Season Seven Episode Reviews

7X1    Image in the Sand (part 1 of 2) 
Plot: Sisko finds a family secret on Earth from a vision from the Prophets.  Kira is worried by a Romulan prescense on a Bajor moon.  Worf is concerned on Jadzia's final fate so Bashir tries to comfort him.

This was a very character driven but action lite episode, that wonderfully sets up the final year.  It also makes a wonderful recovery from the dreadful previous episode.  My favorite scenes were from the Sisko plot; the vision, his father's revelation, and the assassin attack.  I couldn't believe it when Sisko took a knife in the gut!  The Kira subplot was extremely interesting since it had Romulans, but I think she's overreacting.  The Romulans are their allies!  You don't go to war with them!  The brief scenes with Weyoun and Damar were also very interesting; there are the slightest of hints that Damar is planning something...  The Worf plot was easily the weakest but still good.  Unfortunately once again Vic Fontaine gives an protracted song!  Why do they do this?!  I particularly enjoy Bashir's quiet and serious greiving, and the way that Martock helps Worf greive in Klingon mannor.  The last minute appearance of Ezri Dax was a little disappointing; I certainly hope we see the origan story down the road!  A wonderful addition to the DS9 mythology, which FINALLY returns to matters of Bajor with Kira.  But her haircut makes her look like an idiot!  And her new uniform is a slight drop in quality from the last one.  There are suggestions in this episode that the PaghWraiths are big elements now, that they're in constant conflict with the Prophets in the wormhole now.

7X2    Shadows and Symbols (part 2 of 2) 
Plot:  The Siskos and Ezri Dax search for the Orb of the Emissary and Sisko's origans.  Kira blockades the Romulans from the Bajoran moon.  Worf, Bashir, O'Brien, Quark, and Martock attack a Dominion shipyard.

The perfect conclusion to the previous episode, with lots of hints to the future of the series.  The Sisko plot was easily the best, and Ezri Dax is a very interesting character.  The only problem with her was that she was a little ditzy (which is understandable) but that had better not be her character for the season.  Sisko's truth was extremely interesting.  He is literally a child of the Prophets!  His confrontation with his 'mother' was a little strange though, and the resolution of the Prophets situation was a little too easy.  Sisko opens a box and that's it?!  The defeat of Cutamojin was a little too easy, but very impressive.  Best of all, the return of Bennie Russell!  This confirms that the Bennie thread is VERY important to the series.  The Kira plot was pretty good, especially since it shows her as a strong character and not a ditzy Odo's girlfriend.  However I really think she was wrong to jepordize the entire war effort over the Romulans defending the moon.  Sure, its a down the road the problem but she was over reacting!  The Worf plot was thankfully short, but still good.  However technobabble once again ruins the day.  If the Allies can create these huge solar flares, why don't they send a cloaked Bird of Prey to every Cardassian star and nova them all?  Still, the solar flare destroying the shipyard was an amazing image.  Even the Quark-Worf arguement was interesting, though Quark coming along was mainly just to have him in the episode and for some comedic relief.  All in all, a wonderful addition to the DS9 saga that promises more things to come.  Now that the wormhole is open and the Prophets are safe, can the Dominion bring in its troops from the Gamma Quadrant?

7X3    Afterimage 
Plot:  Ezri Dax must adjust to her new life on DS9 and help Garak with his anxiety attacks.

This was a great character episode, with a lot of great humor.  Every scene with Garak was wonderful, especially his first scene with Ezri when he ends up counseling her, when he insults Ezri, and when he breaks down revealing his horror at being responsible for the emminant death of his people.  It's a very valid point, and it's also good to see Garak doing something for the war effort.  This episode looks ordinary but it takes that extra step into the amazing.  At first it seems like Garak's attacks come from his father abusing him.  Ho hum.  But in fact it takes a much more interesting twist!  The Ezri plot was also very interesting, and Dax is once again shown to be a very interesting character.  My only complaint is that she runs off to cry to many times, and doesn't really solve Garak's problem.  If she went in purposely talking about the war to get a rise out of him, she would be a much stronger and more respectible character.  The biggest problem with this episode is the ole' threatening to leave the crew 'crisis' which everyone knows will never happen.  It seems pointless to threaten something that will never happen.  That alone took away half a star!  This episode was also pretty funny, from Garak counseling Ezri to Sisko learning that Worf is intimidated by him.  Speaking of Worf, this whole season we've seen him as angry griever, and he is shown from his own perspective so he appears unsympathetic.  This trend continues, but his last scene with Ezri does redeem him somewhat.

7X4    Take Me Out to the Holosuite 
Plot: Sisko leads the crew in a baseball game against 'superior' Vulcans.

This was a slightly disappointing comedy, but still very funny.  Sisko's teaser scene with Solok really expressed his quiet hatred well.  Most of the baseball jokes were pretty dumb, but a good number of them were screams; O'Brien's rum flavored gum, Worf's quiet threats of murder of the opposition, the crew learning about the game.  What was dumb was the crew playing the game, and most of all the 'Rom is an idiot' jokes.  However dumb jokes aside the episode had a nice ending with the crew considering a single run as a win and Solok getting his nose rubbed in it.  Not much else to say, it was nice to see Cassidy Yates again, Sisko seems to have accepted her since last season, maybe wedding bells are in the air...

7X5    Crystalis 
Plot:  The Jack Pack returns and Bashir is able to 'cure' Sareena and soon falls in love with her.

This was much better than I was expecting.  The return of the Jack Pack is very welcome, and their entrance with Patrick as a belligerant Starfleet Admiral was a hoot.  The sexpot's crush on Nog was also cute, as well as their next problem; the collaspe of the universe!  Fortunately this plot didn't go anywhere though.  The beginning about Bashir curing Sareena was reasonably done well, through the technobabble was approaching high levels.  Sareena's transformation is amazing; I can't it's the same person!  The Bashir love story could easily have been cheesy but it was handled pretty well, and the laspes made sense.  It's easily the weakest episode yet this season but it's still strong.

7X6    Treachery, Faith, and the Great River 
Plot:  Odo finds Weyoun is defecting to him but is pursued by the Jem'Hadar.  Odo learns that the Founders may be dying.  Nog must do some swapping for O'Brien which gets O'Brien in deep trouble.

This was a dialouge triumph of an episode with great and meaningful themes along with great FX and some very big plot points.  Not much more you could ask for!  I was concerned about the Nog plot ruining the beauty of the Odo plot, but in fact it accentuated it.  I really love the way the title links the two plots in so many thoughtful ways.  The examination of religion; Ferengi, Vorta, and Bajoran, was really wonderful.  First off the Odo-Kira scenes were well done, especially the ending one.  The Odo-Weyoun scenes in the Runabout were clearly the highlight of the show; a wonderful examination of the Vorta and the Founders, of Odo, of the Dominion, of everything.  The Dominion War only indirectly showed Weyoun's view of Odo, but then again Weyoun #6 is a 'defective' clone.  Especially great was the Vorta's origans; a primative species who once helped a Founder, and now they rule the Dominion.  I like the suggestion that Damar secretly killed Weyoun #5, and especially interesting is the way he convinced Weyoun #7 to kill Odo.  The way he whispers suggestions in his ear recalls the phantom Damar in "Waltz", and it shows that Damar isn't just some dumb Cardassian but is actually intelligent.  I was extremely disappointed by the Female Founder's appearance though!  She was only in for twenty seconds!  That scene wasn't even necessary, it could have just been talked about!  Speaking of the Founders dying plot, this is a wonderful and huge plot point.  I presume that they only mean the Founders trapped in the Alpha Quadrant.  If this is some kind of disease they caught (was Damar behind this?!), then there is no way the Gamma Quadrant Founders could have caught it; they've been seperated for one and a quarter years now!  The FX sequences of a Runabout v. Jem'Hadar was absolutly amazing.  Usually we don't get swerving views like that a la Babylon 5.  This is a great improvement on those static shots that they always use.  I think these shots were done by the B5 FX company, because that shot of the Jem'Hadar slowly cutting up the ice field without moving looked just like the Shadow vessels not moving and cutting up the Narn base in B5 Y2 "The Coming of Shadows".  Weyoun #6's death scene was extremely emotional, I was really hoping he could come back with Odo!  Imagine how useful he would have been!  Odo's final blessing to him as he died was very touching.  What I find really interesting is Weyoun #6's final plea that Odo survive so that when the Founders die he can take over the Dominion and right their wrongs.  Imagine!  Odo in charge of a peaceful Dominion!  I really see the series ending this way, unfortunately he will have to fight his way through Damar and Weyoun #7 first.  This was a huge arc show that really sets up a lot of future plots.  The Nog plot was light but brillant like Y5's "In the Cards".  Nog's speech about the Great River was really touching and interesting, and it gives a lot of great thematic links to the main plot.  It was also hilarious!  O'Brien getting blamed for everything was a hoot, and my favorite part is the Captain's Desk missing!  Another great scene is Nog's long explanation to O'Brien of his little exchange chain.  This was easily the best episode yet this season.

