When It Rains… (2)

DVD, DS9 S7 (When It Rains…) (2)

It pours. They chose their title carefully for this one as it's one of those rare examples of having not just an A-story and a B-story, but a C-story and a D-story, too! It can be argued that they're just parts of the arcs this whole nine-part saga is full of, but three out of the four plots are introduced here. There isn't resolution to any of them, at least not final resolution, but they're set up and carried through to a point, and that's good enough for me. It does make the episode return to the style of the first couple in the saga since it's more about plot than it is about character, far more interested in getting things to somewhere rather than exploring things within that. This has the effect of making it feel not just unresolved as it obviously is, but a touch messy perhaps, or not under control. I don't know, I can't quite pin it down, but it's entirely satisfying in any of the stories and I would have liked one at least of the four threads to fulfil that criteria. In some small way you do get that in the briefest plot of Kai Winn and Dukat's interactions, his desire to read the evil text of the Kosst Amojan before being punished with blindness and turned out by Winn into the streets. There is a certain sense of satisfaction that we can share with Winn, a scary thought considering how completely she's embraced evil in the service of her own ambitions, so the judgement on Dukat from, presumably the Pah-Wraiths (unless the book itself has the dark power to judge its readers), bolsters her own assurance that she's chosen the right path.

Winn appears much more like she used to before her giddy turns with 'Anjohl Tennan' and the books of evil, when she had the capacity to go either way and back out of history to save her own soul, or sacrifice it for the sake of power and pride, and she's a better character for it. Not better in moral terms, but more watchable, more stable, you could say, because she's back to her old self again, irritable, self-satisfied, gaining a great measure of esteem from Dukat's attempt to circumvent her. Whether that's true, or if Dukat genuinely just wanted to know as much as her, she certainly saw it that way, and it shows her old scheming mind is back to the forefront again when before it had been in turmoil, acting on instinct, if negative instinct, such as when she stabbed loyal Solbor to death. Now she feigns concern over his whereabouts in one scene, and smirks at Dukat's blindness in another. It is with the greatest irony that she casts Dukat out into the streets to survive on the charity of those he despised and mistreated for so many years as the Prefect of Bajor. This episode is indeed heavy with irony in all directions: Martok who has done so well in coordinating the Klingon attack fleets is rewarded with the greatest honours by none other than Gowron himself, in person, but is then told he will step back and Gowron himself, in person, will lead the fleet from now on. And what could be more ironic than the mirror image of Dukat's situation as Kira finds herself in the position of having to teach Damar's rebel forces how to fight a terrorist war against their Dominion oppressors.

The only story that doesn't droop with irony is Bashir and O'Brien's investigation into the disease afflicting the Founders', and now Odo. There's a touch of it in the Doctor's interactions with Ezri as more circuits are crossed and confusion reigns, but unless we count the fact that it's ironic Odo was used to infect the Founders in the first place, it's more about uncovering the dastardly scheming of the unconventional Section 31. Bashir comes up against a wall of unhelpfulness when requesting Odo's medical files from the time he went to Starfleet Medical on Earth back in the middle of Season 4 ('Homefront,' 'Paradise Lost'). It all starts when he requests a plain, simple cup of goo from the Constable to aid in the development of synthetic organ replacements that would be more effective if they could adapt to any organ required, only to find that Odo has the disease (wonder how much Odo can separate of himself?). He and O'Brien think it out and reason that only Section 31 would have the gall and resources to block Odo's files to help discover a cure, even more when Sisko's clearance gets him the necessary files, except that they're tweaked copies of Dr. Mora Pol's results from years ago. Major coverup alert! I like the way they work out it must be Section 31 and resolve to go up against this devious inner sanctum that has existed in secret since the dawn of the Federation. Except, thanks to later Trek productions mishandling of it we now know only too well it was known about in the 22nd and 23rd Centuries, much to the detriment of the cunning plotting the 'DS9' writers used to weave them into the backstory of utopia.

