“Improbable Cause” is a thoroughly entertaining and immersive episode of Deep Space Nine — though, I’m not so sure it’s as good as many DS9 fans claim it to be. True, the episode has an explosive beginning, and its dialogue, mysteries and characters are all well-developed. But the slow pacing and unfolding of the plot are also a hindrance. To be fair, though, the ending of the episode carries powerful character revelations – which are likely the cause for many fans to remember the whole outing so fondly.

After a rather pedestrian conversation between Bashir and Garak about the topic of Shakespeare and the human proclivity to eat quickly, a bomb explodes inside Garak’s shop, triggering a full-scale whodunit investigation with Odo taking the lead. The results are a fascinating look into Garak’s past, as well as the incredible subterfuge with which he accomplishes his goals. Coupled with Odo’s Sherlock Holmes-like investigative abilities, there’s plenty of interactions and twists to delight viewers.

The first big mystery, of course, is the identity of who blew up Garak’s shop. As the investigation begins, Garak laments to Bashir that no one believes him when he’s telling the truth. Bashir tries teaching Garak about “The Boy Who Cried Wolf,” but in true Garak fashion, the only thing the Cardassian takes away from the tale is, “never tell the same lie twice.” On its own, this is a wonderfully amusing scene – but when taken as part of the entire episode, it becomes all the more revealing.

As it turns out, the bombing culprit was none other than … plain, simple, Garak himself. Following an entertaining film-noir-like scene in which Odo contacts a Cardassian informant, Odo learns that five other Cardassians, all former members of the Obsidian Order, were killed on the same day that Garak’s shop blew up. Garak, who identified his would-be assassin, blew up his own shop – with him inside it – in order to trigger the investigation, hoping Odo would uncover the hows and whys of the assassination attempt.

What sells the revelation is the confrontation between Odo and Garak. Their interaction is skillfully presented on screen. Odo’s relentless and forceful pursuit of the truth finally manages to smash through many (but not all!) of Garak’s webs of deceit. Garak, for his part, continues to spin his misinformation at every possible turn. And the resulting back-and-forth between truths and lies, between Odo and Garak, is one of the high points of the episode.

In order to identify who was behind the assassination attempts, Odo and Garak head off into Cardassian space to try to save Garak’s former mentor, Enabran Tain. But this leads to an even bigger revelation: Enebran Tain has come out of retirement, colluded with the Romulan Tal Shiar secret police, and orchestrated a fleet of Romulan warbirds whose mission will be to attack, and annihilate the Founders of the Dominion. It’s a nice bit of continuity back to the mysterious activities of the Obsidian Order in “Defiant.” But it also presents Garak with another choice: Whether or not to return to his former life as a Cardassian operative. It’s an offer too good for Garak to pass up.

The implications of war with Dominion are incredibly ominous. As for Odo, his identity as a Founder, even if he has forsaken his people, leaves his fate uncertain.

“Improbable Cause” is a good episode.The character revelations speak for themselves.  But, for a series as invested in character as Deep Space Nine, it’s an important, transformational story.

Filed under: Deep Space Nine