“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?

“The Dogs of War” is the penultimate episode to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The task it had to accomplish was a very tall order indeed. And most of the episode is very, very successful. Except for the parts that are not. Truly, this is a tale of two episodes: One thoroughly compelling, the other incredibly silly. It’s this odd story structure that, unfortunately, saps the episode of too much emotional impact.

The best parts of the episode focus on the events surrounding the Dominion War (no surprise there, really). It begins with the introduction of a new “friend” — The USS Sao Paulo, a Defiant class starship that has just been assigned to DS9. The scene is absolutely pitch perfect. It *feels* as though, perhaps, this is too soon to get reacquainted with a new ship. But she’s there anyway. And, in many respects, it’s like Dax returning as Ezri — familiar, yet slightly different. When Sisko says, “Hello, ship,” it really does feel like the beginning of a new relationship.

Outside of that, we get a heavy dose of Damar and his rebellion’s efforts. The Dominion doesn’t take the situation lightly and they lure Damar, Odo and Garak into a trap, destroying their commandeered Jem’Hadar ship, and wiping out all eighteen rebel bases. But a strange thing happens when the trio are stuck in the basement of one of Garak’s contacts: They learn that, despite Dominion claims to the contrary, the people of Cardassia believe Damar is alive.

They are hungry for a hero, a leader.

So Damar, Garak and Kira set off to blow up a Jem’Hadar barracks. They succeed and Damar has a powerful, impromptu speech (not unlike William Wallace’s speech). It’s a fantastic moment for his character and for the Cardassian people. Damar has certainly undergone a metamorphosis of character, and thanks to him, his people are about to revolt — to revolutionize themselves. It’s easily the episode’s best moment.

From here, though, the stories get steadily worse.

The military stratagems between Dominion and the Federation are the best of what’s left. The Dominion retreats and consolidates its power. And so the Federation must figure out the best way to proceed: wait or attack. Martok advocates going on the offensive and Starfleet agrees. But it has a bigger moral problem on its hands: What to with the cure Odo received from Bashir. Odo rightfully points out the fundamental problem with the Federation is that it purports to despise Section 31, but does nothing to counteract the impending genocide.

After these threads, we get Bashir and Ezri. I’ll admit to liking the romance simply because the characters are likable as well. But it is more than a little soapy and, ultimately, a lot of their back-and-forth is as much about filling out time than really bringing them closer. It’s obvious where their relationship is headed. Just get there already! (Which, of course, they do.)

And then …

*sigh*

And then there is the Ferengi plot. The Ferengi have to be the worst used element in the entire series. The Ferengi are played strictly for comedy — and very stupid comedy at that. As a result, the Ferengi hardly have done much either of note or thought, even if the series did try to shoehorn in some radical social changes.

What we get is, almost entirely, more of the same. Admittedly, the hijinks are scaled back slightly. But it’s still jarring to move back and forth from the serious Dominion stories to the antics of Zek, Moogie, Brunt, Quark and Rom. And as much as it was necessary to wrap up a few things — like setting up Rom as the new Nagus (of a kinder, gentler, more socialist Ferenginar) and having Quark stay put in his bar — the placement of the story just doesn’t work very well.

“The Dogs of War” puts all of the pieces into place for the final episode of the series. Ferengi nonsense aside, this was a very, very good installment.

“Extreme Measures” is a likable, meaningful episode. Presented almost anywhere else in the series, it almost certainly would have had a much more profound impact than it does, so close to the finale. But the problem isn’t really with intent, it’s with execution. This is an episode designed to focus on friendship and camaraderie, as well as mystery and morality. But it’s unable to weave these elements together into a coherent tapestry.

Odo’s sickness has progressed to the point where he now only has a few weeks to live. Bashir and O’Brien have hatched their plot to try and lure Section 31 to the station, in the remote hope that by doing so, they will elicit a cure from whomever Section 31 sends. The first half of the episode deals strongly with issues of morality — from Section 31’s decision to infect Odo and the Founders in an deliberate attempt at genocide to Bashir’s use of illegal Romulan mind probes as a means of extracting information.

