“Crossfire” is an episode about unrequited love, about what happens when our emotions go unspoken for too long and the object of affections finds someone else. Despite the title, there’s nary an action sequence to be found — unless you count one minor, tangential incident — meaning that the episode is a character exploration. And while the episode does tend to tilt toward the melodramatic, it never truly crosses the line into being insufferable. The result is a surprisingly solid installment — even if it does play out a bit too much like a soap opera.

The main focus is Odo’s feelings for Kira. The episode opens with a wonderfully illuminating scene as Odo prepares for his weekly ritual in which he and Kira review the station’s weekly crime reports. It really is more of a formality than anything, and Odo’s dedication to the procedure, as well as his obvious joy at getting to spend time with Kira, are nicely conveyed. It’s essential to establish this point because, soon after, First Minister Shakaar arrives — a man who will eventually capture Kira’s heart.

As the events unfold, Odo is tormented by not only being unable to express his feelings, but also at his helplessness at watching Kira and Shakaar fall in love. It’s important to note that everything unfolds plausibly, without any undue conflict or silliness. It’s simply the tale of watching a person you care for become entirely engrossed in someone else. It’s painful. It’s ugly. And not even Odo is immune from it.

But what really sells the episode are a handful of character scenes to go along with the opening scene between Odo and Kira. There’s a scene between Odo and Worf about their inclination for order. There is Shakaar’s confession about his feelings for Kira to Odo. Odo’s pained reactions are perfectly played. Kira unwittingly tells Odo about her evening with Shakaar. And then there is Odo and Quark. Quark is the one to rightly guesses Odo’s feelings. And after Odo destroys his own quarters in a fit of rage, it is Quark who manages to find the right message to get through Odo’s despair.

Once again, the Odo-Quark dynamic reaps huge dividends for the series.

If there’s an issue with the episode, it’s the fact that, in the end, Odo buries his feelings. Don’t get me wrong, his choice not to get in the way of Kira’s happiness is certainly a noble one. But for him to simply bury those feelings seems … unfortunate.

“Crossfire” is a good episode for its attention to character details. Unfortunately, it teeters for too long on the brink of melodrama to be taken entirely seriously.

Filed under: Deep Space Nine