Penumbra

DVD, DS9 S7 (Penumbra)

The first of the nine-part epic to end the series, in the same way the six-part epic at the start of Season Six pretty much kicked off the war (I know, I know, it started in the middle of Season Five, but most of the important stuff occurred in those episodes), and so much is squeezed in, it's a wonder they could keep track of it all! We have Sisko formally asking Kasidy to marry him, planning a future on Bajor, and being told by his 'Mother', the Prophet Sarah, not to marry her, threatening great sorrow. I suppose that's because he wouldn't be able to live with her, but that comes later. Jake takes all the credit for getting them together, Kasidy's delighted... it's only Sarah's words that are left to haunt the Captain. No doubt they deliberately wanted to shake up our expectations with idealised plans, and vague threats.

We also have Ezri doing her best to find Worf, against orders, though it does seem odd that the Defiant wouldn't have gone through the same thought processes as Ezri, they couldn't have done what she does with the (ill-fated) Runabout Gander, letting it ride the eddies of the Badlands (which haven't been seen in a while), to locate Worf's escape pod. Her scenes in his quarters as she hears the voice of Worf and Jadzia, from her memories, and picks up a photo of them, are so sad, and give us the chance to have Jadzia back, if only a disembodied voice and static picture. As much as I think Ezri's brilliant, it does make you miss the old Dax.

They start the process of Ezri's thoughts by mentioning Captain Boday, one of those never seen characters, who occasionally warrants mention (usually because of his transparent skull!), but this time it serves to draw parallels with Jadzia, ultimately between Worf and her, who settle their discomfort by episode's end. It was hauntingly familiar that they were alone on a jungle planet, bringing to mind last season's 'Change of Heart'. This time they don't have to trek through the jungle, but are quickly captured by a surprise Breen patrol. Bringing the Breen back into the fray was a bold move - up until Season Four they were another of those never seen, oft-mentioned races, and DS9 decided to give them form, in a similar look to 'Star Wars' bounty hunter Boush. They never appeared again until now, adding to the mystery over their involvement with any side, and their location on the planet.

Another ally is definitely confirmed - the Son'a of recently released ninth film 'Star Trek: Insurrection' are mentioned as Dominion allies protecting a Ketracel white facility. It's really good they chose to honour the film, including the beautiful white dinner jacket type uniforms, seen in the previous episode. It adds consistency to the greater Trek universe and is a satisfying thing for long-term viewers. I wonder if they deliberately didn't make the Breen ship organic, as that was one of the little known facts about them. It may have been an oversight, but their asymmetrical shape is different to most Trek designs.

I also wonder if Ezri's spacesickness inspired Hoshi's on 'Enterprise'... In other news, the Founders are revealed to be infected with a virus, Damar shows further unhappiness with his position, and Dukat shows up again. He's become something of a free agent, who Weyoun doesn't take seriously, but seems to allow to come and go as he pleases, presumably in the hope his meddling will be bad for the Federation. Damar has lost a lot of respect for his fromer mentor, but is still held by the man's intensity. It's certainly a little more than indulgence now, and for the first time we see the real actor under the mask as Dukat makes himself appear Bajoran. What plot could he be planning? A good start to the serial.

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