98. Broken Link

Summary

The Klingon situation is worsening and war seems imminent. Meanwhile, in the midst of Garak's clumsy attempt to set him up with an attractive Bajoran restaurant owner who clearly has the hots for him, Odo collapses in Garak's shop and begins to have difficulty holding his shape. His condition worsens until it becomes clear that he must be taken to the Founders. The Defiant leaves and enters Dominion space uncloaked and broadcasting a message detailing their intentions...Garak comes along in the hopes of finding out what became of the Cardassian ships that launched the attack on the Founders (see The Die is Cast). The Foundress and some Jem'Hadar board the ship and take control to avoid disclosing the location of the Founders' new home planet. The Foundress tells Odo that the Link gave him this illness to force him to come home so he can be judged for killing another Changeling (see The Adversary). He refuses attempts by the crew to sidestep this judgment and joins the Link with the Foundress as Sisko and Bashir wait on a small island in the middle of the Link. Some undisclosed time later (it's implied to be days) Odo is deposited on the island by the Link, naked and showing unusual medical readings. The Foundress emerges and informs them that he has been judged, and that the Link has made him a solid as punishment. He is now human. She tells them to take him and go, which they do. On the Defiant, Worf catches Garak trying to gain control of the ship's weapons so he can wipe out the Founders. Back on DS9, Odo tries to adjust to his new solid existence as tensions with the Klingon Empire escalate. As he, Sisko and Kira watch a broadcast of Gowron doing some speechifying, Odo is stunned to realize that the Founders tried to hide Gowron's face from him in the link...Gowron is a Changeling.

Analysis

It's been said that one test of a character's effectiveness is his or her ability to carry a season-ending cliffhanger. Picard did it, Data did it twice (once well, once badly), Worf did it...now Odo has done it. This episode is an effective one, though its pacing has always felt a bit off to me, I can't quite say why. The fact that there are such concrete consequences to prior events is something that happens a lot on DS9 and one thing that distinguishes the series, in my opinion...though I think they waited too long for the other shoe to drop, an entire season. The device used to get Odo back to the Founders is effective but a bit too convenient...if they can do that to him so easily, why not do it all the time to force him to return if that's what they want so badly? The punishment, however, resonates with cruelty as being perhaps worse than a death sentence, especially considering that Odo was just starting to really be comfortable with his own nature. The episode also contains some great dialogue, good use of Garak, and quite a few good scenes showing camaraderie among the crew...the betting between Sisko, Worf and Dax on how many times Kira will sneeze, the Worf/Dax bickering in that same scene, the discussion on the Defiant of Miles' discomfort with having Kira living with him and perhaps gossiping about him with his wife (and his humorous suggestion that he invite Julian to move in and even the score). The crew also demonstrates unwavering loyalty to Odo and a willingness to go a long ways to help him. One especially wrenching scene occurs when Odo, unable to withstand a trip through the transporter and barely able to maintain his form, makes his slow, arthritic way down the crowded Promenade with Kira and Bashir flanking him. I love Sisko's idea to keep Odo's mind occupied during the long trip to the Founders by having Garak spin half-true tales about his sordid past. All in all, this episode is one I enjoy watching and I find it well done...the timing of the dialogue, numerous little touches and the emotional effect of seeing a character we love (after all, Odo's probably the most popular character on the show) go through something to traumatic combine to make it probably the second-best season ender after Call to Arms.

Rating: 8.5

Memorable Quote:

There are several:

"If there's one thing we Cardassians excel at, it's conversation." --Garak

"You are a Klingon warrior...don't tell me you'd object to a little genocide in the name of self-defense." --Garak again

Odo: After all, I'm still the best law enforcement officer on this station.
Sisko: You're the best law enforcement officer in this sector, maybe the whole damn quadrant!

Classic Scene:

The scene that finds Odo washed up on the shore as a humanoid is one of the show's most famous moments...not only for its impact on the overall DS9 storyline but because I do believe it's the first nude scene in the history of Trek. With strategically placed legs, of course. Poor Rene...I bet he never expected that when he took the part.

Sexually Slanted Line 'O the Episode:

"He's just looking for an excuse to rattle his saber." --Sisko...this is my saber, this is my gun, one is for slicing, the other's for...oh, never mind.

The O/K Status Report

Kira isn't very active in this story (the keep-to-the-essentials thing from Crossfire seems to still be in effect), but her two scenes with Odo show her as a supportive friend. She goes to see him in sickbay and although he doesn't seem too glad to see her, she brings him the criminal activities report for something to read. She's also at his side supporting him as he makes his way to the Defiant. She wants to go along to the Gamma Quadrant but Sisko has her stay behind, partly because of her pregnancy.

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