Overall Rating: 8.9
This episode provided a badly needed close-up look at the enemy. The idea to have us work uncomfortably side by side on a joint mission, and have that mission end without us singing kumbaya over a camp fire (which is what would have happened on TNG, especially early on) with Jem'hadar...well now that's well worth watching.
Plot Synopsis:
The full plot can be found here, courtesy of the DS9 Encyclopedia.
The Skinny:
The real story to this episode is not the simple emotional tension of having to work with your enemy or the stakes for Federation interests involving the Iconian gateway (which, BTW, I think it's cool that they brought that Iconian plot back). Here was a story making a strong argument that cultural relativism does not work - that there are, in fact, some cultures that are vastly inferior to others and that ignoring that fact can prove dangerous. The Dominion obsession with death, abject loyalty, and the needs of the unit outweighing the value of each life within it, is a deep character flaw. We reject the notion that their culture is just as valid as ours, just as we reject the notion that Sharia Law is just as valid as our justice system. Unless you live in Europe and are so deluded that you believe if you plug your ears and sing loudly enough, the radical Islamist problem will go away, you recognize that some cultural norms are, in fact, evil, and must be fought.
Here, Sisko recognizes that, in this one case, our needs and the needs of the Dominion overlap, but he's not about to approach this as an opportunity to make nice with the Jem'hadar and learn their customs. They'll work together to stop an all out attack on the Federation, but Sisko, O'Brien, Dax, Worf...everyone involved...gets a moment to loudly rebuke them as a people and no one bats an eye. How liberal fans of Trek can watch a show like this, agree with every word the main characters say, and then berate one of their own for saying the same thing (essentially) with regard to radical Islam...eludes me.
Writing: 8.0
The dialogue frequently borders on feature-worthy and the plot is engaging, but I think most of the emotional investment comes from the acting, which is unusually strong.
Acting: 10.0
Clarence Williams (Omet'iklan) and Jeffrey Combs (a guest star of many faces!...this time Weyoun) were fabulous...surprisingly good for guest cast. Avery Brooks manages to avoid chewing scenery rather nicely and he had ample opportunity to do so. Colm Meaney and Terry Ferrell were above their normal levels of excellence as well, I'd say, as was Michael Dorn.
Message: 8.7
I always appreciate a good rejection of moral relativism...somehow, they never get old. :)
Highlights:
DAX: I wouldn't sit there if I were you.
BASHIR: Why? Miles spill something again?
O'BRIEN: It's Worf's seat. He'll be here in a minute.
BASHIR: Just because Worf lives on the Defiant full time doesn't give him proprietary rights in the mess hall.
DAX: No one says it does. He just likes that seat. (Worf enters and goes to the replicator.)
WORF: Prune juice, extra large. (Worf turns and walks over to the table, and just stands there.)
BASHIR: Have a seat, Commander. (Bashir moves.)
WORF: Thank you. (LOL!)
SISKO: Sometimes I wish we could have the Defiant standing guard over the station twenty six hours a day.
WORF: Restricting the Defiant to guard duty would be a serious mistake.
O'BRIEN: You wouldn't say that if you had family living on the station.
WORF: Perhaps, but adopting a siege mentality is ultimately self-defeating. )cool...DS9 writers know something about military tactics)
SISKO: If you have something to say to me, make it quick.
WEYOUN: Captain Benjamin Sisko. I feel honoured. Your psychographic profile is required reading for Vorta field supervisors. I probably know things about you you don't know yourself.
SISKO: If you're trying to impress me, you can forget it.
WEYOUN: What would you say if I offered to make you absolute ruler of the Federation? No President, no Starfleet Chief of Staff, just you.
SISKO: I'd say your psychographic profile of me isn't as good as you think.
WEYOUN: Just doing my job. Trying to build a bridge between the Dominion and a potential ally. After all, wouldn't it be much simpler if the Dominion and the Federation could reach some mutual beneficial understanding without resorting to the unpleasantness of military conflict?