In fact, the episode seems to be firmly on its way to exploring these “extreme measures” when Sloan arrives and, in short order, is taken prisoner by Bashir and placed on hospital bed. Sloan says, “I misread you. I thought you were just a misguided idealist. But you’re a dangerous man. People like you would destroy the Federation if given a chance,” which points to a fascinating duel of ideologies and moralities. Heck, even Sloan’s decision to commit suicide fits — right down to the “extreme measure” of such a course of action.

Unfortunately for the episode, from here it shifts gears into a long technobabble sequence to get us from Sloan’s suicide attempt to Bashir’s last-ditch effort to retrieve the information by going into Sloan’s dying mind. It’s a distraction and it takes critical time away from the episode’s story. The subsequent pairing of O’Brien and Bashir in Sloan’s mind is a good way pay homage to the friendship shared between them, but it’s also awkwardly placed within the episode itself.

Or to put it another way, changing course away from a morality play and into a “buddy” story is difficult at best to manage. Using the technobabble approach dooms the episode to an uneven and uncoordinated result.

It’s unfortunate because there are some moments between Bashir and O’Brien which are genuinely enjoyable. After Sloan’s mind wounds both of them, they share a long, heartfelt conversation about their friendship — about their love for the women in their lives (Keiko and Ezri) but their genuine happiness at spending time with one another. It’s a wonderfully personal moment tucked into an otherwise epic story arc. It’s unfortunate, then, that it isn’t presented with a bit more craft.

Ultimately, it’s the friendship that saves both O’Brien and Bashir … and results in a cure for Odo. After the requisite twists and turns of the plot, Sloan has one final trap for Bashir: hoping to play on Bashir’s intense desire to eradicate Section 31, Sloan distracts Bashir from his true purpose (saving Odo) by offering a wealth of information on Section 31. But O’Brien manages to cut through the ploy and get Bashir out in time to save their lives … and Odo’s.

The final scene between O’Brien and Bashir is nicely handled as they reflect on their friendship over a drink.

“Extreme Measures” does a number of things right, from the moral implications of the actions by both Section 31 and Bashir, to the friendship between Bashir and O’Brien. But the two halves are awkwardly juxtaposed, and clumsily connected.

“Tacking Into The Wind” is an important episode in the grand scheme of Deep Space Nine. In many ways, it justifies some of the more questionable plot decisions that came before it. There’s some nice character development. But mostly, this is a fast-paced, action-filled episode which has just enough time to provide some crucial (and very critical) commentary on one of the biggest elements of the Star Trek franchise: The Klingon Empire.

The episode’s most character-driven plot comes from the presence of Kira, Odo and Garak within the Cardassian rebellion. Odo’s shapeshifting has accelerated the virus, leading to his rapid deterioration. He puts up a brave front, trying to hide his condition from Kira — who, for her part, knows what’s going on but let’s Odo think she doesn’t. It’s fascinating to see how Kira does as much as she can to let Odo have a measure of “dignity” despite his being infected. It’s a display of just how much these two characters have come to love and admire one another.

More relevant to the plot of the episode is Kira’s conflict with Rusot. Their verbal sparring finally spills over into a fight — which Kira wins, handily. Most interestingly, Garak appears from the shadows afterward, clearly having kept on eye on the situation — should Rusot have tried anything more … extreme that fisticuffs. But, as Garak warns, the fight isn’t over … and Rusot will not hesitate to make good on the threat to kill Kira.

This becomes a vehicle for the episode’s best character moments … from Damar. One a mission to capture a Jem’Hadar ship with the new Breen weapon attached to it, Damar learns that the Dominion has tracked down and killed his family. Damar laments over the kinds of people who would do such a thing to innocents. Kira’s reply is perfectly presented, reminding Damar that it was the Cardassians who often did such things to Bajorans.

It’s an important scene because, at a critical moment, Rusot is on the verge of killing Kira. Garak, of course, has jumped to Kira’s help, but Damar represents the deciding factor. And he chooses to kill Rusot. Damar realizes that Rusot represented a Cardassia that was long gone … one that would have killed innocent family members just as the Dominion had just done. Damar’s choice allows the mission to be successful (it was presented with a great deal of suspense) and paves the way for a new Cardassia. Not only that, Kira now owes her life to Damar. It’s a fascinating turn of events.

