How long has it been since I have been able to reiterate my belief that trek never does children well? We might have to go back as far as “Dark Page” for TNG. That was…when? January? We have had quite the respite.“Sons and Daughters” is only half a whammy as far as I am concerned. While it does bring back the much despised Worf/Alexander drama for which I have always cringed, half the episode deals with the Dukat/Ziyal/Kira dynamic I have grown fond of, sappy though it may be. Perhaps I feel that way because I know how it ends--in a much more emotionally satisfying way then with Worf and Alexander.
As a continuity note, it is Martok and Worf’s ship that rescues the downed former Defiant crew. They make the briefest of cameos here as Sisko bets Martok a barrel of blood wine he will set foot on DS9 before Martok. There is our first hint the Dominion occupation of DS9 will not last long.
Once Sisko and the bunch have been dropped off at a starbase, Martok’s ship is assigned to escort a supply convoy that has had three ships destroyed by Jem’Hadar in the last few days. They expect to see battle very soon. Martok asks for replacement crew and winds up with Alexander as one of them. Worf is not happy and neither am I. Uggh. Somebody kill this kid off.
I appreciate the powers that be at DS9 try to address the animosity between Worf and Alexander--face it, Worf was a lousy father on TNG--but it does not work for me because Alexander is still such a wuss. I cannot entirely blame Worf for being embarrassed. It is not that I think Alexander needs to be a great warrior. It is just that he needs to be good at something..
At the risk of getting too personal, I had similar issues with my father long before he let my mother and me. He had been an athlete. Obviously with my disabilities, it was impossible for me to beas well. But I was an excellent academic. He never much cared for that, but I never broke my neck trying to be an athlete anyway to try to make him happy. He crawled ito a bottle, we both said screw you, and that has been the end of it.
So I am coming from the position that is the best thing for Worf and Alexander to do for both their sakes Yes, it looks bad on paper, but real life has rough edges. I do not buy, with all the incompetence Alexander shows as a warrior and the irritation it causes Worf that he eventually proves his worth. The happy ending was ot sold on me.
I am more pleased with the Ziyal story. She returns from Bajor because she could not start any real friendships there and she misses her “family” of Dukat and Kira. She forces the two of them together about as much as she possibly can. At one point, they should a genuine, almost parental pride at her artwork. Kira even agrees to go to a showing of her works on Cardassia, though she draws the lie at attending in a dress given to her by Dukat.
The thing is, Ziyal is being made out to be the epitome of innocence. So naïve and doe eyed. Youcan jut feel in your gut what is going to happen to her.
‘Sonsand Daughters” is the weakest of the unofficial six part occupation of DS9 story, but it bats .500, so I cannot complain a whole lot. Alexander is a much despised character. Even the better written Worf of DS9 cannot salvage their atrocious relationship. I have to tolerate it until the bits in which we revisit Ziyal.
Dear, sweet, doomed Ziyal.
Rating: *** (out of 5)