7X7        Once More Into the Breach 
Plot:  Martock, Worf, and Kor lead a Klingon strike against the Dominion.  Martock hates Kor for harming his career and Kor is now suffering from Klingon Alzheimers.  Quark thinks Ezri wants to get back with Worf.

A little disappointing but pretty good.  Kor himself was extremely subdued from his previous appearances, and wasn't as entertaining.  In fact he looked tired and sick, but I suppose he was supposed to.  The Martock-Kor backstory was very interesting mainly because we finally get some history on Martock.  I never found Martock to be un-sympathetic, even when he was teasing Kor about attacking a Fed outpost after one of his blackouts.  Martock was perfectly justifiyed, even when he tries to kill Kor when he's leading the strike into death.  In fact, the scene where Martock casually wonders about the defenses of the Fed outpost was a real hoot because he was so non chalant about it.  Just like last episode the FX were absolutly amazing!  They had that same twisting motion view that blows my eyes out!  The assult on the Dominion base was very impressive, and the shot of 10 Jem'Hadar chasing them in formation was pretty impressive.  My biggest complaint is that we don't SEE Kor's big battle with the Jem'Hadar fleet!  I was really looking forward to that!  Of course, this episode carried the subtle theme of legends and how they are only invincible if you believe in them.  In the teaser they talked about Davie Crockett, and it then applied to Kor.  In the end Martock and Worf believed he was a legend again, so he was invincible!  This theme was extremely subtle and very thoughtful.  I suppose this open ending is supposed to lead us to believe that Kor has surivived, and I have heard rumors he will return one more time.  This episode would have ended better though if we saw him triumph and then die in glorious battle.  The Quark-Ezri plot was pretty short but it was nice, and did feature a great preformance from Quark when he was talking about how Ezri has to move on.  We should have seen more Ezri-Kor, considering that Worf only met Kor once through Dax and that they almost tried to kill each other!

7X8        The Seige of AR-588 
Plot:  Sisko and the crew makes a supply dump at the beseiged AR-588 where Starfleet is trying to hold a Dominion communications array.  Sisko decides to stay to help the troops defend the next assult.  Quark comes along at the Grand Nagus' demand and is concerned for Nog.

This was a great war episode!  Not as good as "Rocks and Shoals" but very excellent.  There was an excellent atmosphere to the entire episode, which had slight Vietnam connotations through out it as everyone just tries to survive.  The soldiers were good characters, especially Lennier/Bill Mumy because of his interactions with Ezri.  However I am forced to ask why would they bring a station counselor to the warfront?  My only thought is to help the troops...  This episode looks solely at the Starfleet angle, making the Jem'Hadar to be unknown and menacing villians, which is a good thing.  Another great concept was the 'Houdinis'.  The shot of all the Houdinis decloaking at once was really eye popping!  I had no idea there would be that many!  Sisko also proves himself a master strategist; he moves the mines into the pass to blow away the Jem'Hadar!  Nog was once again used wonderfully; every time I see him it's hard to believe this was the most annoying character in the first few years of the show!  Quark was also put to great dramatic use, instead of slapstick.  His concern for his nephew was well put and even justifyed since Nog gets his leg blown off!  That was another shocker!  My favorite part of the episode is when the troops are lined, waiting for the assult in absolute silence.  Then the Vic Fontaine music plays (which is the only decent of that character EVER!) which adds to the unease.  Then we distantly hear/see the flashes of the Houdinis blowing up; moments later we hear screams, then the Jem'Hadar arrive!  The assult was wonderfully shot, as the Jem'Hadar break into their lines and the troops go down.  Every bit of this episode was packed with drama and atmosphere.  You can't even tell this was shot on a soundstage with plastic rocks instead of real location!  At the top and bottom of the episode, there were good short scenes with Sisko and Odo then with Kira about Sisko reading the casulty lists, the last Sisko-Odo scenes in years it's seemed.  Every thing about this episode was perfect... AND THEN THERE WAS THE TEASER.  Why oh WHY did they feel the need to bring in Rom just so he can makes the most annoying sounds in the world?!  Why ruin a wonderful episode with this peice of crap on top?!  It had nothing to with the rest of the episode!  It didn't have the same serious tone of the rest of the episode!  Rom is in no other scenes!  WHY?!  I really considered giving this ep a lower rating, but why should 45 minutes be punished for 30 seconds of crap?  I'll just pretend I hallucinated it...  I can almost understand the need to have Vic in a real shot, otherwise you couldn't bring in the actor to sing the war music; but why not just have it be some old recording?  Oy...

7X9    Covenant 
Plot: Kira is abducted to Terok Nor, where Dukat leads a cult of Bajorans who worship the Pagh-Wraiths.

Well, this was the best Kira episode since "Return to Grace" in the fourth season, but it was still a disappointment.  There were some excellent Kira-Dukat scenes but the entire episode felt vaguely silly.  That first Kira-Dukat scene where they about the Prophets and the Pagh-Wraiths and killing Jadzia and their appearnce in the season premire was really excellent.  This episode did put forth a great idea; maybe the Prophets aren't such good guys and the Pagh-Wraiths are better?  Then again, in their first and last appearance they seemed kinda sinister; arguably they are responsible for killing Jadzia.  The Prophets certainly seem high and mighty like B5's Vorlons; they create Sisko but refuse to let him in on the secret, they let the Occupation happen but stop the Dominion from conquering the Alpha Quadrant.  It's a very legitmate idea.  I thought Dukat really was in contact with the Wraiths up until the end.  Unfortunately Dukat seems pretty silly after that, creating this little community and all.  I do like the way the episode slowly showed he was more and more not what he seems, even ending with him trying to kill everyone but himself.  I was shocked when I saw Dukat desperately searching the pile of pills; I thought he did plan to kill himself to join the Wraiths.  Since the Wraiths never appear in this episode the episode seems to be a tease more than anything else.  The old 'cults are bad' theme was pretty stale and stupid too.

7X10    It's Only a Paper Moon 
Plot: Depressed over the loss of his leg, Nog ends up getting his councilling from Vic Fontaine but then finds himself addicited to living in Vic Fontaine world.

As a whole a dreadful waste of an episode when there are only 16 left to wrap up the whole freakin' series.  A Nog / Vic episode?!  Given it's limitations the episode was pretty boring; depressed Nog was boring and being with Vic was a little ridiculous.  COULDN'T THERE HAVE BEEN A SUBPLOT HERE?!  About the only good thing was the bit about Vic getting addicted to being on all the time because it paints Vic as a slave to the humans.

7X11    Prodigal Daughter 
Plot: O'Brien goes missing on a planet and Ezri is sent because her family owns the largest mining corporation there.  Ezri has to deal with her dysfunctional family while unravelling the mystery of O'Brien's disapeerance.

