After the hectic pace of the previous installment, “When It Rains…” is where Deep Space Nine slows down, takes a breath, and resets for what should be a final sprint to the finale. The episode itself draws from a lot of story and character elements from across the series. As such, the result feels more like a prologue — but it’s not without a few revelations and surprises of its own. Unfortunately, these are a mixed bag and, as a result, the episode stumbles a bit.

The key to the entire war against the Dominion has suddenly boiled down to two things: The Klingons and their ability to resist the Breen’s anti-energy weapon and Damar’s resistance. Both get significant screen time in this episode and both are a bit uneven in concept and execution.

For starters, we have what is, most likely, the worst development of The Final Chapter thus far: Gowron arrives on DS9 to personally oversee the war. Gowron gives Martok a medal and summarily demotes him. The story presents some fairly plausible reasons for this — Martok is quickly becoming a savior to the Klingons; Gowron doesn’t want to be threatened by a new, powerful rival; Gowron wants the glory of victory for himself and the Klingons. But it’s one complication too far. Gowron is a terrible tacticion and, besides, he doesn’t *need* to be a part of The FInal Chapter. It’s not his story. And, so far, his presence on the station only diminishes Worf and Martok.

More critical to the characters and to the overall story is the viability of Damar’s resistance. To make sure it doesn’t get eliminated too quickly, Sisko has the inspired idea to send someone with plenty of knowledge about guerilla warfare against a superior occupational force: Kira. The decision certainly makes sense from Sisko’s perspective, even if he does know how much conflict Kira’s presence amongst Cardassians will cause. But one does have to wonder how it’s possible that the Cardassians have not one person with knowledge enough about resistance tactics.

Nevertheless, Kira (in a Starfleet uniform to help offset as many Cardassian prejudices as possible — as if the Cardassians have any love of the Federation) brings along Garak and Odo. They arrive at the Cardassian Liberation Front HQ and quickly begin offering advice and counsel. A flashpoint is Odo’s advice to attack a Dominion facility held by Cardassian troops. The Cardassians, especially Damar’s lieutenant Rusot, are appalled by the idea of attacking and killing other Cardassians. Kira, though, drives home the notion that “all’s fair” in war … she even goes so far as to say, “If they’re not fighting with you, they’re fighting against you.” It sort of makes sense … but it does give rise to the question of morality: In war, how far is too far?

It’s a question that finds its most dramatic representation in the virus that the Founders have contracted. After Bashir realizes that Odo, too, has the virus, he goes in search of a cure. But in looking for answers from Starfleet medical, he gets bounced from one bureaucrat to another, Very soon Bashir realizes that Odo was deliberately infected way back in the episode “Homefront” when Odo visited Starfleet with Sisko. Someone used Odo as a means to infect all of the Founders. It’s genocide. And only one organization could possibly have engineered, and actually followed through on such a heinous act: Section 31.

Which, of course, begs the question: If Kira’s methods are acceptable, where do you draw the line between her methods and those of Section 31?

The final plot element comes from Dukat and Winn. Frustrated at Winn’s slow pace, Dukat decides to look into the forbidden book … and is blinded by the pah-wraiths for his arrogance. Winn summarily boots Dukat out onto the street, claiming that he needs to learn a lesson in humility.

Will Dukat reveal Winn as a murderer? It’s a risk she decides to take. But it also highlights one final plot thread within the episode: Internecine conflicts: Gowron and Martok, Kira and Rusot, Bashir and Section 31, Winn and Dukat. The thing is, though, with all of these conflicts being set up, there’s very little time to do any of them with any exceptional amount of craft. This is an episode where quantity takes precedent over quality. So despite how expansive the episode is, it never quite manages to hit its stride.

“When It Rains…” is a fantastic episode insofar as it establishes a great many conflicts for the final episodes. But without enough time to devote to each of these plot threads, some seem unnecessary (Gowron), underdeveloped (Kira) or awkward (Winn). Still, there’s more than enough happening to keep the riveted.

Filed under: Deep Space Nine