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 EPISODE REVIEWS | ||
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In Purgatory's Shadow Airdate: Week of
February 10th - 14th, 1997
Written by: Robert
Hewitt Wolfe & Ira Steven Behr
Directed by:
Gabrielle Beaumont
Brief Summary:
In search of Enabran Tain, Garak's mentor, Worf and Garak stumble
across a Dominion invasion force preparing to invade the Alpha
quadrant. Excitement, startling revelations, and in-depth
character development. Quite Impressive.
Review
Certainly Ira
Steven Behr has had his name in many DS9 episodes involving the
Dominion: The Jem'Hadar, The Adversary,
The Search 1 & 2, Homefront, Paradise
Lost, Broken Link, and Apocalypse
Rising. Robert Wolfe also has been a major contributor to
many of these episodes including the latter four mentioned above.
Together, Wolfe and Behr make the first major Dominion episode of
the fifth season in In Purgatory's Shadow, (and it's
conclusion next week, By Inferno's Light.) In
Puragtory's Shadow is most definately the best Dominion
story since Homefront/Paradise Lost.
After numerous
episodes dealing with changling infiltration, the Jem'Hadar and
the ensuing Dominion invasion In Purgatory's Shadow
finally brings everything together. From the trailer itself, this
episode would seem to be the Dominion all out
war-full-scale-invasion episode many of us have been waiting for.
However, first time DS9 director Gabrielle Beaumont gives this
episode remarkable depth. I can't think of one scene that
detracts from the main plot in this episode and applause goes to
Beaumont. Tains' meeting with Garak and his later death scene
comes instantly to mind.
The one distinct
thing that stands out about this episode is that although it's an
ensemble piece with all major characters having important scenes,
much success of the episode lies in re-occurring guest characters
'stealing the show' with brilliant scenes. It's certainly rare
that we get an episode with not only so many guest appearances,
but also these characters being integral to the story and having
parts as large or larger than the main cast. Andrew Robinson's
Garak gives his best since The Die Is Cast; Melanie
Smith as Ziyal gives a dynamite performance, as well as Marc
Alaimo returning as the Cardassian representative Gul Dukat.
Wolfe and Behr
start out the episode by addressing Odo's regained shapeshifting
abilities. They show that they havn't forgotten about the issue
by continuing the thread carried in Broken Link,
Apocalypse Rising, and The Begotten.
Contrasting how Odo pointed out the irony in Starfleet's posting
of Eddington to DS9 because they didn't trust him in For
The Uniform, Odo is the object of the irony in this opening
scene. Odo who once denounced and detested the life of a
solid now remarks on how he regrets becoming a
shapeshifter again somewhat, losing his solid
qualities. Although this scene doesn't directly involve the plot
it is welcome and plays well. The script only gives this scene a
small amount of time yet gets the point across, something also
done later when Dax & Kira briefly discuss the Obrien's baby.
Throughout this
episode there is tremendous emphasis on Garak and the
relationships he is involved in- both directly and indirectly.
The relationship with Ziyal is direct and was dealt with the most
in the show. Obviously being the only two members of their race
on DS9 has brought Garak and Ziyal together in a very personal
way. Perhaps the strongest reason Garak and Ziyal cling to each
other is because both have been ostracized for different reasons;
Garak because of his bloodlines, Ziyal because she shares the
blood of an enemy. Just as Garak's relationships are direct and
indirect, so are the ways in which each character has been cast
out from their culture; Garak publicly, Ziyal silently. Each
theme is carried throughout the story in different ways; Garak
seeking redemptiom from his own father; Ziyal seeking
understanding from hers'. Where Garak succeedes with Enabran
Tain, Ziyal sees how she is not and will not be accepted by her
people and is ostracized further by her father Dukat, as we see
in her final scene.