Better than I thought it would be.  The whole Ezri family situation was really interesting, and the O'Brien mystery was interesting enough.  The Orion Syndicate tormenting Ezri's family's mining corproation was pretty interesting if not a bit obvious.  I like the nice tie-in to last season's "Honor Among Theives" showing O'Brien following up on his feelings about betraying Bilby, gives that episode more weight.  This episode eventually became a mystery as to which family member killed Bilby's widow:  I had the older brother pegged maybe the mother, but the artisic younger brother really surprised me.  Not because it came out of left field but because it was unexpected.  What could have been a mediocre episode presented in the best possible way.

7X12    The Emperor's New Cloak 
Plot: Grand Nagus Zek travels to the Mirror Universe but soon gets kidnapped by the Alliance.  Mirror Ezri comes to our universe to get Quark and Rom to pay the ransom; a cloaking device.  Quark and Rom accompany Mirror Ezri to the Mirror Universe where they must covertly help the Terran Rebels while being held prisoner on the Regent's Flagship.

This was a fun episode, but mixing a Ferengi episode with a Mirror episode ended up robbing the series of a really good final Mirror episode.  Of course, this was a very subdued Ferengi episode, in fact I'd say it's one of the best Ferengi episodes recently because the Ferengi were smart and not stupid for once.  The usual Mirror characters were great to see again; Bashir and O'Brien the Terran Rebels, Worf the Regent, Garak his sly aide, Kira the Intendant, etc.  There were essentially three big changes since the last TRUE Mirror episode in the Fourth Season; Vic Fontaine, Jadzia, Ezri.  This episode featured my favorite Vic apperance, in that he is brutually killed ten seconds into his appearance!  Ezri was a cool Mirror character.  But Bashir explaining Jadzia was just killed was really stupid; couldn't she just be offscreen or something?!  Anyway, Worf and Garak were hilarious like the last time, the Intendant was just as freakass; this time she's the Lesbian Queen!  It was really wierd having a good Brunt too.  The way Rom sabotaged the cloaking device was pretty cool, showing one of those rare occaisons where Rom is smart.  However I was extremely disappointed to see the battle just stolen images from the last Mirror episode!  We haven't had any real FX episodes since "Tears of the Prophets"!  At least this episode wrapped up the Mirror saga in a way; Worf was captured by the Rebels and they won.  It was a little wierd to have Mirror Ezri ending up befriending what looked like Mirror Lesbian Leeta...

7X13    Field of Fire 
Plot: When a serial killer using a teleporting weapon stalks the station, Ezri must preform a Trill ceremony, releasing her former killer host Joran Dax to help her track down the killer by thinking the way he does.

Wow!  This was a pleasant surprise, an excellent Ezri thriller story.  The concept of a rifle that teleports its bullets through bulk heads is really cool, and the way the sight allows you to 'fly' through the station is cool too.  Ezri-Joran interplay was excellent, I like that fact that for most of the episode she was walking around the station talking to herself.  The murder investigation was very interesting, I soon picked up the pictures are the key but not the fact that they were smiling.  I am also troubled by another racist Vulcan, this one even goes nuts and murders people.  BUT, the finale was a real nail biter, beginning when Ezri is on the elevator with the killer and Joran identifies him.  The part where Ezri is watching him with the rifle sight, and the killer pulls out his own gun and aims at her, wow!  When she shoots him and he just barely misses, wow!  What a cool concept!  We also get the second Worf-Ezri scene ever, seeing that Worf secretly cares about her still.  An excellent episode.

7X14    Chimera 
Plot: Odo encounters Laas, one of the Hundred infant Changelings the Founders sent to explore the galaxy.  Odo brings Laas aboard the station but he soon gets into trouble with the 'solids' he despises and jepordizes Odo's relationship with Kira.

I have very mixed feelings on this episode.  It was excellent material for Odo as a character and showed some his character moving towards the end of the series and the Founders, but it was also a very stale premise, like Y3's "The Abandoned" only there it was an infant Jem'Hadar instead but both ended with the character going off to find his brethren.  The best thing about this episode was the way it suggested that it is inevitable for Odo to grow sick of humanity, loose Kira because they cannot have a child, and become a rude anti-Solid isolationist like Laas is.  It certainly makes sense, and it lends more credibility to Odo's relationship with the Founders who are now dying.  Kira's releasing Laas and sending Odo off was very sweet and demonstrated her true love for her, and Odo demonstrated his love for her by staying and learning its okay to shapeshift into fireworks in her presence.  This is one of those rare occasions where the Odo-Kira relationship is handled excellently.

7X15    Badda-Bing, Badda-Bang 
Plot: Vic Fontaine's program is taken over by gansters so its up to the crew to pull off a holo-robbery to free Vic's program of the gansters.  Sisko learns to befriend Vic Fontaine, though why he would want to I have no idea...

Ugh, thank god this is the last DS9 comedy ever!  It was horrible!  I liked "Our Man Bashir" cause it was a Bond parody but this is just stupid!  I have never been a Vic Fontaine fan, I think he is a stupid idea, and now seeing TWO Vic Fontaine episodes in the final season of the show I am just disgusted with the entire concept.  This scene has exactly one decent scene:  where Sisko explains to Cassidy he refuses to go to Vic's because it is an inaccurate portrayal of the era where black people were still not held equal.  That was a good scene, and it essentially ridiculed the entire Vic concept which I liked very much, and made Sisko a respectable character unlike the rest of these yokels.  But by the end of the episode, Sisko learned his lesson which is to make friendly with a hologram and sing with him rather than protest the way the race struggle is neatly brushed under the carpet as it is.  Please!  The basic plot of the episode, the robbery, was so stupid and cliched I couldn't believe it.  Especially when they're saying we need one more man, we have to quit... and here's Sisko!!  One other almost good scene; while Sisko singing with Vic was very stupid I do appreciate the way it served as a prelude to the living hell these people will now go through, and the look Sisko and Cassidy exchanged was very meaningful.  We get a nice look at the characters while they are still smiling before the final chapter of their saga begins.  And Sisko is a good singer I suppose.

7X16    Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges 
Plot: Bashir and Sloan travel to Romulus as part of a Section 31 reconnaisance operation, but there are many a twist and turn along the way.

Finally, a meaty arc episode!  This was quite a good one as well, an excellent spy tale that really caught me off guard with its twists and turns.  First of all it was an excellent story for Bashir, as like Sisko in "In the Pale Moonlight" he is tempted and gives in to the darkness of grey morals when fighting the Dominion.  Second of all it was Romulans, Romulans, Romulans, also excellent.  Third, Sloan and Section 31!  Sloan is a great character, I especially like when Bashir tries to protest his meathods he says why don't we just skip their respective speeches we'll never change one another's minds, a great and telling line yet it was a lie, because Bashir has indeed become altered to Sloan's pov as evidense at the last scene where he decides not to rat on Sloan.  However, I was worried 3/4 of the way into the episode where Bashir is a prisoner of the Tal Shiar, and Koval is telling the Continuing Committee there is no Section 31 that his captive Sloan is just a crazy former Starfleet Intel obssessed with revenge against Koval, and then Sloan tries to Koval and gets vaporized.  I actually believed it, because these writers have made assine mistakes in the past and I thought they were wimping out on the Section 31 plot, showing the Feds are still perfect this is just one nut.  But no!  Bashir confronts Ross knowing he was in on it; here I must confess I was spoiled about Ross being in on it, but I thought that was wrong too when Ross had an anyerism; I thought Sloan killed him for trying to interfere.  But no, it was all a setup from the beginning with Koval as part of Section 31!  While that may stretch crediblbility a little, it is great!  For a moment I considered it, but thought, nah!  Turns out it was to take out Cretek all along so Koval could ascend to importance and keep the Alliance; wow!  Never saw it, a perfectly crafted tale, with great new sets thanks to Voyager and nice Romulan sets as well.  Add in a Garak appearance, though a superficial one, and you have a classic!

