully appreciate your own parents, in spite of their flaws.

Cool Stuff – 2 points. A point is scored for the scene where Odo regains his shape-shifting abilities. In this scene Odo emerges onto the Promenade and takes the form of a hawk, flying through air. There are several things that makes this scene work. One is the fact that he leaves behind his uniform, which not only makes sense from a logic viewpoint but is symbolic on Odo’s leaving behind his solid state once and for all. The music is also essential in making the most out of this scene, and Odo’s expression upon landing conveys so much powerful emotion. It is a credit to actor Rene Auberjonois to be able to express such strong feelings through his prosthetic makeup. I also am going to score a point for the infant Changeling. There is a scene where the infant takes the image of a face, mimicking Odo’s. It is just a neat little scene that forges a strong connection between Odo and the infant. When the scene cuts to a shot from behind the Changeling, it is apparently a puppet designed by assistant director Louis Race. Apparently there was no budget for the effect, so he went ahead and made and performed the puppet. It worked well and shows how using practical effects can be just as good as CGI.

Rank – Admiral (22 points). This episode gives Odo a real turning point and provides us with an important step forward in his overall story. We have the birth of Kirayoshi that brings to an end the pregnant Kira episode. We are treated to a story that is warm, sometimes funny, and deeply touching. A real gem of an episode.

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Episode Review - Crossover (Deep Space Nine, Season 2)

For those who are new to my episode reviews, you can find the post where I establish my point criteria here

Overview – Kira and Bashir are returning from opening a hospital on the New Bajor colony in the Gamma Quadrant. As they enter the wormhole, something happens with their warp field that sends them to a parallel universe where Klingons and Cardassians are allies and humans are slaves. Learning that this is the same universe that legendary Starfleet Captain James T. Kirk once visited, they find themselves in a power struggle where familiar faces are not the people they knew in their universe. Kira and Bashir try to find a way back to their universe before they are killed (or worse).

Score: 9/10 – Ah, the Mirror Universe, where all bets are off. “Mirror, Mirror” is one of the best Original Series episode, and we fans finally get to see how Kirk’s influence on Spock is resolved. Sadly, it looks as if Kirk royally messed things up for the Terran Empire almost a century ago. Spock’s new empire was weak and soon fell victim to the combined Klingon-Cardassian alliance that is now the main enemy in this alternate universe. This episode is the first of five episodes in Deep Space Nine that are set in this universe originally established in the Original Series, and will be revisited in both Enterprise and Discovery. One of the strengths of this episode is that the counterpart characters are so delightful to see. While there is little difference in O’Brien (or “Smiley”, as the mirror Ben Sisko calls him), Garak is far more treacherous and sadistic, Odo is a ruthless villain, Sisko a care-free collaborator, Kira a seductive and twisted tyrant, and Quark a lowly bartender who tries to help out the humans out of a sense of decency instead of profit. The other fun aspect of this episode is that all bets are off with these counterpart characters. Odo and Quark are both killed, the former is a bit of an explosive manner, the latter off screen. This basically means that nobody (outside our crewmen from our universe) is safe, which really frees up the story telling. There is also a good dose of humor at the beginning of the episode as Bashir tries to charm his way into Kira’s graces. Once they enter into the mirror universe, however, the levity is appropriately finished and things get really serious very quickly. A great piece of Star Trek television.

Relevance - 3 points. So there is the obvious connection to the Original series episode “Mirror, Mirror”, plus the four mirror universe episodes that follow in DS9. Add to that the great two-part story from Enterprise and the significant plot points in Discovery’s first season, and you have a solid reason for knowing and watching this episode. There are also some other important references. Kira and Bashir are returning from establishing a hospital on a new Bajoran colony in the Gamma Quadrant. In the season finale episode “The Jem’Hadar” it will be revealed that the Dominion massacred this colony. Overall, a very relevant episode for the franchise.