A revolution in Empires isn’t limited to Cardassia alone, though. Gowron continues to send Klingons to futile deaths all in the name of discrediting Martok as a commander and warrior. Even Sisko realizes that the situation is critical — the war with the Dominion takes precedent over personal vendettas. But Gowron is intransigent, so Sisko turns to Worf, essentially ordering that Gowron be stopped, no matter the cost. It’s important to understand that Sisko isn’t being cavalier about this order. It’s a matter of victory or defeat.

But with Martok unwilling to challenge Gowron, Worf is left with very few options. And here’s where the episode becomes it’s most poignant and most valuable. Much like the Cardassian Empire needed a revolution in thought, so does the Klingon Empire. It’s Ezri who provides that perspective — an inspired choice given her memories by way of Curzon and Jadzia, and given her objectivity by way of Ezri. She sees the critical flaw in the Klingon Empire that first manifested itself way back in TNG’s “Reunion” — namely that, for a people who hold honor so dear, they sure tolerate a great deal of dishonor from their leaders.

Even Worf, a man of almost unimpeachable honor, tolerates men like Gowron. How can an Empire survive under such circumstances? How can it be led by Klingons whose only goal is to acquire and maintain power? The Empire needs leaders whose only goal is the benefit of the Empire. Leaders like Martok. But Martok doesn’t want to do anything but follow the orders of the Chancellor, no matter what.

It’s important to portray Martok as serving purely the interests of the Empire, and not subverting the rightful leader, either. That means when Worf challenges Gowron … and kills him … Martok becomes the natural leader of the Empire. He receives the mantle of leadership not because he sought it, but because it was thrust upon him (in this case by Worf).

What this does is a couple of things. Most immediately, it provides some justification for the seemingly superfluous addition of Gowron to the story. Here, at least, Gowron’s presence allows for character development from Worf and Martok, and allows the audience to see the Empire in an honest-yet-critical light.

Then there are the machinations of Bashir’s search for a cure. Both he and O’Brien desperately want to do everything they can to save Odo — they even have heated words at one point. But it’s their dedication (and friendship) which stand out. And their plan, to act as though they do have a cure, in the hopes of luring Section 31 to the station, seems likely to provide some more intrigue and suspense.

“Tacking Into The Wind” is a solid combination of character and action. It’s an example of how powerful the DS9 series can be.

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.

“The Changing Face of Evil” is a thoroughly transformative episode. From start to finish it moves the plot along at a breakneck, while still taking enough time and care for character development … and even a health dose of humor. It’s epic. It’s cinematic. And by the time all is said and done, The Final Chapter of Deep Space Nine, which has been slowly building like a thunderhead, breaks headlong into a full-blown torrent.

Fantastic.

There’s an air of finality to this episode — in the sense that the choices and outcomes of what we see set characters and circumstances firmly for what should be a breakneck rush to the final moments of the series. Without question, the landscape changes completely … and some things which were familiar and comfortable will never be seen again.

As if to underscore the sense of danger and desperation, the episode opens with a shocking revelation: The Breen have attacked Earth, have destroyed Starfleet Headquarters, no less. It was a brazen, costly maneuver, but one that paid off in terms of psychological advantage. And what’s most impressive about the new Dominion tactics, with the Breen serving as their leading edge, is that they are going for psychological victories as much as they are going for military ones.

It’s that sensibility which brings them to retake the Chin’Toka system. They attack, the Federation leads an armada to counterattack, with the Defiant along for support … and the Federation fleet is completely obliterated … including the Defiant.

The swan song for one of the most impressive *little* ships in Trek lore is, in many ways, a worthy one. The Defiant preps for battle. We see and hear the ship go through its pre-flight checklist. The camera lingers on the faces of her crew. She launches into battle. dispatching enemy warships … and then falls victim to a new, energy-draining weapon. The Defiant falls in battle, in a blaze of glory, as it were. And losing her is a bit like losing a major character. In fact, in many ways, the Defiant got a more noble, heroic sendoff than Jadzia.

