Vortex

DVD, DS9 S1 (Vortex)

It's taken a surprising number of episodes to get to the first jaunt into the Gamma Quadrant. We had a short visit in the first episode, but this is the one where we have a proper journey into alien space, and meet a race from the other side at their planet. It's also the first time we've met these particular aliens - the Miradorn, and Croden's people. The Miradorn were a good idea, but you can't see them working on an ongoing basis. Some of the technical prowess of the episode isn't even obvious, because the Miradorn twins are played by one man, with split screen used to integrate his two performances very effectively indeed.

There was also visual trickery to look out for such as the moment Rom puts four glasses on a tray, reaches behind the bar for a bottle, then when he picks up the tray five glasses are on it. The glass smash in the holosuite was also a nice effect, as Odo reveals himself, the shards dribble together. Visuals are one of the main plus points of this episode, with some really beautiful shots of the vortex of the title, all mauve and pink. The sequence with the Runabout and the Miradorn ship in the smoky atmosphere was one of the best visuals in the series so far, with great menace and tension as the larger ship approaches through the gloom. And Croden's key is still a great effect even now! All this and a Vulcan too...

The only moment which didn't make perfect sense was that Odo sets a course back to DS9, without first reporting the 'loss' of Croden to the Rakari authorities. But then he wouldn't have had the whimsical last words as he wonders where his home really is, so it's excused. That's the biggest element to this episode. The first mention of shapeshifters in the Gamma Quadrant! Odo has previously not known anything about his people or origins, and he still doesn't, but the legends of Croden's people could turn out to be true. They could have been persecuted, they could live in non-humanoid shape, they could be ruthless. These are only legends though. But what legends! Even if we know nothing for certain we're still getting a sense of Odo's character, which is delightful.

Quark gets to throw out more speeches and act his way around the bar, and it's good to see Rom part of things again. I think it was wise to spread out these important episodes of Gamma Quadrant contact. It builds anticipation and the character's are more fully formed. The season is progressing nicely.

***