7X17    Penumbra (part 1 of 9!) 
Plot: When Worf is lost in battle, Ezri illegally searches for him.  Ezri finds Worf but they soon get stranded on a planet and get into an argument.  Sisko proposes to Kassidy who accepts and the two plan their marriage, but the Bajorans and the Prophets have their own ideas about the marriage.  Weyoun searches for a cure to the Founder's Disease, and Dukat comes to Damar for help in his next evil plan.

Well given all the buildup this episode was a bit tame but still, the gears are in motion.  The Ezri/Worf plot was pretty entertaining, their argument on the planet was hilarious and the uncomfortable silence on the Runabout (and Worf's singing in the escape pod) were also good for a hoot.  As for the sex, it did seem a little extreme (especially considering they never seemed to take off their clothes!).  Unfortunately this episode borrowed a lot from last year's boring "Change of Heart" where Worf and Jadzia were stranded on a planet, hell they even played dialogue from that episode when Ezri walks through Worf's quarters.  The Breen appearance at the end was a good twist, and that Breen ship looked awsome!  As for Ezri being the only one to find Worf, I found it hard to believe that the Defiant didn't track Worf's projected path into the Badlands and then send in a shuttle or something, but having to 'ride the tides' made it harder, and a nice visual as well.  The Sisko plot was light but very interesting.  What I found most interesting was Sisko and Kassidy talking about Sarah Sisko da Prophet, considering it hasn't even been mentioned since Sisko found out in "Shadows and Symbols".  Nice to see Sisko finally talking about it!  Again gears are turning in expected ways, like the Sisko-Kassidy marriage.  Nothing shocking here, even the Prophets being against it is predictible.  But, the Sisko-Sarah vision was very touching, the way he hugged his true mother for the first time ever.  It was interesting how the Bajorans are making the marriage to be a huge celebration, and it is nice to see Sisko following up his hopes of retiring to Bajor (first mentioned in "Behind the Lines"), it really touching to see how this Starfleet officer has come to accept the spiritual side to himself.  As for the Cardassian subplots, again the gears are turning but nothing spectacular.  Nice to see the Female Founder and Dukat again of course, and the Bajoran Dukat looks extremely... wierd.  Of course I know what' up with Dukat from spoilers, but I'm sure it will be a good mystery for the pure viewer, along with the Breen suddenly appearing near Dominion space.  But hey... it's pretty obvious!  In general this was a straight-forward episode, nothing epic.

7X18    Till Death Do Us Part 
Plot:  Sisko calls off his engagement.  Kai Winn is contacted by 'The Prophets' who tell to her expect a Guide; Dukat in Bajoran guise soon comes to her and they get intimate.  Worf and Ezri are interrogated by the Breen.  Dukat and Damar say goodbye as Damar becomes more disgruntled.  The Dominion meets with the Breen to make an alliance!

Better than "Peumbra" but still nothing spectacular.  The Sisko plot was so cliched just like the Worf/Dax marraige episode; first one character calls off the marriage, but then a stirring speech from a friend convinces him/her to change his/her mind and get married.  Sisko's vision of Sarah Prophet was much better this time, her acting wasn't so stilted and she showed real concern for him.  I was also curious to see Sisko explaining his vision in "Penumbra" no less than THREE times to various characters!  This is a waste of screen time!  What I did find interesting was Sisko breaking off the engagement just because the Prophets say so- it's nice to see this character evolution where he actually takes them deadly seriously, and I like Kira's support of this decision and her anger when he goes against the Prophets.  Sisko changing his mind was pretty cheesy, all he has to do is see all the money he spends on the ring and he changes his mind!  As for the marriage, it was very low key and again I wonder why Sisko trusts Ross at all after "Inter Arma...".  I like the way Sarah said she cannot protect Sisko from what is to come; it shows actually dissention within the Prophets which I like very much.  On a minor note, I wonder why the ceremony says "until death seperates you" when the title of the episode is "till death do us part", of course this foreshadows the finale from what I know of it...  As for the Dukat/Kai Winn plot, this was... adequate.  I liked Kai Winn being jealous of Sisko because she has never met the Prophets, as her vision with what I am sure are Pagh Wraiths preparing her to accept Dukat.  The most interesting that about this is that Dukat really IS the Pagh Wraith Emissary and not a nut pretending to be, as "Covenant" would have us think.  This will be very interesting as he has become the anti-Sisko Emissary!  I am starting to like the Pagh Wraith plot more and more...  I also liked Dukat's act of a simple Bajoran farmer, it was very sly.  One thing I never noticed was the abscence of eyebrows on Cardassian Dukat, now seeing those huge bushy eyebrows is very unnerving.  I also love the sugar story he made up about Winn indirectly saving "Anjohl" from execution in the Occupation.  Very clever.  But I found the kiss between Winn and 'Anjohl' very strange.  It was very strange seeing the Kai out of uniform for the first time ever, with her long hair down, in a bedrobe, learning her first name, it was all very strange.  What the hell is Dukat doing?  As for the Cardassia plot, this one was very interesting.  My favorite scene is when Weyoun rudely wakes Damar to drag him out on a meeting, and Damar with ruffled hair stares at himself in the mirror... plots are moving!  I also enjoyed the goodbye scene with Dukat and Damar, where Dukat urges Damar to become a strong leader for Cardassia and wonders what has happened to his good strong friend Damar, an excellent scene.  Nice to see they still respect each other, Damar killing Ziyal has been completely forgotten!  Next, the Worf-Ezri plot.  Nice and short, not wasted time.  The old prison plot is done adequately here, and I am curious about Ezri loving Bashir, this seems a little out of left field for everybody though in "Afterimage" she told Bashir if Worf hadn't come along it would have been him.  I wonder how Bashir feels about this... The Breen remain super badass, and I love the way they talk!  And the final twist of the Breen joining the Dominion is pretty damn cool!  And I am wondering what the Bajoran Restoration is...

7X19    Strange Bedfellows 
Plot: Worf and Ezri are held captive on Cardassia where the Breen finalizes their joining the Dominion.  Damar objects to giving Cardassian terrortory to the Breen and his dissatisfaction with the Dominion reaches a turning point.  Kai Winn learns she has been contacted not by the Prophets but the Pagh Wraiths, and that Anjohl believes in them.

The Final Chapter is really starting to heat up now.  This episode curiously had some hilarious scenes.  Weyoun saying he would like to watch Worf and Ezri have sex, Martock telling Sisko how Sirella got rid of his dog, Worf and Ezri hanging upside down, Worf killing Weyoun and Damar laughing about it then teasing Weyoun #9 about it, all great.  The Worf-Ezri stuff is starting to get old now, but at least they decided they weren't right for each other so we shouldn't hear anymore from those two.  Sisko and Kassidy took a sudden plunge in screen time, down to one scene that was nonetheless entertaining, it's interesting that Kassidy is now Wife of the Emissary but she doesn't even believe in the Prophets!  Damar gets some good material this episode, as all his concerns lead up to a breaking point.  The Breen are taking over the spot of Dominion Favored that Cardassia once held, and Damar knows it.  While I knew about it ahead of time, Damar's semi-defection is nonetheless shocking.  Worf and Ezri were the perfect catalyst though- his forced action now lets him send a secret message to the Federation that Cardassia will work against the Dominion.  A major turning point, excellently handled.  I only wish that Damar manipulated Weyoun in "Great River" had continued... oh well...  Once again Female Founder appears for one brief scene to keep appearances of strength for the Breen.  Have I mentioned how cool the Breen are?  And Damar covers their escape perfectly; the Jem'Hadar were in charge of security!  When Worf and Ezri escaped briefly, I was worried they would pull a "By Inferno's Light" where Worf & Co escaped a Dominion prison stronghold by themselves.  First of all why weren't they upside down anymore?  Was this Damar's doing?  And how could they possibly rig the door to open with the Cardassians knowing about that possibility and preventing it?  Fortunately that escape didn't last too long!  The Winn-Dukat plot got very interesting this time around and Kai Winn learns she was being manipulated by the Pagh Wraiths, and she makes the decision to foregoe redemption.  All very dramatic stuff.  I think the Pagh Wraiths revealed themselves too early to Winn, but by Dukat's smile afterwards I guess that part of the plan between Dukat and the Pagh Wraiths, to force her into changing allegiances.  I was surprized how adamant Winn was at first to reject Dukat as a Pagh Wraith believer, and I wondered how Dukat could be so sure that Winn wouldn't tell on him.  But Winn prays for the Prophets and once again they do not speak.  At this point I wonder if the Pagh Wraiths are blocking the Prophets, who are desperately trying to call Winn and tell her the truth.  But I think not; it seems that the Prophets truely don't care about Bajor as long as it exists (they let the Occupation happen but prevent the Dominion destruction of Bajor in return for Sisko's Penance).  They don't seem to care about Sisko's well being either, except for Sarah Prophet that is.  Kira's scene with Winn was very interesting, as Winn mentions they have never been friends but she confesses to her anyway.  Kira begins to speak of giving up that which led her to sins and Winn agrees, until Kira mentions that means giving up the Kai ship.  Winn doesn't want that!  This episode gives the definitive character analysis of Winn; she wants to believe but doesn't, power truely is more important to her than spirituality but she is afraid to admit it.  Winn's confession that she felt nothing when she first saw the wormhole was interesting, but her final speech to Dukat saying she's going destroy all those who get in her way; the Federation, the Vedek Assembly, the Prophets, Sisko, that was a bit too much over the top.  She went from reluctantly accepting her fate to a zealot in five seconds.  Oh well, I'm sure this will be important come the future.  I suppose now Dukat's plan is simple revenge against Sisko and getting the Pagh Wraiths to defeat the Prophets.

