7-16. Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges

Sloan (William Sadler) wants Bashir to spy on the Romulans...

THE PLOT

The alliance with the Romulans has led to an invited Starfleet presence at a medical conference on Romulus, with Dr. Bashir scheduled to chair a discussion about ketracel-white and to give a lecture about the Dominion biological weapon known as The Quickening. For Bashir, the conference is an important step in turning the alliance into a genuine friendship between the two powers. For others, it is an opportunity of an altogether different kind.

The night before Bashir leaves the station, he is visited by Sloan (William Sadler), the agent from Section 31 who attempted to recruit him once before. Sloan wants him to observe Koval (John Fleck), chairman of the Tal Shiar, the Romulan intelligence gathering service. Koval opposed the alliance with the Federation, and his rise in influence is seen as a threat to the war effort. There is a rumor that he has Tuvan Syndrome, a neurological disease - And with Bashir's genetically-enhanced senses, Sloan believes he can diagnose Koval through observation.

Sisko and Admiral Ross (Barry Jenner) encourage Bashir to play along, in hopes of exposing Section 31. But as the plan progresses, it becomes clear that Sloan has another agenda: Once Bashir confirms the diagnosis, Sloan will use that information to arrange an entirely "accidental" assassination!


CHARACTERS

Capt. Sisko: Is unsurprised that Sloan made contact with Bashir, and even less surprised that he was able to evade station security. Though he's inclined to be cautious about sharing information with Sloan, he agrees with Admiral Ross that this is an opportunity to get inside the shadow organization.

Dr. Bashir: Instantly troubled when Koval expresses interest in the Quickening - not in curing it, but in replicating it. In that moment, he is briefly persuaded to Sloan's point of view, that Koval must not come to power. When the agent's plans turn toward assassination, however, he simply will not stand by for that.  This first prompts paranoia, as he fears he has no one he can trust.  which in turn pushes him to an action that has every potential to backfire spectacularly .

Garak: Only in one scene, but it's a good one. When he notes the opportunity the conference provides to gather intelligence about the Romulans, Bashir protests that they're allies. Garak all but laughs at his naivete. "I'm disappointed hearing you mouthing the usual platitudes of peace and friendship regarding an implacable foe like the Romulans. But, I live in hope that one day you'll come to see this universe for what it truly is, rather than what you'd wish it to be."

Sloan: His first appearance comes immediately after the scene with Garak, almost as if the cynical tailor/spy had summoned him into being. Sloan does share many traits with the Cardassian: He can't pass up an opportunity to gather intelligence; he sees the worst in everyone around him; and he wholeheartedly embraces assassination as a useful tool, as long as the end result is to Starfleet's benefit. So why is Garak a friend and Sloan a foe? Maybe because Garak's worst deeds are behind him (though he remains remorseless about them). Maybe it's because Garak is a lot more charming and fun to be around.  Either way, Sloan seems a reflection of Bashir's friend - The deeds he does now, Garak is fairly open about having done every bit as bad and worse in the past.


THOUGHTS

Sloan and Section 31 were introduced in last season's Inquisition, a very good episode that effectively tapped into a paranoid thriller vibe. That episode ended in a way that clearly demanded a follow-up, which we finally receive with Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges.

The idea of using the alliance with the Romulans to gather intelligence makes sense at this stage of the larger arc. Garak, Sloan, and Ross all clearly believe that this alliance will not long outlive the Dominion War - And they are almost certainly right, while optimistic and idealistic Bashir is almost certainly very wrong. I particularly enjoyed a scene that points out how the post-war balance of power will shift. With the Klingons and Cardassians devastated by two back-to-back conflicts, the Federation and the Romulans will be the dominant powers moving forward. Just as was true of the U. S. and Soviet Union in the waning days of World War II, we see the two superpowers angling for every post-war advantage they can get.

Ronald D. Moore's script moves quickly, with a couple of nicely unexpected turns along the way. The paranoid vibe of Inquisition returns as Bashir realizes that Sloan must have allies; cut off from the station, he has no one to trust and there's a distinct sense that he himself may be in danger.