After a few episodes of focus on other characters, or bigger things, such as the destruction of the Defiant, it's simply nice to see Bashir and O'Brien together. It's not like they don't have their individual roles to play, as we see the Chief advising on the Klingon ships' immunity to the Breen super-weapon, and of course Bashir is whittling away at Odo's goo for information. It really hit me when Quark came into the Infirmary to serve his customary drink of the week, the only thing he's done for episode after episode, how much I miss him being a proper part of the series. I hate it when the ensemble is broken up, especially when my favourite characters take a backseat, and Quark is my number one in all of Trek, so to see him (or more specifically not to see him), in this position, does take away from the final arc. At least he had one big episode to come with all the Ferengi extended family due for one more party. Worf is another character that had been underused, considering his warrior status during a war: he'd been reduced to worrying about personal issues with Ezri, sat in holding cells for ages, so it's good to have him back at the side of Martok, especially when Gowron comes and says the past is in the past, let bygones be bygones and all that. Quite a change of heart(s) from the man who claimed he did not 'forgiiiiive or forgeeeeet' back in 'The Way of The Warrior.' Turns out that Gowron's just put his nice hat on to make it all the easier to snatch control and personal glory from Martok. Talk about the changing face! Of evil I can say only this: of all the souls I have encountered on my travels, his was the most… political.

They also serve who only stand and wait, and at the moment it's more about Worf standing still and watching, seeing the troubles that are being created by the removal of an expert general, in Martok, the change of tactics that spells trouble, and the selfish desire of Gowron to be the saviour of the Alpha Quadrant when the Klingons are the only ones who can be relied upon against the Breen. It's a bit like the end of 'Return of The Jedi' where Luke is being crushed by the Emperor and Vader stands there looking back and forth for what seems an age before finally choosing to act. That's how I saw Worf, he sees, but so far what can he do? He'd be picking up 'Emperor' Gowron and chucking him down the bat'leth chute very soon, don't you worry. I do like how he and Martok discuss the Chancellor, talking of his political machinations and how he's not really a battlefront leader, since that's just how he came to power in the first place, way back in the 'TNG' years. That's the kind of continuity that impresses a Trekker, it shows care for the source material, it takes it somewhere new, and they've always kept Gowron to be used sparingly and at key moments. Amazingly he hadn't been seen since the middle of Season 5, almost two years previous ('By Inferno's Light'), and much has happened since then, such as Worf joining the House of Martok. It also makes a great deal of sense that this old politician is feeling the need to be a warrior again. What he really needed was for Picard to have a chat and give him a dose of common sense about his actions, but Picard's off on the E doing who knows what between 'Insurrection' and 'Nemesis' (perhaps we'll get flashbacks one day to see what the Enterprise did during the Dominion War - anything's possible now!).

One reason Worf seemed more subdued may have been that he had other things on his mind, for while Martok and Gowron had the strategies of war to take up their mental spaces, Worf had to think about much more important things. Well, Michael Dorn who played him did, anyway, as it was he who directed this episode. I'm undecided on Dorn as a Director because his name isn't one of the first Trek actor names I think of as Trek Directors, unlike Jonathan Frakes, or even someone like Avery Brooks (who would be the next, and final 'DS9' actor to direct for the series before the end). At the same time he did direct one of the best episodes of the series, 'In The Cards.' I think his next directing role on Trek would be the 'Enterprise' episode, 'Two Days and Two Nights,' which was again fine, but was also his last. I didn't feel this episode was directed with flair that made it stand out, it was perfectly functional, but then it could be down to the script - if you get a great one full of wonderful stuff then it's easier to make it work. Not that this was badly written, but it's unquestionably unfinished since it's all about setting up plots for resolution in the final four episodes to come, and Dorn can't be blamed for that. And there are good things about the episode. Not least seeing Gowron again, but also simple things such as the meeting with humans (Ross, Sisko), Klingons (Martok), and Romulans (Velal, who brilliantly was first mentioned by Senator Cretak in 'Inter Arm Enim Silent Leges' and now we get to meet!), as they discuss developments with Klingon ships being fitted out to withstand the Breen weapon.

