“Once More Unto The Breach” is a very, very good episode of Deep Space Nine. While there are a few moments which tend to push the boundaries a bit too far, it is almost entirely a solid, sobering character exploration — one which has as many implications for the audience as it does for the characters of DS9. Toss in a handful of action sequences, some solid writing and performances, and it’s easy to see why this is a classic.

As Worf goes about his routine, he receives a visit from an old friend: Kor. It would seem that the elderly Klingon has no influence or status in the Empire and he has turned to Worf as a last hope of dying as he has lived: as a warrior. For his part, Worf is eager to help, but his efforts are thwarted by Martok, who harbors a bitter resentment of Kor because his original application to become a Klingon officers had been rejected, by none other than Kor. Toss in the fact that Kor is slowly losing his memory, and you’ve got a fairly solid (if somewhat predictable) story.

This story is, more than anything else, about how to treat and respect a society’s elders — and how one can find a measure of honor and respect, even as one’s mind and body begin to fail. These themes are nothing new to Star Trek and, indeed, it’s the overfamiliarity viewers might have with the topic that is the biggest detriment to the episode. There are also a few over-the-top scenes, such as Martok and his crew mocking Kor, but these are relatively minor compared what the episode does well.

Once again, Kor is a strength. The performance here is key. As a character, he is fully aware that his history has not only accorded him great renown as a warrior, but many enemies as a result of his ambition. We see that play out to great effect within the episode. And to that end, Kor accepts both the praise and derision with a surprising amount of equanimity. It’s important, because the audience really does need to connect to his character, and the turmoil and frustration his character feels, in order for the final scenes to carry any significant emotional weight.

What sets up the finale — indeed what sets up the entire episode — is an opening conversation between O’Brien and Bashir about Davy Crockett’s last stand at The Alamo. They go back and forth on just what happened on that day until Worf, who was sitting nearby in Quark’s bar, pipes up to say, essentially: The debate is meaningless. It doesn’t matter *how* Crockett died, only whether or not one believes in the legend of Davy Crockett. It quite poetically (if a bit obviously) foreshadows Kor’s final actions.

On a mission deep into Dominion territory (Sisko affectionately nicknames it a “cavalry charge”), Martok’s ship, on which Kor and Worf are serving, is pursued by a fleet of Jem’Hadar warships. The only hope for the Klingon task force to survive would be for one ship to sacrifice itself in a desperate, rearguard tactic aimed at slowly down the pursuit long enough to allow the rest of the Klingon ships to rendezvous with Federation reinforcements. Worf hatches the plan, but in the episode’s single worst moment, Kor disables Worf with a hypospray (why a hypo? why not something that comes across as a lot less silly?).

What this does, though, it to set up Kor’s final act of heroic sacrifice, giving him the warrior’s demise he so longed for, and saving everyone else in the process. Worf and Martok can only watch as their ship moves out of sensor range, wondering just how Kor meets his end. But like his comments about Davy Crockett, Worf quite rightly points out that the details of Kor’s end do not matter, only the now legendary battle between a single Bird of Prey and ten Jem’Hadar warships — a battle that successfully completes a mission.

It’s a fitting end for a character, like Kor, who has achieved legendary status. Indeed, much of the episode saw the other Klingons reacting to him as an icon, rather than as a person. It’s bittersweet. But as Kor says regarding youth and old age, “Savor the fruit of life, my young friends. It has a sweet taste when it’s fresh from the vine. But don’t live too long… The taste turns bitter… after a time.” Does life *have* to turn so bitter? Perhaps not. And that is a lesson to be learned. But for Kor, his life was indeed bitter, until (but not including) the end.

The episode’s subplot features a mild, distracting story that is much ado about nothing. Quark, overhears Ezri’s comments about wanting to reconnect with her old friend Kor and mistakes them as a stated intention to pursue Worf. This leads to one of his most selfless acts: confronting Ezri and telling her that, for her own good, she needs to move on. The fact that he was entirely wrong, and Ezri’s nicely nuanced response, makes the scene very funny … and enlightening about Quark’s character.

“Once More Unto The Breach” sends off Kor in perfect style (where was this sense of history with Jadzia?). The story is nicely framed and features some very strong scenes — Kor’s speech about life, as well as his conversation with Martok’s aide, Martok’s realizations about Kor as a person — which ground the episode in a very realistic presentation. There are a few missteps, but overall, this is one installment that ought not to be missed.

Filed under: Deep Space Nine