Continuity – 3 points. Story continuity works out well here. While the Intendant Kira knows that Bashir and Kira need to die (according to Alliance law), her reasons for keeping them alive make sense and advance the story. Universe and character continuity are a bit trickier here, as this is a different universe playing by its own rules. Suffice it to say, there is not anything in the mirror universe that doesn’t make sense. It was a logical progression of how the universe came to be where it was in DS9 from what we saw in the original series. For what we did see of our own characters (not the MU counterparts), everyone was acting as they should. What was fun was seeing how our universe people compare to their MU versions.

Character Development – 3 points. Definitely a Kira and Bashir episode, both characters go through some significant growth. A lot of it is established in the opening teaser scene where Bashir is trying to get the Major to warm up to him, just like he supposedly did with Chief O’Brien (while, contrary to the good Doctor’s opinion, the chief and him weren’t close yet, but they eventually become the best of friends). As he tries to get her to call him Julian, we see how Kira is still more annoyed with him. Then they end up in a struggle for survival. Bashir grows up here a lot as he is taken out of his comfort zone, while in the meantime Kira is faced with a much different situation. She faces who she could have been if things had turned out differently, and it is clear that she doesn’t like it. Nobody likes to face their evil twin. When the story ends, it seems as if Kira has come to a new-found respect for Bashir.

Social Commentary – 2 points. I often find that with really exciting episodes it is harder to find much to score in this section. As I thought about “Crossover”, there were a couple things that we could take from this. First, there is always something to be said about confronting your dark side, which is what Kira does here. That’s good for a couple points, at least.

Cool Stuff – 2 points. Where to start, where to start. Well, we’re in the MIRROR UNIVERSE! That is cool in itself, to see how everything and everyone turned out after Kirk and company visited there about a century before. Of particular note is Quark, who is likely the most different in the MU than here. To see him as being the only decent person who is willing to help others with no thought to himself is fun. Also, I am giving a point for the cool effect of watching mirror Odo get obliterated by Bashir.

Exploding Odo

Rank – Admiral (22 points). This is definitely a highlight for the second season of DS9. It is exciting, fun, and dark. We pick up where a classic Original Trek episode left off and sets up a whole bunch of future episodes. Best of all, it’s a well-made episode.

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Don't like the Mirror Universe?

Episode Review - Duet (Deep Space Nine, Season 1)

For those who are new to my episode reviews, you can find the post where I establish my point criteria here

Overview – A Cardassian arrives on the station seeking medical attention. When it is revealed that he has Kalla-Nohra Syndrome, Kira has him arrested on suspicion of being a war criminal. As Kira interrogates the man, identified as Aamin Marritza, suspicions arise on the true nature of his identity. He is identified as Gul Darhe’el, commander of an infamous labor camp that Kira had helped liberate. In spite of this revelation, the evidence does not fully add up, and as Kira discovers the truth of the man they have in custody, she is forced to examine the truth of her feelings towards Cardassians.

Score: 9/10 – This is arguably the strongest episode of the entire first season. We are given a remarkable character story that provides us an in-depth study of the effects of war and genocide from both the perspective of the oppressed and the oppressor. The aftermath of the occupation of Bajor is a common theme in the early seasons of DS9, and “Duet” shows us how we got great television out of it. Kudos to Nana Visitor and guest star Harris Yulin for a tour de force in their roles. The writing was just as strong as the acting, and when superior acting is given an amazing script, the result is a brilliant story. There is little in the way of physical action, but it is the intrigue and dialogue that gives us the dramatic power that fuels this superior episode.

Relevance - 2 points. One point is scored for the first mention of the Shakaar resistance cell. We would eventually meet Shakaar and other members of the cell in future Kira-centered episodes. Another point is scored for introducing the character of Neela, the Bajoran engineer that would play an important part in the season finale.

