85. Crossfire

Summary

Kira and Odo are in the midst of their Tuesday morning meeting when Quark enters to lodge a noise complaint against Odo. Quark's quarters are right below Odo's and he says that Odo makes a lot of noise practicing shapeshifting. After he leaves, Kira and Odo discuss First Minister Shakaar's upcoming visit to DS9. When Shakaar arrives, Dax comments to Kira about his good looks as they proceed to the Promenade where Shakaar is due to give a speech. Odo informs Sisko that he's just learned of an assassination plot against Shakaar. Odo agrees to provide Shakaar round-the-clock protection, with Worf's help, and is thus in a position to observe, to his distress, as Kira and Shakaar become closer. Quark, observing Odo's discomfort, figures out that Odo is in love with the Major...which Odo of course denies. He becomes so distracted while overhearing Kira and Shakaar flirt in a turbolift that he slips in his vigilance and the three are almost killed. Troubled, when Odo goes to speak to Kira she tells him that she and Shakaar are now together. Unaware of his anguish, she hugs him and tells him that she's glad he's the first one to know, since he's her closest friend. Odo's distress is only intensified when Worf apprehends the would-be assassin. Retreating to his quarters, Odo flies into a frustrated rage, smashing things and wrecking the room. Angry about the noise, Quark confronts him, but when he sees the state Odo is in he offers advice..tell Kira how you feel or forget about her and get on with your life. The next morning Odo pays a visit to Kira in her quarters and tells her that he can't make their Tuesday morning meetings anymore. He has opted to distance himself.

Analysis

Crossfire is an excuse to explore the exact nature of Odo's feelings, which to this point hadn't really been explored beyond his declaration in Heart of Stone. The Shakaar-assassination plot is really incidental, as evidenced by its resolution which is almost an afterthought. No matter, it's still an affecting episode. Anyone who has ever been in love from afar with a completely oblivious person can really empathize with Odo's situation, made doubly poignant because of what we know of his personality...losing control to the degree he does must be abhorrent to his character and his vision of himself. The episode does a good job of portraying his anguish...I must admit I am uneasy with some of the directions it takes his character in. I doubt Odo would ever let his emotions control him as much as he does here...I've no doubt he would feel as awful but I wonder if he'd let it show this much, to the point where Quark notices! Their scene in Odo's quarters is very effective and only underscores their mutual understanding, as well as highlights the fact that while Quark would have you believe that he's a heartless profit-monger, nothing could be further from the truth. Shakaar really doesn't make much of an impression. It's hard for me to believe that he could have known Kira for so long and then suddenly fall in love with her on this trip, and vice-versa. Kira's a bit too giggly for my taste while she's with him, but I guess I could forgive her exuberance. She hasn't exactly had a life full of fun and smiles. All in all an affecting episode.

Rating: 8.0

Memorable Quote:

"The fact that the poll exists says something about you, about who you are. People see you as the guy who always gets his man! Now, you're becoming the guy who tears up his quarters and sits alone in the rubble...and believe me, no one's going to want to place bets on how long someone's going to sit alone in the dark." --Quark

Classic Scene:

I love the scene in which Odo gives Worf advice on how to keep his life more orderly. Our Klingon friend gets the most amusing gleeful expression on his face at the idea of being more inhospitable to unexpected guests!

Sexually Slanted Line 'O the Episode:

"My quarters are right below his, you wouldn't believe the racket he makes." --Quark

The O/K Status Report

This episode represents a significant turning point in their relationship...too bad Odo's the only one aware of it, though I'm sure Kira wondered why he really called off their morning meetings. A person as structured and accustomed to order as Odo is, it was only a matter of time before his feelings for Kira became too much for him...and I can think of no greater torture for him than to have it interfere with his job effectiveness. It's not surprising he'd choose to distance himself, especially since he's too insecure (at this point) to tell her and she's involved with someone else. For Kira's part, this episode makes it achingly clear in this episode just how fond she is of Odo, which is perhaps worse for him than if she was completely indifferent...the look of misery on his face when she hugs him from behind is palpable. She looked forward to their meetings almost as much as he did and I'm sure that even Kira the Obtuse had to wonder about that in the days that followed. This was the beginning of quite a dry spell for O/K watchers, which really lasted until The Darkness and the Light in the mid-fifth season.

Special Alerts

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