There is just a little too much plot here for 45 minutes, leading to a rushed climax.  Still, the way the situation is resolved is effective - It reflects the messiness of the situation, as "big picture" thinking leads to decisions that are morally questionable and that may lead to worse outcomes down the road... Not exactly unprecedented in the history of modern intelligence.

The ending also leaves the door open for a return appearance by Section 31 - Something I hope will happen, although with only ten episodes to go that may be asking too much.


Overall Rating: 8/10.

Previous Episode: Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang
Next Episode: Penumbra

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7-1. Image in the Sand.

Sisko has a vision...

THE PLOT

It has been three months since Starfleet took the Chin'toka System back from the Dominion - and three months since Jadzia's death and Sisko's return to Earth. Sisko's stated goal when he left was to find a way to contact the Prophets - but his father and Jake worry that he's spent all that time doing nothing at all, not even leaving the restaurant.

Then the Prophets send a vision to Sisko. He sees himself on the desert planet Tyree, digging until he uncovers the image of a beautiful woman. When he wakes, he learns that this woman was actually his mother - and that she died many years ago. When his father produces a necklace of hers, with ancient Bajoran writing on it that translates to "The Orb of the Emissary," Sisko realizes that he must go to Tyree to find that Orb.

Back on the station, Worf is despondent. Not only did Jadzia die, she did not die in battle. According to Klingon tradition, she did not enter the afterlife of Sto-vo-kor, and the only way to get her there is to win a great battle in her name... Difficult to do, when the Defiant is spending all of its time escorting convoys. When he (reluctantly) confides in O'Brien, the engineer contacts Martok - who is ready and willing to take Worf aboard his ship to make a near-suicidal attack at the heart of the Dominion!

Meanwhile, the newly-promoted Colonel Kira must adjust not only to being in charge, but to accepting a Romulan presence on the station. Fortunately, Senator Cretak (Megan Cole) proves easy to get along with. Right up until Kira learns that the "hospital" the Romulans have set up on a Bajoran moon is armed with plasma torpedoes. When the Bajoran government insists the Romulans surrender their weapons, Cretak refuses, sparking the kind of confrontation that could spell the end of the Starfleet/Romulan alliance...


CHARACTERS

Capt. Sisko: Sisko's journey in this episode (and, even moreso, the next) is very much that of a man on a religious pilgrimage. He has spent months isolating himself from the outside world, making his own world effectively smaller and simpler. He spends an entire day doing nothing but playing the piano... Music having been a common way for various religious devotees to meditate, the rhythm making it easier to let go of conscious thought. The episode ends with him again assuming the mantle of the Emissary - and, in a startlingly violent moment, literally paying for that in blood.

Colonel Kira: Now in charge of the station, with a freshly-minted promotion to colonel and an acknowledgement that she's done a fine job of stepping into Sisko's shoes. She continues to insist that she's "just keeping his seat warm" until he returns, but increasingly few people believe Sisko will return. Admiral Ross (Barry Jenner) stops just short of a condescending "Uh-huh" in response to Kira's statement. Kira is resistant to the Romulans' arrival, but finds a kindred spirit in the blunt Cretak - which makes her all the angrier when it's revealed that her apparent new friend has actually been manipulating her the entire time.

Worf: His first scene sees him upbraiding Nog for daring to be relieved at the lack of danger in their most recent assignment - as if a soldier in a shooting war doesn't have every right to be happy at an assignment that doesn't involve the specter of imminent death or dismemberment. He then tears Vic Fontaine (James Darren)'s holo-bar apart while listening to the crooner sing Jadzia's favorite song - something that we learn has happened multiple times over the past months. When he reveals the reason for his behavior, it makes perfect sense. By his beliefs, Jadzia will be denied peace in the afterlife until he wins a battle for her - Which puts Worf on his own religious-based quest, thematically linking his thread with Sisko's.

