Behind The Lines

DVD, DS9 S6 (Behind The Lines)

Odo's descent to the dark side was complete, or thereabouts. His natural predilection towards order, and desire for peace on 'his station' had always been the driving force of the character, along with justice, but that side of him was smothered by linking with the Female Changeling who made him think that all the petty problems of solids around him were insignificant compared to the power of the dark side! Sorry, wrong series - compared with the bliss of The Great Link. You'd think Odo wouldn't be so easily fooled by the Link considering the last time he was in it, not only was he forced to become a solid, but he was allowed to believe lies about Gowron being a Changeling, when it was actually Martok. Odo's felt more estranged from his people than ever before, yet that's only increased his interest about his own kind, perhaps because with the judgement on him, he thought he'd always be an exile. The Female Changeling, on the other tentacle, is more concerned with Odo coming back to his people, than the fate of the entire Alpha Quadrant. He was, after all, the first of the one hundred infant Changelings sent out into the galaxy to explore and one day return with fresh knowledge and understanding. Ironic, considering he fell into the Wormhole, as you'd think others would have returned sooner, since they were still in the Gamma Quadrant, most likely. Perhaps Odo was the only one to be safe after leaving his home Quadrant, as it could be a tougher place to survive outside of the strict enforcement of the Dominion (though we'd learn of one of his brethren next season).

Odo had previously only gone along with the idea of a resistance because Kira wanted it - as he admits to the Female Changeling, the person whom he was first able to tell his secret fondness for the Major, though again, that was through trickery on her part, he can't say 'no' to her wishes. Not that he went straight out and told on all his solid friends the moment the Female Changeling walked in the door. It was a strange happening that left her trapped in this Quadrant - you wonder what she was doing there, especially as we hadn't seen her at all in Season 5, and before that it was back at the homeworld for Odo's 'trial.' Did she carry out her own mission of destabilisation? It's not like we haven't seen her active as an 'agent' of her people, but it seems to be either in defence of them, or to try and understand Odo in order to coax him back, as in 'Heart of Stone.' Maybe her mission ever since meeting Odo has been to bring him back to the fold, and her presence on this side of the Wormhole was the latest avenue in that pursuit. She's quite happy to fool Odo, so when she said she had been devoid of Changeling company she might have been exaggerating because it seems likely that there are a number of her people doing their thing in the Alpha Quadrant. But it's convenient that Odo hangs around at the edge of the gateway between their two 'ponds,' it's where she would want to be for a quick return home, and if she can influence Odo to go with her, her goal might be fulfilled.

I almost get the impression she'd happily abandon the war effort to the Jem'Hadar and Vorta if she could, and just swan back home to the Link with Odo in tow. She merely tolerates the solids under her command, finding common ground with Odo about their irritating ways - when Dukat, not knowing her level of contempt for solids, tries to use his charm, and she merely observes him, not even deigning to answer as if she's watching an animal performing its natural behaviour (the same way she treats Kira when first visiting Odo, summarily dismissing her). I think her people, even those that don't seem on side with the Dominion's goals, namely Odo, are all that matters to her, and bringing them together is what matters above the fate of quadrants. After all, the shapeshifters only created the Dominion to protect themselves from the hatred of solids, creating their own lifeless, joyless, but nonetheless dedicated, solids - both the Jem'Hadar and Vorta were modified to the Founders' wishes. Until now, Odo's always been a staunch opponent of his people, but he's lived with the knowledge of their despotism for long enough that even that can't dissolve his innate drive to return home. Hence his many questions, which the Female Changeling is only too happy to answer, to a point. She'll talk about abstract things like being a tree, but sidesteps when he starts to pry into things that could be a tactical advantage, such as how many Changelings there are. Not that Odo's giving any thought to secret information, he's genuinely enraptured by the chance to have answers he's had long enough to ponder.

It is his curiosity that proves his downfall, though, as he takes those little steps towards accepting the Female Changeling and what she stands for. Even before she arrived, and in the opposite of Dukat's near miss with Kira in bringing Ziyal to DS9, which came just too late after she'd opened her eyes and smelled Mavek's coffee, Odo was already finding the chaos and destruction caused by the first strike of the resistance distasteful, and the Female Changeling came at the perfect moment to take advantage of his confusion. He wants to please Kira, but it's against his nature to allow disorder and damage to occur. Up till now he'd always managed to walk the line between his personal quest for justice and order, and the demands of whatever ruling administration happened to be in control. He butted heads with the Cardassians, and again with the Federation, but everyone respected his stance and the fact that he kept the station a safe place. But more power in joining the ruling council had, if not corrupted him, allowed his own biases to become stronger - I wouldn't be surprised if his invitation to the council had been an edict straight from the Female Changeling.