7X20    The Changing Face of Evil 
Plot:  The Breen attack Starfleet HQ on Earth as the tides of war turn in favor of the Dominion.  The Defiant is sent to defend the Allies' only foothold in Dominion space only to meet with tragedy.  Damar begins a Cardassian Reistance.  Kai Winn and Dukat study the ancient texts of the Pagh Wraiths as Winn seals her path in blood.

I was really looking forward to this episode, but found myself slightly disapointed.  What sounded like an FX blowout was a rushed bit of the final act which didn't show the battle, just the Defiant getting destroyed.  As shocking and visceral as that was, it was VERY short and I wanted to see the rest of the battle, dammit!  Still, destroying the Defiant was a real shock, and the Breen are clearly shown to be true bad-asses which makes me wonder why we never heard from them before this...  Unfortunately the Defiant is finished off so quickly and abruptly we never really get to feel true sorrow, a few more minutes here please!  Attacking San Francisco was another shocker, but I'm afraid the shock and impact was extremely lessened because WE DIDN'T SEE IT.  All we saw was a shot of the bridge broken, on a little tv screen!  Why can't we see it for real, or some of the battle, dammit!  What could have been a classic is mishandled so that dramatic events loose all their drama and become emotion-less events.  I do appreciate what we see of the Breen here; they don't mind a sucide strike if it drives fear into the heart of their enemies, and their ships have some kinda ion cannon which can disable ships!  The Alamo scene with O'Brien and Bashir was very... unnerving.  Those two freaks' obsession with that damn thing is really getting scary, and I truely think that they are a homosexual couple honest to god.  Where is Keiko?  What about Kira's comment "trouble in paradise"?  Even if Ezri hit on Bashir, I'm afraid he'd say sorry, I'm already invovled with Miles!  I also like the new Ezri-Worf friendship as they discuss Ezri and Bashir, the way Worf is sarcastic and supporting at the same time.  Of course, the whole Alamo thing is now serving as a metaphor for the War, the Federation is the Alamo and the Dominon/Breen is General Santa Anna.  I also liked the Damar plot though Damar's actions are questionable.  Why go into hiding as the resistance leader and make a public announcement calling for all Cardies to resist?  Wouldn't he be much more effective contuing to sabotage the Dominion from within?  Won't this cause the Dominion to crack down on ALL Cardies now?  Well, I guess this can attribued to Damar's simplistic militarisitc mindset.  I love the way Sisko returns home defeated after loosing the Defiant, and then Damar's speech gives hope to everyone.  Good plotting.  I also love the line where Weyoun notices the change in Damar, and attributes it to the Dominion's victory.  Unfortunately it seems that we will not be seeing Damar and Weyoun together anymore...  As for the Winn-Dukat plot, I actually found it the most shocking.  By watching the trailer you can already tell the Defiant gets toasted and Earth gets hit, no big surprize.  BUT I didn't know that Solbor would reveal to Winn that Dukat is... Dukat!  I was shocked!  I was getting to like that Solbor character, but his death was very proper and also shocking since Winn did it.  I found it curious that Winn is so in control of herself and reserved about the whole Pagh Wraith thing, when the last scene of the last episode was her declaring she would destroy the Federation and the Vedeks and Sisko and the Prophets.  This is a good thing!  Solbor's suspicion of Dukat reached it climax here, and I found the fact that it takes Bajoran blood to read the Pagh Wraith bible very fitting, surely Winn should realize that is a bad thing.  Of course, the ultimate irony would be if the Pagh Wraiths were the good gods and would have helped Bajor defeat the Cardassian invasion etc but they were defeated by the Prophets and imprisoned for wanting to intervene in human affairs, which would make the Prophets the bad guys and Sisko by connection bad for Bajor.  Dukat hinted this in "Covenant".  I found Winn's acceptance of Dukat a little suspicious though, but understandable.  Still, it's a great devealopment that Winn now knows she is working with Gul Dukat.

7X21    When It Rains... 
Plot:  Kira, Odo and Garak meet Damar's Resistance to aid him.  Gowron replaces Martock when the fate of the war falls into the Klingon's hands.  Bashir and O'Brien discover Odo has the Founder's Disease, and the disease's origans.  Dukat oversteps his bounderies with Kai Winn and is taught humility.

Not as good as the last one.  The Kira plot was good, the irony of the situation is really delicious.  I also love the way Garak gets to work with his people again, and the way Damar fully accepts Kira as his ally and follows her advice.  Gul Rusot is a typical annoying arrogant Cardie, I wonder how many idiots like this are in Damar's Resistance.  The biggest missing line in this episode is Kira criticizing Damar for not working against the system while within rather than just going into hiding, though I love the way Damar's overreaching tactics are corrected by Kira's realism.  And Kira looks GREAT in a Starfleet uniform, she looks so much more professional now- as opposed to her previous red catsuit with high heels and a tunic that ends in the middle of her torso.  Unfortunately her hair looks the same.  I also like the way Garak constantly mediated the Cardies and Kira, while the all the while remaining buddy buddy with the Cardies.  Very smart of him!  The Odo-Kira stuff was good too, especially when that Cardie reminds Kira how Odo was a collaborator during the Occupation- when just earlier she told them collaborators deserve to be killed.  I like the way the Cardies don't want to kill their own, and the way Kira points out the Dominion could just put a Cardie at every base and Damar agrees with her.  Damar is a very smart man!  The Klingon plot: it was great to see Martock become a true hero of his people, I was just thinking how Martock is the PERFECT Klingon; warrior and prideful but not arrogant or selfish.  He's a good guy!  On the same front, Admiral Ross is the perfect Starfleet man (warrior but kind and mediates arguements amongst his allies) and Damar is the perfect Cardie (warrior, does what is neccesssary for freedom).  Anywho, great to see Gowron after a two and a half year absence!  I don't why he's doing it, but Gowron was always a politician, he must be off his nut and think he can be a war hero like Martock.  Interesting stuff, I also like the way he forgives Worf since he is adopted into Martock's House.  I appreciate these tactics discussions, like at the start where the Allies (including a Romulan!) discuss how the Klingons will have to be the only ones to fight now, and Martock's discussions on their hit-n-run tactics.  The Bashir-O'Brien plot was also very interesting, unfortunately it had two huge plot holes in it to work.  First, out of the blue Bashir wants some Odo-goo for limb replacement research- why didn't he ask for this two years ago?!  Second, Bashir for some reason needs this med work from Starfleet Medical, even though he has his own damn Odo med work, he even admits to this in dialogue!  I like the brief Bashir-Ezri scene.  Bashir being questioned for trying to find a cure was very interesting, and while I knew it was Section 31 who made the Disease it was none the less a flooring revelation.  What was really shocking is that they infected Odo with it to act as a character back in the Y4 two parter "Homefront"/"Paradise Lost"!  That two parter was about an admiral trying to declar martial law on Earth...  connection?  So when Odo was linkin' with Female Founder in "Behind the Lines" and "Favor the Bold" he was killing her!  When Weyoun said the Disease was in ALL the Link (including the Gamma Quad) I was suspicious, but Odo merged with the Link at the end of Y4 in "Broken Link"!  So perhaps the Dominion joining Cardassia was the first move of a desperate act of a dying Founders!  Wow!  Can't wait to hear more about Section 31!  A small nit: Odo is the carrier which means he should be infected at once or be immune.  Why would Odo only get the disease now just as Bashir discovers it?  The writers trying to put events together as they think of them ending up as an unrealistic coincidence?  As for the Winn-Dukat plot, it's interesting how Winn now works with Dukat, knowing who he is.  Winn does not like him AT ALL!  And Dukat is getting impatient- him being struck by blindness is pretty fitting, and again suggests the power of the Pagh Wraiths even in their texts.  I love the way Winn banishes Dukat to the streets to learn humility as a blind beggar!  Wonderful!  Unfortunately this is their last appearance until the final episode, so we will never get to see Dukat learning humility.

