“Paradise Lost” is a love song to 9/11 truthers six years early. Not to dismiss the episode by bringing up the fevered fantasy of a 9/11 inside job, because there isa lot going o here of its own merit, but the parallels cannot be denied.It is revealed much of what we know from ’Homefront” is carefully orchestrated plot by Leyton to remove the soft on security Federation president and militarize Earth as a defense against a Changeling attack. When the attack on Antwerp did not convince the president, Leyton rigged the wormhole t periodically open as though cloaked ships were coming through and then used a corps of upper classmen cadets to sabotage the power array of Earth. With so any Starfleet military officers on the streets of Earth in response, Leyton has the leverage he needs to take over.
What we have is conflicts about what we are willing to sacrifice in order to protect what we have. Leyton does not think he is perpetrating a lie in order to assume power for personal gain. He is being a patriot as far as he is concerned by removing the obstacles to defending his home. Thanks to the fear brought on by his sabotaging the planetary power grid, his actions are popular among the people. Popular even though it means armed soldiers on every street and random blood tests for citizens.
Once again, it has been shown in trek that the allegedly enlightened utopianisms will abandon every one of their ideals at the first disturbance. This will be a recurring theme throughout the rest of DS9 as the Dominion War becomes more desperate. sacrifices are made--maybe too many--in order to preserve a way of life.
At least by the end of “Paradise Lost,” the people of earth have decided they are still terrified of the Changelings--there are still four on Earth--but they love their way of life more than to destroy it in fear. I am wary of drawing further parallels to he post-9/11 world. I am not one of those who believes the Patriot Act stomps too much on civil liberties or that operating Gitmo violates America character. Yet I am confident there is a line somewhere out there that can be crossed. I cannot define, nor can I even guess how near or far it is, but I am confident our national character will know when we have sacrificed too much for security.
“Paradise Lost” is quite the prescient episode. It is also one of the best in spite of famous budget restrictions limiting the writers’ vision. At one point, Odo morphs off screen and does a Vulcan neck pinch because they could not afford the necessary special effects for him to change shape. What the episode lacks in bells and whistles, it makes up for in food for thought.
In an interesting side note, Robert Foxworth, who played Adm. Leyton, was also playing Gen. Hague, a coup plotter on Babylon 5, at this tie. He was supposed to revise his role as Hague, but opted to star in “Homefront/Paradise Lost” instead. They killed off Hague I an offhand comment as aresult. That will show him.
Rating: **** (out of 5)
