48. The Search, Part II

Summary

Odo learns from the Female Changeling that he's home, and that all Changelings are part of the Great Link, an intermingling of form and thought. He was one of 100 infants sent away as explorers after the Changelings isolated themselves on this planet to get away from the persecution they found elsewhere in the galaxy. She links briefly with Odo to show him what he is, and he is profoundly affected. Meanwhile, Sisko and Bashir aboard a shuttle are rescued by a ship bearing Dax and O'Brien. When they return to the station they find Admiral Necheyev there negotiating a treaty with the Founders (Eris' species from The Jem'Hadar after all). On the changelings' planet, Kira tries to contact Sisko while the female changeling urges Odo to explore his nature, something he finds difficult and somewhat depressing. Kira is unable to send a signal due to an unknown energy source. On DS9, Sisko becomes more and more suspicous of the treaty, which involves the Federation pulling out of the sector (thus leaving Bajor and the wormhole in the hands of the Dominion) not to mention that the Romulans have been rather conspicuously excluded, something that could start a war. When he raises objections, Necheyev knocks him down. When T'Rul is shot by a Jem'Hadar, seemingly with impunity, he is galvanized into action. With the Female Changeling's help, Odo is discovering more and more what it really means to be a Changeling and finding it very joyful. Seeing as he intends to stay there, he and Kira start to say goodbye but she asks him first to help her locate the energy source. They find it behind a mysterious locked door which Odo tries to open. On DS9, Sisko, Bashir, Dax and the Chief, with Garak's help, decide to collapse the wormhole to prevent the Dominion's apparently imminent takeover. They steal a runabout and fire several photon torpedoes into the entrance and the wormhole collapses. Odo manages to open the locked door...inside they find Sisko, Dax, T'Rul, Bashir and O'Brien plugged into some sort of device. The Female Changeling approaches them. Odo is puzzled as to how the changelings could allow this, but all becomes clear when the Female Changeling reveals that the changelings are, in fact, the Founders. A shocked Odo demands the release of his crewmates, who are understandably confused. The entire thing was an experiment to see how they would react to an attempt by the Dominion to gain a foothold. Odo, deeply disillusioned with his people, refuses to stay and they are all allowed to leave on the Defiant at his insistence.

Analysis

This episode is more successful than its predecessor, though it doesn't really seem like that until the end when everything comes together. At first, the entire DS9 Dominion-treaty plot seems so surreal and disjointed. No one wonders where Kira and Odo are, everything is railroaded through with a lack of foresight amazing for even a Starfleet Admiral...when the crew collapses the wormhole we know something's up, there's no way such a huge development would happen so close to the end of a two-parter! When Odo and Kira discover the truth things all fall into place with a very satisfying *click.* The scenes on the Founders' planet are very effective as Odo starts to discover his nature in a way he's never been able to before, because there was no one to show him how. Even on first viewing I was a little suspicious of the Female Changeling...she reminded me of a cult leader drawing Odo into her thrall, which is exactly the same reaction Kira had. She was a little uneasy with the effect all this was having on her friend, but when it seemed it was giving him so much joy she had to be happy for him, even though it meant losing him. At first, we're fascinated to know more about the Changelings, even if they make us vaguely uneasy...it's pretty clear that the flow of information here is one-way and discretionary, and that they could have Odo dancing to their tune pretty quickly if they wished. I know that I didn't suspect that they were the Founders, but when that bomb was dropped it made perfect sense, just as a well-executed plot twist should. This two-parter has the distinction of answering some of the series' most puzzling questions, but the answers only pose more questions. A good omen for things to come.

Rating: 8.0

Memorable Quote:

Kira: You're part of the Dominion, aren't you?
FC: Part of? Major, the Changelings are the Dominion.
Odo: You're the Founders, aren't you?
FC: Ironic, isn't it? That the hunted now control the destinies of so many.

"Being an outsider isn't so bad. It gives one a unique perspective. It's a pity you've forgotten that." --Odo

"You mean you don't know about the plan? You see, I pretend to be their friend...then, I shoot you." --Garak

Classic Scene:

The discovery of the Defiant crew in that experiment chamber and the subsequent revelations is one of the series' most important turning points, and a well-executed one at that.

Sexually Slanted Line 'O the Episode:

"It was all very...stimulating!" --Odo

The O/K Status Report

This is an important episode for them, really. I find it significant that the writers chose to have her here with him at what is probably one of the most significant moments of his life. Kira seems a tad suspicious of the changelings all along, and one perhaps wonders if her attitudes were colored by the fact that she probably wasn't thrilled about losing him to them. As they're leaving the planet, there's quite a tender scene...Odo says he's ready to go and she grasps his hand in both of hers and draws it close to her heart, then reaches out and taps *his* combadge to signal for beamup. It's just a nice scene that speaks to the affection that already exists here.

Special Alerts

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