110. The Begotten

Summary

Quark sells Odo what turns out to be a sick changeling, which Odo nurses back to health and proceeds to adopt, determined to teach it to shapeshift without putting it through the traumatic beginning he himself experienced. When Dr. Mora arrives, eager to help, Odo isn't too pleased to see him but when Odo makes little progress and reluctantly resorts to Mora's old techniques, he begins to understand Mora's point of view better. The new Changeling begins to make rapid progress, reaching out to Odo and even imitating the shape of his face. Elated, Odo buys Quark a drink to thank him for selling him the Changeling. He speaks of his depression over becoming a solid and how the new Changeling is making him look on life in an entirely new way...but his joy is short-lived as the Changeling relapses and subsequently dies in Odo's hands, becoming absorbed into his body. Julian and Mora look on in astonishment as Odo staggers, disbelieving, towards the Promenade...then shapeshifts into a hawk and flies down the Promenade, re-coalescing into his usual humanoid form with an astonished expression on his face. Meanwhile, Kira finally gives birth to the O'Brien's baby.

Analysis

The Begotten is a lovely, touching episode that accomplished two major plot points in one shot: Odo regaining his shapeshifting abilities and Kira giving birth. Odo's joy at nurturing the infant Changeling is yet more evidence of the passionate, emotional underside to the Constable's gruff exterior. As Garak once said, he's a very sensitive man and it's nice to actually see it. His dynamic with Mora is very much the overbearing father/rebellious son dynamic and they do it so well. It is clear that Odo's departure still causes Dr. Mora pain although the two have never had a precisely warm and fuzzy relationship. James Sloyan, who plays Mora, is one of my favorite Trek guest stars and it's always a pleasure to see him. Their eventual reconciliation is (I hate to keep saying it) touching, and I defy you to watch the Changeling's death scene and Odo's subsequent transformation without getting at least a little misty. We all knew Odo wouldn't stay human forever, but that they chose to restore him to Changeling status through a personal loss is all the more poignant.

Our knowledge of things to come lends these events a bit of a sinister cast...we know that during this episode, Bashir is actually a Changeling imposter. Was he responsible for the Changeling's death? Did the Founders engineer Odo's liberation, perhaps having decided that he had suffered enough? As to the Kira B plot, it is perfectly serviceable with a bit of strained comic relief as Shakaar and Miles struggle for status at the birth.

This is also Rene Auberjonois' episode all the way. He is one of Trek's best actors and he gets to run the emotional gamut this time out with his usual level of finesse...and all this through that damn layer of latex the poor guy has to wear.

Rating: 9.0

Memorable Quote:

"Maybe someday, if you're very lucky, you'll have the satisfaction of hearing this Changeling say 'Thank you very much, you did so much for me.' Then again, it may leave...the way you did. It will announce that it's striking out on its own and you'll never hear from it again." --Dr. Mora

Classic Scene:

The Odo/Quark bar scene is definitely right up there in terms of DS9's great single scenes. The two have always had one of the most interesting dynamics in the show and to see Odo gleefully pouring drinks and baring his soul to a suspicious Quark is an amusing new twist.

Sexually Slanted Line 'O the Episode:

"You would just love to get me back in one of your contraptions, wouldn't you?" --Odo

The O/K Status Report

Although their two plotlines do not intersect at all and they have only one scene together in this episode, it is a significant scene. As Mora and Odo arrive at the airlock, Kira is there having just bid farewell to Shakaar (in what I think is a somewhat reserved fashion). It is interesting that it is Odo, not Shakaar, with whom Kira chooses to share her feelings of regret over giving up Kirayoshi to his parents...to which he responds "I think I know how you feel, Nerys." A momentous occasion indeed...this is the first time Odo has ever called her by her first name. She asks him to go for a walk with her and they leave together, her arm around his shoulders. Many have observed that this ending sort of symbolically reverses the (depressing) ending of Crossfire in which Kira and Shakaar are together while Odo walks off alone...here, Odo and Kira are together at the end while Shakaar goes off alone. It might be a reach to read that intention into the two scenes but it can't be completely discounted, especially since Rene Echevarria penned both episodes. All in all it was a welcome scene after the long barren days since Crossfire in terms of O/K tidbits.

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