167. Penumbra

Summary

Sisko, having just bought some land on Bajor and in the midst of planning to build a home there, reflects with Kasidy upon his suprising time aboard the station and how nothing has turned out as he expected. Soon, news comes to the station that Worf is missing in action near the badlands after the ship he was commanding was attacked by the Jem'Hadar. The Defiant goes after him, but their search is cut short by a Jem'Hadar attack. Ezri, overcome by memories of her former life with Worf, takes a runabout and goes to continue the search herself. On Cardassia Prime, Damar resents being kept in the dark by Weyoun and the Foundress; he sinks deeper into an alcoholic daze while the Foundress orders all their Vorta doctors terminated for their failure to find a cure for the disease that plagues the Link. Back on the station, Sisko proposes to Kasidy, who accepts gladly. They plan a small, intimate wedding, but the news reaches Bajor and their small wedding soon mutates into a major social and spiritual event for the entire planet. Near the badlands, Ezri follows the plasma currents and finds Worf in an escape pod. As they head back to the station, they are attacked by the Jem'Hadar and are forced to evacuate to a nearby planet. On Cardassia, Damar receives a surprise visit from Dukat, who asks his former aide for help on the eve of a mysterious trip that Weyoun won't discuss in detail. Worf and Ezri, stranded with no way to contact the station, get on each other's nerves...Worf doesn't want to discuss Jadzia but he's jealous of Ezri's associations and Ezri resents being constantly compared to her predecessor. A heated argument leads to a sudden passionate clinch, but upon awaking later in the night they are taken captive by Breen and put in a holding cell aboard the Breen ship. On Cardassia, Damar goes to see Dukat...and is stunned to find him surgically altered to appear Bajoran. On DS9, Sisko has a disturbing vision of Sarah, his mother. She warns him that his greatest trial is about to begin and that Kasidy cannot walk the path with him. Sisko resists, but Sarah tells him that if he marries Kasidy he will know nothing but sorrow.

Analysis

It's very difficult to assess this episode on its own merits; it does not stand on its own but rather as Part One of a ten-part arc that will culminate in the series' end. I think the best approach will be to examine the individual plot threads, so here goes.

The Sisko/Prophets thing. This has been a long time in coming. Sisko has pretty much capitulated to the Prophets' wishes for the entire run of the series; it was only a matter of time before they asked him to do something that would cause a real rift. I can't say this plot thread exactly fills me with shivers and flutters, but it's the one that has the most longterm ramifications. Sisko's destiny is tied so tightly to that of Bajor that it's almost impossible to separate the two. I find it ironic that previously, most of his conflicts with his role as Emissary have been with his role as a Starfleet officer. Now, this crucial conflict is between his role as Emissary and his identity as a human being and a man with emotions who still yearns to determine his own destiny. I have a feeling that he will struggle between those two identities for the remainder of the series and it's a conflict that is central to his character.

The Worf/Dax thing. Okay, this is the least interesting of the things they're doing right now. It's tired and cliched and I could definitely do without it. I have no problem with the imprisoned-by-the-Breen thing, but the rekindling-of-romantic-feelings thing is oh so tiresome. That clinch in the woods after the argument made me groan out loud and cover my eyes, I kid you not. It was exactly the sort of David-and-Maddie moment that DS9 usually manages to avoid (and which they skirted right up to the edge of with the kiss in "His Way", though that one worked much better). Their difficulty interacting given their unique history is much more interesting than any renewal of their romantic relationship. So, while I like the thread that finds them prisoners of a ruthless enemy of which we've heard much but seen none, their interpersonal stuff has mixed results.

The Weyoun/Damar/Dukat stuff. This is becoming *very* interesting. The slow character arc that Damar has enjoyed is actually quite rewarding. We met him as an arrogant Dukat disciple, then he became the strutting Dominion mouthpiece, a role that began to wear on him as he realized that he wasn't content being Weyoun's lapdog. His increased weakness for kanard and women painted a picture of a man losing his inner moorings, and the insinuation that he murdered Weyoun 5 hints that he may yet have some backbone to resist the Dominion. Weyoun, as always, is a smarmy delight, alternately smug and condescending when dealing with Damar and groveling and sniveling to the Foundress. Dukat-the-Bajoran, and whatever plans he has for Bajor, pique my interest more than he has since his descent into psychopathia began back in Waltz.

Overall, I'm intrigued. The quality of the episode was adequate, I can't say it was especially brilliantly written or acted, but I'd be hard pressed to say how it could be improved given its role: to kick off the end of Deep Space Nine.

Rating: 6.5

Memorable Quote:

"From the moment I set foot on this station, nothing has turned out the way I imagined it." --Sisko

Classic Scene:

Not a scene precisely, but I loved the sight of Ben playing with his little models. So cute.

Sexually Slanted Line 'O the Episode:

"You can't have people coming in and sticking their fingers in your pots!" --Sisko...whose pots are people sticking their fingers in, Ben?

The O/K Status Report

A disappointing nothing. Neither appeared for more than ten seconds. Special Alerts