Continuity – 3 points. Story and universe continuity are both maintained here. For universe continuity, there is definitely a pattern that is respected with the verbose nature of Cardassians. Marritza makes monologue after compelling monologue, much like Dukat and Garak were famous for. Where we have a possible issue is in character continuity. In the previous episode, “Dramatis Personae”, Kira and Sisko seemed to have come to an understanding and respect for each other. In this, the very next episode, Kira goes behind Sisko’s back to get her way in dealing with Marritza. In spite of the new-found respect for Sisko, I do not see this action as going against Kira’s character. Some habits are hard to break, and the effects of the Cardassian occupation on Kira are difficult to overcome overnight. Besides, the power of the story would have been diminished if she hadn’t acted the way she did.

Character Development – 2 points. This is one of the strongest episodes for Kira’s character. She had a deep hatred towards Cardassians at the start of the series, and though she mellowed somewhat during the season, the reality of how the occupation affected her hits her with full force. The most important part of her journey in this episode is when she sees that some of the Cardassians showed true remorse and guilt over the actions of their people. To see Kira’s demeanour change from suspicion to realisation to sympathy for Marritza. Then, in the final scene, a Bajoran fatally stabs Marritza. As Kira asks the Bajoran why when Marritza was innocent, the killer states that him being Cardassian was enough of a reason to kill him. Kira, in a brilliantly acted and written line, admits that it is not enough anymore. This is a huge leap for Kira and continues to grow throughout the series.

Social Commentary – 3 points. This episode is an example of not only how relevant DS9 was in its time, but it was ahead of its time. When this episode was first aired, it served as a reminder of tragic and horrible events such as the Holocaust. There were some obvious parallels for us to follow. We were also witnessing the then current ethnic war in the former Yugoslavia. Since that time, we have seen similar conflicts in Rwanda and several places in the Middle East. We still, to this day, see racial unrest in America. With all of this, it is very likely for all of us to see one group of people as the enemy where everyone is guilty for the sins of some in the group. The trick is realising that not all who look like those who wronged you are guilty of their sins. Even if we may be the victims of oppression, we should not make the mistake in hating everyone who look like those who harmed us. There is also a great message in the character of Marritza. We see a man that truly feels responsible for the sins of his people, even though he himself was innocent. His desire to sacrifice himself was not only motivated by a desire to right the wrongs that his people committed against Bajor, but he recognizes that while Cardassia refuses to accept responsibility for their actions, they cannot truly move forward as a people.

Cool Stuff – 2 points. Definitely a point scored for the performances of Nana Visitor and Harris Yulin. Kira goes on an emotional roller coaster ride as Yulin pulls off an almost perfect deception for the most noble of reasons. I also score a point for the final scene. I was in high school then, and twenty-five years later I still remember the power of seeing Kira crying over a dying Cardassian that was willing to sacrifice his life to help both the Bajorans and the Cardassians emerge as better people.

Rank – Admiral (21 points). This episode shows the strength of DS9 and Star Trek in general when it comes to exploring the human condition in a science fiction setting. We have a powerful journey of one of the main characters learn to care and even forgive a member of a species that oppressed her people for decades while at the same time give us something to think about with respect to our own situation. More than ever we need this type of television.

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If you would like to read an episode review from any of the Trek series, click the following link to get to the series catalog. If the episode you want reviewed has not been done yet, then feel free to request it in the comments and I will see what I can do.

Episode Review - Defiant (DS9, Season 3)

For those who are new to my episode reviews, you can find the post where I establish my point criteria here

Overview – Kira, under stress from her duties, is ordered by Doctor Bashir to take some R and R time. As she settles in at Quark’s to begin her “treatment”, she is met by Commander William Riker of the Enterprise. As the two spend more time together, Kira offers Riker a tour of the station, including a visit to the Defiant. On board the Defiant, Riker and Kira finds themselves alone. When Kira activates the main computer on the bridge, Riker stuns her and takes over the ship with the help of some Maquis members. Back on the station, the crew are contacted by Riker about a potential warp-core breach. As the station’s crew allow Riker to pilot the ship safely away from the DS9, the ship suddenly goes into warp. The crew soon learn that it was not William T. Riker, but Thomas Riker who was created during a transporter accident several years ago. Thomas Riker had grown disenfranchised with Starfleet since his return to active duty and was a suspected Maquis sympathizer. Upon contacting Gul Dukat and informing him of the development, Commander Sisko soon finds himself on Cardassia, assisting Dukat and the Cardassians in locating the Defiant and stopping Riker. As the hunt continues, more mysteries begin to surface, putting both Sisko and Dukat in a delicate situation.

