Star Trek 335: The Search, Part II

335. The Search, Part II

FORMULA: Past Imperfect + Sins of the Father + The Game + Profit and Loss

WHY WE LIKE IT: Even a fake Garak is a fun Garak.

WHY WE DON'T: An imaginary story?! Aw, Ma!!!

REVIEW: Part II of The Search is severely hampered by the find being an imaginary story. It's interesting to see what the Dominion's plans for the Alpha Quadrant initially were, like excluding the Romulans, "protecting the Wormhole" and buying our friendship with their "protection racket". But the shaggy dog story has to turn into one of those "what if" stories where a line is crossed that can't be uncrossed when even the fresh viewer realizes it's all been spectacle. It eats up half the episode and we only learn that if push comes to shove, the DS9 heroes are gonna blow everything up. We probably knew that.

The other focus of The Search is the introduction of Odo's people (and their disappointing garden that looks a lot like train set shrubbery - though that monolith makes a comeback). A lot of stuff gets introduced here, like their calling us "solids", the frustratingly zen explanations of the Great Link, the 100 sent out to explore the galaxy, "no changeling has ever harmed another", and gross changeling sex. It's with mixed emotions that I watch this episode. On the one hand, you want to be with Odo, happy for him, but at the same time, you want to hate the Founder Leader for what she will become. I'm afraid the hate won.

See, I really liked Odo in the first two seasons, but whenever the changelings are involved, he gets into these weirdly at peace trances which remind me either of cult brainwashing or being high on drugs. It creeps me out. The link seems to have a narcotic effect I really can't get behind. Of course, Odo will have to turn his back on his people, and I do like how he talks about his own personal "link" and his own concept of order (i.e. justice).

LESSON: Nechayev is a jerk in any reality, real or imagined.

REWATCHABILITY - Medium: When the climax revolves around waking up and being told your ship is fine and in orbit, you've missed the mark, I think. Still an important episode for understanding Dominion dynamics and how Odo fits in the master plan.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Isn't it great how the Dominion concept is like an evil-double Federation, in that it's a conglomeration of varied and different species. Only, you know, eeeeevil.
De said…
In hindsight, I'd probably have to give this a Medium as well if only for the Founder stuff that would become so important later on. I thought the imaginary story stuff was a big cheat at the time and still do.
Anonymous said…
Everyone on Deep Space Nine winds up having to turn their back on their own people. Even characters who already went through all that drama on another show already...
Siskoid said…
Most Star Trek characters must have a strained relationship with their parents/family, and that's what the Founders are to Odo.

The list is long: Spock, Picard, Riker, Troi, Data, Worf, Odo, Kira (later revelations about her mother), Bashir, Ezri, Quark, and so on.
Anonymous said…
True enough, but DS9 set the record for characters who wound up exiled or willingly estranged from their entire home planet/species rather than simply their immediate family...
Siskoid said…
Garak, Odo, Quark (because of the FCA), Worf. Not bad, yeah.
LiamKav said…
Although I can ignore most plot holes, I really, really, really can't see why the Dominion dragged the half destroyed Defiant to the Founders homeworld, left it in orbit, and then just GAVE IT BACK TO STARFLEET. Okay, you might be wanting to play the long-game and therefore don't want to kill the crew (and give Starfleet a reason to come after you). However, you've seen that this new ship can blow up your ships in a way that their previous "best-ship" (the Galaxy-class) couldn't. For god's sake, take it to a shipyard and strip it down.
Siskoid said…
Or... scan the hell out of it and let them continue to use it even as you plan against its weapons and weaknesses.

That MIGHT have been the plan.