Garak is
indirectly involved with Gul Dukat through a relationship with
his daughter. Dukat hates Garak for his past with the Obsidien
Order, a hate that intensifies due to Garak's association with
his own daughter. Interestingly, Dukat sees someone else as the
culprit in this matter- Kira, with who he had entrusted the care
of Ziyal. Instead of assessing the true nature of the matter,
Dukat feels betrayed by everyone but himself. Another indirect
relationship of Garak's (that soon becomes direct) is with Tain.
Loyalty holds the two together because until now each is
unwilling to accept the true identity of the other. Garak's
loyalty brings him to Tain, and Tain's powerful personality
shoves him away. It is only when Tain faces death that both come
to peace. Tain tries to give the appearance of peace when Garak
tells him all his enemies have been killed, but he can only truly
die when he has accepted his role as Ilem Garak's father and
recounts the first day he was proud of his son.
The scene where
Dax quarrels with Worf comes off very well. It's good to know
that the writers didn't forget this thread in such a grandiose
episode and infact reminded us of it more than once. This scene
is important because it emphasizes that the relationship between
the two characters has grown stronger and that Worf is more
comfortable with it, (definately since the last time we saw the
issue in Let He Who Is Without Sin...). The deception
Dax uses to subtlety express her worries is classic Jadzia, and
her final line, Have a GLORIOUS death, or don't; it's your
choice, added some romance to the scene, in an honorable
and Klingon sort of way.
The antagonism
Garak subjects Worf to in the runabout is considerable and
reminds us of the Garak we saw in Imporbable Cause
and The Die Is Cast. Garak's comment about the art of
lying is another revealing telltale of the Garak we know and
love, and it obviously gets under Worf's skin. (But then again,
ever since Worf got to DS9 he has seemed more irritable, or is it
just me?). Interesting how Garak chooses the words
redemption and during his act, obviously disparaging
the proud Klingon. When Worf decides to retreat, we see more of
the pleading Garak we saw earlier in the Captain's office. In
typical Guinan-esque fashion, Garak uses Worf's own
ideals to illuminate his point. He uses the word
honorable to relate to to Worf and convince him to
keep going. I'd like to know, however, why a Commander in
Starfleet (who was an integral part of TNG's Chains of
Command) and a former Cardassian espionage leader failed to
think that maybe a nebula is a good place to hide a fleet of
ships. By the way, that nebula looked awfully like the Motara
Nebula in TWOK, but I guess not quite.
This next
pseudo-battle scene was exciting due to many aspects. First of
all, the new Dominion Jem'Hadar vessels were a treat to look at,
secondly, the music was new and very fitting to the battle aspect
of the scene, and thirdly, the suspense that was built when Worf
realized the intent of the hidden fleet (which wasn't all that
difficult). My heartbeat began to increase when Worf declared he
was sure of a Dominion invasion, and sent a warning
back to the station. The transition from this scene (Jem'Hadar
hitting Garak with a rifle) is very abrupt but the fantastic
music manages to let us down easily by remaining with a sense of
urgency and not allowing our hearts go from pounding to
plummeting.
The pace slows a
bit when we see for the first time a Dominion asteroid prison.
First of all, let me just say that this visual effect was very
captivating. It certainly gives the feeling of no
escape. The inside gets even better, as we get a ST6
flashback when the leader explains the prison, and we see the
real General Martok engaged in combat. We see an ailing Enabran
Tain for the first time. We learn that Bashir had been captured
and replaced with a changling for over a month and that Bashir
obviously has been defiant and problematic to the Jem'Hadar thus
being placed in isolation. As Bashir joins the group in the
prison the aurora of distrust is shown when he takes a blood test
to ensure his loyalty. It is mentioned that the only person that
hasn't been tested is the Breen, lying quietly on a bed because
he has no blood. Now, I know there is a reason they introduced
this. I'm betting he's a Dominion plant. Garak reveals that Tain
is his father, and on Tain's deathbed confronts him with it. This
was certainly unexpected, and fit perfectly. Wolfe and Behr
integrated this into the story so well, and it seems obvious now
that it was set up way back in Improbable Cause, and
The Die Is Cast.
