Paradise Lost

DVD, DS9 S4 (Paradise Lost)

It's hard to accept, but this turned out to be one of the weakest two-parters of the series. The writers weren't happy with it, blaming the budget, or lack thereof, and I do understand that point of view as there's not as much taken advantage of as you might expect from the premise: Changelings infiltrating Earth, the heart of the Federation. It could have been a fantastic story, but it became about another high-ranking Starfleet officer who thinks things will be safer when he's in control. Part II is the weaker half, not because of any issues with acting or sets not being up to scratch, but simply that Part I's paranoia is somewhat diminished rather quickly and becomes an investigation into the real cause: Red Squad and Leyton. Detective episodes often work, but this is one that takes place mainly in rooms with a couple of people talking and has little of the promise shown in 'Homefront.' Not to say there was a great buildup anyway, the cliffhanger was a bit weak, and so it continues.

Sisko's bluffing of various people to get them to spill the beans was enjoyable to watch, and if the story had gone on from there, perhaps made more of rights being quashed as was begun in the first part, and worked in more adventure such as the Defiant's battle with the Lakota, it may have worked better, but it seems to go from one scene of people talking in a room, to another scene with people talking in a room and though if the subject matter manages it, that can be a thoroughly compelling way to tell a story, it wasn't this time. There are still a number of things which make it a good episode overall: Meaney's turn as an eloquent changeling who reveals there are only four of them on the planet would most certainly fit in that category. His movement and speech patterns are quite different from the plain-speaking Chief, as if the creature impersonating him is revelling in his chubbiness.

While it may not make as good an episode, the changelings' behaviour is true to form - there was never going to be an all out Jem'Hadar attack on Earth, not at this stage of this 'cold war' anyway, and manipulation, the tide of panic, the unknown enemy forcing others into roles they wouldn't take on in peace time is how they prefer to operate - using the least resources to provoke the greatest damage. The episode may not be full of tension, but it does set up the continuing level of threat they pose to the Federation, but like much of this season it isn't their presence that drives the stories, but other threats.

Flaws with the episode, in my eyes, run to the use of some of the characters. In 'Homefront,' Nog, Jake, Joseph and Benteen were all used equally, but this time Benteen is barely seen except for the important moment of battle, but even then we don't see her change of heart, we cut back to yet another scene between Leyton and Sisko in a sparse office. She could have been developed a lot more, and I'd have liked to know if her promotion to Captain was upheld, coming from the disgraced Leyton as it did. Similarly, Joseph Sisko features a lot less, though this time whenever we see him he's smiling and jovial as if he's got over the fright and unsettling few days and has relaxed into the genial host just glad to have Jake and Ben around. Whenever we do see him he lights up the screen with his homely charisma and is a character anyone would look forward to seeing again. Jake has a few moments with him, but otherwise doesn't really figure in the story, and Nog has a brief appearance, prematurely cut short by Leyton sending him back to the Academy.

Instead of a good mix we mainly get Sisko, Odo (who in a delightful line admits everything he knows he learned from Quark!), and Leyton in various stages of understanding. There are shocks to be had: Sisko being accused of being a changeling, though it throws up the question of how that was achieved, Odo performing a jailbreak (though I wonder why Leyton didn't have him arrested too), and the thrilling, though short battle between the Defiant and the Lakota, the smaller ship barrel-rolling fantastically as it blasts its weapons, pirouetting around the larger ship wonderfully! If only there had been more of that, but it did give Worf a go in the Captain's chair - the way the camera zooms in on him as the decision must be made emphasises the weight of it, but he has no trouble choosing a course of action and I can imagine Worf would one day make a great captain. How about 'Star Trek: Worf Adventures' for the next TV series?

The episode is over-political and talky, but at the same time there's an inherent thrill in being in the President's office on Earth at the centre of the Federation where important things are in motion that could tip the balance of the Alpha Quadrant. Plus we get to see Paris at night out of the window which adds to the ambience. There's a much better sense of time passing than in Part I, with scenes set at various times of day, such as Odo and Sisko going to the restaurant after closing, or Sisko meeting fake O'Brien at night, to the Defiant seen streaking through space, missing from Part I.

The theme, vocalised in the last scene by Joseph Sisko is that we shouldn't live in fear of our enemies, and change how we live to accommodate that fear, because that would mean they've won. The previous episode's theme was about the balance between preserving security and civil rights so they've certainly been more thought-provoking and issue-driven than action sci-fi. A little extra action might have worked wonders, however, and though Leyton is defeated he hopes that defeat won't be something later regretted. He was a sad figure in some ways because he'd compromised his principles and the high ideals of the Federation, but he doesn't die, resigning in dignified fashion - unlike many of the misguided Admirals we've seen over the years he wasn't mad, his zeal was to protect what he held dear and so a happy ending comes about, though with the shapeshifters still out there, peace in paradise will be fleeting.

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