145. The Reckoning

Summary

Sisko is called to Bajor to examine a new artifact found at B'Hala. The second he touches it, he is struck by a Vision of the Prophets, who tell him that the time of the Reckoning is at hand. He relocated the artifact to DS9, much to Kai Winn's distress, and sets Dax to translate it. She determines that the tablet speaks of a Reckoning which would bring destruction to both Bajor and DS9. The Kai compels Sisko to return the artifact, but before he can do so, he is seized by an irreistible urge and smashes the tablet, releasing blue and red energies which disappear into the ceiling. The station begins to experience power drains...whereupon Odo finds Kira standing in the temple doorway, near-catatonic, draining the station's energy into her hands. She is possessed by a Prophet, who informs Sisko and the Kai that the Reckoning (a battle between the Prophet and Koss'tomogen, a Pagh-wraith) will be fought here...if the Prophets win, it will usher in a new Golden Age for Bajor. Sisko relucantly allows the Reckoning to take place (Dax has a plan to force the Prophet out of Kira but Sisko refuses to implement it) but evacuates the station. Koss'tomogen takes control of Jake and the Reckoning begins...the Prophet is clearly winning but the battle is interrupted as Kai Winn uses Dax' plan to force the Prophet and the Pagh Wraith out of the bodies they have appropriated.

Analysis

The Reckoning is a prime example of DS9 as high-flown fantasy/sci-fi, but it's pretty well executed. The dialogue is snappy and interwoven with the more immediate plot are significant character scenes involving Sisko's attitudes about the Prophets and his role as Emissary, Kira's faith and Odo's lack thereof, the Sisko father/son relationship and the continuing animosity that both Sisko and Kira have for Kai Winn. The Reckoning itself is a bit cartoony, with red and blue flames and exploding glassware, but serviceable. I didn't particuarly care for Dax' flippant attitude throughout this episode, it seemed out of place. All in all a good episode, not terrific. I have always thought that the exploration of Bajoran belief and their contrast to the oh-so-atheistic Federation was very interesting, and it's no less so here.

Rating: 7.5

Memorable Quote:

"I was pretty sure what this was the first time I laid eyes on it...yep, that confirms it. It's a slab of stone with some writing on it." --Dax

Classic Scene:

I'm gonna go with the "gusto fruit salad" scene...Kira and Odo, at lunch, discuss faith. Kira wonders how people get through the day without it, to which Odo responds that he manages, but that he does have faith in one thing...Kira. Sigh.

Sexually Slanted Line 'O the Episode:

"You eat with such gusto." --Odo to Kira...I know, I know. The devil made me do it.

The O/K Status Report

This being the first episode after His Way, this is definitely a topic worth addressing. I was nervous, with justification given Trek's track record, about how this relationship would be handled and let me just say this gives me a lot of hope. Ira Steven Behr has said that he wants to finally portray in Trek a stable, mature relationship and they're certainly on track with that here. The pair are portrayed as equal partners in what is obviously already a fulfilling relationship for both of them and as having strong feelings for each other. They tease each other affectionately, have serious discussions about faith and seek comfort in the other's presence. The fact that Odo was willing to respect Kira's wishes about acting as a vessel of the Prophets to the point of losing her tells me just about everything I need to know about her "moment of clarity." Her happiness is more important to him than his own...sounds like true love to me. For her part, Kira displays none of her usual obtuseness in their final scene together when she acknowledges the sacrifice he was willing to make as well as how much it must have hurt him, and she reassures him with a kiss and a promise to be with him after seeing the Kai to her shuttle. All in all a very promising beginning.

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