The penultimate episode of DS9 sets the stage for tomorrow’s series finale while wrapping up the fate of the too long absent Ferengi. It is too bad Quark and Rom got lost I the shuffle during the last few episodes. Doubly bad their last hurrah was one of those awful mirror universe stories. Odo is recovering from his virus when he is informed by Sisko that he had been infected by the virus and spread it to the Founders, not the other way around. Although Starfleet does not officially condone Section 31’s actions, they have opted to not give them the cure since it would strengthen their hand in the war. Odo muses this is not a military operation, but genocide. Nevertheless, he realizes that the Federation is more than happy to look the other way when a less than savory action they would normally be appalled by is to their advantage.
Hey, it is us or them, right? Arguably, yes. We will see tomorrow how that does not necessarily play out so cynically.
Damar, Garak, and Kira had to Cardassia Prime in order to meet up with military leaders who want to join their rebellion. Unfortunately, it is a Jem’Hadar ambush which the three narrowly survive. The Dominion crushes eighteen rebel bases I one swoop in order to end the revolt. As the three hide out in the basement of Garak’s boyhood home, Kira and Garak pump up the dejected Damar into stirring up a citizen’s revolt.
That one will end cynically.
Fially, the Grand Nagus decides Rom should replace him. The comedy here is that Quark misunderstands the message and thinks it is going to be him instead. No such luck. The writers are being a little too cute by promoting a lunk head like Rom. The guy may be an idiot savant when it comes to technology, but he is Alvin Greene when it comes to politics. (There isa Rom action figure out there, is there not?) He is supposed to be a progressive reformer and that is all that counts, I suppose.
The Alliance decides to take advantage of the Dominion’s increasingly defensive posture to launch what will be a very bloody invasion of the Cardassian Union just as sisko learns Kassidy is pregnant. The Prophet’s dire warning Sisko must walk his path alone casts an ominous shadow over the joy.
Rating: *** (out of 5)
