152. Shadows and Symbols

Summary

The new Dax, Ezri, explains to the Siskos Three that she was unexpectedly given the symbiont in a medical emergency and wasn't prepared for joining, and that she came to New Orleans to seek Ben's help in sorting through her jumbled memories and identity. When she learns of their quest to find the Orb of the Emissary she joins them. Back on DS9, Kira informs Admiral Ross that she intends to blockade Durna and prevent the Romulans from bringing any more weapons components. He says that she won't have any Federation support, but she is determined not to back down. Meanwhile, Worf's mission on Jadzia's behalf continues with Bashir, the Chief, and (surprisingly) Quark aboard to honor her memory. They plan to cause a solar explosion, incinerating a nearby Dominion shipyard. The Siskos and Dax arrive on Tyree and begin their search for the Orb, Sisko all the while hallucinating voices, paging a Dr. Wyckoff. On the station, Kira admits to Odo that's she's bluffing with her blockade (which doesn't stand a chance against Romulan warbirds), gambling that they won't endanger their Federation alliance by firing on the blockade. Sisko finds the Orb of the Emissary, but immediately falls into another hallucation of Benny Russell (see Far Beyond the Stars), who's in a mental institution with Dr. Wyckoff and is reduced to writing his Deep Space Nine stories on the walls. Wyckoff hands him a paint roller and orders him to cover up his story on the walls...on Tyree, Sisko begins to bury the Orb. In the hallucination, Benny throws down the roller and writes "Sisko opens it" on the wall, as the real Sisko opens the Orb. A blue energy burst shoots out of it, past the station and Kira's fleet (who are facing 12 warbirds about to fire upon them), and into the wormhole, which reopens. Sisko, in his Orb experience, encounters a Prophet who resembles his mother...she tells him that she shared Sarah's body for a time to insure Sisko's birth and then was hidden in the Orb of the Emissary until he freed her, whereupon she was able to expel the Pagh-Wraith from the Temple and reopen the wormhole. Worf and Co. succeed in their mission, insuring Jadzia's place in StoVoKor, as Kira and Odo are facing destruction when she refuses to back down before the Romulans. At the last moment the warbirds retreat...Admiral Ross, inspired by Kira's determination, has told the Romulans that he will support Kira. Sisko returns to a joyful station...as the crew welcomes him back, they are amazed to meet Ezri...who looks about her new, yet familiar, home.

Analysis

This two-parter is without a doubt, I think, their best season opener ever...and this episode is still even improved over the high quality of Image in the Sand. Tightly plotted and incredibly momentous, it answers some of our questions yet leaves us with more that are even more interesting. The writing is among the sharpest we've seen. Kira, especially, fares well...she is portrayed as having every bit of the warrior fierceness that got her through the Resistance, yet after six years it's tempered significantly by maturity and experience as is appropriate for her character. The new development, if that's the proper term, in the Emissary/Prophets storyline has the distinction of having a momentary resolution while maintaining its overall mystery. Clearly there are still issues here and revelations to come where the Prophets are concerned. As for Ezri Dax, this character promises some very interesting future developments. At times she is as calm and as self-assured as we've always known Dax to be, yet at other times she is quite confused and emotional...a fitting situation to her sudden and unwelcome symbiosis. I really enjoyed Nicole DeBoer's performance; she is at once confident and vulnerable. I look forward to seeing how her character develops in the upcoming episodes. Of course no episode is perfect, nor would I put this one up there with Duet or In the Pale Moonlight by any means. The multiple plotlines do become a bit distracting, and I could've lost the whole Worf/StoVoKor plotline and not shed a tear. Quark is pretty extraneous...apparently just standing around on the ship while other people do stuff consistutes "helping." While I like the Kira storyline a lot, Ross is right to want to preserve the Romulan/Federation alliance. I have a sneaking feeling that we'll never hear about this Romulan thing on Durna again. I so dislike momentary conflicts cooked up for one episode to generate tension, though this one works a lot better than some of the ones they've come up with. At any rate, a very exciting and enjoyable episode with much to recommend it...and a great way to start a highly anticipated season.

Rating: 8.5

Memorable Quote:

There are many.

"Take me out of the oven, Moogie...I'm cooked." --Quark

"My memory could be playing tricks on me, but have you gotten stranger?" --Dax, to Sisko

"Well, I was hoping that our relationship would be a long and happy one, but I suppose I'm willing to settle for short and exciting." --Odo to Kira, after learning of her blockade plans

Sisko: Why did it have to be me?
Sarah-Prophet: Because it could be no one else.

Classic Scene:

Sisko's return to the station, surrounded by Bajorans welcoming back their Emissary and, in a sense, their Prophets, is a great moment...and it only gets better when Ezri comes aboard, greeting the crew casually as if they ought to recognize her. As Jake explains who she is, Odo comments "Just when you thought things couldn't get any more interesting." The line has a clear double meaning, both as an observation about Dax and a prediction for season seven.

Sexually Slanted Line 'O the Episode:

"I have to learn to control some of these urges." --Dax

The O/K Status Report

Our favorite couple have one very nice scene in her quarters. She tells him about the blockade and he's skeptical about its chances for success. They sit together on her couch, his arm around her as she leans back against his chest. She seems touched that he wants to go with her and says he doesn't have to, but when he insists she smiles and kisses his hand. Later on the ship it's nothing out of the ordinary, as usual Odo is right there at her back the whole time and she seems grateful for it.

Special Alerts

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