The Die is Cast

DVD, DS9 S3 (The Die is Cast)

The general rule is that the second part of a story is weaker than the first. 'The Die Is Cast' came about through unexpected circumstances, there's a reason it's not named 'Improbable Cause, part II': they weren't originally going to make it a two-parter, but got themselves into such a fix that it could only be satisfyingly resolved by extension late in the day. Whether or not this crisis was an inspiration or not, the episode is more exciting, dramatic and well-observed than part I, and bore a legacy that would go on to encourage experimentation in a way the series hadn't previously considered. If it had been a failure maybe less risky roads would have been taken afterwards, but the desire to further what was possible in a 'Star Trek' TV series urged the writers onward past existing boundaries. I did wonder if the episode could stand up to the scrutiny of modern viewing - so much of the 'TNG' ship battles look basic and unexciting now, but this yielded as tense an experience as all the other times I've seen it.

The last fifteen minutes are one phenomenal development after another, with the most pulse-pounding battle to that point, perfectly judged twists and interaction between characters that shows what the series is capable of. Director David Livingston's visual style is potent, whether it's his shooting of Garak and Tain from below to emphasise their power, the extreme close-ups of Tain's descent into madness, his corpulent head filling the frame while Garak desperately urges sanity, or the perfect ending between Odo and Garak, the stationary camera accusingly staring at the tailor, while the small, blurry figure of the constable, seen in the charred mirror shows the distance that exists between them, or should do, yet Odo, without intruding into Garak's broken world, acknowledges the common bond that now exists between them, ironic after Garak's actions. Garak must resign himself to his former life after all the excitement, having lost one of the few close Cardassians he knew. It's a good job he didn't use Odo's methods to save his mentor - I can't imagine him hefting the portly Tain over his shoulder. Rolling him might have worked... And not to say Odo hit harder than he needed to, but I'm sure he got a measure of satisfaction out of beating Garak, and probably used the exact justifiable force, in his eyes. It didn't mean some stress wasn't relieved at the same!

The first half isn't as dynamic by a long stretch of the imagination, and if it had conveyed the depth of character as well as succeeding moments did, we'd be looking at one of the best episodes of the entire series. As it is, it 'merely' rates as one of the best of Season 3, no small accolade when this season has been the breakout year. There is the first tingle of excitement at seeing a huge mobile fleet in motion, a feeling that would become almost familiar post-'Die'. The Romulans still aren't considered an enemy, even after the plot to blow up the Wormhole, as Sisko shows himself happy to try and talk, only ordering battle stations when it becomes clear an entire fleet is decloaking, not just one Warbird. You'd think Chief would have spotted the telltale signs of a singularity after his 'Visionary' experience, but he's as stumped as anyone! When the fleet brushes past DS9 it's like two powerful dreadnoughts passing each other at night, grimacing threateningly perhaps, but with no direct aggressive intentions, all enacted through the 'character' inherent in their design.

It took almost the entire season, but Eddington, who at first looked to be a recurring character, is back. He was only in one scene in 'The Search, part I', and it wasn't really him in part II, so this is his first proper episode. His role may suffer a little because he hasn't been established, but then it may also have helped to make his apparently shifting loyalties easier to accept - he follows his superior, Admiral Toddman's orders, to the letter, but as soon as they're carried out he's able and willing to work as hard for Sisko, making him almost as hard to pin down as Garak. Either he's an extremely complex individual or the most earnest Starfleet officer there could be. He's capable of obeying a superior above his colleagues, yet he is open and happy to admit it and take the consequences. Helping this mood is the way the discovery of the cloak's malfunction is played out - the camera features Eddington in foreground beginning to squirm, while the others discuss the problem in the background, giving us an insider view into what's going on in Eddington's head.

Sisko's impending promotion becomes more and more likely - he may not be a Captain yet, but he's been acting like one for a long time, this time taking the initiative and disobeying direct orders because it's the right thing to do. It's from the Kirk rulebook that if successful you won't be in trouble, and if unsuccessful you'll probably be dead. More could have been made of the crew's decision to volunteer for the mission to rescue Odo - in the 'Voyager' episode 'The 37s' such a great moment is worked in when Captain and First Officer give the crew the choice to leave the ship, but find the Cargo Bay empty as everyone has decided to stay aboard. It's the reverse in this, and they're all too professional not to refuse. While that attitude is highly commended and we see them going about their business as normal, it would have been a good moment to emphasise the danger they were willingly accepting. Sisko's warned by Toddman that next time he does something like that he'll either be court-martialled or promoted, either way he'll be in big trouble. Truer words were never spoken!