Ezri: This episode introduces Nicole de Boer, as the "new" Dax. She appears only in the very last scene - a wise choice on the part of writers Ira Steven Behr and Hans Beimler. By holding off her appearance to the last seconds, we are allowed to remember and mourn Jadzia's absence as much as Sisko, Worf, Bashir, and Quark do. The next episode should start showing how Ezri differs from Jadzia, and will hopefully establish a working relationship with Sisko that's unique to this new character - but that will be something to discuss in the next review.

Weyoun/Damar: The disappearance of the wormhole seems to have turned the course of the war back in the Dominion's favor. Weyoun doesn't fully understand how this is true, but he reluctantly acknowledges that they owe thanks to Gul Dukat. Damar has always enjoyed his drink, but now he is constantly seen with a drink in hand. Weyoun can't help commenting on Damar's constant drinking, but he relishes the news about the Romulans' betrayal of Kira. "Romulans - So predictably treacherous!" he exults, as visions of the death of the Federation/Romulan alliance dance through his head.


THOUGHTS

Image in the Sand kicks off Deep Space 9's final season. It's less the first half of a two-parter than the middle part of a trilogy, with two of its three threads directly picking up from Tears of the Prophets. Sisko is still searching for a way to reconnect with the Prophets, while Worf is finding a way to come to terms with Jadzia's death. Only Kira's thread, with the Romulan presence on the station and on a Bajoran moon, originates here, and that thread is itself a consequence of the war situation.

It's a set-up episode, largely laying groundwork for the next installment, but that doesn't mean it isn't gripping. Sisko's emotionally raw state is tailor-made to Avery Brooks' strengths as an actor. When he demands his father tell him the identity of the woman in his vision, there's an instant in which we see the potential for violence - Something both he and his father seem to recognize, and are both frightened of. Not the kind of moment you expect from a Star Trek hero, but it works very well with Sisko's instability, and shows exactly why he needs a Dax to pull him back just as much as he needs the connection with the Prophets.

Also un-Trek like is the startling brutality of a knife attack near the end. Reminiscent of the broken bottle assault that was the only memorable moment in Time's Orphan, this sort of tangible and real violence carries an immediacy phasers don't... Particularly when the scene ends with the victim holding his wound while coughing helplessly on the ground. It's meant to be disturbing, and it is - Though I find myself wondering if broadcasters/Paramount received any viewer complaints as a result.

The attack is perpetrated by a member of The Cult of the Pah-wraiths, which has sprung up in the wake of the wormhole's collapse. Some dialogue between Kira and Odo tells us that this cult was originally dismissed as fringe cranks, but has gained momentum over the past few months. Save for the knife attack, they seem to be planted for use in future episodes, but it will be interesting to see what comes of them.

The episode definitely does what it needs to, following up on Tears of the Prophets in such a way that the cataclysmic events of that episode are shown to have impact. By leaving all threads unresolved, we are given time to absorb the death of Jadzia Dax, as well as the impact on the station both of Sisko's departure and the wormhole's collapse. At the same time, new complications are established in the rise of the cult and the arrival of the Romulans. A fine season opener, holding viewer attention throughout while promising plenty of interesting things to come.


Overall Rating: 9/10.

Previous Episode: Tears of the Prophets
Next Episode; Shadows and Symbols

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6-19. In the Pale Moonlight.

Sisko is haunted after sacrificing his
integrity for a chance at victory.

THE PLOT

The war is going badly. The Dominion are striking at the Federation through Romulan space, thanks to the non-aggression pact the Romulans signed, and this is proving to be crippling for Starfleet - as shown by the casualty reports posted every Friday, with every Friday bringing station staff new heartache as they read the names of more friends and loved ones who are now gone forever.

Sisko is certain that the Dominion will attack Romulus as soon as the Federation is dealt with. If he can prove this, then he has a good chance of breaking that nonaggression pact and possibly even bringing the Romulans into the war. He goes to Garak, who agrees to call in favors with his Cardassian contacts. But the Dominion is as watchful as it is ruthless, and every agent Garak communicates with quickly ends up dead.

