I was pleasantly surprised by episode three of DS9. I have not been a fan so far, but I’m told that the show really starts to “not suck” late in Season 2 and then actually gets good in Season 3. We may have a long way to chug through before we get somewhere, but I’m rather enjoying the process even if I’m not enjoying the show.
But episode three was a little better. It starts off with Odo making snide comments about pair-bonding and compromising with the females, and it drew a genuine chuckle.
Primary Plot
The main plot on this episode is the arrival of a Bajoran murderer to DS9. There is an immediate conflict with Odo, there’s a non-fist-fight, and that murderer ends up being murdered with Odo as the only suspect. There do seem to be a lot Bajoran bad-guys that pop up in DS9.
I was not engaged in the primary plot arc at all. I do kinda like Odo, but I’m just not invested in any of these characters or the politics of the station yet, and don’t really care one way or another about whether or not a bad guy (or a supposed bad guy) was killed, and by whom.
However, there was some very enjoyable character interactions that added a lot of depth to both Odo and Quark. While Odo is being framed for the murder, Quark is the only one who takes Odo seriously. They clearly hate each other, and while I’m not sure Odo could be described as “respecting” Quark, Quark certainly does respect Odo even if he isn’t fond of him. There is a really nice scene where Quark finds out Odo has been de-badged after Quark offered to find out the true murderer for him. Help his adversary to stay on his good side, and all that.
When Quark discovers the reality of the situation, he intimates that he’s now going to bring on every thief and conman he can find and really enhance his organization. Odo tells him he’ll just be caught but Quark immediately elaborates, responding that having to stay out from under Odo’s long arm of the law has taught him how to be a better criminal.
Odo, in a moment of humility and desperation, asks Quark if he could use a shape-shifter in his organization, and Quark is completely taken aback. He doesn’t know if this is a joke, or a trap, or a serious offer. After a moment’s hesitation, he slowly laughs it off and walks away.
There is a lot of depth added to both these characters in this one scene, and it is played just right. I find I’m quite enjoying both of them.
Secondary Plots
There are two secondary plots in this episode. The first involves the station doctor continuing to try to get into the pants of Dax. I really did not think that Dax being a space-cockroach in a human-looking host would be a main character point for her, but they have kept it in play. They don’t directly refer to it or really illustrate what the entirety of the situation is, so if you missed the first episode you won’t have a full understanding of the situation—just that she is a “Trill” in a host, and not what she appears.
Why the doctor is so desperate to get with her, I don’t understand. She’s told him about being a Trill. She’s told him they aren’t compatible. The doc must really just be “warm for her form” and a little less careful about where he puts his genitals than I am. I don’t particularly care for either of their characters so far.
The second secondary plot is a bit tacked on, but involves Miles O’Brien’s wife. She’s a botanist, and there are no plants on DS9 apparently. She’s bored. It is decided that she should start a school on the station for any and all wayward youngsters. She spends a fair amount of time trying to convince various parents on the station to let her teach their kids, with mostly negative responses.
At the end, one of Quark’s underlings sends his child to her class. He plops down next to Sisko’s son, and the Ferengi (not sure his name, sorry) immediately grabs him by the arm, lifts him from his chair, and pushes him several seats down to a desk more removed while exclaiming, “Not next to that human boy! I don’t want you to have anything to do with him!”
It was a very humorous, very real moment that I have to imagine is probably a common interaction when there are different species living in near proximity to each other.
Other Thoughts
What’s the deal with the very slow “turbo lifts” just out in the open? They are off on the side of rooms, but they are not encased in their own shaft, they have no doors, and really no safety measures of any kind. There are railings on the lift surface itself, but it appears that the lift just leaves a big hole in the floor when it is on a different floor. Anyone could fall in, or worse, lose a portion of a foot that happened to be over the edge when the platform comes through. It definitely doesn’t seem like it was designed with OSHA compliance in mind. However, it doesn’t even look cool. At least the turbolifts in TNG had the fun little lights indicating motion, and a reason for characters in them to have awkward conversations in a tight space. DS9 turbolifts are just kind open and just kinda there.
Space boobs update – There was still a fairly obvious shot of space boobs in this episode. It was the alien woman from the first episode wearing the same clothes, and she was at Quark’s gambling. This time, though, it seemed less of a “look: boobs” moment and more of something just kinda there in the background. Am I getting used to it? Was it really less “objectionable” and less of a pandering to try to keep eyeballs?
Final Grade: C
Overall, this was a reasonably enjoyable episode. The acting was generally improved. Certain characters were far improved and starting to exhibit signs of depth and arc. There may be hope for this show, but it has a long way to go.
“Why the doctor is so desperate to get with her, I don’t understand.”
Cause she’s hawt. Admittedly, she doesn’t look as good to me now than she did when I first watched it.