Cardassians

DVD, DS9 S2 (Cardassians)

After the opening four episodes, which were full of action, intrigue and political machinations, this one is a lot different, except for that last category - politics are at the heart of the story, though at first it seems more like another 'Cardassians - hate them or not?' episode like 'Duet'. It never reaches the intensity of that classic, but it does provide a thoughtful series of events, and gives Bashir a chance to go all investigative when he becomes a partner to Garak, the Cardassian that always seems to know more than he lets on. There's uncertain interplay between him and Dukat, all we really know is that they don't like each other! Garak's motives seem completely to show up Dukat for the unpleasant man he is.

Garak seems a very genial figure, one that moves things along (inciting Bashir into actions he might not ordinarily take, and provoking some very dry reactions from Commander Sisko!), yet he never seems to bear malice. When he and Bashir visit the children's sanctuary and the Bajoran in charge makes her disdain plain, he retorts back (speaking about how Cardassians taught Bajor how to keep records), but not in an angry attack, more as if he enjoys the opportunity to spar, and says it purely for that purpose. He goes on to fix her computer when she wasn't going to have it fixed for a long time, so it proves he has no ill will. The young female Cardassian may well be the first female of her species we see on the series. The large alien who transported Rugal and his adopted Father to DS9 (and proceeds to spread lies about abuse) reminded me of the Tellarites from the original series.

This episode explains a point that left me wondering in the last two - whether Garak was happy to leave the station. In later seasons it's established he has many enemies who would kill him if they had a chance and he doesn't like to leave the station, but he goes to Bajor in this one, so a short trip on a Runabout in the station's evacuations couldn't have been too bad. Plus he earns more venom from Dukat in this story thus increasing the chance of danger to him. I believe this is only the second time we've seen Dukat in the flesh since the few appearances he has prior to this are on screen, except in 'Emissary'.

The main cast don't get as much to do, with most only chipping in with one line, which seems odd after the ensemble start to the season, but if you remember back to Season One they tended to focus on one or two characters, and it's nice to get back to that style as it gives each one more time to develop. The episode shows both the best and worst sides of Cardassian society, simultaneously showing the highly-prized values of family, against the abandoning of those without one, and the lengths some will go to for political revenge and gain, in the best Trek tradition.

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