Tom Riker removes his clever disguise

Score: 8/10 – Wow, what a way to bring Johnathan Frakes into Deep Space Nine. I thought that this was a brilliant idea and was wonderfully executed. The wonderful twist of having the Riker in question be Thomas Riker is a great continuation of the TNG episode “Second Chances”. The fun thing about this twist is that since it is William T Riker, all bets are off and the survival of Thomas Riker is not a sure thing. There are some humorous moments at the beginning of the episode as see Kira breakdown the way that we sometimes want to at work (or maybe we sometimes do). I also appreciate how Bashir takes command of her meltdown and gives her an order to have fun. It’s nice to see Kalita again, as we saw her previously in the episode “Pre-emptive Strike”. There is also the interesting insight to Cardassian politics, with Dukat realising that there is more to the Obsidian Order than they let on. This almost side-story of Sisko and Dukat having to team up to not only catch Riker but to sidestep the interference of the Obsidian Order representative (played with delicious sass by Tricia O’Neil, her third Trek role). Most of all, this is a story of Thomas Riker, who shows that like is identical “twin” William, is a masterful and crafty strategist. How he was able to charm his way with both Kira and Sisko, and he was even able to bluff his way out of not remembering Dax. Of particular note, I thought that the biggest problem with his plan was how to deal with Chief O’Brien, who knew Commander Riker very well. If anyone was going to spot the ruse, it would be Miles. Thomas (via the writers) handled it perfectly by pretending that the two of them had a huge falling out. It took the good-natured Chief off his game enough to get him out of the picture, wondering in bewilderment how he had offended his friend. It threw us fans for a loop as well, which is how effective the writing and acting was. Where the episode comes up a bit short was the romance between Riker and Kira. It seemed a bit out of place and out of character for Kira, but more on that in a moment.

Dukat receiving a briefing on a new threat

Relevance – 2 points. The purpose of the Obsidian Order Fleet in this episode will be made clear in the future episode “By Inferno’s Light”. As of this episode, the Obsidian Order was forbidden to have a fleet, so the revelation of it was a shock to Dukat. We learn later that this is a fleet being built with the sole purpose to wipe out the Founders. Of course, we must score a point for continuing, and likely concluding, the story of Thomas Riker. There are a few stories that I wish DS9 could have followed up, and Tom Riker ranks near the top for me. It is unfortunate that we do not see if Kira ever keeps her promise to free him, and it appears that the door is open for a follow up, but it was not meant to be.

Continuity – 2 points. Story continuity checks out here. Everything in Tom’s plan makes sense and is well executed. Universe continuity also checks out, especially with regards to the Obsidian Order and their secret covert operations that are absent from the knowledge of the ruling government. Where I am going to have to deduct a point is Kira. I must be honest that it is very unlike her to fall for Riker in a romantic fashion while she is in the midst of a relationship with Bariel. Some may say that she got caught up in a combination of the heat of the moment and Riker’s charisma, but that conclusion is very contrary to her core character. Kira is fiercely loyal, and as compassionate as she is, I just don’t see her giving a condemned Riker a goodbye kiss out of pity.

