Hippocratic Oath

DVD, DS9 S4 (Hippocratic Oath)

Worf was never going to get one over on Odo, not in an episode that was directed by the man behind the shapeshifter, Rene Auberjonois! While the B-story of Worf's difficult integration into station life couldn't be called compelling, it was a necessary and useful first step in defining his role on the series. For viewers that might have been too lazy to watch the series from the beginning, this season provided an ideal opportunity to jump in, often through Worf's own unfamiliarity with the station and its inhabitants, and the way he learned about the unique setup he had entered, very different to life on a starship.

Quark's grotesque advances on his new customer, already getting under Worf's skin, brought to mind the 'Voyager' episode in which Tuvok loses control and kills an annoying holographic version of Neelix. Thankfully for Quark, Worf is about as restrained as a Vulcan, and as friendly. Kira tries to break the hard outer shell, and it seems that so far, only his superior, Captain Sisko gets the respect from Worf that enables him to talk as candidly as he ever would. Worf also learns to respect Odo after messing up his investigation into a smuggling ring, Quark actually helping the constable for once. I'd love to know what he was getting out of it, usually he's reticent to assist his nemesis as it's bad for business.

There's a throwback to the pilot episode, with Odo as a bag of latinum, hoping to be brought aboard the criminal's ship (Regana Tosh is the name, one of those typically shady aliens seen mainly in the early seasons, and a nice reference back to those times: in 'Emissary' one chucks a mace at Odo; in 'The Passenger' one was a hired thug, and no doubt they appeared in other stories too - I don't believe they've ever been given a name, but I think of them as the 'fish men' because of their pike-like head). This time Odo's plan is foiled, and Worf realises his strict protocols as a security officer on the Enterprise may be a hindrance. Another throwback is the spiky attitude Odo displays to anyone questioning his methods. Everyone else learnt to trust his judgement, but Worf is new to this game, and Odo has always jumped down the throat of anyone interfering, particularly Starfleet with George Primmin or Eddington, though that last has shown himself to be quite a shrewd fellow, barely showing up in episodes and keeping to his side of the security line, a position to keep Starfleet happy when Sisko's support of Odo isn't enough.

The key part of the episode is in our first introduction to a sympathetic Jem'Hadar character. There was the adolescent one last season, but he soon developed his race's need for violence and wanted to kill everyone. Goran'Agar is different. He shows the nobility that was heretofore an unknown facet of the soldier race. Scott MacDonald is one of the semi-regular faces of 90s Trek, playing a Romulan on 'TNG,' a bridge officer in the 'Voyager' pilot, and most memorably the alien Tosk, the first creature to come through the Wormhole. The makeup was similar in both roles, full headpieces and outfit, and both sympathetic characters. The difference is that O'Brien was all matey-matey with Tosk and hates Goran'Agar's guts, or at least, doesn't trust him.

Back in the first season when Tosk appeared, Miles was still quite similar to his 'TNG' character, a workman happy to do his job, doffing his cap to authority to some degree, even if he did go against Starfleet's wishes in helping Tosk escape. Generally he kept his opinions to himself, rolled up his sleeves and accepted whatever happened. In the intervening years he's grown to be much more experienced and open to expressing himself, perhaps a little grumpier from all the repairs he's had to carry out on DS9 and the troubles with Keiko (who apparently visits the station for a few days at a time between her job on Bajor). He's also become pretty close to Bashir, so when he disobeys a direct order because he feels it's against the Federation's interest, it's not against his character, but it is more surprising because the two friends are experiencing that difference in their rank and professions.

Bashir, as a doctor wants to help, even the Jem'Hadar, but at first he plays for time, getting the measure of Goran'Agar. The Jem'Hadar leader wins him over by showing him he's changed. He no longer wants the compulsory slavery enforced by the Dominion, shows compassion by not executing his injured soldier and Bashir listens to his new perceptions of life free of addiction with growing wonder. A merciful Jem'Hadar, who'd have thought! The race had become a bit like the Borg on 'TNG' and 'Voyager,' an unstoppable threat that had been used sparingly - the Dominion wasn't all revealed in one or two episodes, just the tip of the iceberg, and that tip was mainly to do with the soldier force that was incredibly loyal, bred for control. As always happens with Trek villains, they showed a balance by introducing at least one character that we can sympathise with. Goran'Agar was that character and he was great, played with suitable gravity by MacDonald.

