Duet

DVD, DS9 S1 (Duet)

The theme of the episode is pretty simple: racism. But the story has a bit more to it than that. The change in Kira's attitude is quite profound, and brings her to a new way of thinking by the end. Hate has been, if not universally conquered, staved off, had ice poured on the flames. We see several character's views in the episode, from both Bajoran and Cardassian perspectives, and I think the important point that's made is that you can't judge an entire people. Everyone is different. There are bad Cardassians that believe all the shameful views Aamin Marritza expresses, and their are good, like him, who feel shame; a deep guilt for his people and his own inaction. The same for the Bajorans - the minister who cavalierly assumes Sisko will relent to whatever demands are made regarding the prisoner simply because he is Cardassian and therefore an automatic enemy of the people, shows the same impatience to adminsiter justice as Kira is initially.

Indeed, she is defensive when Sisko and others seem to suggest that the facts may not be as they seem, or at least should be ascertained. Her training and friends at least help her to wonder if she is doing as Marritza accuses and is simply interested in vengeance. There was a nice scene with Dax, who glides into Kira's proximity, gives some advice and gently leaves the Major with something to consider. The damning truth of Marritza's claims lead to a powerful confrontation, which at first sees two ideologies fight it out in a war of words. The Cardassian trait for verbosity, is confirmed here, as the hurtful events of the camp at Gallitep are used to further enrage Kira. But when she's in possession of the full facts, a marked change comes over her. She no longer allows the Cardassian's verbal attacks and attitude to blind her. And this leads to the truth being revealed, and an amazing scene where the prisoner breaks down.

The series did drama better than most, and not always physically. Two people talking in a room, when the subjects are as important and life-changing as the equivalent of Nazi concentration camps, can be as compelling and enthralling as any starship battle. The sparks fly without need of showing the events. The forcefulness used when talking about them is enough. The series started with many expectations, one of which would surely be that the Cardassians would be just around every corner, ready to cause trouble. In fact they hardly appeared, so it's satisfying to see an episode that shows so much of them. Marritza's corpulent face, small eyes and ashen hue only add to the horror of who he seems to be, his voice adds to this, being so smooth and cultured, and yet coming from such a face. It helps to create the image of a monster.

Yet if you know what happens, you can sometimes catch a glimpse of the man behind the rhetoric. When left alone we see him slump, or sigh, as if the bravado is all a cover. It is, of course, but not as we imagine. Gul Dukat also makes his long-awaited return (long-awaited by those who know the importance he would go on to play, anyway) and it was a nice touch to have Odo speak to him and have the former commandant reminisce in that way he has of 'forgetting' how events really played out, but said in such a manner as to be so charming and gracious. Alaimo makes the most of a very small part.

One thing that shows how advanced their future computers are, is the way a photo can be enhanced to fill in bits that are missing or turn the field into a 3D image, where the camera can move past objects! You'd think with all this modern tech they could have carried out a DNA scan and confirmed the prisoner's ID that way, but I suppose that was part of the difficulty - they couldn't get the Cardassian data files. Neela makes her debut as O'Brien's work mate, but it's such a brief moment that you'd never guess she would turn out to be so important in the following episode! I have a feeling the guy who played Kainon, the criminal Bajoran, may have been the guy who kills Uncle Ben in the first 'Spiderman' film. They certainly look very similar.

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