Though the resistance's first strike is a big success (as is the delightful way we're informed through Kira narrating, in the teaser), the episode ends in defeat. It's difficult for this episode, because, as in so many ways a middle part of a story is the hardest to keep interesting, you sense the problems that the writers have talked about, were finally coming to the screen from where they had so much to keep track of and set up, that this does feel like the weakest of the six. Saying that, the others are so strong that that's hardly a criticism, and it's not a bad episode by a long shot, it just isn't as fulfilling or tight as the others. It's a bit like an anti-'A Time To Stand,' both episodes mirroring each other in some ways, except 'Stand' had the advantage of reintroducing the plots and characters so ably cliffhangered at the end of Season 5, and was fresh and witty, with not a moment wasted. I'm not saying this one was wasted, but it's not as urgent, it's a slower, sleepier episode, perhaps reflecting Odo's drug-like disinterest at the end. The meetings of the resistance aren't tense or portentous, and things generally roll along, neatly, but not tightly. Again, there are many things going on, so it's no surprise that this feels less focused, and it still retains some strong moments (Kira's fury at Odo stays in the mind!).

One plot thread that it took until this unprecedented fourth episode to reach, was Rom's presence on the station. He'd expressly stayed behind in order to be a rebel and somehow work against the Dominion. It helped that he was the mastermind behind the minefield (though if the enemy knew he'd have been tortured in no time), so when the reality of Damar's solution was revealed through Quark's selfless assistance (he was only going to help the resistance when he was drunk, though!), it was useful for Rom to be there to come up with a countermeasure. He's been laying low before, working at the bar, though this is the first time we see him. Unsurprising, considering how many characters and stories are on the go - even some of the regulars are reduced to cameos, with Worf only appearing via viewscreen! Other stories that don't get shown are the Defiant under Dax - she's sent off on a mission to take out a sensor array by traversing a dangerous region called the Argolis Cluster, but we're not privy to the actual adventure, instead concentrating on Sisko's feelings at being 'promoted' to Admiral Ross' adjutant, and having to stay on Starbase 375 and write reports. Nor do we have any details about the tantalisingly mentioned Bolian operation, and these missing pieces add to the underlying dissatisfaction of the episode. We're in the same boat as Sisko, in a way, but at least he's got a station, and one station is pretty much the same as another, right?

It's still fun to see Sisko as the one looking up to authority, helped by Admiral Ross seeming a pretty good commander, not quite worthy of the audience's respect and admiration just yet (it would come), as he still seems a bit of an 'Admiral' Admiral - taking the Captain away from his ship, requiring this and that by this time, very much a manager, which is what Admirals are, really. But he's happy to drink Saurian brandy (and doesn't make a thing out of where Nog laid his hands on it), with Sisko during the ritual of the phaser power cell, and allows Sisko to stand up to him when he refuses to go to sleep with the Defiant off on a mission, even though common sense says that it will potentially be going off without him many times to come. That's one of the things about Sisko Ross probably appreciates: the Captain will stand his ground and not be a yes-man. That moment was quite amusing as it sounded a bit like Dad Ross sending son Ben to bed, and Sisko pouting that you can send me to bed, but I'll not go to sleep! But he also has to do what he's told in the context of his job, Ross having the bigger picture to contend with. A bit like Odo and the Female Changeling, who shows him the bigger picture is actually a smaller, more insular one: no need to get involved, it doesn't concern you. The use of the power cell ceremony was a good way to emphasise Sisko's distance from his ship and captaincy as the first time we see it, it's he who has the speech and puts the empty cell with the others in the mess (I wondered if they all fall over when the ship's in battle!), but it's Dax who does it later, Sisko looking on.

