“What You Leave Behind” is not a perfect episode, nor a perfect series finale. But for all its faults, it nonetheless proves to be deeply moving and thoughtful. In many ways, it’s the perfect embodiment of Deep Space Nine — a series that went to great lengths to show that all of us have flaws, but depending on the choices we make, we can rise above them. Such is the case here. The finale isn’t immaculate, it isn’t like walking through Paradise one last time. But that’s the point of the whole series, isn’t it?

There were three goals that the episode had to accomplish: Concluding the Dominion War, addressing the pah-wraith / Emissary story, and sending off the characters as only DS9 can. Two of these three elements were very successfully concluded. The third, the pah-wraith angle, has its issues … but the poetic ending almost saves it (almost). In truth, this is a case where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. I could not imagine a more fitting end to what has been one of the most complex, intelligent and nuanced series I’ve ever seen.

The most straightforward story involves wrapping up the Dominion war. To that end, there were two primary threads which needed to be woven into the overall tapestry: Damar’s rebellion and the final battle in space. The space battle is, perhaps unsurprisingly, the least interesting element to all of this. Sure, the armadas clashing and ships blowing up make for some great action, but the real drama is between characters, especially on Cardassia. And, too, there’s something to be said about the ease with which such large numbers of warships are so easily disposed of. In a way, the scene takes the epic nature of a battle between great flotillas of warships and reduces it to simply a numbers game. So the real drama isn’t in the fireworks, but with the character conflicts. Quite fittingly, it’s the events on Cardassia that prove decisive to battle in space.

Damar’s efforts have begun to cause real problems for the Dominion. The female changeling has had enough. She orders the obliteration of an entire Cardassian city as punishment for the fledgling uprising. This pushes the Cardassian fleet, perhaps already wavering in their support of the Dominion, squarely onto the side of the Federation. It’s tipping point in the balance of power and it ultimately spells doom for the Dominion.

I think what works best about this turn of events is in how the Dominion’s methods prove to be their ultimate downfall. Had they acted with a bit more sympathy or care, they never would have lost Cardassia as an ally. Then again, with a bit more sympathy or care and they might never have started the war in the first place. It’s this revelation that really helps explain what might otherwise seem to be a deus ex machina-type event.

With the Dominion fleet crushed, the female changeling orders every Breen and Jem’Hadar to fight to the death. Meanwhile, she also orders the extermination of all Cardassians. She refuses to negotiate with either Kira or Garak who, along with a now-dead Damar, led a desperate, last-ditch assault on the Dominion HQ (Damar’s death is a truly heroic and tragic one, befitting the arc of his character).

That’s where Odo comes into the picture. He beams down and offers to link with the female changeling, helping to cure her of the disease and, in the process, teach her what he knows about the “solids.” It’s enough to get her to change course and order an unconditional surrender of her troops. It may seem a sudden change-of-heart, but it works because it demonstrates how powerful Odo’s convictions are toward the people he has come to know on DS9 — it’s a great commentary on the characters we’ve come to know and respect over the years.

But Odo’s act isn’t without sacrifice. Part of the “deal” he made with the female Founder was that she would submit herself to trial for war crimes. But that would leave no one to head to the Founder home world to cure the Great Link — no one, except Odo. That means, of course, leaving his beloved Kira behind. And to the strength of the series and its characters, Kira doesn’t begrudge Odo for his sacrifice. She embraces it, tragic though it may be. The result is a moment of sincere sadness and loss, balanced by the joy of memories the pair shared during their time together.

And so with the conclusion of the war, the fates of several characters become set. Odo is to head off for his homeworld. Garak remains on Cardassia, finally home from exile, a hero, grieving for the destruction left by the Dominion and determined to rebuild a new Cardassia. Worf agrees to be Federation Ambassador to Martok’s new government. And that leaves Ezri, Bashir and O’Brien.

Much has been made of the Bashir-O’Brien friendship over the years. So it’s not without a very strong tinge of sadness that we learn about O’Brien’s decision to head back to Earth to accept a position as Professor of Engineering. It makes sense for him to do so, bringing his family to a safe, comfortable place. But it also means leaving behind his best friend. It’s one of those inevitable moments in life when people move on. That doesn’t make it any easier. And the episode is nearly perfect in portraying the emotions felt by both men.

In fact, the emotions of separation which are palpable following victory in the Cardassian war. The crew gathers at Vic Fontaine’s (where else?) for one final celebration — of victory and fellowship and for good-byes. It’s a scene that, obviously, carries a double meaning, one for the characters, the other for the viewers (and creators) of the series. Seeing everyone together, knowing that Miles and Odo are moving on, knowing that the series is moving on proves to be incredibly emotional.

What works best, though, is that this isn’t a purely nostalgic or indulgent moment. It’s a scene that fits seamlessly in the course of events. So it feels entirely natural when Sisko proclaims, “To the best crew any captain ever had. This may be the last time we’re all together. But no matter what the future holds, no matter how far we travel, a part of us… a very important part, will always remain here, on Deep Space 9.”

Well said.

But there’s more to come for Sisko. There’s that pesky (and perpetually silly) plot involving the pah-wraiths. Here, Dukat and Winn finally reach the Fire Caves and are on the verge of releasing the pag-wraiths from imprisonment. Winn kills Dukat as a sacrifice, but it’s Dukat who the pah-wraiths want. They resurrect him, as a Cardassian, red eyes and all, and that’s when Sisko arrives (all-too-quickly from DS9) for the final confrontation.

In truth, all of this operates on a level that is much, much lower than the rest of the episode. It really does feel tacked on just to wrap up the Emissary arc. For instance, in one moment, Dukat is revived and Sisko is at Vic’s. A moment later, Dukat is gloating over Winn and Sisko is arriving on Bajor (a journey that isn’t supposed to happen in the blink of an eye). There’s also the issue of the campiness of Dukat’s possession and so forth.

Still, the sequence ends on strongly mythic (if not exceptionally dramatic) terms. Sisko and Dukat are polar opposites. Dukat is stronger and Sisko needs an ally. He finds it in Winn, after she sees Dukat suddenly reborn as a Cardassian, she finally realizes how wrong she is. She tries helping Sisko, but she’s unsuccessful. In the end, it’s left to Sisko to sacrifice himself to defeat his nemesis — both in body and spirit.

A noble end, indeed.

What’s left is Sisko’s return to the Celestial Temple — a return to his origins. The series remains noncommittal about Sisko’s ultimate fate (he might return to his son, his new wife and new child someday). The ambiguity works because it leaves a slightly hopeful resolution to Sisko’s character, while his loved ones must still mourn his loss. The final scene, of Jake and Kira (with Kira’s hand resting maternally on Jake’s shoulder) staring off into the wormhole is about as perfect as one could have imagined. Jake looking toward his father, Kira toward Odo.

“What You Leave Behind” is far from perfect. The corny “best of” montage (sans Jadzia Dax) is awkward. The pah-wraith storyline is really difficult to take seriously. The space battle is too gaudy. Some might even cringe at the Vic Fontaine scene. And so on. But in truth, the series manages a strong, consistent and fitting finale to its stories, characters and themes. What more could anyone ask of a finale?

Filed under: Deep Space Nine