The scenes of the
station preparing for the imminent Dominion invasion effectively
raise the tension level many notches. The three most essential
were the realization of the invasion, the briefing on it and the
confrontation at the end. The first uses erie, yet ominous events
(garbled warning message and the mentioning of listening posts
lost) and suspensful dialogue to accomplish it's purpose. How can
one not become emotionally involved with lines like The
Dominion....they're coming.., and God help us
all?
In the second
important station scene, Sisko explained how it was a perfect
time for an invasion since the Federation had been spread thin
due to the Klingon war and the recent Borg attack. (Great FC
acknowledgement and all, but whatabout the Defaint? Also, why are
writers so afraid to mention related stories?
Birthright, Trials & Tribble-ations,
Emmisary and Crossover have all had
varying degrees of TNG/TOS allusions or realities, and were some
of the best episodes.) The bottom line: Right now, there's
no way we can beat the Dominion. Sealing the wormhole to
prevent the Dominon invasion is the only alternative, and Kira's
spiritual side is fervently seen as she worries that Bajor may be
cut off from it's own gods in the Celestial Temple.
The finale of
In Purgatory's Shadow is by far the best scene. It is
a purely plot related scene, not a character one. My heartbeat
starts pounding every time I watch it (I've watched this scene
many times alone!). The music immediately kicks in during Sisko's
log entry, emphasizing the urgency of the ensuing battle. The
Bashir Changling placably makes his sinister comment, Here
goes nothing..., foreshadowing his sabotage. I found that
line particularly amusing, just like his earlier line during the
briefing, One ship. Things are sounding brighter
already. The climax occurs when the wormhole opens by
itself (downward this time, giving more of a 'dumping' effect)
after the failed attept to seal it, letting hordes of Dominion
ships pour into space and Sisko orders battle stations. The
camera gives a sinister view of the Bashir Changling as he
apprvingly walks out of view towards the view screen. Uh oh! As
we see the Dominion come through, the music evokes a sense of
ultimate power and one of 'God help us all' for the Federation.
Ok, to wrap up
a bit:
- Worf's scene
with Sisko in the airlock is amusing, and Worf's candor is
splendid dialogue.
- The new Dominion
ships are awesome, and Klingon-esque; and the Dominion asteroid
prison was also visually stunning.
- The exchange
between Kira and Dukat about Cardassian threats being taken
seriously shows us the 'old Kira' that we havn't seen lately,
(with the exception of In The Darkness & The
Light.)
- What's going on
with that Breen?? He was just lying there....hmmm...I wonder if
he'll become integral in part 2??
Overall
Verdict: The biggest & best Dominion episode to date in
my opinion. Robert Hewitt Wolfe and Ira Steven Behr prove that
they are the reigning forces on DS9's writing staff, adding
another great Dominion episode to the lineup. They tie into their
old works, and manage to make an episode that relies more on
guest stars than the regulars.
Writing: An
Ensemble piece that relies heavily on guest stars, yet gives
almost every character (except Quark, who only gets a minor, but
good scene) important scenes, none of which are forced or
un-needed. Garak has the best dialogue of the episode, and his
peronal best since The Die Is Cast.
Directing:
Complemented by a great story, Gabrielle Beaumont pulls off her
first DS9 superbly.
Acting:
Everyone has notable scenes, but the best performances reside in
the guest stars Andrew Robinson, Melanie Smith, Marc Alaimo, Paul
Dooley. Kira plays her part extremely well as if she's more
content now that the writers chose to bring back the tougher
Kira.
Rating: 9.7
out of 10
Episode Quote:
The man's a
heartless, cold-blooded killer...
Like I said,
he's a Cardassian.
-Dukat and Kira on
Garak
Next Week: By Inferno's
Light, the
conclusion to tonight's episode, promises to be just as exciting
as the first installment. The Dominion has invaded!!
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