Treachery, Faith and the Great River
Spoilers Below
This episode was neither lighthearted, like "Take Me Out to the Holosuite," nor hard hitting, like "Afterimage." It was amusing, yet it was serious. It was somber, yet it was heartwarming. This is a delicate balance and could have been a senseless mishmash, but instead it was a solid, enjoyable episode.
The story which was first in importance was the story involving Odo and Weyoun 6. This story managed to be highly informative and dramatic while keeping up a string of delightful dialogue. In this it was a perfect example of nature of this episode, containing elements of tragedy, comedy and pathos. It dealt with faith, loyalty and skepticism, examined disease, death, worship and origin. Every detail was like a puzzle piece laden with insight into the changelings, the Founders, the Vorta and Odo. This was often fascinating.
One multifaceted scene is a perfect example of this. After watching Weyoun 6 rather ludicrously spear a piece of pepperoni with a chopstick, we are barely finished chuckling when we are granted another insight into the Vorta. They are unable to truly enjoy the tastes of alien foods because they are programmed that way, to remember their roots. Then we learn the story of how the Vorta came to be "improved," some would say enslaved, by the Founders. Frankly, I thought it sounded like a fairy tale, but Odo saw it differently. "If the story is true it would at least prove that my people are capable of generosity and kindness." That told us so much about the pain Odo feels upon seeing the cruelty of those who are the same as he is. It awakened us to his loneliness and the fact that, despite everything, he feels a strong attachment to his own kind. In a relatively short scene, we've been amused, educated, and given insight. A masterfully conceived scene.
Weyoun's nightmare and his subsequent question ("Silly, isn't it?") evoked this poignant observation from Odo, "Not at all, it isn't easy to turn your back on your own people. Believe me. I know."
Another insight came when Odo confronted Weyoun 6 with the truth about the "godhood" of the Founders.
"Has it ever occurred to you that the reason you believe the Founders are gods is because that's what they want you to believe, that they built it into your genetic code?"
Weyoun 6's answer had an odd kind of logic which showed that the Vorta have more insight into their situation than we might have thought.
"Of course they did. That's what gods do. After all, why be a god if there's no one to worship you?"
Important revelations were peppered throughout the episode. It introduced us to Weyoun 7, even more ruthless than Weyoun 5, who, despite being as dangerous as any Vorta, would never have considered killing Odo. In addition, it was strongly suggested that Damar may have had a hand in killing Weyoun 5. We also learned that Vorta who are unfortunate enough to have their own opinion or to disagree with the Founders are labeled defective and terminated.
Most importantly, we learned that the Founders are dying, that they have been infected with an incurable and fatal disease.
Since "Statistical Probabilities" showed that there was very little chance of the Federation and its allies winning the war, winning it will have to involve some factor that Julian and his friends couldn't have counted on. A wild card that gets played unexpectedly. Well, we've had a series of wild cards, spectacular victories behind Dominion lines, the Romulans joining the alliance, and of course, the prophets, who seem to be a large part of victory or defeat. But the changeling disease is the biggest surprise factor so far -- without healthy Founders, the Dominion will lose its edge, and of course, when they're dead, the Dominion will die, too.
It's unexpected, but if this is the way the war will be won, by a chance event unprecedented in changeling history, it will be an anticlimax, to say the least. However, this news was only a tantalizing tidbit in this episode, and was seen less as a war issue and more as a personal issue for Odo. For the time being, it was his shock and anguish over the news which was the main focus. Time will tell how well this fact is handled in the overall picture.
Along the way there were some great lines.
When Odo answers a message from Gul Rusol and finds instead Weyoun claiming to be a defector, he is skeptical to say the least.
"You don't believe me, do you?" Weyoun says.
"I believe Gul Rusol is dead."
"Why did you decide to defect?" Odo asked Weyoun 6.
"I decided my place was with you."
"You can do better than that!" returned Odo.
Later, Weyoun 6 tells Odo, "Of course I'm paranoid everyone's trying to kill me!"
The unsettling sight of one Weyoun on the screen and one next to him provoked this observation from Odo: "I'm not sure the universe is ready for two Weyouns!"
Trying to obey Odo's desire to be known as a security officer and not a god but constantly overwhelmed by his preprogrammed awe of changelings, Weyoun can't stop staring at Odo. His explanation?
"It's just such an honor to be sitting here with a g -- Security Officer."
And this poignant line from Odo at the end could touch the stoniest heart. "Whichever side wins [this war] one thing is certain: I'm going to lose."
The other story was played mainly for laughs and it did its job well. There was always a sense of impending doom that made it a bit tenser than an ordinary chucklefest, and it kept my interest. I always enjoy watching Nog use his "Ferenginess" in a Starfleet kind of way. It emphasizes the unique duality of his character, instead of just turning him into just another Starfleet officer. We also see a rare side of Ferengi ingenuity here, that it doesn't have to be about avarice and profit, that this race has a sense of how to put the laws of supply and demand to their most advantageous use, whether that is simply to make a buck or to placate a demanding Captain.
Memorable moments were plentiful. Kira, standing like a hungry lioness ready to lay into Miles for the disappearance of the Captain's desk was one. Another was when Nog was explaining his faith in the "great material continuum" which was instilled in Ferengis while they had their "first set of ears."
Miles' attempt to replace the captain's desk lead to this confrontation with Kira.
Kira: "That isn't the captain's desk."
Bashir: "He's going to paint it."
Kira: "Get it out of here!"
The river analogy really seemed to stick with Miles.
"Why would he leave me adrift mid river without a paddle?" he asked a puzzled (?)
When Sisko returned and Miles went in to face the music, undoubtedly envisioning a purple faced captain demanding to know where he desk was and instead seeing everything nearly normal, he almost gave himself away by saying, "Captain -- your desk!"
We end with Miles a true believer in the great material continuum, already ready for his next trip down the river. When Nog informs him that his cousin Gant has some Sorian brandy (the captain's favorite), Miles replies, "What does he want for it?"
But the first story was definitely the heart of the episode, and though it was a tragedy to the Federation to lose an important source of Dominion intelligence, it was quite touching when Weyoun 6 sacrificed his life to save Odo. Odo's decision to bless him, despite the fact that it went against his inclination and conscience, was also quite moving.
I do wonder, though, how Damar and Weyoun 7 planned to conceal this bit of treachery from the Founders? When the Founders found out that Odo was dead -- and of course they _would_ find out, they would undoubtedly question the Jem'Hadar and find that they were ordered to destroy the runabout. When they asked why the order was given, what would Weyoun 7 say? It was incredibly stupid of them, and even though they didn't succeed they were almost caught as it was. Don't they know that changelings are excellent spies? If anything was suspected, they could sneak in as a bottle of Cardassian liquor (canard?) and find out anything they wanted to know.
Overall, it was an enjoyable episode. Not one of the real power hitters, but enjoyable nonetheless. It had the rhythm of real life to it.
In this episode, we finally learned the answer to Quark's question from last season. "I wonder what their favorite food is?" Kava nuts and ripple berries.
As Nog explained about the "great material continuum" which :"binds the universe together," I heard an echo from another galaxy, far, far away. This connection was strengthened in the scene where Odo hesitated to bless the Vorta. I kept hearing the words of C3PO in "Return of the Jedi,": "It's against my programming to impersonate a deity."
My score: 8.5
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