312. CardassiansFORMULA: Past Prologue + The Wounded + Suddenly Human
WHY WE LIKE IT: Garak's back!
WHY WE DON'T: One of the worst titles in Trek history.
REVIEW: Not seen since Past Prologue and the show's been poorer for it - Garak! More the man of mystery than ever, it's revealed that he and Bashir have had an ongoing relationship all this time. And it's apparently done the impetuous doctor a world of good. He's no longer the wide-eyed moron he started out as, and while his inexperience is still a factor, he's become properly competent and confident. In this episode, though he lets Garak pull his strings, he still manages to work everything out and resolves things with an Agatha Christie moment that riles up Dukat but good. How can Garak NOT improve Bashir? He doesn't impart information like some exposition device. He asks leading questions. He lets Bashir figure it out.
This is another of those episodes that seems to be about one thing, but turns out to be another, like In the Hands of the Prophets. On the surface, it seems to be the usual Trek fare about child abuse or perhaps a discourse on racism. Or it might be an allegory for war orphans in human history and contemporary events. And it does deal with those things, all the while giving us a little more information on Cardassian culture, the importance their families hold, etc. But as with all the better Cardassian episodes, it's also about deceit and plans within plans.
By now if you don't think there's a hidden motive in anything Dukat, Garak and Winn do, you're probably being naive. And it's that kind of ambiguity that makes me love DS9. Speaking of the station, here we learn its Cardassian name: Terok Nor. I've always loved the sound of that. Terok Nor. It's always sounded to me like the show's motto: Trek Noir.
Anyway, no discussion of this episode should go by without a mention of O'Brien's racist comment. It offends Keiko and shocks the audience, but ironically, it mirrors young Rugal's own self hatred. The relationship forged there helps O'Brien heal a little, but it's great to see the show not shy away from such personality flaws in its cast. It's very ugly, but it's also very human.
LESSON: If you can sow a button, you can fix a computer. Explains the state of both my clothes and my PC.
REWATCHABILITY - High: Subverts all expectations by turning what could have been insipid family court drama into another byzantine Cardassian scheme. Throw in the brilliantly written Garak, build a rivalry between him and Dukat, oh and finally put Bashir one on his way to becoming one of my favorite characters... I always forget how much I like this one. Probably because of the dull title.
Comments
Unfortunately, we never did see or hear from Rugal again. I had hoped O'Brien would keep in touch with him. So far, none of the novels have touched on Rugal's fate either despite circumstances happening within the novels where a reunion would make sense (I'll leave it at that so as not to give anything away).
http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/The_Never-Ending_Sacrifice
It seems to have very good reviews. I do hope it addresses the slightly odd point the episode seems to make that a biological family is more important than an adopted one. Lots of TV shows seem to lean that way and it makes me a bit uncomfortable.
I agree the title sucks, though. How about "Being Cardassian"? It's at least a tad bit better.
I'm watching or re-watching the entire series in order, and I'm sad to hear that Rugal never came back. :-(