“Favor The Bold” is an episode about setting the stage. Big events are on the horizon, but before they can happen (with any measure of meaning or depth) we have to understand the motivations and choices of the characters that are swept up in those events. That is the mission of this installment and it succeeds quite well — even if it never truly escapes the feeling that it is, after all, a preamble to something much more momentous. The result is a mitigated success.

One of the most important elements to the episode is in how fractured its story is. It’s more like a collage of smaller events, rather than one overriding, strongly focused narrative. Essentially, the minefield is starting to come down, Sisko plans to retake DS9, and various characters assemble themselves into the proper positions to be the most effective and dramatic during what should be a whiz-bang followup episode.

There are almost too many small character moments to really do justice to describing and analyzing them all. Everything from Nog’s promotion to Ensign to Kira unloading her frustration and anger onto Damar to Odo’s soul searching to Dukat’s attempts to reconcile with his daughter to Quark’s determination to help his brother is purposefully placed and nicely presented (we’ll pretend that Leeta’s performance didn’t happen). In many ways the episode is something like a kaleidoscope of vignettes all tied together around the occupation of DS9 — and Sisko’s bold attempt to reclaim it.

The episode begins with a scene in which the Defiant stages a trap for Jem’Hadar warships. Masquerading as a damaged ship, the Defiant lures the Jem’Hadar into range, only to have the Rotarran decloak and spring the trap. The ploy is successful, but they are immediately recalled for further orders. It seems this is a growing pattern — that the Federation will follow minor skirmish victories by falling back. Morale is low. Sisko knows this. So he proposes to retake DS9 — and none too soon because the minefield is on its way down.

The real meat of the episode, though, takes place on DS9. The Founder continues her “conversion” Odo to the point where the two even experiment with “solid intimacy” (aka sex). It’s a bit creepy, actually, even if all we see is the two of them sitting on the bed, clothed, afterward. More important for the story is the idea that, despite her attempts, Odo still seems somewhat hesitant to fully accept her advances. But another “link” between the two and Odo becomes engrossed once again. At one point, he even loses track of three full days.

Again, though, Odo’s conflict suffers from the lack of any real plausibility for this plotline. As such, it seems to merely be biding its time until Odo finally rejects the Founder once again. Still, he wants to explain himself to Kira. But she has none of. Once more, Kira’s performance is exceptional, particularly when she says, in exasperation, “We’re way beyond sorry.” Perhaps, finally, her words will sink in a bit.

Of course, that isn’t Kira’s only outburst in the episode. With Rom being held and Odo ignoring her, Kira turns to Ziyal who takes up Rom’s cause by making a plea to her father. Dukat, though, will have no part of freeing Rom. To Ziyal, Dukat has just confirmed that he’s much happier being an oppressive occupier than the enlightened leader he portrays himself to be. Disgusted, she storms away. When Dukat sends Damar to retrieve Ziyal, Kira vents her frustrations and anger by thrashing Damar into unconsciousness.

Don’t mess with Kira.

This brings up an interesting element to the episode: Dukat’s fixation on his daughter. He wants nothing more than to reconcile with his daughter, to the point where he ignores the reports of Sisko’s fleet amassing for attack.  And Sisko’s fleet is on the move.  As the episode ends, Sisko’s fleet confronts the Dominion fleet. He remarks, fatefully, that there is a saying that “Fortune favors the bold.” His plan is a bold one. Tune in to the next episode to see how successful it will be …

“Favor The Bold” had a great deal of setup work to do. And it accomplishes its goals with aplomb. But the scattershot approach lessens the overall quality.

Filed under: Deep Space Nine