7X22    Tacking Into the Wind 
Plot:  Gowron continues to lead the Klingons into suicide forcing Worf to confront him.  The Cardassian Resistance tries to steal a Breen-augmented Jem'Hadar fighter, forcing the issues of Odo's sickness and Rusot's animosity towards Kira.  Bashir and O'Brien hatch a plan to find the cure for Odo.

This is probably the best 'Final Chapter' episode yet! A real classic!  The Klingon plot was great, unfortunately I already knew that Gowron was killed but it was still pretty shocking.  The best scene was where Ezri declars the Klingons a dying people trapped in the past... wow!  That pretty much summed up the culture we've been seeing for the last decade!  Gowron is just a sign of the Klingons accepting a corrupt government because of honor!  The fight was pretty breif, and it was pretty obvious that Worf the warrior would defeat Gorwon the politician.  I also love the way Worf handed the power over to Martock, the coolest Klingon in existance.  This is a fascinating idea; Martock leads the Klingons into a new way of life.  Too bad we don't have the screentime to ever see this!  Plus, there were great parallels drawn to the Cardie plot and Damar.  In both plots, a leader of the old way had to be killed so that the new leader could rise to power and accept that change is necessary.  In the end, the Klingons and the Cardies begin to referring to their "empires" which of course made them in a way talking about the same thing.  Wow!  Plus, the plot of sneaking onto the Jem'Hadar fighter was awsome.  Garak proves just how awsome he is here; he sits in the shadows watching Rusot, knowing that Rusot will soon try to kill Kira.  He manages to shoot down the whole bridge crew in a few seconds!  He's ready to pull a phaser on Rusot at the end and reminds him of it.  Wow!  I also love the evolution of Damar; when the Dominion kills his family, Kira reminds him the Cardies did the same thing to Bajor and Damar realizes that they were wrong.  Again, the changing of Cardassia under Damar is another great thing that we will of course never get to see.  Maybe the novels can do this...?  Still, it's amazing stuff even if it coming a little late in the game.  Like "A Time to Stand" the waiting on the Jem'Hadar ship is very suspenseful.  When Female Founder entered I thought they were in trouble until I realized it was Odo.  An interesting side note:  two weeks went by before this episode.  A good plot for a novel!  As for the short Bashir-O'Brien plot, nothing much here but it was interesting what they're planning.  I am wondering if they will account for Sloan's superduper transporter that he uses.

7X23    Extreme Measures 
Plot: Bashir and O'Brien hatch their plan to lure Sloan to the station to find a cure for Odo.  They suceed but Sloan attempts suicide, forcing them to race for time in his mind to find the cure.

Well, this is easily the weakest 'Final Chapter' episode!  This episode unfortunately stuck with just one plot while the rest use three to four, so the pace was slowed considerably, unfortunately the story wasn't good enough to warrant it.  The opening scene with Odo and Kira was nice n' short, surprizingly the episode was about saving Odo and yet he's barely in it!  The opening bits with luring Sloan was great, because we see previous information (the way Sloan always beams into Bashir's chair in his bedroom with his magic transporter) put to use.  Turning the tables on Sloan was great too, plus his prompt suicide attempt.  But once our heros enter Sloan's brain, the episode gets dull.  It's just uninteresting and boring when it could have at least been more imaginative, like the Season Three episode where Bashir was in his own mind trying to fix a telepathic attack, where each regular was an emotion and there was lots of cute symbolism.  None of that here, just walking around DS9.  Yawn.  The bit with Sloan's family was dumb.  One of the few above-average scene was when Bashir and O'Brien indirectly confess their raging homosexual attraction towards each other, saying they enjoy each other's company more than their loves (yes Bashir confesses he loves Ezri).  I was wondering about their curious behaviour earlier this season when they spend all their time in the holosuite and never let anyone else in (Kira even joked they were married once).  I remember Roddenberry said that gay sex wasn't taboo in Star Trek world, that Kirk and Spock probably did it.  I guess this is a continuation of that fine tradition!  I was half-expecting them to make out at that point!  As for the double ending, since there was ten minutes left to the show, it was very obvious and a tad cliched.  The final scene where Sloan tries to kill Bashir by temping him with S31 secrets was nice but by no means spectacular.  The cure for Odo worked waaay too quick for me, elimating any real sympathy for Odo's condition.  Unfortunately this episode was very one dimensional and eliminated the grey morals of S31 by making them and Sloan eeevvvviiillll for trying to kill Odo.  The episode doesn't give proper justification to the fact that killing the Founders will end the war and save the Alpha Quad, and Sloan dies an unmoving death.  On a small side, I like the way Bashir shows off his genetic enhancement powers here, like the way he casually breaks into Quark's to play darts.

7X24    The Dogs of War 
Plot:  The Dominion withdrawls to Cardassian space (again), and the Allies decide to make a bloody invasion to finish off the Dominion once and for all.  Kira, Garak, and Damar must hide on Cardassia Prime when the Dominion wipes out the Cardassian Resistance.  At Kira's urging, Damar leads a people's rebellion.  Quark mistakingly thinks he is the next Grand Nagus after a garbled message from Zek.  Zek has been instituting major reforms on Ferenginar, and actually wants Rom to be a new Nagus for a new Fereneginar.  Brunt shows up to grovel.  Odo learns the truth about his sickness but promises not to do anything about it.  Cassidy tells Sisko she is pregnant.  A new Defiant arrives at the station.  Ezri and Bashir get it on.