Of course, the crew escapes in pods … which are allowed to return to DS9 as part of the Dominion’s new psychological front in the war (though, one has to wonder about the wisdom of letting, say, The Emissary return to the Celestial Temple — the wormhole). Still, for Sisko and crew, the defeat is crushing. The Federation, which has suffered two psychological defeats (and one crushing military one) is on its heels. They need time to regroup … but with The Breen advancing and seemingly invincible, how can they turn the tide?

Enter Damar … the unlikeliest of heroes. Damar, ever the Cardassian patriot, has engineered an uprising bent on overthrowing the Dominion. His speech is short, but oh-so effective — both dramatically and in terms of character. Seeing the reactions of Sisko, Kira, Odo and Weyoun and the Founder is a thrill to watch. Damar has just given the Federation a chance to recuperate and regroup.

And the most compelling element to it all? Damar chooses as his first target the cloning facilities used to continue the Weyoun line of Vorta. It’s about as clear and poetic a message as he could have possibly made.

But the danger isn’t over. The Federation must find a way to hold off The Breen and help Damar’s uprising. Without the Defiant, DS9 becomes a more vulnerable target. And here’s where the episode’s humor becomes not just a distraction, but a poetic foreshadowing. O’Brien and Bashir have had a running interest in The Alamo this season. In this episode, O’Brien has built a scale model of the Alamo and both he and Bashir discuss the finer points on defending it. Worf, sitting with Ezri, observes that they are “playing with toys.”

It’s a gag that has quite a bit of life to it in the episode. But even more intriguing is Bashir’s discussions about how to defend it from an overwhelming force. The discussion has some obvious parallels to what DS9 might soon be facing. And the offhand comment about “building a moat” around the fort might turn out to have some practical value in defending DS9 from a last-ditch Dominion attack.

And, finally, there is the continuing saga of Winn and Dukat. The story is fascinating for its portrayal of Winn’s final descent into an instrument of the pah-wraiths. But for the most part, it’s the weakest element of the episode. She spends a lot of time looking at blank pages from a forbidden book. Her aide spends a lot of time voicing his objections. Dukat spends a lot of time prodding Winn.

It only truly amounts to something when Winn’s aide reveals Dukat’s identity. It’s only then that Winn has to make a decision: come clean or take desperate action to hold her power. Of course, it’s no surprise that she acts in her self-interests, committing murder — a murder that allows her to see what’s written on the blank pages of the book.

“The Changing Face of Evil” is an episode of payoffs. Not only is it highly entertaining, it’s exceptionally well-constructed.

After an all-too-slow buildup, “Strange Bedfellows” ultimately becomes a compelling episode, filled with character and narrative revelations. There’s still some unevenness to the overall approach, and there are a few awkward moments within the episode. But it’s central developments, particularly with respect to the characters, is much more plausible and insightful than the first two installments of The Final Chapter.

The title, while a bit simplistic and obvious, can easily be applied to many different circumstances within the episode. And, of course, each “coupling” has significant consequences for not only the characters, but the overall narrative, as well.

The first, and most obvious, coupling is that of Dukat and Winn. Yes, they’ve done the wild thing and spend much of the first half of the episode cuddling and canoodling and professing how wonderful each makes the other feel — afterglow sometimes has that effect, no? At any rate, this is obviously false and hollow. Winn and Dukat are both much too self-absorbed to really be that much into each other. But even so, there connection is something that will pull Winn through a crisis of confidence.

It begins when Winn has another vision … one in which the pah-wraiths reveal themselves to the Kai. This triggers her final internal conflict over her faith. Initially she rejects Dukat and the pah-wraiths, and even calls on Kira for advice. Winn professes that she’ll do anything to have the Prophets love her. Kira lays it on the line: Step down as Kai, be humble … prove that she wants to be a true believer and the Prophets will listen.

As if Winn would willingly give up on her role as a spiritual leader of the planet. And so Winn, with Dukat’s seductive whispering in her ear, turns to the pah-wraiths. The actual conversion from follower of the Prophets to follower of the pah-wraiths happens just a bit too abruptly on-screen. But no matter … this has been a long time coming. The pah-wraiths present Winn with the best path for holding and consolidating power. Her thirst for power is obvious. It’s a natural development.

Other “bedfellows” are Ezri and Worf. Being held on Cardassia and sentenced to death, the two, finally, actually have a discussion and work through their differences (and similarities). The scenes here work on a level that is much higher than what we’ve seen in the two previous installments. Their emotions and discussions are heartfelt and sincere. The resolve to be friends … and “something more.”

