Vortex

I don't understand why this episode is rated so low. The acting is phenomenal, Croden is an extremely complex character, and Odo's search for his identy begins.

10/10, on par with some of the best episodes of the later seasons.

() The first episode of DS9 that really feels up to the classic Star Trek caliber. Hits all the beats for the tight 46 minute form factor; the story's efficient and well-paced, with not just solid characterization for Odo's continuous series arc, but also plausible, well-rounded arcs for the villains/blocking and one-off characters (with three pleasing, well-resolved final-act twists).

() As with so many of the stories in this episodic structure, they live or die on performances - and Auberjonois and Cliff De Young's strong dramatic chemistry solidify this as something memorable.

() Costuming for Croden looked like at least a partial repurposing of Vincent Schiavelli's as The Peddler in TNG S01E20 "The Arsenal of Freedom."

Rene Auberjonois is center stage in this DS9 story. Odo gets a glimmer of hope that he might reunite with others of his kind.

It all comes from a fight on the space station between some aliens. One is killed and the other wounded. Cliff DeYoung the wounded one tells there are others like Odoin the Gamma Quadrant. And it turns out he's wanted for murder on another world so Odo is given the task to escort DeYoung.

The viewer also is given tantalizing bits and pieces of what a changeling society is like. It whets one's appetite for more.

And a season or two later all about changelings is revealed.

Who is Odo? Where does he come from? Are there others like him? If so, where do they come from? These questions and more are dealt with in this episode.

The word "changeling" is first used to describe Odo's race.

An homage to Alfred Hitchcock in the opening scene (pre-credits) with the glasses on the tray.

This episode has a lot of action. Firefights on the ground and in space.

Also: don't pre-judge the rogue (Croden) in this episode. He is annoying but by the time the episode reaches a dramatic conclusion his motives and personality become a little clearer.

A real rogue, Croden (Cliff De Young) arrives on the station from the Gamma Quadrant. Unlike most visitors, he's not particularly interested in meeting with Federation or Bajoran dignitaries...but he IS interested in hangout out with the lower elements of the station. However, in the process, Croden kills someone and Sisko has to decide what to do with him. However, Croden throws an interesting monkey wrench into all this---he tells Odo that he's seen OTHER changelings and he offers to tell him where...if he lets him free. Naturally, there is more to this and the denouement is quite interesting. Worth seeing, especially as Croden isn't quite as he seems and it does give some insight into Odo's origins.