It's such a rarity in Trek history, perhaps never to be seen again (though there were interesting explorations of joint cultures, such as 'Flesh and Blood' in 'Voyager' where they had Bajorans and Cardassians working side by side, although they were all holograms), these three major powers of the Alpha Quadrant forced to work together for survival. I do wish they'd had a constant Romulan character on the station, much like Cretak was supposed to be, but only appeared in three episodes, and played by two different actresses. It seemed the perfect time to explore the Romulans more, as the only one of the major races to remain largely a mystery (though perhaps we'll have a little more of that in 'Star Trek: Picard' - we can but hope). Velal would make another appearance, but it's not like we'd ever get to know him. There's the usual antagonistic nature he exudes towards archenemy the Klingons, and I love how you can see Martok in the background biting his tongue off in order not to fling the Romulan's words right back at him! But every resource must be held together and used in the fight against the Dominion. As we see again in both Garak and Kira, the other unique partnership of the episode. First though, was it a good idea for Odo to go off there? To some degree I sense he's going as a bodyguard, knowing how much bad blood there is between Kira and Damar personally, but also the two races generally.

Damar has definitely changed, he's become more humble, more accepting, the harsh conditions and the hard resolve he's had to choose, as well as the noble goals he works towards, have made him more thoughtful, more willing to bend. It's not just a soldier twisted by hatred for the enemy as is the sense I get from his men in Rusot and Seskal. He has a cooling unit ready for Kira and Odo, knowing that they won't appreciate the greater heat Cardassians prefer in this cave base (another great use of the cave set, adding struts and consoles to make it completely different again!), he speaks up for Kira, respecting her skills and knowledge in the art of resistance fighting, and is glad of her assistance. She in turn has to swallow the murder of Ziyal, practically a member of her family. In a funny way Damar is in the position he is because of that murder he committed. It was what turned his superior, Dukat's mind, leading to him staying on the station to be caught, escaping, getting involved with Bajoran mysticism, and leaving the leader's seat of Cardassia open for Damar to succeed as the only other Cardassian the Dominion knew well. Perhaps all his actions stem from a subconscious need to be absolved from Ziyal's murder by chasing redemption. I don't think that's true on a personal level, I think Damar felt he was justified in what he did and it's Cardassia itself he cares for, that's what he's working for, but it may have contributed to his conscience somewhere. As he says, hatred is a luxury he can no longer afford.

Garak, long absent from the season is at last adjoined to the recurring cast again, playing somewhat the role of peacekeeper between the Cardassians whose minds he understands, and Kira, the Bajoran he knows so well. He too would have great motive for revenge upon Damar, but they all know that this leader is what Cardassia needs, regardless of past deeds. In time of war, attitudes need to alter. It's the same argument O'Brien postulates about why Starfleet Medical refuse to be cooperative with Bashir's request: maybe the Dominion attack on Earth has changed people's attitudes, shaken them up. We see the old distrust of Odo rear its head again when Commander Hilliard (played by Scott Burkholder whom I believe was in one of the few war films I really like, 'Hell Is For Heroes,' and went on to play another role on 'Enterprise' in 'The Catwalk'), equates Odo with the enemy, the age-old attitude that turned the Changelings into the Founders of the Dominion in the first place. So maybe attitudes don't change after all? Dukat, of all people, claims the Pah-Wraiths changed him, but then he was insane already, and as Winn points out, they can't change what he did. Still, it's inspiring to see how much Damar has grown, now the head of the Cardassian Liberation Front. But even he has some ideals that won't allow him to win this war: Kira says they need to be open to killing their own people because they are collaborators with the enemy, much to the disgust of Rusot and Seskal (which must be the male variant of Seska - I wonder if he knew her?).

