The Passenger

DVD, DS9 S1 (The Passenger)

One thing I was unsure of was whether the ship at the beginning on which Kajada and Vantika are, was Kajada's ship after capturing Rao Vantika, or Rao's ship which she's stowed aboard and taken over. I think it was Kajada's ship, but I'm not sure where she was taking her prisoner (and I'm not sure why she didn't kill him as she has no qualms about destroying his remains at the end!). It makes sense the more I think about it because he wanted to go DS9 and started the fire to achieve that goal (presumably he'd have transferred to someone else if Bashir hadn't arrived).

We get to see Loo-tenant George Primmin, Odo's favourite Starfleeter, not, for the first time, his southern good ol' boy confidence and lack of finesse annoying our good Constable into blazing about resigning. Not for the first time, as he's sparked with Sisko before. This time the commander throws him off guard a little by saying how much he likes Odo. They've come a long way from the first episode, and now trust each other as equals both good at their respective jobs. It's these slowly changing conversations that make the unfolding saga so absorbing. The characters are still not fully formed, the recurring nature of faces is yet to get going, and the stories still feel a bit 'TNG'-ish, but with a slowly broadening uniqueness.

It's fun to see any two character combinations, such as Kira and Bashir in the teaser, or Odo and Quark insulting each other. Sisko is very diplomatic and in control of his staff, Dax shows off her intelligent scientist side, and Bashir gets to act menacingly. Knowing the episode well, I found the whispered voice easily distinguishable, but I think the first time I was fooled (and so was the first-timer I watched it with). This time I noticed a flash of face as Quark is pushed away, that if you know the figure, you can tell who it is!

In retrospect, and comparing it to later episodes, the fear factor and tension levels aren't as high as they could have got. The first scene where Rao grabs Bashir and orders him to "Make... me... live" should have set the tone. There are moments when this chilly atmosphere is applied again, whenever Rao appears, but the dark corners and after hours feel are offset by bright science labs and medical rooms. It was still quite creepy, but I would have liked them to leave it open for a sequel, that maybe Kajada decides to take the remains back to her home planet, and the last shot could be the container moving behind her... The idea was taken to more extremes by 'Voyager' episode 'Warlord'.

A running theme in some of these early episodes has been the fish-like guys always being baddies. I can't remember their race's name, but there was one in the pilot who Odo arrests, and another who makes Quark eat some stew he doesn't like. They seem to be regular villains in this part of the galaxy! Also Rigel VII is mentioned (the place where Pike made a mistake, and made to relive by the Talosians in the first ever episode!). No O'Brien again, but it's a long trip to Earth and back - it was mentioned he was gone there last episode. And no Jake again, but it was an adult story that didn't require civilian parts.

The thing is, the story shows promise and the dawning reality that these kinds of high concept tales are more than possible on the space station. The series hasn't quite found its feet yet, but it's heading that way.

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