That's when Garak proposes another solution. If they can't find evidence of a Dominion plot against the Romulans, then why not fabricate some? He comes up with a plan to create an entirely authentic-seeming forged data record, to present to Sen. Vreenak (Stephen McHattie), the Romulans' most outspoken supporter of the Dominion; if they can convince Vreenak, Garak reasons, then the entire Romulan Empire will fall in line.

As the plan unfolds, Sisko is forced again and again to compromise his integrity. If the ruse succeeds, he will secure a powerful ally for the Federation. But at what point does the cost become too great?


CHARACTERS

Capt. Sisko: Avery Brooks' stagier tendencies are on full display in the framing device that sees Sisko recording his thoughts on the events after the fact. But the emoting feels entirely in-character. As Sisko recalls the story for our benefit, he wrestles with himself to decide whether the things he did were justified. He crosses one small line after another: He agrees to fake evidence; he frees forger Grathon Tlar (Howard Shangraw) to achieve this; he covers up a crime Grathon commits on the station... On and on, keeping his eyes latched to the promise of an ultimate greater good at the end. As he records his log, Sisko seems to be weighing whether his choices were correct and he should move onto his next challenge, or whether he went too far and should resign his commission. By the end, he reaches a decision... and erases his entire personal log to make sure there is no trace of what may be considered a confession.

Quark: It's critical to Sisko's plans that there be no record of Grathon's presence on the station - So when the forger physically assaults Quark, he must stop the Ferengi from pressing charges. He asks Quark what it will take to make the situation go away, and the Ferengi's eyes light up at seeing the noble Starfleet captain reduced to offering a bribe. To his credit, Quark doesn't make Sisko squirm too badly. He secures a handful of largely reasonable concessions from the captain, then lets the matter go. But the very fact of this transaction is his true reward, as he tells Sisko when their business is concluded: "Thank you for restoring my faith in the 98th RUle of Acquisition: Every man has his price."

Weyoun/Damar: Seen only in the forged holo recording - Which, as Garak gleefully notes, is made convincing with the addition of (a bit of bickering and mutual loathing quote). Casey Biggs and Jeffrey Combs do a splendid job of playing convincing replicas of Damar and Weyoun - They aren't quite the real thing, but they're very close to it... Which, for this episode's purposes, is exactly right.

Garak: I commented back in my review of Empok Nor that Garak had been allowed to become too safe a character. This episode restores him to his proper status as someone who may be an ally, but one who is as ruthless as he is formidable. Garak is a little like a dark side Jiminy Cricket on Sisko's shoulder, prodding the captain to just one more compromise... And furthering a plan of his own all the while. The best part of the episode's treatment of Garak is that every single thing he says is absolutely correct, right down to his observation that Sisko came to him because he specifically needed someone like him, someone willing to do the dark and nasty things required to make the plan work. In a very real sense, Garak is the hero of the episode, arguably the hero of the entire Dominion War... Which doesn't make him any less frightening. Just like Sisko, he would do all of this again; unlike Sisko, he isn't particularly bothered by what he had to do to make this victory possible.


THOUGHTS

"I lied. I cheated. I bribed men to cover the crimes of other men. I am an accessory to murder. But the most damning thing of all? I think I can live with it. And if I had to do it all over again, I would."
-Benjamin Sisko, allowing the ends to justify the means.

Back in the Season Four finale, Broken Link, Garak was stopped and arrested while attempting to destroy the changelings' home world. Even then, it was more than clear to everyone that the war was inevitable, and potentially unwinnable. If one could step into the series now, not quite two years later, and ask the characters (even those who would have died on the planet) if they wished Garak had succeeded, I suspect most of them would say "Yes."

One of the reasons In the Pale Moonlight works so splendidly is that Sisko's desperation here has been building all season. Even after he won back the station and convinced the Prophets to keep Dominion reinforcements from coming through the wormhole, the outlook has remained bleak. In Statistical Probabilities, Bashir and his group of augments flat-out told anyone who would listen that it was a mathematical impossibility for Starfleet to win the war. In Far Beyond the Stars, the stream of bad news and casualty reports had Sisko on the brink of resigning. Starfleet has been losing the war ever since it began - So there's a ring of inevitability to the news that the Dominion has started taking control of key Federation planets.

