I am generally a fan of Kira-centric episodes even if, as she does here, wind up acting out of character. No pun intended, considering the plot of the episode. What I mean is how she goes back and forth from a bitter, but understandable hatred of Cardassians, to an almost weepy appreciation for some and then back again. She is a emotionally damaged person due to living such a violent life, but it is still unnerving to see her seesaw with every new Cardassian encounter.That said, I often enjoy Trek’s brand of mind game episodes when they are done well and this one is. The plot of Kira beig kidnapped and genetically altered by the Cardassians to convince her she is one for the purpose of extracting intelligence is reminiscent of TNG’s “Frame of Mind.” “Frame of Mind’ was one of Brannon Braga’s few success on TNG and it encouraged him to use the method of illogical happenings to convince a character he or she is going mad ad nauseum on VOY. Thankfully, he was allowed nowhere near “Second Skin,” so the emphasis is more on family and identity. It is a for the better.
Kira is kidnapped, altered, and given to a member of the Central Command, Ghenor, who is told she is his daughter, long lost in deep cover on Bajor. They tell Kira all her memories of being a Bajoran are implants that will go away with medication. They will be replaced with her real memories as an Obsidian order spy. Kira does not buy it even though Ghenor dotes on her as any heartbroken father who misses his daughter would. Kira is completely incredulous. Her father was killed directly by Cardassians. Her mother starved to death in a refugee camp. There is no way she could be one of them.
Her Obsidian order interrogator, Entek, grows more hostile ad determined to extract information from Kira. As it becomes more obvious he will use torture because her ’memories’ are not returning, Ghenor decides he must use his contacts to help her escape. Ghenor, though a powerful ruler on Cardassian Prime, isa member of the dissident movement who believes militarism has ruined the Cardassian soul.
By this point, kira has broken down to the point she is beginning to believe she may really be a Cardassian. But she snaps out of it when she learns Ghenor is a dissident. She knows this is all an elaborate ruse. Kira happened to look enough like Ghenor’s daughter--convenient, I know--to pass for her and, because of her hatred for Cardassians, would resist interrogation. Ghenor would be forced to expose his treasonous activities in order to save her.
Fortunately, Garek has lead Sisko and Odo to Cardassia Prime to save them both just in the nick of time. Ghenor flees with them. He finds asylum on one of the few planets who seem open to Cardassians. Before leaving, he has an almost fatherly exchange with Kira. Maybe iam being too harsh about her reaction, but she comes across as frighteningly emotionally unstable in going from irrational bigot to near family in just a few minutes. I am no psychologist.
Nevertheless, ’Second Skin” is one of the bet character exploration episodes which dominate the third season. It was apparently tougher than usual for Nana Visitor. She suffers from claustrophobia and at one point ripped off her make up during filming because she could no longer tolerate. Another interesting point is guest star Lawrence Pressman, who played Ghenor, is a Jew of Russian descent whose entire family, save for an aunt, was murdered by the Nazis. Considering the obvious parallels between Bajorans/Cardassians and Jews/Nazis, it must have felt unusual to play a Cardassian.
Garak plays a pivotal role here, too. He takesa step back in the likeability department for me, but we learn more about his role as a former spy, so it is atrade off.
Rating: *** (out of 5)
