“Indiscretion” is an example of how well Deep Space Nine can draw upon the deep character work that has been a hallmark of the series thus far. Even when the story itself takes inexplicable turns toward the melodramatic, the episode remains thoroughly entertaining and even enjoyable, thanks to its solid foundation of characterizations. As a result, this is an installment that is good, though not quite a classic.

The premise of the episode centers around the Ravenock — a Cardassian ship which disappeared during the Bajoran Occupation, which bore passengers of great interest to both Major Kira and Gul Dukat. This poses a fascinating pairing as the two go off in search of the missing vessel, thanks to some recently discovered debris. Their shared experience as a result of the circumstances becomes a strength for the episode — even if some of the revelations are a tad bit … implausible.

An early highlight of the episode involves a conversation between the two on board the runabout as they travel to their destination. Dukat expresses his confidence that, one day, Bajorans and Cardassians will one day become more than mere allies — that they will, eventually, become friends. For her part, Kira retorts that while the governments may one day be friends, she finds it unlikely that she would ever befriend Dukat, the man in charge of the Bajoran occupation. This, of course, sets up a rather predictable — but not altogether unpleasant — development whereby the two will, at the very least, become closer as a result of their mission.

Even more interesting (and somewhat disturbing) is Dukat’s opinion that the occupation of Bajor helped strengthen the Bajoran people. It’s a detestable idea to Kira … and yet … it’s not entirely without merit — if one accepts Dukat’s assertion that Bajorans were too isolationist and purposeless prior to the occupation. Kira, of course, thinks that the price paid was much too high, but at the very least, Dukat poses a fascinating idea.

Once they do find the missing ship on a barren world, we learn that Dukat had taken a Bajoran woman as a wife (despite his being married to a Cardassian woman). Dukat says he loved the Bajoran woman and, through their love, they produced a daughter. I suppose it’s not entirely implausible that Dukat could have loved a Bajoran — or that a Bajoran loved Dukat in return — but as a character development, it seems a like the series is reaching a bit too far with the idea.

But that pales in comparison to Dukat who, after learning of the death of his wife, decides that his half-Cardassian daughter cannot live (because she would pose too much of a threat to his career on Cardassia) — this, despite the explicit value Cardassians place on family. The extreme stance unbalances Dukat and makes him a bit too unrealistic — even if, in the end, he makes the right decision.

The subplot involves Sisko and Yates. Yates is offered a job by the Bajoran government and decides that she will accept it and move onto the station. Sisko, quite plausibly, reacts with a bit of hesitation at the sudden “serious” turn of events. Yates gets upset with the less-than-enthusiastic response, and the episode then spends the rest of its focus on Sisko trying to get back into Yates’ good graces.

While the development is decidedly melodramatic, I like the rather lighthearted mood the episode uses to portray the fallout. This isn’t melodrama simply to make the episode more dramatic — but to instead explore Sisko’s hesitation to jump back into a serious relationship — the first since he lost his wife in the Borg attack. To that end, scenes such as the one between Sisko and the helpful pair of Bashir and Dax, or between Sisko and Jake, take a refreshingly light approach to the circumstances. The result is an enjoyable diversion from the episode’s main plot.

Of course, both plots focus on a kind of “indiscretion” and so the episode manages a thematic kind of cohesion. Also, the story nicely draws on the character histories to create scenes that are fun — and funny, too. The tendency toward the melodramatic (Dukat wanting to kill his daughter, Sisko pushing Yates away) is a detriment, but not enough to doom the episode as a whole.

Filed under: Deep Space Nine