This is what pushes Sisko to accept Garak's advice, and what keeps pushing him as he falls ever deeper into the rabbit hole of deceptions, crimes, and cover-ups. It's revealing to watch Sisko and Garak in this story. Sisko starts feeling the strain of lies almost immediately, and that strain grows throughout the episode. Garak simply takes it all in stride, moving from lie to pleasantly-worded threat to caustic observation with ease... And why not? For Sisko, this is all strange and terrible - something that has made the world of his station into a treacherous foreign land. For Garak, this is his natural habitat.

Sisko's ending speech, a bit of which is quoted above, is of course a stunner. But the entire episode is peppered with great scenes and wonderful lines, from Quark's enjoyment at Sisko's compromised integrity to the scene in which Sisko and Garak take turns threatening Grathon - Sisko hot, Garak cold, and both of them absolutely lethal.

The script is credited to Michael Taylor, who previously penned the excellent fourth season episode The Visitor. The broadcast version was heavily rewritten by Ronald D. Moore, who has penned more excellent Trek episodes than would be reasonable to list. And it's from a (radically different) story premise by Peter Allen Fields, who wrote such early gems as Duet, Necessary Evil, and Crossover. Given the pedigree, it was probably inevitable that this would be good. But it's more than just good - This is a serious candidate for the series' best episode, and an absolute cinch for any DS9 Top Five.

Indispensible viewing, by any measure.


Overall Rating: 10/10.

Previous Episode: Inquisition
Next Episode: His Way

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3-21. The Die Is Cast.

Garak interrogates Odo.

THE PLOT

Garak has joined his old mentor, Enabran Tain (Paul Dooley), as Tain prepares to launch a first strike against the Dominion. Tain's plan is to attack the Founders' home world, eliminating them as a threat. The drug dependency used to control the Jem'Hadar will then neutralize them, as they will die within weeks of the Founders' destruction. This will remove the Dominion threat and, on a more personal level, provide Tain with a path back to power and Garak with an opportunity to take revenge on his old enemies in the Cardassian Empire.

This does, however, leave Odo as a prisoner on Tain's ship. Tain, for his part, requires a show of loyalty from Garak. A vigorous interrogation of Odo, with use of a stasis field to disable his shapeshifting abilities and make him vulnerable to torture!


CHARACTERS

Commander Sisko: Even under orders to stay at the station and take no action regarding the Cardassian/Romulan fleet, he will not simply sit by while one of his officers is taken into a war zone. He disregards orders and takes the Defiant through the wormhole to rescue Odo. When this takes him directly into combat, he is very ready for it - though as soon as the constable and Garak are rescued, he is equally ready to get away as quickly as possible.

Odo: Rene Auberjonois gets a great scene, as Odo is interrogated by Garak. He never displays any fear, even as the Cardassian stasis field keeps him from reverting to his liquid state, leaving him a dried out husk with skin literally peeling away. As Odo stands there, a living wreck, he continues to batter Garak with his observations, recognizing that this is far from the return to glory the Cardassian had dreamt of.

Dr. Bashir: The teaser sees Bashir attempting to have lunch with his other best friend, Chief O'Brien. Bashir expounds on theatre, while O'Brien basically ignores him and eats. The doctor's frustration at his failed attempt to replicate his lunches with Garak is very funny, and this brief interaction shows just how important Bashir's friendship with Garak is to him - as important in its own way as his friendship with O'Brien.

Commander Eddington: I'd completely forgotten about Eddington. I think the writers had, too. Much was made of his introduction, but he's gone not only unseen, but entirely unmentioned in the twenty episodes since. Given that he was placed in charge of Starfleet security on the station, I'd have thought he'd at least receive some mention in some of the intervening episodes. As it stands, it took me a moment to remember who this extra character was. "Odo's my friend, too," he insists - but since these two characters have shared no screen time since Eddington's appointment, we can't even judge this statement as a lie. A rare missed opportunity for this series, as it keeps any of the character's actions in this episode from having any resonance at all.

