A Man Alone

I have no idea if this is the second or third episode of "Star Trek: Deep Space 9". Netflix lists this as the second and IMDb says it's the third. Regardless, it's a big improvement over the premier episode.

I love Star Trek shows, but I also am critical of the program when it deserves it. In other words, while I like it I also realize that some of the shows were exceptional and some of them sucked...and the premier of "Star Trek: Deep Space 9" really sucked. While the premier SHOULD have built excitement for the series, it was full of artsy crap in the last 1/3 and had way too much clumsy exposition. Because of this, "Past Prologue" was a very welcome relief. It was not jam-packed with folks describing their backstory in a very clumsy and unnatural way nor was it filled with the artsy stuff--it was just very good.

When the show begins, Keiko is depressed. While her husband, Miles, is at home on the new station, she has nothing to do and is worried about her future on the station. Then, she comes up with the idea of starting a school on the station.

The major plot involves a scum-bag, Ibudan. This Bajoran is a very unsavory character and convicted murderer--so why is he now on the station? Odo is clearly angry to see this man--especially since he was the one who caught him years ago for the murder. But, with the man being paroled by the new Bajoran government, Odo can do little but bluster and threaten Ibudan. However, when Ibudan is murdered, many folks on the station assume that Odo took the law into his own hands. What happened and what is REALLY going on here?

This is a very solid and enjoyable episode. While it's not one you'd remember years later (I know I didn't), it is a conventionally entertaining and worthy show with a nice twist at the end. Well done.

The integrity of Rene Auberjonois is called into question when he wants to throw off the station a Bajoran smuggler with whom he has history. But later the man is found murdered in one of the holosuites at Quark's. The only DNA found in the locked suite is the deceased. Odo the shapeshifter is the suspect.

It's Alexander Siddig who figures it out. Dr. Bashir with a bit of futuristic forensics is our hero here.

Rosalind Chao also has some difficulties establishing a school on the space station, but persist she does. She has a great scene with Max Grodenchik who says no female can teach a Ferengi.

Good main and subplot.

Keiko, Miles O'brien's spouse, is having a difficult time adjusting to life on DS9, and Constable Odo appears to be having a difficult time adjusting to Federation hegemony. A merciless Bajoran smuggler who Odo tries to kick off the station turns up murdered in a room which has been locked from the inside and, understandably, Odo is the prime suspect. The episode is crucial to understanding Odo's relationships with Kira, Sisko, and Quark and introduces the show's standard approach to story arc multitasking which will be greatly elaborated in the later seasons. Odo - who really is a man alone - must learn to trust others to help him figure this one out and clear him of suspicion.

The two-story approach was not very well perfected in this episode, and some of the important developmental aspects of this episode (Keiko, Jake and Nog's parts) come across as a slightly annoying distraction from the more intense and interesting mystery story.

As usual, the cinematography and writing are all good.

A lot goes on in this episode, but the primary focus is on our resident shape shifter, Odo, who performs a significant function on the station. The wormhole has brought a good deal of business as well as some undesirables. When an evil character is murdered, Odo receives the blame, exacerbated by a man who riles up the natives against him. Fortunately, the Doctor and Dax are able to do some quick thinking. A decent episode.

A Bajoran is killed on DS9 and it causes civil unrest.

This is an enjoyable episode, but for me does not work as a murder mystery (if it was intended that way), and the baddie is very one-note. However, I did quite like the sci-fi concept used in the explanation even though it's not a particularly cinematic reveal. What it does well is establish characters further and set up the dynamics for what is to come on the show.

Odo mostly takes centre stage and he is portrayed as strong minded and firm principled character. To me he is like a cross between Bones and Spock, as he has the outsider's perspective on humanity, but also a passionate and somewhat grouchy persona. His ideas about justice is presented strongly and the concept of him serving the same role during both Cardassian and Federation control of DS9 makes the character more compelling.

His love-hate dynamic with Quark is nicely set up by Quark's contribution to the story and a good exchange of dialogue between them. Also the connection he has with Kira is subtly introduced by her attitude towards him here.

Other side-plots and moments are reasonably good but offer little except small amounts of character establishment. I like the idea of both Keiko and DS9 needing the school, but the behavioural issues of Jake and Nog feels forced. Dr Bashir's sex-pest pursuit of Dax is fairly tiresome already.

Rene Auberjonois is excellent in all his scenes and leads this episode well. Nana Visitor has some good moments along with Avery Brooks.