Then there’s the political coupling which, ultimately creates yet another, more secretive one. With the Breen as part of The Dominion, Damar is forced to confront his role, and Cardassia’s role within the Dominion. Damar is tired of seeing hundreds of thousands of Cardassians die in battle, while the Dominion trades Cardassian territories as concessions for the Breen alliance. It’s been building for some time, with Weyoun’s disdain and Damar’s growing disillusionment. The schism between Damar and Weyoun is humorously revealed when Worf kills Weyoun … and Damar simply laughs (Weyoun will simply be cloned anew, afterall).

But Damar has clearly had enough. And he finally decides to act — not for the Dominion, but for Cardassia: he helps Worf and Ezri escape. The moment wasn’t exactly a shock. How else were Worf and Ezri going to avoid being killed? But it’s no less enjoyable and satisfying. It’s good to see Damar standing up for his people.

There are a few other, smaller scenes worthy of note. First, it’s good to see that at least a few members of DS9 are worried about Ezri and Worf. Quark keeps a drink poured on his bar for Ezri. And Bashir is struggling to understand his own feelings about Ezri (who, for her part, admits her feelings about Bashir to Worf). There’s also the funny sidebar in which Martok describes marriage as a war, with battles being waged (and won) by man and wife. It plays out as an amusing distraction within the episode.

“Strange Bedfellows” is a very good episode. Its strengths rely on character and story, and a nicely paced plot.

“Til Death Do Us Part” continues Deep Space Nine‘s expansive story arc. The results are much the same as the previous installment: Solid plot development, uneven pace and characterizations, a good, not great episode.

Once again, the episode follows the exploits of Sisko and Kasidy, Worf and Ezri, and adds Dukat and Winn. Each of the stories has its strengths and weaknesses. There’s are a lot of interesting threads slowly being woven together, but others are a bit difficult to accept at face value.

The most emotional of these plots revolves around Sisko’s dilmma: follow his heart or follow the Prophets. There’s just something about this thread that just doesn’t sit right. Sisko continues to come across as a person who wants his cake and to eat it, too. He wants to be the Emissary, but this episode marks the second time he has openly defied their warnings.

And it was all going so well.

Initially, Sisko tells Kasidy that he must listen to the Prophets … that the wedding is off. It’s the kind of sacrifice that is excruciating and wrenching … the kind one needs if one is to follow the path of The Chosen One. I suppose his subsequent reversal — which in many ways is completely understandable — shows that he is a flawed man, a romantic even, but if so, this is a case of the series being just a bit too nuanced. The execution makes Sisko’s character come across more as selfish, rather than tragic or sympathetic.

The Dukat-Winn partnership is likewise both interesting and slightly off. Winn, after bemoaning (yet again) that she has never had a vision from the Prophets suddenly has a vision in which she is told that The Sisko has faltered and that she must help bring about The Restoration. And that a guide will be revealed to her.

It’s the pah-wraiths, obviously, who send the vision. And when Dukat arrives (in disguise as a Bajoran named Anjohl), Winn sees him as her guide. They begin what can only be described as some bizarre kind of courtship, resulting in a kiss between them. I actually like the use of the pah-wraiths as a kind of opposing force to the Prophets. But this is a case where the series tries to be too simplistic (the opposite of how it treats Sisko). Instead of keeping Winn and Dukat as plausible characters with selfish motivations, aligning these characters with the pah-wraiths makes them out to be simple villains — something neither character ever was earlier in the series.

And then there is the Worf and Ezri soap. In many ways, it’s the more interesting and compelling story, thanks to the presence of the Breen who end up torturing and interrogating the two of them. Ezri’s dreams are interesting psychological fodder, as are the ramblings of both characters when they return from their interrogations. But here’s where the episode veers a bit off the rails: Worf hears Ezri rambling about love for Bashir, and he immediately accuses her (and by proxy Jadzia) of being unfaithful.

*sigh* Much too soapy.

Then there is the episode’s “big reveal” that the Breen have allied themselves with the Dominion. Of course, the moment is telegraphed due to editing and camera angles (shots of the Jem’Hadar and Breen ships flying in opposite directions, Weyoun keeping Damar in the dark for no real reason).