In provocative mood, they try and stir up trouble by asking Odo where his loyalties lay when he worked for the Cardassians, infuriating Kira so that we see an explosion of her old temper that used to be so strong in the early seasons but which she'd learned to harness and tamp down. It may have been Seskal that started it, but Rusot is the one that gets in her face and wants to take her on if there's to be a pummelling. Unwise, very unwise. Fortunately for him, Kira looses her rage on cargo containers in her and Odo's living quarters, because otherwise he'd have had the beating of his life! Odo remains calm, and you realise he's not so much there as a bodyguard after all, but a calming influence, with wise words. Pouring Odo on troubled waters, you could say! I so wanted the Constable to morph up a Starfleet uniform when he was changing out of the Bajoran one, but it wouldn't have made sense for him. I can imagine Admiral Ross giving him a Starfleet commission as he did for Kira (and it is so good to see her in Starfleet colours!), but it again brings up Starfleet's discomfort with Odo being one of the Changelings, as unfair as that is. Perhaps inducting him into the organisation would have changed the perception of him - would Hilliard's views change merely by different decoration? Probably not, and it seems bigotry is still alive in the Federation even a hundred years after Stiles's outburst on the Bridge of the Enterprise against Spock during 'Balance of Terror.' Sad fact. I still would have liked Odo to play around a little: 'how about this?' [wears Starfleet Admiral's uniform]. Still, it's nice they had him revert to the outfit he wore when working for the Cardassians, even if it's much 'brighter,' if that's the right word.

Garak's useful in nosing out Damar via the trusty 'contacts' he can pull out of the hat when need be (see 'The Way of The Warrior' for the best example of this), and he's also useful for advice: watch your back. As much as Damar wants Kira's expertise, his men's pride, already damaged by the Dominion's misuse of them, can't take much more. Both Vaughn Armstrong (Seskal), and John Vickery (Rusot), had had previous roles on Trek, and in Vaughn's case he'd go on having roles. In fact I'm surprised he hasn't shown up in either the Kelvin Timeline films or 'DSC' since he became so ubiquitous, still holding the record for the number of characters played on Trek by one man. It's great that he returns to the series having previously played another Cardassian way back in the first proper episode after the pilot in Season 1, and now he's here again in one of the last! Facts like that absurdly please me. Seskal's point about Odo is something I felt could have done with exploration. I suppose it already had been examined in some ways, such as the times when we saw Odo in the past ('Necessary Evil'), or when his conscience was bothering him about that time ('Things Past'), but the thing is, ultimately, apart from some mistakes, he served justice over Cardassia, or Bajoran interests, and he's at peace with that time. It just strikes me that due to the complete serialisation there are threads that in an 'ordinary' episode would have been unpicked and explored. But there's only so much they can cram into these final parts - I'd have been happy to lose much of the Ezri/Worf stuff in exchange for Romulan representation or furthering Quark, O'Brien and Bashir, Odo…

That's one reason I don't totally love the concluding saga. It is good, it has greats, and the finale is excellent, but there are a number of disappointments, the feeling of being on DS9 with the characters is fractured. Would I rather have had it be as 'TNG' or 'Voyager' ended, where they pretty much remained unchanged until the finale, using the last few penultimate episodes to wrap up some oddments of story? No, I think they made the right move as there was so much wrapping up to do they needed the time for it. But that's maybe one of the problems: they weren't doing enough wrapping up of characters or reminders of their place in this world, and if that was a precursor to the fragmentation of the characters at the very end of the series, I can see it, it's fair, but the implementation I feel could have benefited from more time, careful study and not the whirlwind wrap of a season that characterised the Trek of the day, especially as they weren't going direct into films as 'TNG' was. Still, the message of this episode is 'what have we come to?' as voiced by a Romulan working with Klingons as the best chance for their survival, and Cardassians being given advice from a Bajoran that fought against them in the past. That at least gives us a good, Trek message of cooperation, and Kira's words of wisdom, anyone not fighting with you is fighting against you, are hard truths that are nonetheless true. And the fight goes on, but not for much longer. It always stops raining eventually.

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