Star Trek 342: Defiant

342. Defiant

FORMULA: Second Chances + The Maquis + The Wounded

WHY WE LIKE IT: Tom Riker!

WHY WE DON'T: Despite Kira's promises, he was never seen again.

REVIEW: You always know what Riker is pulling with his rugged good looks and charming smile, but you want to let him. And that's as true of William as it is of Thomas, his transporter duplicate from Second Chances (very economically explained too, my hat off to the writers). It's really nice to see a TNG alumnus on the show, and there's a lot of good humor surrounding his arrival, from Kira being burnt out to Dax's girl talk.

Once Tom steals the Defiant and reveals himself to be a Maquis (and Thomas rather than Will), the episode switches gears totally and because a tight political thriller. It's a lot like The Wounded, with a Federation officer going rogue and trying to show the Cardassians aren't to be trusted, and being right, but this time it's the Obsidian Order that's pulling a fast one, even on the Central Command. There's a definite sense that Dukat is politically on his way out, and the Order's ships in the Orias system set up a mystery for later. Also, nice to see the Cardassian Command Center (here bigger than in later appearances?).

As for Tom Riker, Kira's assertion that he's trying to be a hero, not a terrorist has the ring of truth, but doesn't devalue the character. It's still fundamentally Will Riker in there, and he ends up doing the right thing. It's too bad he was never was rescued from Lazon II, even after the Federation-Cardassian treaty fell apart. Haven't read it yet, but the novels do free him in Peter David'd Imzadi II, or you can free him yourself in the computer game Star Trek Deep Space 9 - Dominion Wars, but it's just not the same.

A few other notes: Anyone know what O'Brien was thinking after getting the cold shoulder from Riker? He left in a hurry, so he must've thought Riker was referring to SOMEthing. I wonder. One cute thing I noticed was Thomas using the words "tough little ship" in reference to the Defiant. Will makes the same comment rather more jokingly in First Contact, which makes perfect sense and is a great tie-in.

LESSON: Starship security systems need a beard identification system.

REWATCHABILITY - High: A well-used guest star and some furthering of the Cardassian plot that's been brewing all season, along with some nifty action and good writing. I'd say we have a winner.