“‘Til Death Do Us Part” could stand a bit more consistency.  The result is an awkward, uneven installment which, while important overall, isn’t quite a classic.  And one last thing … why is it that no one on DS9 is all *that* concerned with the disappearance of Worf and Ezri? I’m not expecting life on the station to grind to a halt … but at least some acknowledgement and concern … wouldn’t hurt.

And so it begins (to end) …

“Penumbra” kicks off a ten-episode arc that culminates in the series finale of Deep Space Nine. As the series takes its first steps toward completion, it’s fascinating to see how its strengths — incredibly complex character and story arcs — have become something of a burden … or at least a challenge. How to end it all with satisfactory and plausible conclusions? This episode begins the journey and, despite the relatively uneven approach, it’s very much worthy of bringing the series to a close.

There are two primary stories in this episode. First, we see Sisko and Kasidy finally come to terms with the seriousness of their relationship. Second, Ezri and Worf confront the very unusual, and contentious, relationship they now share. There are also a number of smaller subplot from Damar and Weyoun, to the female Founder, to Dukat. The structure feels epic. But it’s not threaded together especially well. The result is a strong, if somewhat flawed installment.

In his quarters, Sisko and Kasidy discuss the future. Sisko once again professes his love of Bajor and reveals that he has purchased land there, with dreams of building a beautiful retirement home. He goes on to say that he wants Kasidy to be there with him. He proposes. And she accepts. It’s a nice moment, finally paying off the long-simmering (and building) romance between the characters.

From here, their discussions shift gears to wedding plans. Both of them seem perfectly content with a small, modest ceremony … with Jake as the best man and a few close friends in attendance. But their plans are derailed by two events. First, and quite amusingly, Sisko learns that all of Bajor is aware of his upcoming wedding — it’s not every day that the Emissary of the Prophets gets married, after all. “Plans are a bit more complicated,” he says.

Then the bombshell.

While working on a scale model of his dream home, Sisko receives a vision from the Prophets — namely from Sarah, his mother. She tells him that he cannot get married, or he will “now nothing but sorrow.” The episode ends before we see how the news affects Sisko’s decisions … but it’s clear that, emotionally, he’s deeply conflicted. He wants to just live his life, but he also has a destiny … “fate” as Sarah calls it.

What’s interesting is that Sisko himself hasn’t yet come to terms with his role as Emissary. Early in the episode, he talks to Kasidy with pride about his position. But the moment it encroaches on his life, he seems to reject it. It’s as if Sisko wants the position only when it doesn’t interfere with his life. At some point, he’s going to have to make a choice: be The Emissary, and “of Bajor” or just be an ordinary man.

The secondary story involves Worf and Ezri. After Worf’s ship was destroyed, his escape pod was never found. Ezri, remembering her time (as Jadzia), decides she has to go look for Worf … they’ve never had any real closure regarding their relationship, after all. So Ezri takes a shuttle, takes some chances, and rescues Worf. They have trouble talking to one another on the journey home …

And then the episode gets a bit silly.

In what is one of the more soapy sequences in the series, the shuttle is attacked, Ezri and Worf crash land on a remote planet, without a communication device, and are therefore *forced* to talk to one another. Soon their discussion turns to arguments, then to insults, then … *sigh* to kissing and sleeping together.

It’s a fine idea to force Ezri and Worf to work through their differences, to come to terms with what they shared together. But I would have thought the series could find something a bit more inventive than the cliché argument-then-sex route. Besides, it trivializes a concept (the Trill taboo on getting involved with a loved one from a former life) that was a crucial and important plot device for a powerful episode (“Rejoined”) earlier in the series.

Then the pair are captured by The Breen … a rarely seen and referenced species that, literally, comes out of nowhere. It’s a plot development that will have to wait for judgment.

In other news … the Founder is still unable to find a cure, but she’s secretly communication … with someone (or some thing). Damar still feels useless. And Dukat has surgery to look like a Bajoran, furthering his obsession with the dreaded (for the audience) pah-wraiths.