Garak: "Do you know what the sad part is, Odo? I'm a very good tailor." Back in his old role as Enabran Tain's right hand, Garak finds he has no taste for the job anymore. Some of this is down to Tain, whose orders are immediately too ruthless. He talks of eliminating his housekeeper, the very woman who pleaded with Garak to help Tain just one episode ago. He orders Garak to interrogate Odo, refusing to accept Garak's belief that Odo has nothing to tell. It's no surprise that the episode ends with Garak back at his tailor's shop - but he's emotionally in a very different place, which will hopefully result in further developments down the line.


THOUGHTS

A rare case of Part Two being even better than Part One. The Die Is Cast picks up on the idea of Enabran Tain's first strike against the Dominion. What's interesting is that all of the Alpha Quadrant governments have the same basic idea: To sit back and wait, not dirty their hands on this "rogue operation," but hope for its success just the same. This approach defines not only the Cardassians and the Romulans, but also Starfleet. "I never hope for war," a Starfleet official tells Sisko, "but if it comes, I want the Dominion to be on the losing side."

The Garak scenes are predictably the best in the show. Put back in a position of power, Garak finds that his ability to lie with absolute smoothness only goes so far. It's clear from the start that he's trying to protect Odo - but it's also clear to Tain and the Romulan captain, and Garak is forced to do what he least wants: torture someone he might have considered a friend.

The scene in which Garak interrogates Odo is the episode's strongest, with Rene Auberjonois and Andrew Robinson both outstanding. I particularly like the way writer Ronald D. Moore's script keeps each character determined to betray no sign of weakness. Garak is silky, charming, and utterly terrifying as he presses Odo for answers. Odo, in turn, is defiant, spitting sarcasm back at Garak even under torture. Both characters do give, just a little: Garak, practically whispering in Odo's ear as he begs the shapeshifter to say something - "lie if you have to!" - and Odo confiding his desire to join his people's Great Link. It is only when Garak shuts off the field, though, that they show their weakness: Odo returning to liquid form, Garak allowing himself to bury his head in his hands in exhaustion and self-disgust.

This is an episode which should have far-reaching consequences. The Dominion has been a background threat throughout the season - frequently mentioned, but largely passive save for a single attempt to get Odo to join them. Now they have been officially engaged, which should make them a more active threat. At the same time, this should cause a shift in the Cardassians' internal balance of power, which might be rather interesting to see. Whatever the case, I look forward to seeing the fallout from this - doubtless around the season's end.

The best episode of the season, and one which promises much to come as the series continues.


Overall Rating: 10/10.

Previous Episode: Improbable Cause

Next Episode: Explorers

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3-20. Improbable Cause.

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3-17. Visionary.

O'Brien sees his own death.

THE PLOT

After having reached an agreement with the Federation to equip Defiant with a cloaking device, the Romulans have come to Deep Space 9 to collect the information about the Dominion that they were promised. They are particularly suspicious of Odo, a member of the very race that is the power behind The Dominion. Sisko attempts to navigate a diplomatic tightrope to satisfy the Romulans without appearing weak in the process - an effort which is complicated by the arrival of a Klingon ship.

While all this is going on, Chief O'Brien receives a mild case of radiation poisoning. Bashir treats it immediately, and there appears to be no real danger. Then O'Brien begins experiencing "time shifts." He is propelled five hours into the future. First he observes a minor interaction with Quark. Then he observes a bar brawl between the Klingons and Romulans. After both of these come to pass, the entire Ops crew is taking the matter very seriously.

Then O'Brien "shifts" again and gets the most disturbing vision of all: his own death!