The combination of those far-seeing eyes, staring into a future he dreams of for the men that have followed him, and the rasping, intensity of his voice that also retains the measured, warning tones of a leader, combined to create a believable man that could be both Jem'Hadar, yet also restrained. He shows that they can be reasonable beings once off the addictive drug ketracel-white, named for the first time in this episode. We never saw him die, and his story is left with the commander assuming the role of hunting down his remaining men, to give them a better death than they'll get from the effects of drug withdrawal. It shows that Jem'Hadar have as strongly defined a sense of honour as the Klingons. We also find out they revere the shapeshifters as almost mythical beings high above them, yet despise the Vorta, the race that works for the Founders, keeping them on a leash. He would have made a brilliant addition to the DS9 cast, but a new character had just arrived and his story would probably have been too similar to Odo's - isolated from his people, an outcast. They should at least have brought him back for an honourable death, but, like Kor in Season 7 there is something legendary about a character going off to his doom, never to be heard from again.

Rene Auberjonois did a good job with what he had. The downside was something that often happens in Trek episodes, which is filming outside locations on a soundstage. The jungle planet looked pretty good, especially the shots of the Runabout flying in, but one or two scenes felt smaller than they could have been: O'Brien's escape into the jungle doesn't show a lot of movement and could have done with shots of pursuit and running, though I did like the way he melts into the undergrowth. Likewise with the Jem'Hadar chasing him, we only really get an impression of a hunt, rather than seeing it. Good work with the branch contraption, though I don't know how he worked out exactly where the soldier was going to stand when it was activated! O'Brien's background as a soldier doesn't often come into play, but this episode makes me look forward to 'Empok Nor,' his definitive combat story, but as with the Tricorder, branch trap and transporter activation, he shows he's as much, if not more, an engineer.

One sequence I felt could have done with a greater impact, literally, was the crash-landing of the Runabout. O'Brien had control of the craft so I can see why there wasn't a big jolt when they landed, but the physical action didn't translate so well as other times when we've seen a small ship really crash. Otherwise it was fine, and I was very happy to hear the Runabout's name given (Rubicon) as we don't always hear which of the three it is. Since the Defiant's arrival the Runabouts have taken a back seat, so I always enjoy when they get an outing. Other links were the Jem'Hadar using the same forcefield circle seen in use previously in 'The Jem'Hadar,' and O'Brien's firing on Bashir's research in order to get him to go with him. Kira did the same thing to Mullibok's kiln in 'Progress' and both moments are affecting and provoke discussions about whether it was the right choice.

The episode doesn't have quite the level of action you'd expect from one featuring a posse of Jem'Hadar, but that would be rectified later in the season with 'To The Death.' Neither is there quite the level of engagement that the previous two episodes of the season had. Bashir and O'Brien's banter or their serious disagreement was certainly involving, but this wasn't an absolute classic like the first two episodes were. Rene Auberjonois mentioned in a recent interview that this was the episode of the eight he directed that stood out most to him, but he didn't say whether it was for good reasons or bad. The last minute swapping of directors didn't help, but I think it was better that an experienced director like David Livingston took on 'The Visitor' as Auberjonois may still have needed time to blossom in the role, though his first two I believe, are superior to this.

One thing stood out to me was how good the series looked at this point. The dark interiors of the station and deep blacks and blues of the planet at night gave every little light source even more contrast and attention. When O'Brien's mending the Runabout's innards, or Quark trains his red light over the illicit crystal, everything glows. There were also some specific shots that I liked - after Bashir orders the Chief to help against his will they turn away from each other and are framed in the centre, both looking in opposite directions. Also, when Goran'Agar tells the Doctor his story, the camera has them side on, but as he talks, it turns like a door as the Jem'Hadar also turns so that his face fills the screen as we get to the personal side of his story.

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