Overall, “Penumbra” is a sweeping, expansive episode which covers a *lot* of ground. The foundations for finale are being laid. And, ultimately, its success is based on not only how far it advances the story, but the skill with which it manages to do so. In that sense, it’s a good, but not exceptional, tale.

Prescient.

How do war and threats to a society eat away at its moral fiber? At the very principles upon which it is based? These are questions that 21st century societies are currently facing. “Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges” (explained in the episode as “In a time of war, the law falls silent.”) is an episode about these very issues. And it tackles them through a series of events that are as suspenseful as they are profound. Some plot elements might stretch plausibility, but the meaning behind the events — the lengths people in power will go — are powerfully relevant and realistic.

Dr. Bashir is scheduled to go to Romulus to take part in a conference designed to share intelligence about the Dominion, and strengthen (at least symbolically) the alliance between the Federation and the Romulan Empire. But before he leaves, he is approached by Section 31 to become part of a “fact-finding” mission. Because of the moral danger represented by Section 31 — the fact that they exist outside of the law — Bashir initially refuses. Reluctantly, at Sisko’s behest, Bashir ultimately agrees … end he quickly finds himself caught up in a very complex web of secrecy, deceit, and dangerous cloak-and-dagger situations.

What makes the episode work so well is in the fact that it treats Bashir intelligently. He is, ultimately, being duped by just about everyone. But he still manages to see through many of the deceits — ultimately figuring out exactly who was pulling the strings on the mission itself. Even more importantly, Bashir’s moral compass is very clearly defined, despite being relentlessly challenged throughout the entire story.

At just about every turn, Bashir must make some moral decision: Follow Section 31? Confide in Admiral Ross? Romulan Senator Cretak? Betray Section 31’s ultimate plot to the Romulans themselves? Bashir continually operates from an admirable position: That regardless of the circumstances, the ends never justify the means … that we must never sacrifice who or what we are, simply for the sake of survival.

Bashir’s beliefs, though, are opposed right from the start — beginning with a seemingly innocuous conversation he has with Garak about the difference between optimism and cynicism. More desperately, Section 31 represents an organization completely at ease with assassination (of life and character), manipulation and conspiracy. And yet even Bashir goes along with their efforts … for a time.

Much of the episode’s time, though, is spent on the mysteries themselves. And there’s more than enough going on to keep a viewer interested. The framing and direction are help convey a sense of disquiet and unease. Bashir’s investigations, actions and confessions are well conceived and acted. And, of course, there is the final twist …

Truth-be-told, it’s not all that difficult to have seen beforehand that Admiral Ross was, in fact, a Section 31 conspirator. What is interesting, though, is the fact that Section 31 would be willing to sacrifice Senator Cretak — her career, her freedom and, possibly, her life — simply to cement the position of Koval, head of the Tal Shiar and Federation mole, within the Romulan government. This, of course, is what gives rise to the episode’s central confrontation and explicit debate about morality … especially in times of war.

When Bashir learns of Ross’ actions, he confronts the admiral directly, who invokes the episode’s title as a justification for his actions. Bashir shouts back, “What have we become, a 24th century Rome?” And the basic conflict has been established: Does the survival of a political entity, and the safety of the people that entity protects, justify abandoning laws … even morals?

Bashir is adamant in his position, but it’s the episode’s coda with Sloane that provides the best example of how this question of morality can lead people into very dangerous areas. For his part, Sloan admits admiration for Bashir and his morals. But what Sloane says next is particularly chilling: “The Federation needs men like you, Doctor. Men with conscience, men who can sleep at night. And you’re also the reason that Section 31 exists: to protect men like you from a universe which doesn’t share your sense of right and wrong.”

How does one justify becoming such an absolute arbiter of “safety and protection?” What does it mean for the society’s that such arbiters protect? The episode, while clearly portraying Bashir’s position as morally just, nevertheless finds space give voice (and a strong voice at that) to the other side of the question.

Once hopes that these issues will be explored more fully as the series unfolds.

“Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges” is an example of what makes Deep Space Nine such a compelling series. In a smart, well-written episode, it provides not only solid entertainment, but great character and thematic work. The fact that the issues faced by Bashir and Sloan resonate even more strongly today speak to the episode’s ability to get at the heart of very important philosophical, political and moral questions.