Character Development – 2 points. Kira gets a fair bit of attention here, as does Sisko (Ben Sisko, of course, as Jake does not appear in this episode). Sisko gets some great insight into what is going on within the Cardassian government, especially a sense that not every aspect of it is in sync as Dukat would have him believe. This episode also gives Sisko and Dukat a chance to work together, and the give and take negotiations that they engage in at the end shows Sisko’s diplomatic skills. Kira, as I mentioned, is a little out of character in how she falls for Riker, but we still see her determination and resolve on full display here. She uses her drive and reason to help Riker come to a proper resolution of the situation. Some of the irony in her tale here is that she starts off being stressed, ordered to relax, and because of it ends up in an even more stressful situation. I think, most of all, it was fun to watch her totally lose it on everyone at the beginning of the episode. I know I have had days where all I wanted to do was put my foot down everywhere at the same time, I just never went that far. Good thing Julian pulled her back from the edge.

Kira receiving her treatment

Social Commentary – 2 points. Thomas Riker is a character that many can relate to. He was left behind, forgotten, and then when he learns that his world moved on without “him” (but instead another version of “him”), he is struggling to find his identity. In “Defiant”, the episode title is not necessarily a reference to the ship he steals, but instead his attitude to a society that he just cannot seem to find a place in. So he leaves Starfleet and joins the Maquis, and almost pulls off a major victory for them. Ultimately, he discovers that he still wants to be a Starfleet officer, as evidenced by his actions. So while he is defiant to the organization that he was once a part of, his defiance is really to himself, the William T. Riker who has had a much better go of things. While many of us who have been dealt a bad hand do not turn on their society and rebel, we do understand the allure of doing so.

Prepare for the unexpected

Cool Stuff – 2 points. Thomas Riker played by Johnathan Frakes is definitely a highlight here, so I score a point there. This was a perfect story for him, and the twist at the beginning was well built. I also had to score a point for Tricia O’Neil making her third appearance. Her distinctive voice is perfect as Korinas, and she plays her with a delightful wit. Her first character, Captain Rachel Garrett of the Enterprise-C, is still my favourite of hers, but I really enjoyed Korinas.

Rank – Captain (18 points). It would have been so nice to see the story of Tom Riker followed up on at some point, but without counting non-canon sources, there is little we can do but imagine what might have been. Still, even without the follow-up, “Defiant” is a solid episode that is full of fun, adventure, betrayal, and intrigue. It’s always good to see Frakes in front of the camera playing Riker, whether it is Tom or Will.

If you would like to read other reviews from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, please click the following link.

If you would like to read an episode review from any of the Trek series, click the following link to get to the series catalog. If the episode you want reviewed has not been done yet, then feel free to request it in the comments and I will see what I can do.

Episode Review - Heart of Stone (Deep Space Nine, Season 3)

For those who are new to my episode reviews, you can find the post where I establish my point criteria here.

Overview – Kira and Odo find themselves on an unstable moon, hunting for a member of the Maquis. An earthquake traps Kira in a strange rock that threatens to slowly engulf her, and Odo is torn as several attempts to free her fail. Back on the station, Nog has completed the Ferengi Attainment Ceremony and must now purchase his apprenticeship. His choice is an odd one, as he approaches Commander Sisko with the idea that he will sponsor him as he applies to Starfleet Academy and become the first Ferengi in Starfleet. Sisko is skeptical and tries to get to the motivation of the young Ferengi’s request.

The start of Kira's trap

Score: 8/10 – I hovered between a 7 and 8 for this episode. The acting is strong, especially from Aaron Eisneberg as Nog, and the stories being told a solid. There is not too much in the way of action, but the drama is compelling for the most part. In the A story, Kira is in jeopardy while Odo desperately tries to save her from a slow but certain demise. This is meant to reveal the love that Odo has likely had for Kira for some time, and explains part of the reason that he chose to remain with DS9 instead of going to join the Great Link. The surprise twist of having Kira turn out to be the female changeling in disguise was clever, especially with not having Salome Jens name listed in the opening guest star credits. In the B story, Nog surprises many of us by asking Sisko to sponsor him as he wants to be in Starfleet. It is interesting to note that between the two story lines, it is the B story that seems to have the most impact on the overall series. Like Sisko and Dax, many of us would not have expected Nog to give up Ferengi tradition and joing Starfleet, but that is indeed what he wants. This also sets up for some great stories and development for Nog’s character, which means we will see some pretty good growth. For many fans, this is where Nog truly started to shine.