SISKO: I want to know how to find the Jem'Hadar who attacked my station. If you want to build a bridge, why don't you start there? (Sisko is AWESOME when dealing with bad guys. :D )
SISKO: There'll be a joint briefing session at nineteen hundred hours.
O'BRIEN: Followed by a get-to-know-you buffet at nineteen thirty.
DAX: And I forgot my dress uniform. (LOL)
WORF: Neutralising nine guards before one of them can raise an alarm will be difficult.
VIRAK'KARA: It's as you said. The Klingon will to fight pales in comparison to our own.
TOMAN'TORAX: Yes. He has the look of a warrior but the heart of a coward.
WORF: If you would like to test my courage, I
SISKO: All right, that's enough.
TOMAN'TORAX: One day the Klingon Empire will fall before the Jem'Hadar. And when that day comes, and piles of Klingons lie dead at my feet, I will think of you standing here impotent and weak, and I will laugh. (Worf grabs the Jem'Hadar around the neck while Toman'torax grabs Worf's throat.)
SISKO: All right! I said that's enough. Worf, let him go!
OMET'IKLAN: Second! Release the Klingon or I will kill you where you stand. (RRREEEEOOOWW!!!)
OMET'IKLAN: The only way my troops can come to respect your crew is to fight alongside them. Mixed teams in every aspect of the mission.
WEYOUN: That's not practical.
OMET'IKLAN: Why not?
WEYOUN: Are you questioning my decision?
OMET'IKLAN: You fool. My men and I, we know all about the Gateway.
SISKO: Halt turbolift. Looks like your secret's out.
WEYOUN: How do you know about the Gateway?
OMET'IKLAN: It doesn't matter how we know. The point is, we know. You think you have to lie to us and use the white to ensure our loyalty. But the fact is, we are more loyal to the Founders than the Vorta ever will. It is the reason for our existence. It is the core of our being.
WEYOUN: There's an entire company of Jem'Hadar down on Vandros Four who would disagree with you.
OMET'IKLAN: And for that, they will die.
SISKO: Mixed teams it is. But let's get one thing straight. This isn't going to be a suicide mission. As far as I'm concerned, everyone who goes in, comes back out. Starfleet and Jem'Hadar alike.
OMET'IKLAN: Your concern for life is touching. Let's hope it doesn't stop us from achieving our objectives. (awesome...I love how Sisko refuses to accept any aspect of their "culture" and vice versa)
DAX: Am I really that interesting? You've been standing there staring at me for the last two hours.
VIRAK'KARA: You are part of my combat team. I must learn to understand your behaviour, anticipate your actions.
DAX: There must be something you'd rather do. Maybe get some sleep?
VIRAK'KARA: We don't sleep.
DAX: How about getting something to eat?
VIRAK'KARA: The white is the only thing we need.
DAX: Don't sleep, don't eat. What do you do for relaxation?
VIRAK'KARA: Relaxation would only make us weak.
DAX: You people are no fun at all. Glad I'm not a Jem'Hadar woman.
VIRAK'KARA: There are no Jem'Hadar women.
DAX: So what do you do? Lay eggs?
VIRAK'KARA: Jem'Hadar are bred in birthing chambers. We are able to fight within three days of our emergence.
DAX: Lucky you. So let me get this straight. No food, so sleep, no women. No wonder you're so angry. After thirty or forty years of that, I'd be angry too. (heh!)
VIRAK'KARA: No Jem'Hadar has ever lived thirty years.
DAX: How old are you?
VIRAK'KARA: I am eight.
DAX: I would've guessed at least fifteen.
VIRAK'KARA: Few Jem'Hadar live that long. If we reach twenty we are considered Honoured Elders. How old are you?
DAX: I stopped counting at three hundred.
VIRAK'KARA: You don't look it.
