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By Inferno's Light Airdate: Week of
February 17th - 21st, 1997
Written by: Robert
Hewitt Wolfe & Ira Steven Behr
Directed by: Les
Landu (part one Purgatory directed by Gabrielle
Beaumont)
Brief Summary:
In this conclusion to last week's In Purgatory's
Shadow, the Alpha Quadrant's major players realize they
must stand together to defeat a new unholy Dominion plot, while
Garak, Bashir, Martok, and Worf must escape from a Dominion
internment camp behind enemy lines. Plus - a Breen in action!
Review
Well I'm always
uneasy about having different names attached to the conclusion to
an episode, but luckily this time the writers are the same with a
different director. Unlike many second parts, Inferno
effectively surprises us and maintains the level of excitement in
Purgatory. However, instead of opting for the
expected (and in my case), desired pick-up, this story takes a
turn in another direction, one that despite the lack of an
opening space battle is pleasantly entertaining and clever.
Right when we are
expecting a destructive conflict, the Dominion fleet turns and
heads towards Cardassia, its new member. This is a plot twist
that will have devastating consequences for DS9's future and one
that demonstrates the writers' willingness to step out on a limb,
as it were. In fact this twist was alluded to in the recent DS9
episode Rapture, in which Captain Sisko had a vision
of locusts coming near Bajor, but then turning to
Cardassia. This is quite possibly the best event of
foreshadowing ever seen in DS9. The story doesn't forget the
animosity heated up in Purgatory between Kira and
Dukat by giving us a brilliant exchange between the two in this
opening sequence. It's too bad Dukat was out of range, I almost
wanted Kira to blow him out of the stars after such treachery!
Once again we see Kira with the temper she had earlier in the
series.
One major thing
about this episode that stands out more than anything is that the
'A' and 'B' stories are so solid that they could've stood alone
as individual stories. Not to say that this was not the perfect
time to intertwine the two, I think they complemented each other
a little more in Purgatory though, becoming a little
separated in this show.
The best aspects
of this show however didn't occur on the other side of the
wormhole as the ending of the first part suggested. But rather,
they take place in the Dominion prisoner camp. Worf's duels with
the Jem'Hadar soldiers is a little predictable in the sense that
Worf won most of them (I just had a feeling). However Martok's
comments that the spirit of Kahless is alive in Worf are
priceless, along with his plans for a Klingon opera. Garak's
claustrophobia is performed convincingly by Andrew Robinson and
the character realization that he must fact this fear is truly
captivating. I think the best part of this episode is when Martok
and Worf comment on Garak's facing of his own fears. This really
shows how they respect each other and have become a team with the
intent of escape.
By far the biggest
surprise and example of camaraderie is when the Breen turns out
not to be a Dominon spy at all (okay, so that was too dumb of a
prediction; I stand corrected). The Breen, obviously listening to
the others talking about escape, clear out of nowhere grabs the
Jem'Hadar phaser and then gives his own life to contribute to the
escape. Whew! I was waiting to see what that Breen was up to, and
I wasn't disappointed. Again the writing staff continues to
challenge the audience with twists and turns.
Back in the Alpha
Quadrant as Deep Space Nine prepares for the onslaught of the
Cardassian-Dominion fleet the feeling of togetherness is
paralleled. The Khitomer accords being reestablished was a
logical, if predictable step. I did find a little discomfort in
the rashness of the scene with Gowron, but got a kick out of the
Bashir Changling's sinister it's too late for that
stare. The camaraderie came to a figurehead when the Romulans
decloaked, asking to join the fleet. I really would've liked to
see this continued to the end of the story, with a mention of a
Federation-Romulan-Klingon alliance, but I didn't get it. I just
hope they are used in subsequent episodes and not forgotten
about. A feeling of hope was emanating from the Bajoran sector at
this point; when the major powers realized that the Dominion now
has a foothold and only united can the Alpha Quad. stand against
the Dominion.
The other equally
surprising twist of this episode was the plan of the Dominion and
the Bashir changling. We saw Mr. Sabotage throughout this episode
spitting out his pro-Dominion witticisms and doing some work on a
runabout. Frankly, I thought he was going let his comrades know
about the new alliance, but I guess that's too two-dimensional. A
Trilithium bomb! Not only do they show continuity from
ST:Generations, but the writers manage to throw us yet again.
This thread was done perfectly from the get-go when the Changling
killed everyone in the runabout and imitated someone else's
voice. That, while maybe not original entirely, was original
enough for this episode and AGAIN enthralled me! We get a little
STII: TWOK action with Kira's go to warp…. and
then doing it herself when Dax hesitated. But the best part had
to be the Defiant's Picard maneuver and then
sling-shotting the Yukon out of the sun. Not only was it visually
stunning, but we saw the same type of mystified face on the
Changling here as we did when the Dominion invaded, except this
time it had an oh...shit. feeling to it!
By Inferno's
Light ends with Dukat's promise of a 'next time'. We also
see that Kira was right about Dukat when she talked to Ziyal
about her father. I think the irony here is that Dukat labeled
Garak a heartless, cold-blooded killer, but in actuality Dukat is
so heartless that he downplays his attempt to kill his own
daughter along with millions others. The other thing about this
episode is that while just about the entire thing built up to
Armageddon as Sisko put it, the Dominion's plan was
to destroy the major forces of the Alpha Quadrant without firing
a shot.
And now, a few
minor observations:
- Although the
beginning was enthralling, it was a little anti-climatic after
such a heart-pounding cliffhanger the week before.
- I think
reestablishing the Khitomer Accords should've been a little more
dramatic, and certainly we should hear something from Starfleet.
Since when was Sisko authorized to sign treaties with the
Klingons anyway?
- The Bashir
Changling's pro-Dominion comments just keep getting better,
coming to a climax with his then...we MIGHT stand a
chance, after Gowron mentions standing united against the
Dominion.
- The camaraderie
is shown brilliantly also when Garak says that he wouldn't want
Martok's song to have a verse about the Cardassian who
cringed in the face of danger.
- I really wished
Armageddon had occurred, but I guess good things come
to those who wait.
- Excellent usage
of the Dax/Worf relationship at the end, bringing the story full
circle.
- This episode
also brings an important concept to the forefront; the Jem'Hadar
realization that Klingon honor cannot be defeated.
Writing:
Great continuity, excellent twists. The writers allude to a major
confrontation, but manage to keep our interest and adrenaline
level up without it.
Directing:
Another great episode under Les Landu's belt, but due to the
ensemble nature of the episode there really weren't any
extravagant scenes.
Acting: As
this was an ensemble piece, no one really had any great character
scenes. Andrew Robinson was fabulous as usual.
Overall
Verdict: Definitely a great ending to a great story.
Inferno brings Purgatory full circle with
continuity, plot twists, and serious implications for the future
of the Star Trek.
My people
have a saying...never turn your back on a Breen.
-Romulan to the
Real Bashir
Next Week: Doctor Bashir,
I presume, from
what I've seen and heard about it sounds very promising. I think
we're going to see some great performances from Alexander Siddig
and Robert Picardo.
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