452. Inter Arma Enim Silent LegesFORMULA: Unification + Inquisition + In the Pale Moonlight
WHY WE LIKE IT: DS9 does Mission Impossible.
WHY WE DON'T: The recasting.
REVIEW: Section 31 returns with yet another unbelievably complex secret mission, but though you might question whether it's smart to rely on Bashir's reactions, you've got to hand it to Sloan. He's quite the mastermind. The episode's plot structure is that of a mystery to which there are many false (and one actual) reveals, and it certainly fun to see Sloan as an "operative" playing many parts. Though Bashir thinks the mission objective is to assassinate the head of the Tal Shiar, it's actually about protecting him (because surprisingly, he's a traitor and on our side) and at the same time, turning Section 31 into a fallacy (hiding it in plain sight as a kind of discredited urban legend). Very smooth. Indeed, Sloan is a veritable ghost at the end of this.
The mission also discredits Senator Cretak from the season opener, who has not only been recast, but has suffered a change of personality. They might as well have created another "sympathetic Romulan". Also bothersome to more long-time viewers is the recasting of Neral from Unification as a much older gentleman. Given the Romulans age at a slower rate than humans, it makes little sense. The only reason to use the same names is to play into continuity for hardcore fans, but it's self-defeating if you get the details all wrong. But this is definitely a continuity-conscious episode, with the use of the Intrepid-class and Insurrection's dress uniforms.
A character that keeps daring me to like him is Admiral Ross, who here turns out to be in cahoots with (or at least sympathetic to) Section 31. Still the lame duck admiral, being pushed around and unsteadily navigating moral dilemmas, I see. An early sign of his weakness is how he chokes on Romulan ale.
But while I have quite a few misgivings about Inter Arma, it still has a lot to offer. It's a tight thriller with plenty of twists and turns, even if it wallows in "talking heads" territory from time to time. Sloan is deliciously sinister, yet as likable as in his previous appearance. Koval is likewise an interesting addition to the mix, cold and decidedly evil. And Bashir's final deduction is well played and ends his status as a pawn in Sloan's great game.
LESSON: Hey, the Voyager model can be used in a good episode! (I'm kiddiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing!)
REWATCHABILITY - Medium-High: Not perfect, but thoroughly engrossing, and certainly puts Section 31 on the same level as the Tal Shiar or the Obsidian Order.
Comments
When I say "no better", I really don't mean that as the harsh moral judgment it sounds like. I can't fault anyone for fighting like their life depends on it, in circumstances where it absolutely does. So when the DS9 crew (most reliably Bashir) go against Star Fleet out of idealistic and heroic motives, it's important to understand that there just might be dire consequences to their actions. We saw just a hint of that when Worf chose to save Jedzia rather than complete a mission, and this is more of the same.
On TNG, morality rarely came with a price; you could usually reconfigure the deflector array and that would take care of things. Besides, you'd be in another star system by next episode. But in the Dominion War, doing the right and honorable thing just might cost your people dearly.