Nog makes his pitch

Relevance – 3 points. There are two significant over-arching stories that really take root here. The love between Odo and Kira really starts to bear fruit here. This scores a point. We also see Nog begin his path to becoming a Starfleet officer, so we score a point here as well. The female Changeling keeps her promise made at the start of the season when she promises Odo that she will visit him again. That scores a third point. We have reached the maximum number of points for this category, but we can also consider the first mention of Ensign Villix’Pran, a Starfleet officer that is talked about a few times but is never seen on screen. Apparently, in his yet to be identified species, the males reproduce by budding (although this could be asexual reproduction, and that could make his gender irrelevant). He is on the list of characters that we have heard about a lot but not seen, right there with Captain Boday and the Chef from “Enterprise”.

One of many attempts to free Kira

Continuity – 3 points. Seeing as how the Kira we see for most of the episode is the female Changeling in disguise, the seemingly contradictory fact of her character being in love Odo can be ignored. In fact, it was the major plot device that helped Odo figure out what was going on. As far as character continuity goes, everyone checks out here. In the B story, Sisko and Dax are understandably skeptical of Nog, and even when he accomplishes the task set before him, Sisko pushes for a better understanding as to why. Quark is understandably against Nog’s choice, and in a first, Rom stands up to his older brother. He tells Quark that while he may make the business decisions, only Rom can decide what is best for his son. For the first part of the episode, Nog seemed to be acting a little out of character with him being serious about joining Starfleet. When his reasons are finally revealed, it makes sense and points the character in an excitingly new direction. Story and universe continuity is also maintained here.

Sisko is not sure of what he is being offered

Character Development – 2 points. Of course, Odo is the main character that receives the bulk of development here. We learn about his past, how he got his name, and his true feelings towards Major Kira. We also delve further into his inner conflict between his loyalty to his friends and his desire to be with his own kind. Many other main characters receive some attention as well, and it all revolves around Nog. There is Quark who is disapproving of his nephew. He is not in favor of this development and he will continue to voice it for the rest of the series. Then there is Sisko. He is suspicious of Nog’s true motives here, and gives him some tests. When he finally gets the truth from Nog, we see another step towards the mentor role that he will come to embrace with the young Ferengi.

Odo comforts Kira near the end

Social Commentary – 3 points. Two stories, two things for consideration. In the Odo story, there is the topic of the hidden love that many of us have held at some point. We hold back on acknowledging our feelings, but they are there. Nog’s story seems to be a little more relevant for more people, With Nog’s story, we learn about wanting to be more than what is expected from us. Nog saw his father’s talents for being a skilled engineer, yet he still pursued the business life despite not having the “lobes” for it. Nog saw much of his father in himself, and decided that he was not going to wallow in mediocrity. If you want to achieve your potential, then you need to ignore what everyone expects you to do and fight for it.

The truth is revealed

Cool Stuff – 1 point. By this point seeing Odo’s shape shifting abilities is well known, so the effects are not as high on the cool factor. The rock that is engulfing Kira just didn’t work well for me, so effect wise nothing was “cool”. What I did find cool was the raw emotion that Nog showed when Sisko kept denying his request unless he gave him a good reason. He just lets it go when he yells “I don’t want to be like my father!”. His following dialogue forces us to see this misunderstood Ferengi in a new light. The point here is all due to Aaron Eisenberg’s acting skills in likely what is the defining moment for Nog.

Nog is about reveal his own truth

Rank – Captain (20 points). No explosions, no funky new aliens, no deep issues tackled, but a strong episode based on strong character development and starting some integral story lines. A great episode from the third season. 

The inventory test

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