Dax

DVD, DS9 S1 (Dax)

Reminiscent of the later 'Voyager' episode 'Ex Post Facto' (in that it has Odo going off to do some detecting (although that isn't the focus of the story), and classic courtroom dramas such as the original's 'Court Martial', it is most interesting for being Trek's first foray into Trill culture, and the questions about individuality that throws up. You'd think that there would be rather a lot of precedent in Trill law about crimes and guilt, but they do turn out to be quite a secretive race (just as the Vulcans don't candidly discuss Pon Farr and such), so the episode retains the benefit of the doubt.

O'Brien's absence is explained as a trip to Earth with Keiko, whose Mother has turned 100. I mention it because you hardly ever hear of a centenarian, then two come up in the same episode (Judge Renora played by the great Anne Haney is also that age). It's wise that the writers chose to wait a few episodes before giving us so much information on Dax, as it is a lot to take in amongst battle scenes, and this episode did the concepts justice, even filling the episode, rather than cutting to a B-story.

As usual there are some good scenes between characters, particularly Ben and Jadzia, as he shows his frustration and care, and she keeps her equanimity and composure despite the stakes. The episode reveals Dax' quarters, with her glass shelves partitions, used effectively to illustrate the distance she is keeping from her friends, most notably Sisko, who stands partially obscured by it, not allowed into her thoughts and memories. Bashir gets to be a hero as he claimed he wanted to be (in so many words), and you can see him trying to rescue Jadzia with almost a sense of gusto, though you can believe he would throw himself into any rescue attempt if he saw the need.

The action makes for a great teaser, and gets the brawn out of the way ready for the brains; the battle of wits between Sisko and Ilon (especially well observed by Gregory Itzin who would return later as different characters in Trek). Kira gets to be smug and bureaucratically unhelpful to Ilon, a fun scene, and Quark and Odo get to spar too. Not sure why Quark's bar was so necessary though, as scenes like the inquiry usually occur in the wardroom. Perhaps it wasn't invented yet... The only things really missing from the season so far would be a Quark-focused episode and one with a good proportion set on Bajor.

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