 "Strange Bedfellows" |
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by David E. Sluss |
24 April 1999 |
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Home >> DS9 Season 7 >> >> Episode Review
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THE BOTTOM LINE: The pieces finally look to be in place after this episode, which features some good dialogue and interesting developments, but with erratic pacing, as some of the plotlines feel rushed, others unconscionably padded. CYNICS CORNER RATING: 7.5 (C) PLOTTER OF THE WEEK: Kai Winn, who, in the span of thirty air-minutes, goes from true believer in the Prophets to Pagh-Wraith Cult Kool-aid drinker, all because she got a scary vision of The Sisko with red glowing eyes offering her a translucent turd (well, that's what it looked like upon first viewing), and is now planning to sweep away Sisko and the Feds. I guess a "straw that broke the camel's back" argument can be made to justify this bit of character development, but it struck me as being a bit rushed. We all know Winn is a power-hungry schemer, but she seemed to change her tune about the Prophets just a little too easily. PLODDER OF THE WEEK: That has to be the "When will this nightmare end?" subplot of Ezri and Worf in captivity, talking meaningfully. I mean, three weeks of this stuff? I didn't know whether to cheer Dumb-Ar or curse him when he let them escape execution. ASIDE OF THE WEEK: The Female Changeling's ass-kissing welcome speech to the Breen in the teaser. It seemed to be aimed directly at the viewer, to convince him or her that the Breen are an important and scary power in the Alpha Quadrant, despite all the evidence to the contrary, i.e. their goofy helmets, their toilet seat ship, and the fact that their most advanced weapon appears to be a cattle prod. OLD ACQUAINTANCE REMEMBERED OF THE WEEK: Miles and Julian seem to have noticed, somewhat belatedly, that Ezri and Worf are overdue, in their "Give every cast member except Lofton a cameo" filler scene. AUDIENCE PLEASER DIALOGUE OF THE WEEK: It's a toss-up between Ezri chastising Worf for continuously spouting Klingon aphorisms and Worf copping to using the word "dishonor" too often. RESET BUTTON OF THE WEEK: The sudden death of Dolly the Vorta VII was certainly a shocker (especially since Worf, who talks the talk but rarely walks the walk when it comes to killing, did the deed), but his resurrection, not five air-minutes later, as Dolly the Vorta VIII was good for a laugh. Even by Trek standards, that's got to be a record of some kind. SIGNIFICANT CONTRIVANCE OF THE WEEK: It's possible there could be some follow-up here, but I find it difficult to believe that Dumb-Ar could kill two Jem'Hadar soldiers and set Ezri and Worf up with a getaway ship without Dolly the Vorta finding out about it, considering the amount of distrust between Dolly and Dumb-Ar, and the fact that Dumb-Ar is apparently under surveillance, considering Dolly knew about Dukat's visit last week. While I'm on the subject of Dumb-Ar, let me say that for probably the first time, I liked the character and the actor, Casey Biggs. Dumb-Ar's actions were predictable, but Biggs delivered his lines well, and sold me on the character. So maybe it'll be "Damar" from now on. Or maybe not... TRIVIAL CONTRIVANCE OF THE WEEK: When Ezri and Worf break out of their
cell during their ill-fated escape attempt, they knock out the lone guard -- who just
happens to have two phasers on his person. |
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"'Til Death Do Us Part" Next: "The Changing Face of Evil" |
NEXT WEEK: A single defection changes the course of the war, as Vic Fontaine joins the Dominion and inadvertently sickens them into submission. |
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© 1999 David E. Sluss |