Levar Burton's direction, back for another helping after his stints in Season 5, is fine, but not very noteworthy, though the bar fight is well staged and shot, as are many of Kira's scenes, such as when she's standing in the Security Office waiting for Odo to perform his function in the attack (warning Rom not to go through with it via her Bajoran combadge, which sounded oddly like the sound the Starfleet badges make when there's a dampening field to prevent communication!), the whole of which is well done, and in her violent anger, slamming Odo's door chime! At the same time, nothing stands out as it did in 'Things Past' or 'Soldiers of The Empire,' Burton's episodes of last year, but that may have been because the episode was less inspiring. One man that is inspired in this one is Damar, promoted to Gul for his idea on how to disable the mines, allowing him to be both disgraced and smug in the same episode! It's fascinating to see his character traits start to emerge and expand, as previously he's just been a loyal soldier to Dukat, but here we get his intense distrust of the Dominion and, specifically, the Jem'Hadar, about whom he writes an essay on the potential threat they pose if the white runs out, even though the war continues to go the Dominion's way. We also see that he's a regular drinker, though in this case it's a celebratory one when he's promoted. His baiting of Kira continues delightfully, as does her repartee, so that he's truly becoming a character in his own right, beyond the lackey of Dukat.

It's thanks to Quark that the resistance, this tiny cell of four people (Kira, Odo, Jake and Rom), hears about Damar's news in time to do something about it. Quark's changed his mind about life under the occupation, but it boils down to it being no 'fun' any more. I can't help wondering if by fun he means profits, as there can't be that many opportunities to make a packet when life stays the same, with no traffic through the Wormhole, and only warships visiting! It's another throwback to the first episode in which Quark noted that life wasn't bad, even under Dominion rule, and tried to talk to the Jem'Hadar in his bar - now he sees them as creepy statues, no good for business at all. Unfortunately, despite Quark's intel, thanks to Odo the minefield will still be coming down, and what's more, they have Rom captive and are sure to torture him - and if there's one thing you don't want to experience, it's Cardassian torture, as O'Brien and Captain Picard would both attest. It's interesting that people keep referring to the war as being over once DS9 is retaken, as it would not be nearly as simple as that, not by a long way (two seasons, to be precise!), but that's the visible goal, the tangible object to pin their hopes on, and it makes sense since it is the series' home. Maybe at that time the writers still thought the war would be over more quickly, or perhaps it was a typical case of optimism, just as those in the First World War, one hundred years ago, thought it was sure to be over by Christmas.

The seeds of the future had been sown, not only for the Federation's survival, but Odo's eventual homecoming. Something that seemed impossible only a year before now becomes a distinct possibility, and something Odo's beginning to understand must be an inevitability if he's to live a full life. Unlike Sisko and Ross, Odo shares the same level of authority and position as the Female Changeling, like a lost prince, more highly prized than many lesser men. It seems in her eyes he's been reborn by the return to Changeling form, the old Odo allowed to die, and this new one in his place eager to welcome him back - they never wanted to harm Odo, but had to for his crime of killing one of his own. However his situation has been reverted, it doesn't matter, the way is open for him to return to his rightful place. It's not like she's even the leader speaking for her people with the power to forgive (although she sounds as if she can), as we learn from her she has no need for a name, being a drop in the ocean, and the ocean in a drop - it sounds a bit like the Borg when you put it that way, as all merge together and individuality is like a garment they put on when necessary. I was expecting the Female Changeling to come out of hiding the first time Kira paid Odo a visit, but that would have been all up for the resistance. It leaves room for doubt in the second rage-filled scene of Kira in Odo's quarters, whether the Female Changeling was standing behind a wall and overheard all, or whether she was in an adjoining room, and didn't. Even if she does know about the resistance you sense she'd leave it for the solids to work out.

When she asks if Kira upset Odo after the Major's stormed out, and we're left to wonder what this spells, he responds so serenely, 'no… not really,' that it becomes quite a good cliffhanger in its own right. The horror of Odo's conflicted loyalties are that he hasn't become the enemy, he's become above the question of enemy and ally, a neutral that doesn't care. That's somehow worse than if he was in league with the Female Changeling. Beginning with victory and ending in defeat is one more reason that this episode feels odd and difficult to love, you could also say it's the least eventful (despite having an all-out Cardassian/Jem'Hadar brawl in Quark's, and the exciting denouement of the sabotage attempt which was like something out of the Bourne or 'Mission: Impossible' films), with plots not interconnected and a workmanlike impression of the writing. Many of the characters are in the wrong place by its end - obviously Odo, led astray, but also Sisko, realising how important his position on the Defiant is to him, Quark, who helps the resistance, and Kira, raging against Odo. Dukat and Weyoun are also upstaged by the Female Changeling, and Rom's in prison. Not forgetting Worf, stuck on a Klingon ship away from Jadzia... But an episode like this is necessary, where we catch up with all the pieces, add in a few twists and lay groundwork for the last two instalments in this most epic of tales.

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