They risk everything; their lives, their careers, all for the sake of their friend, and Odo doesn't let them down for his part - he is again given the choice to rejoin his people, and though, as we learn from the torture scene, he badly wants, he again refuses. If the Jem'Hadar had known Odo was aboard the Runabout they wouldn't have attacked it, so an uncharacteristic mistake from the Dominion? I imagine the changelings wouldn't have been happy with their soldiers had such a thing happened. Odo has now become defined in the same way that Spock or Data or Worf had been - he was always the outsider, but now, like Worf in particular, he is torn between his natural inclination to be with his people and his 'solid' life on the station with Kira and his other friends. Garak's torture uncovers a common desire, and despite the way it was shared they're closer than before.

Garak's past ways are no longer easy for him to slip into when it comes to his colleague. He may have sarcastically spoken of Odo feeling betrayed because of their 'close friendship' and the 'loyalty he swore to the Federation', but it's clear he feels wretched at what he must do, and Tain sees that in all the protestations Garak uses to try and protect Odo. Perhaps it's easier to see Garak doing such a nasty thing because we've already seen the Mirror Garak as a cruel thug. It shows that they share the ability to cause extreme pain, but not the same pleasure. The fine line Garak walks between earning the trust of his mentor, and protecting Odo works in his favour as Colonel Lovok sees his intentions. When you know he's a changeling that scene gains an extra level of meaning because while Garak assumes his interest is suspicion, it's actually confusion over why Garak would look out for a changeling and leads to his freedom with Odo. Again, the good morals show through and reap rewards. In this case, not dying!

The whole storyline is about morals if you look broadly enough. The reason the Obsidian Order and the Tal Shiar go to destroy the Founders is for the power and prestige it will bring them as much as the security. Their reputation would become even more feared, but the Dominion's power is magnified beyond expectation when they are shown with the ability to manipulate even the most devious manipulators the Alpha Quadrant had to offer (Section 31 aside, but that was so secretive as to be unknown). No doubt the thought of control over the Gamma Quadrant's races would be a tasty prize beyond the Founder's destruction, and they show great pride in their strength and cunning, overconfidence repaid among all the vices they display by annihilation. The Federation, while possibly in favour of the Founders destruction, don't make such morally bad decisions, and so do not lose their fleet as the Cardassians and Romulans do. Another example that doing right will gain reward.

The most chilling part of the episode is not the 'Return of The Jedi' Death Star attack-type moment when the fleet realises it's a trap, nor Odo's brutal torture, but Lovok's words to Odo. After giving him and Garak the means to escape (repeating the Female's words that no changeling has ever harmed another), he declares the Romulans and Cardassians are no longer a problem - only the Klingons and the Federation remain a threat, and they won't be for much longer! The result is worse than the unknown Dominion activity, because now, potentially people will begin to wonder who could be a changeling next... It's good that the Female doesn't appear, because we know she's out there somewhere, and it makes the Dominion bigger than if we only met one changeling. She's too busy to worry about this little threat.

The story is full of well-observed moments between characters, from Bashir trying to have a Garak-style highbrow discussion over lunch with the Chief, who only cares about the grub, to the brilliant scene at the end focused on Garak's face in his blackened shop. I have no sympathy for Tain. The way he chillingly talks of killing housekeeper Mila in that offhand way, his lidded eyes concealing unknown depths of bloodlust and venom. He's only been in three episodes, but he could well be the most evil person we've met, even more so than Dukat, who at least deludes himself he's a good guy. Tain certainly qualifies for the title of the most evil character in the series, even though we don't see him do anything. We know the depths of his mind and the grip he's held on the Cardassian people. I wonder if the dissidents were celebrating his apparent death?

One of Tain's worst crimes is in tempting Garak back to the violent and warped life he exiled him from in the first place. The way they discuss having Dukat killed has a certain malevolent pleasure to it, but is nonetheless a horrifying thought that such murders are so casually discussed. This two-part story was Garak's biggest role so far and a logical step up from 'The Wire', but who could have foreseen the incredible latitude he's afforded in the course of the two episodes. He looks like throwing everything 'good' away to walk back into the arms of a murderer who happens to be his former mentor, and travels round the dark side of the moon. Fortunately the orbit and his own guilty conscience brings him back to the light by the end, so that all can carry on as before. That didn't seem possible at the end of last episode and necessitated some very sophisticated writing to achieve.

After having a rest for a few episodes the Defiant literally comes out all guns blazing, and nothing can be taken away from the daring fray it takes part in, but the limelight is snatched from the Runabouts again. This time another is lost, but we don't know which it is, or see it blow up, as if it were any old ship that we couldn't care less about. It's a real shame, because the little workhorses were always so useful! According to the Encyclopedia it was the Mekong that was destroyed, which had only joined last season. I knew it wasn't the Rio Grande - that always gets you home! We get more than a fair share of starships, mainly in the battle, but a thought struck me - starships must get most annoyed when they get instructions to break off whatever they were doing and speed to the rescue. It's happened many times, and this time nine starships are told to protect DS9. More often than not, by the time they arrive the catastrophe has been averted so after dashing in at high warp, maybe taking a day or two to get there they find their services aren't needed after all. Must be very annoying indeed.

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