DAX: Thank you.
WORF: What is the point of doing battle if you cannot enjoy the fruits of victory?
O'BRIEN: You mean sleep?
WORF: No, I mean spending long nights singing songs of your deeds. Good food, good drink.
DAX: And good women.
WORF: We consider Klingon women our partners in battle. They are the mothers of our children.
DAX: And a lot of fun at parties too.
WORF: True. (LOL!!)
ODO: I am not a Founder.
DAX: Well, you're a changeling. That's close enough. To them.
O'BRIEN: I wonder what would happen if you went over to him and ordered him to stand on his head? (ROTFL!! Ah pointing out the sheer illogical nature of the Dominion social structure...)
SISKO: That's enough! The next one who throws a punch will have to answer to me. Now, I want to know who started this.
WORF: I did.
TOMAN'TORAX: And I.
OMET'IKLAN: You again. You knew my orders.
TOMAN'TORAX: And I defied them. I deserve punishment.
OMET'IKLAN: And you shall have it. (Omet'iklan stands behind Toman'torax and kills him.) Why are you waiting? Kill him and be done with it.
SISKO: Mister Worf, when not on duty, you are confined to quarters for the remainder of this mission.
WORF: Yes, sir. (Worf leaves)
SISKO: All right, let's break this up. Get back to your stations or go to your quarters. Either way, I want this room cleared. Now! (The crew leave.)
OMET'IKLAN: You call that discipline?
SISKO: A dead man can't learn from his mistakes. I don't get the same joy out of killing as you do.
OMET'IKLAN: You think I enjoyed it? Toman'torax was my Second. He served under me three years. I valued him.
SISKO: You have a funny way of showing it.
OMET'IKLAN: I did what had to be done, what any First would do. I placed the good of the unit above my personal feelings. Any soldier who cannot follow orders is a danger to his unit and must be eliminated.
SISKO: Mister Worf is not a danger to my command. But if I eliminate him for a simple breach of discipline, then I would be. My men would stop trusting me, and I wouldn't blame them.
OMET'IKLAN: You are weak. You should die in his place. And when this mission is over, I will see that you do. (deeply...deeply awesome)
DAX: For Keiko?
O'BRIEN: It's my eleventh goodbye message since we've been married. I average almost two a year.
DAX: Does she know you do this?
O'BRIEN: What would I tell her? You know, honey, every time I'm about to go into battle I record a message for you and Molly telling how much I love you, just in case.
DAX: She'd probably think it was sweet.
O'BRIEN: It'd probably scare the hell out of her. To be honest, it scares the hell out of me. Every time I record one of these I think, this is it. This is the one they're going to end up hearing.
DAX: It'll never happen.
O'BRIEN: What makes you say that?
DAX: Because when you've lived eight lifetimes, you develop certain instincts. And my instincts tell me that you, Miles Edward O'Brien, are going to live to be a hundred and forty and die in bed, surrounded by family and friends.
O'BRIEN: Do you really believe that?
DAX: Do you?
O'BRIEN: I'd like to.
DAX: That's all that matters. (awwww)
WORF: It has come to my attention that First Omet'iklan has threatened to kill you.
SISKO: I didn't know that was public knowledge.
WORF: You told Commander Dax.
SISKO: Well, that explains it. (BHAHAHAAA!)
SISKO: Prepare to transport.
OMET'IKLAN: Wait. I am First Omet'iklan, and I am dead. As of this moment we are all dead. We go into battle to reclaim our lives. This we do gladly, for we are Jem'Hadar. Remember. Victory is life.
JEM'HADAR: Victory is life.
(The Jem'Hadar march off.)
WEYOUN: Such a delightful people.
(O'Brien turns to the Starfleet crew.)
O'BRIEN: I am Chief Miles Edward O'Brien. I'm very much alive and I intend to stay that way. (HOO'RAH!)
SISKO: Amen. Let's get it done.
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