Battle Lines

Appreciated insight into Kira's character, in an episode that gave everyone something important to do. Impressed by the handling of philosophy and the additional world building for the gamma quadrant.

Kai Opaka visits DS9 and goes for a spin in the runabout through the wormhole with Sisko and Kira.

This is a fairly good episode that has some decent character development for Kira and a good use of the Kai. The plot regarding the main characters caught between two warring peoples is an overused concept in Star Trek but done to reasonably good effect here. There are some decent themes about blood feuds and continual cycles of violence that come out very well in the characters behaviour.

There are plenty of good performances from the likes of Nana Visitor, Avery Brooks and Camille Saviola. 80s favourite and Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul star Jonathan Banks also makes a good appearance.

The visuals, effects and costumes are solid, but it's relatively familiar Star Trek designs applied to the humanoids in the gamma quadrant. Considering we're at the other side of the galaxy you'd expect something different.

The Kai is an interesting figure. I've always admired figures who risk their personal safety for a cause that is big. If one can take the religion out of it. I think of people like Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The Kai has a sort of sixth sense and demands to be taken on a rescue mission, only to be submerged in a civil war among a culture that can be regenerated after death by microbes. Soon, the Commander, Kira, and Doctor find themselves trying to negotiate a settlement in an age old war. This is old stuff in the Star Trek world, but at least the results aren't so Kirkish.

The leader of all things spiritual on Bajor, Kai-Opaka hints to Sisko she would like to take a journey into the wormhole (Remember, Kai-Opaka has never ventured off of her planet her entire life let alone into the newly discovered wormhole and a potential new galaxy trip) and also hints it is the "Prophets" who are inspiring her to take this trip.

Going along for the ride with Sisko and the Kai is Kira and a giddy Doctor Bashir.

This episode quickly steers away from a spiritual episode (fulfilling the Prophets will) and into a macabre Twilight Zone-esque episode. DS9 was dedicating screen time to zombie-like creatures WAY before the Walking Dead.

Notice: Sisko's demeanor during a life or death struggle onboard a dying shuttlecraft (okay they now call these craft "runabout's). Who really acts like that? I mean he acts as if he's ordering a meal in a drive through.

Notice: Sisko is much more than the Commander of a space station and a cool cucumber flying a roundabout. He is also a total beast in hand-to-hand combat. I mean he is awesome. I think he could kick Picard and Janeway's rumpus. Kirk and he would have a heck of a duel!

Star Trek always delves into civil war-type episodes where there are two passionate sides of an issue, idea or predicaments. Get ready for this full force. The one story craft Star Trek reverts to if the two sides cannot find compromise is: utter destruction.

This DS9 story has Commander Sisko, Major Kira, and Dr. Bashir taking one of the shuttlecraft into the wormhole with the Kai of Bajor along for the ride. Camille Saviola playing the Kai feels this is part of her destiny.

The shuttlecraft is downed by some planetary defense systems and Kai Opaka is killed. But then she rises from the dead. Seems like no one has died in scores of years on this planet. Something like the world in Zardoz.

Deep Space 9 is the only Star Trek show where religion has a role. In the explanation of the Bajoran faith is why Kai Opaka does what she does.

This is one of Nana Visitor's best shows, her grief for Opaka is quite real and not staged. Catch this one for her if no other reason.