In the second to last episode, a lot was going on, and most of it was good.  The opening New Defiant scene was cute.  The destruction of the Cardie Resistance was pretty shocking, and our three heroes beaming down into the middle of an ambush was pretty shocking.  It's great to see Garak's past revealed again, though it was pretty light here:  Garak was raised with Tain and housekeeper Mila.  I'm afraid we'll never learn the truth about Garak in the final episode, I guess we'll have to wait for that Andrew J. Robinson scripted Garak novel.  I like Mila, especially her dark humor which resembles Garak a lot, my vote says she's actually his mother.  The brief Odo scene is nice (though it REALLY should have been in the last episode), Odo brings up a good point that the Federation is letting S31 do its dirty work for it, but I am disappointed if he really doesn't do anything about it.  Earlier this season in "Great River" and "Chimera" we got tons of hints that Odo would betray the Federation to his people, so going to save his people by Linking with them now that he's cured seems nice and set-up, but it looks like Odo's character arc will go nowhere now, unless it's done next episode.  The Cardassian plot was easily the best one this week, especially the way Damar started a popular uprising.  I also love the idea of Kira, Garak, and Damar being stuck together in a basement for weeks.  The direction of the uprising was really excellent.  I love the way Kira stands draped in a black cloak, waiting in the shadows.  She phasers a Jem'Hadar at one point (and Garak sticks a knife in the other's neck, wow!) and then melts back into the shadows as the uprising begins, a beautiful shot.  Kira looks really imposing in a cloak like that.  The setup for this popular uprising was there, but I wonder what a buncha civilians are going to do.  I loved the way Garak insinuated him into the crowd and then started the chant for Damar.  Damar also showed some dark humor here.  As for the Ezri-Bashir plot, it was thankfully short.  I do think they make a cute couple, but this awkwardness was thankfully short, and I love that scene where they come up to Ops necking, and Worf silently sends the lift back down to cover for them.  Worf is a good friend!  I liked the brief WAR Plot, the way the Allies (Martock is wearing the Councellor robes!) decide for a bloody invasion a la Normandy (and like in "Tears of the Prophets") and the way the Dominion planned a withdrawl to consolidate their forces.  An interesting tidbit, the introduction of the new Cardie puppet ruler.  I doubt this will go anywhere.  And I really liked the Sisko-Cassidy scene at the end, the way Cassidy started to break down expressing her concern for the baby because of the Prophet's warning.  That was pretty touching.  Last and most least, the Ferengi plot.  It was at best an average, totally neutral Ferengi plot and weighed down the episode (couldn't this have come earlier?), and most of all it doesn't bring enough resolution.  The best way to handle this would be for Quark and Brunt to lead a revolution to overthrow Zek and return the Ferengi to the old ways, that would have been a nice serious plot (and tie in with the political upheavals of Cardassia and Klingons).  Unfortunately Brunt here has a stupid superficial appearance, after being Grand Nagus last time now he's grovelling to Quark, oh please.  And the garbed transmission was just stupid, creating a stupid plot.  Quark SHOULD be Grand Nagus, not Rom.  Rom may be a good engineer but he is no economic genius, it's just stupid.  Nice to see Zek one last time.  On a minor note, Leeta was very annoying this time (I usually like her) and that second Dabo girl with no clothes and trying to sex up Quark was REALLY annoying, was she a porno star or something?  Sure it brings some upheaval to the Ferengi, but the wrong kind.  I refuse to believe all the Ferengi will just accept taxes and ethics like this, and Rom as their ruler.  And what the hell happened to Zek, the most brilliant Ferengi?  Does Iskha have him brainwashed or something?

7X25    What You Leave Behind (part 1 of 2, Series Finale) 
Plot: The Allied Fleet invades Cardassian space, facing off against the Dominon and the Breen in a final battle.  Kira, Garak, and Damar lead an uprising to storm the Dominion HQ.  Female Founder orders the extermination of all Cardassians when the resistance cripples Cardassia Prime, and the Cardassian military revolts in response, turning the tide of battle.  Winn and Dukat enter the Fire Caves to release the Pagh Wraiths.  Bashir and Ezri are a couple; O'Brien will take an Acadamy teaching job at Earth; Kasidy has morning sickness.

In whole, a very enjoyable epic hour with a few minor problems.  The opening montage of romantic interludes was cute, though it's strange bringing Keiko back for a thirty second scene (her only appearance this year, and she only had one last year too!).  Also, O'Brien suddenly deciding to go to Earth is out of the blue (why not mention it in an earlier episode?) and also very contrived.  The thankfully brief Quark- Vic Fontaine scene was actually funny, with the bartenders never being happy line.  As always the Cardie Resistance plot is very entertaining, and it was hilarious seeing Kira in a Breen outfit since the Breen are rip-offs of Leia's costume at the opening of Return of the Jedi.  There was also some great humor here too, when Kira and Damar joke around about Damar being in love in Mila.  Curiously Garak suddenly acts like a brat around Mila as he did as a child (he didn't last episode!).  The death of Mila was a nice twist, but who didn't see those Cardie guards killing the Jemmies before they executed Our Heroes?  Suprisingly some of the best material was from the Dominion pov (Female Founder and Weyoun), Female Founder really came out wonderfully here.  She became a true villian, casually deceiving the Breen so they fight, and just as casually ordering the extermination of Cardassia.  A suprisingly tense scene is when she gets angry and chokes the Cardie ruler.  As for the space battle, this was amazingly disappointing.  First of all, it was surprisingly short.  Second of all, easily over 3/4 of the footage was reused from "Sacrifice of Angels", "Tears of the Prophets", and "The Changing Face of Evil"!  It was ridiculous how easy it was to spot which shot was from which episode.  I'd be suprized if there were over thirty seconds of new FX space battle!  However what was new was VERY nice, with some alternative perspective shots of the Defiant (head on shot, and pov shot as it flips).  And even if they're old shots they're still very nice to see.  Interestingly, interspaced with the old shots were inter ship shots of bridges exploding and bodies being thrown around by fire (specially with the Klingons).  This was new, and looked REALLY cool.  Unfortunately we never see any sense of strategy to the battle, and it is very short.  The defection of the Cardie ships was pretty cool though, and it makes perfect sense (I would think that there would be Jemmies on the Cardie ships to insure their loyalty who would have to be killed first).  The Dominon retreat to Cardassia Prime makes sense (they did the same thing for the same reasons in "Sacrifice of Angels") however once again the writers display no sense of strategy in a galactic conflict.  She abandons all the many many Cardie planets (and what about Breen terrortory?!  It's never EVER mentioned as a place to attack or defend!) which surely all have these very impressive orbital defense platforms (which Cardassia Prime has, and we saw used in "Tears of the Prophets").  Plus, since Cardassia space is so big, I'm sure it would take at least a few days to reach the heart of Cardie terrortory from the border, yet the Cardie Resistance plot takes place simeotaneously suggesting its just a matter of hours at most.  There were tons of World War Two parallels here, the bloody Allied invasion of Normany, the Final Solution to the 'Jewish problem', the Resistance, the mad evil dictator allowing his/her nation to be destroyed as punishment for failing them, etc.  As I said, Female Founder was really terrifying here.  The Dukat-Winn subplot is enjoyable mainly for their bickering, and also for that awsome FX shot of the Pagh Wraiths being released at the end.
    NOTE: I've guessed that this two hour episode will be divided when Winn awakens the Pagh Wraiths, for various reasons.

7X26    What You Leave Behind (part 2 of 2, Series Finale) 
Plot: The Allied Fleet assults the heavilly fortified Cardassia Prime, as the Cardassian uprising breaks into the Dominion HQ to capture Female Founder.  Odo makes a personal sacrifice to end the war, and things quiet down a bit.  Sisko is called to the Fire Caves, where he takes on a Pagh Wraith possessed Dukat.  The fate of Sisko.  Good bye to the characters.

