Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

What You Leave Behind

Season 7 Episodes 25 and 26

It's always sad when something comes to an end. But everything eventually does. The worst part about a long-lasting television show ending is that there is always something more that could have and probably should have been said or done. Deep Space Nine's Finale was no exception The majority of the show was wonderful, but a few major defects spoiled what could have been a perfect finale.

The beginning half was made up of both character tid-bits and the conclusion of the Dominion war. The character parts included further developing Ezri and Bashir' s relationship as well as establishing that O'Brien would be leaving DS9 to teach at Starfleet academy after the war. The war was wrapped up in two moves. It started with a space battle in which the Cardassians switched sides. The change caused the Dominion and Breen ships to run and group back at Cardassia. The Federation and Allies followed and continued what would have been a long and bloody battle if Odo hadn't been able to convince the Female Changeling to call off her troops.

The scene in which this was done could have used more exposition, but with time running out it wasn't much of a problem. One simply has to think about what happened. Odo said he could cure her. She made it clear that curing her wouldn't be enough to convince her to call off the Dominion's troops. Then Odo linked with her. We are left to wonder what went on between them during that link that changed her mind, but it's not hard to figure out. Earlier she sad to Weyoun something about not being afraid of death, only being worried that her whole race would die. Odo offered her a way to stop that. With the vaccine he carried inside him, he could cure all the changelings. This is what convinced her, and ended the war.

The Second half of the Finale was composed of character goodbyes and the closing of the Prophet-Paghwraith story arch. The character goodbyes were executed beautifully, rising emotions, bringing back memories, and adding closure to what was a great series. The Paghwraith story was where all the troubles in this episode lay. The whole ending battle was a tad too cartoonish for my taste. This I could overlook, however, because of good-acting, and the fact that I liked where the events led to. However the problem lies in that the story ends right there, leaving essential items missing.

One thing could have provided all these essential items: A good conversation between Sisko and the Prophets. But this is the one thing we did not get. It needed to wrap up what Sisko's whole purpose was, not just leave us with the hints we've been nibbling throughout the entire series!. It needed to explain WHO the Paghwraiths were, as opposed to what. It needed to add conclusion to the wonderful conversation in Emissary, giving more explanations of the whole linear concept. But this was missing, and it was sorely missed. It left a large void in what would have been a perfect ending to the best Star Trek series ever.

In Conclusion, this episode was wonderful. It is only not perfect because it was the last. I would be completely satisfied if I knew we'd be getting more on the aforementioned topics. I hope someday DS9 will make it to the silver screen. But for now, this is it. This is our final Deep Space Nine. It was great, but it just wasn't enough. I give it three and a half stars.

Review by - William Phillips

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