On a purely visceral level, “Nor the Battle to the Strong” is a triumph of television. It’s not often that an episode captures tension and suspense alongside deep character exploration and a poignant look into human nature. But that’s precisely what we get here. On the surface, the story is about the loss of innocence. But its many layers incorporate war and courage, cowardice and introspection. Perhaps the episode is a bit too explicit in its messages, but that’s a subjective point. More importantly, this episode means something. It’s a story worth telling. And it manages to convey a complex array of human reactions, responses and characteristics. Easily one of the best outings that Deep Space Nine has to offer.

This episode follows a naïve Jake as he accompanies Bashir on a relief mission to a war torn colony. Being eighteen and idealistic (and looking for a good writing opportunity), Jake is eager to go, giving him the chance to observe, first hand, a struggle of “good and evil” — or so he thinks. Of course, what he finds is much, much more than he bargained for. And not only does he have his eyes opened to the wide world around him, but he also is forced to confront some truths within himself. It’s a fantastic premise and, thankfully, the episode delivers, executing the story ideas with a production that features exceptional writing, action and, especially, acting.

Once on the planet surface, Jake is immediately thrust into the very real horrors of a military triage unit. The Federation soldiers and citizens have been under heavy attack by the Klngons, and Jake sees first-hand the damage caused by disruptors and the razor-edged bat’leths. Very quickly, Jake is drafted as an orderly, and he manages to conduct himself as well as one might expect. He does his job, and does it well, while struggling to come to terms with the scene around him. Just as important for the episode, early on Jake meets a Federation soldier who literally shot himself in the foot, just so that he could be removed from the field of battle. Jake’s disgust at the man’s cowardice is palpable … but the moment foreshadows an ominous future for Jake.

It’s from here that the episode really begins to hit its stride. With the setup work complete, Jake must accompany Bashir on a dangerous mission to retrieve a generator from their runabout. As soon as they leave the confines of the underground field hospital, they are bombarded by the Klingons. Jake sees a shell explode near Bashir … and panics. He runs pellmell into the surrounding underbrush, heedless of Bashir and the generator. It’s the common “flight or fight” response, and to his subsequent surprise and horror, Jake’s response is to run.

This brings Jake to a wounded Federation soldier — a man who stayed behind so that the rest of his unit could escape. Jake tries to rationalize his flight by thinking that he was meant to find the man and bring him to safety. But life doesn’t quite work that way. And in an especially graphic scene, the man dies before Jake’s (and our) eyes. This scene is the most intense, affecting moment of the episode. And it’s arresting. In a word, it’s horrific. Jake’s reaction is thoroughly plausible: He runs again, and eventually makes it back to the safety of the hospital — but the memories of the dying solder, the bodies of Federation and Klingon dead, and his own choices are with him still. Bashir is overjoyed to see Jake. But Jake’s obvious shame intensifies as he learns that Bashir completed the mission on his own, then apologizes, profusely, for ever bringing Jake to such a place.

And then we begin to wonder, as an audience, will Jake ever find redemption? For himself, if not for his actions? The Klingons are advancing on the hospital. What will Jake’s reaction be? Will he pull himself together? Will he run and hide again? Will he actually tell Bashir what happened? It’s these questions of character, much more than the impending battle itself, that really make the episode overwhelmingly suspenseful and dramatic. Jake even revisits the soldier who shot his own foot. It’s as close as Jake gets, while on the planet, to making a confession for his actions.

The episode doesn’t forget about Jake’s father, either. Sisko learns of Bashir’s decision to render aid to the war torn colony. He understands and accepts the action. But despite the fact that Jake is eighteen, Sisko simply cannot stop worrying about the safety of his son (his story to Odo about always wanting to protect his child is a nice touch). But the sequences in which Sisko heads off to the colony to help Jake and Bashir, while entirely plausible, are also the weakest of the episode. There’s just something about the mood or interactions between the characters, especially Sisko’s conversation with Dax, that just doesn’t synch properly with the tone of the rest of the outing. These aren’t outright errors, but they throw the balance slightly askew. Fortunately, these moments are not prominent, and serve as a bridge before the episode’s final, climactic moments.

And when the Klingons finally do arrive? Well, the episode hardly looks to cut corners. Jake’s first reaction is true to his character. Whilst everyone else is busy evacuating patients and equipment, Jake hides under a table. Only when the collapsing roof makes his hiding place too dangerous does he move. And by then, he’s found himself squarely on the front line, with two Klingon sweeping into the caves, killing the few Federation troops left as a rearguard. Once again, Jake seeks cover. A laser rifle is nearby and, finally, Jake finds enough courage to act. But again, true to form, Jake doesn’t suddenly become an action hero. He finds enough courage to act, yes, but all he can manage is to fire indiscriminately (and vaguely) in the direction of the approaching Klingons.

Fortunately for him, and the rest of the people trying escape, his fire collapsed the roof, sealing off the entrance, and protecting the doctors, nurses, orderlies and patients. When Jake wakes up, his father is there, proclaiming him a hero. To Sisko’s eyes — to the eyes of everyone there — it appeared that Jake sealed the tunnel, at great risk to himself, just to protect the fleeing people.

Well, not quite.

And here’s where the episode’s finest comments about courage arise. Jake, ever the writer, puts his confessions into an honest portrayal of his experiences — his thoughts (even the naïve ones), his fears, his actions — and gives it to both Bashir and his father. Courage comes in many forms. One need not be courageous on the field of war to have courage. And Jake’s confession, his honest admittance of his own actions and feelings, show a bravery that many often could use.

“Nor The Battle To The Strong” is a riveting, profound, and exceptional episode. From start to finish, this is a special story — at times graphic, at others deeply moving. It’s an honest portrayal of people and that, more than anything, is why it succeeds so masterfully.

Filed under: Deep Space Nine