Deep Space Nine 5.14, 5.15
Oh boy. Now we’re really getting to the good stuff. I’ve looking forward to “In Purgatory’s Shadow” since changeling Martok got killed. But first! The obligatory attempt to figure out When the Hell Bashir Got Taken. I seem to come up with a different theory every time I rewatch the series. Currently I’m looking at the uniforms. The new uniforms showed up in “Rapture” and four episodes have happened since then. Bashir in the prison camp is still wearing the old version. So that means it was changeling Bashir that did Sisko’s brain surgery. Changeling Bashir that was acting as ob/gyn for Kira. Changeling Bashir that told Dr. Mora Odo had a changeling baby. Interesting stuff. I’m going to mull those implications over for a while.
At any rate, I adore this two-parter and as usual, have a hard time separating them out. So let’s just focus on Tain. TAIN! He’s alive. Garak’s hunch was right all along. And not only is he alive, he’s Garak’s father. I never get sick of that reveal. It’s so poignant that Garak intentionally allows Bashir to witness their final conversation. It’s the closest to plain simple Garak that he or any of us will ever get.
One thing that really got me this time is how much Martok loves Bashir. We’re told that Bashir has only been there for “over a month” but he has definitely already made quite an impression. I mean, he was in solitary when Worf and Garak showed up. And he won over a Klingon general. I’d love to know just what he had been up to!
Part 2, or rather “By Inferno’s Light” brings together so many elements. I love that Worf has been repeatedly fighting Jem’Hadar this whole time. And killing them! Martok is such a cheerleader. It’s completely awesome. 'And that is something you will never understand.''> The differences between Vorta and Jem’Hadar are nicely illustrated when the First yields the fight to Worf because he cannot actually defeat him, only kill him. And then they narrowly beam out before they actually are shot.
I’m getting ahead of myself a little bit. I like that Garak isn’t infallible. He suffers from extreme claustrophobia that he developed going through an extreme situation. It’s great how much Worf and Martok both respect the internal mental battle that he’s fighting to continue working on the communication system. It never feels like a deus ex machina to me. I wish we could have gotten more time spent with the Romulans or the Breen that were in on the escape plan. There are so many untold stories in this prison camp! It was also great watching Garak’s reaction as we found out that Cardassia had joined the Dominion.
I think the only part that bugs me is Changeling Julian left back on the station. I just don’t think Alexander Siddig is very good at acting EEeeevil. I had the same issue with him in an early season episode when Bashir was possessed by some Evil Entity. Siddig’s face just goes blank and expressionless and there’s nothing there. Plus I don’t buy that a changeling would be willing to go on a suicide mission. That doesn’t ring true to the Founder’s MO for me. They’d be more than happy to send a Vorta or a Jem’Hadar on a one-way trip to blow up a sun but I don’t think they’d do it themselves. That’s relatively minor for me though and in no way does it lessen my enjoyment of this amazing pair of episodes.
At any rate, I adore this two-parter and as usual, have a hard time separating them out. So let’s just focus on Tain. TAIN! He’s alive. Garak’s hunch was right all along. And not only is he alive, he’s Garak’s father. I never get sick of that reveal. It’s so poignant that Garak intentionally allows Bashir to witness their final conversation. It’s the closest to plain simple Garak that he or any of us will ever get.
One thing that really got me this time is how much Martok loves Bashir. We’re told that Bashir has only been there for “over a month” but he has definitely already made quite an impression. I mean, he was in solitary when Worf and Garak showed up. And he won over a Klingon general. I’d love to know just what he had been up to!
Part 2, or rather “By Inferno’s Light” brings together so many elements. I love that Worf has been repeatedly fighting Jem’Hadar this whole time. And killing them! Martok is such a cheerleader. It’s completely awesome. 'And that is something you will never understand.''> The differences between Vorta and Jem’Hadar are nicely illustrated when the First yields the fight to Worf because he cannot actually defeat him, only kill him. And then they narrowly beam out before they actually are shot.
I’m getting ahead of myself a little bit. I like that Garak isn’t infallible. He suffers from extreme claustrophobia that he developed going through an extreme situation. It’s great how much Worf and Martok both respect the internal mental battle that he’s fighting to continue working on the communication system. It never feels like a deus ex machina to me. I wish we could have gotten more time spent with the Romulans or the Breen that were in on the escape plan. There are so many untold stories in this prison camp! It was also great watching Garak’s reaction as we found out that Cardassia had joined the Dominion.
I think the only part that bugs me is Changeling Julian left back on the station. I just don’t think Alexander Siddig is very good at acting EEeeevil. I had the same issue with him in an early season episode when Bashir was possessed by some Evil Entity. Siddig’s face just goes blank and expressionless and there’s nothing there. Plus I don’t buy that a changeling would be willing to go on a suicide mission. That doesn’t ring true to the Founder’s MO for me. They’d be more than happy to send a Vorta or a Jem’Hadar on a one-way trip to blow up a sun but I don’t think they’d do it themselves. That’s relatively minor for me though and in no way does it lessen my enjoyment of this amazing pair of episodes.