Part Two has a great first quarter with some big plot holes, then denegrated into a horrible piece which alternated between sappy reminiscing and rushed unrealized stories.  While the ending bit was great, the vast middle of the episode was pretty ridiculous.  The Dominion War Finale was of course pretty cool.  There is a great scene where Weyoun and Female Founder express their love/respect for each other, which (sadly) I found to be the most touching scene in the whole damn episode (though it goes against earlier scenes where Female Founder was wishing she could kill Weyoun for his failures, and here she's saying he's the only solid she trusts).  I found the use of the Breen curious here; they seem as eager to serve the Founder as the Jemmies, even though it's a suicide battle!  (In the novelization, they turn tail and run when the battle turns against them, which makes perfect sense unfortunately it doesn't happen here!)  The break-in to Dominion HQ was a nice scene, especially when they can't get in and Garak gets Kira and Damar giggling over their situation (it was especially wierd for Kira, I don't think I've seen actually laugh/giggle... EVER).  The blatant execution of the still loyal Cardie ruler was nice, plus a great way to break in.  I am reminded faintly of Return of the Jedi, where Our Heroes must break into the impregnatable back door of the enemy stronghold.  However the death of Damar here is just plain ridiculous!  Sure it's nice to see him pay the ultimate price to lead Cardassia to freedom, but I was REALLY looking forward to Damar as the leader of the New Cardassia (and in fact, most of the Final Chapter arc, especially "Tacking Into the Wind", was about Damar being the perfect guy to lead Cardassia in peace AFTER THE WAR).  Killing Damar now just ruins so much possibilty for New Cardassia, in fact we never see the New Cardassia AT ALL.  I don't like that.  For some reason I really love the scene when Kira and Garak break into the room with Weyoun and Female Founder.  I was just imagining what if the Allied troops managed to capture Hitler?  That's what that scene felt like, unfortuntaely the direction slightly flubbed what could have been a stellar scene.  Rather than seeing it from the Dominon perspective, it would have been so cool to instead follow Kira as she blasts her way to the corridor, then breaks in the room.  Oh well...  It never occured to me that the war would be resolved not by a space fight but by the Resistance ground force, but I really like that twist.  Garak killing Weyoun should have been another great scene, but the direction saps all impact.  We don't see Weyoun get hit, and the tiny phaser blast isn't very dramatic (a Jemmie rifle would have been so much better... and ironic!).  As for the space battle plot, there wasn't one!  We got a WONDERFUL shot of all the many many many ships guarding Cardassia Prime, but we didn't see the battle at all, which is a BIG shame.  It was interesting the way they try to end the war by talking sense into the Female Founder, so bring in Odo!  It was interesting to have Garak put a gun on Odo, but unfortunately it didn't go anywhere.  What I really hate here is the sudden CONVEINENT turn of the Female Founder suddenly agreeing to end the war and surrender just because Odo Linked and healed her.  This was just plain ridiculous, and it cheapens the whole series when the only way Our Heroes can win is by the bad guys either making really stupid mistakes (withdraw to Cardassia Prime!) or sudden turns of heart just because of Our Heroes give a lame speech or some such (here).  And Odo suddenly deciding to go to the Great Link is stupid on several levels.  First, it's out of the blue.  While this was hinted to in "Great River", "Chimera" essentially said that Kira was more important to Odo than returning to his people.  So now, what was the point of "Chimera" if Odo suddenly decides to return to his people.  There was some nice aftermath scenes to the war.  Martock, as promised in "Tears of the Prophets", drinks bloodwine with Sisko and Ross on Cardassia Prime.  Here's another stupid thing.  Martock is the leader of the Klingons, who after the war will most likely be a stronger force than the Federation, and in case a major threat to it should it go against them.  So what do Sisko and Ross do?  They play holier-than-thou with Martock, and rudely leave him.  Reeeaaallll clever.  That'd be like Truman cussing out Stalin after World War Two.  What the hell are they thinking?  There was a nice (final) Bashir and Garak scene.  Garak has returned home, but it is destroyed.  I was left with the distinct impression that Garak went off to committ suicide; other fans think he's gone slightly insane after all that happened.  In any case, Garak's screwed (and by the way we never learned the secrets of his past).  The War Treaty scene was cool if only for all the characters there for the signing, it felt important.  Female Founder has no name, I wonder what she signed?  I like Worf becoming Fed ambassador for Martock (it also gives me hope to a Fed-Kling friendship despite Sisko's and Ross' rudeness to Martock).  I was really lost as to why Odo must stay with the Great Link (in the novelization they explain why he's going; by giving himself to the Link, he will tranquilize its aggressive traits and thus neutralize the Dominon threat!).  I found myself really disgusted with the Vic sings scene, first of all I hate Vic songs and second of all it was a big fat time waster, and third of all it was a cheesy way of trying to milk emotions out of the viewer.  Ugh.  Then suddenly the writers remember they have to resole the Dukat-Winn- Pagh Wraith thing, so Sisko senses a 'great disturbance in the Force' and rushes to the Fire Caves.  Earlier, there is a great scene where Winn poisons Dukat.  This was a great twist since I was really expecting Dukat to some how betray and kill Winn!  Dukat is possessed by a Pagh Wraith and magically becomes Cardassian again, which was really stupid.  Let him stay a Bajoran for god's sake!  And plus, we get this horrible revelation as to the Pagh Wraith's true purpose.  Earlier, we learned they wanted to return to the Celestial Temple even if they had to kill the Prophets, that unlike the Prophets they wanted to intevene in linear affairs and protect the Bajorans from harm.  There was even this brilliant hint that the Prophets were the bad guys instead!  Instead, Dukat reveals their true purpose: they're pyromaniacs!  They just want to set the galaxy on fire!  What a friggin' stupid concept!  And of course, the Alpha Quadrant must again be threatened.  What a corny, one note concept!  The Sisko-Dukat scene here is really horrible.  Sisko comes with a phaser, Dukat knocks it away.  Sisko punches Dukat, Dukat isn't affected.  Just what the hell did Sisko think he was doing?!  Dukat is possessed by a god, so he punches him?!  In the end, it is Winn who saves the day, though she gets killed.  Fortunately, this distraction allows Sisko to knock Dukat (and him) into the fire pit, burning the book which is the only thing that can release them.  First of all, this scene was stupid and cheesy.  And too damn short.  The Pagh Wraiths should have been released, should have attacked the wormhole, something epic like that.  Instead, we get ZERO resolution.  The plot went from Pagh Wraiths trapped in caves to Pagh Wraiths trapped in caves.  Wow.  Instead of cheesy character departures, why not resolve the Pagh Wraith/Prophet/Emissary thing in an epic mannor.  So let me get this straight; Sisko is the great Emissary of the Prophets.  His great holy task... was to knock a guy over a cliff.  Wow!  How amazing!  What a great task!  I can see now why Sisko was so important!  Please!  The opening two-parter this season brought many hints to this plot line, that Sisko was a very important test for the Prophets, that Benny Russell was important to the truth about Sisko and reality.  Plus, "Sacrifice of Angels" hinted that the entire Dominion War was a game the Prophets created to test Sisko!  What happened to all of that?  Sisko's fate was very touching though, especially his scene with Kasidy in the void.  It's sad, but we know he is alive, he will return someday after learning from the Prophets.  My favorite line of the show, Kasidy asks when he'll be back, and Sisko says "it could be in a year... or it could be yesterday".  That got to me.  Still, this doesn't really explain/resolve the whole Sisko/Prophets thing, it just takes it in a new direction.  We don't know WHY he is being taught!  Then there is a long bit of flashback montages for O'Brien, Odo, Quark, and Worf.  These seemed like a waste of very precious screen time, but I did like a few of them.  The O'Brien-Bashir one was nice, the other three were just stupid.  The scene where Quark says goodbye to Odo was annoying, but I did like the I love me, I saw it on his back line.  Then we get a neat little scene in the Gamma Quadrant (our first one in two years!) when Odo and Kira visit the Founder Homeworld ("Broken Link").  There was a touching goodbye here, and its nice to see the Link healed.  However I have questions; Sisko convinced the Prophets to not allow any Dominion forces to pass through the wormhole, so shouldn't Odo be concerned about just flying through it?  If it's this simple, why has everybody made a big deal of the AlphaQ Dominion being seperated from their homeworld?  If Our Heroes can just go through it like this, why haven't we heard of Starfleet sending probes through the wormhole to monitor the GammaQ Dominion.  The final scene is nice but a little neutral.  It's about time Nog was promoted, nice to see Kira in charge again and fondling Sisko's baseball.  The Kira-Quark scene was stupid though; why would she suddenly be so antagonistic to Quark?  The Bashir-Ezri scene was very enjoyable, mainly because they are finally not acting neurotic and wierd.  I like Kira and Jake waiting for Sisko to return, and the pan out to make DS9 a star.  It was nice, however I must wonder why the wormhole opened when nothing came out (in the novelization it is a Federation messenger ship coming back after peace negotiations with the Dominon).