CHARACTERS

Commander Sisko: Tries to be patient and diplomatic in dealing with the Romulans. He wants to accomodate them as much as possible. But he won't be taken for a weakling. When the Romulans demand classified information, he makes it clear that any such information must be cleared through Starfleet Command. His strongest moment comes late in the episode, when the threads linking all these events come together and he faces down the responsible party, letting the steel that is his strongest attribute finally show through.

Major Kira: Has a highly emotional reaction when the Romulans imply that Odo might be interested in her. Her outburst, capped with a threat not to repeat those allegations to Odo, is perhaps a little too defensive. I suspect Kira is at least subconsciously aware of Odo's interest, but keeping deliberately in denial - hence her rage at having something she's trying to deny thrust right at her.

O'Brien: His reaction to the time shifts is very well-portrayed. At first, he is in denial, thinking that he is experiencing hallucinations. Then he becomes actively worried when he sees his own death. That is an image he can't entirely shake, actually seeing himself lying dead at his own feet. He very clearly wants to be saved from the consequences of the time shifts. Nonetheless, he doesn't hesitate to put himself at risk in order to stop a greater catastrophe.

Dr. Bashir: His friendship with O'Brien has clearly grown, and the two have an easy chemistry throughout the episode. Bashir starts out being very lighthearted about O'Brien's shifts. But as it becomes clear that the situation is serious and that his friend is at very real risk, his tone changes to one of genuine concern. In the tag, as O'Brien mulls over all that has happened with a certain insecurity, Bashir does his best to ease his mind.

Odo: When he figures out the means by which some surveillance equipment was beamed onto the station, he does the full Hercule Poirot in unveiling the solution to Sisko. By looking over the equipment, he has determined how it was done and who did it - and he followed up by doing enough research to prove it. When Sisko asks why Odo couldn't just tell him the who and how without the rest of it, the security chief's reply is priceless: "Sometimes I have to remind you just how good I am."

Romulans: The agreement to equip Defiant represents a major step in Federation/Romulan relations. It is the first cooperative venture that the two governments have ever embarked upon, and as such its success is very important to both parties. This cooperation is possibly only because the Romulans recognize the level of threat the Dominion represents. The Romulans' devious nature is not forgotten, nor is their deep-set enmity with the Klingons; both traits actively play into the story's unfolding.


THOUGHTS

In many ways, Visionary feels like a companion piece to Season Two's excellent Whispers. Both are O'Brien-centric episodes, and both play with questions of identity in their endings. That one felt modeled on 1970's paranoid thrillers while this one has a healthy dose of Slaughterhouse Five. But most particularly in the two episodes' resolutions, they feel at the very least like cousins.

Visionary isn't as good as Whispers. It doesn't have the same momentum, and it takes a long time for all the threads (the time shifts, the Romulans, and the Klingons) to come together. There's also a regrettable amount of Technobabble involved in the solution, both in identifying the singularity and in transforming O'Brien into a deliberate time traveler. The ending is intriguing in some of the questions it poses... but I have a feeling that Bashir's statement that it makes no difference is the show's final word on the subject and that, if this is even mentioned again, it will almost certainly be in passing.

For all of that, Visionary is still a good episode. We again see Deep Space 9's strength as a true ensemble show, with solid roles for every regular who appears in the episode. The Dominion threat continues to hang over the characters' heads, like a Sword of Damocles that may fall at any moment. The events of this episode show that, while that threat may have led to an alliance between the Federation and the Romulans, this alliance remains vulnerable to subterfuge and conflicting agendas.

The episode strongly benefits from just how likable and credible Colm Meaney's O'Brien is. This character feels entirely real and natural, and Meaney fits into it so effortlessly that he doesn't even appear to be acting. It's just about impossible not to relate to him, with all of his reactions seeming reasonable and human at every turn. It's odd. When I watched (on-and-off) Deep Space 9 at the time, I never really considered O'Brien to be anything more than a background player. On this viewing, with the benefit of several extra years, O'Brien stands out as one of my favorite characters in a very strong cast.

Not great, but good, Visionary is another solid episode in a series that has become not only the most interesting Trek series, but also the most reliable.


Overall Rating: 7/10

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