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Behind the Lines Airdate: Week of
October 20th, 1997
Written by: Rene Echevarria
Directed by: LeVar Burton
In short: More of a transition show, "Behind" still provides for some interesting drama as well as a disturbing character twist.
Brief Summary: Just as the Resistance seems to be on the road to success, Odo begins to have second thoughts, thoughts that are only encouraged by the arrival of the Female Shapeshifter. Eventually he is led by her to abandon his responsibilities to Kira and to a key mission. The mission fails as a result, leading to the capture of Rom and an open opportunity for the Dominion to clear the minefield.
Review: That @#$%@#$! What else can be said? Odo, sweet Odo, has betrayed... no, that's not even the right word. He's abandoned his cause and everything he thought he believed in. This could have very easily been a melodramatic episode because of his sudden turn, but it was not. Instead it was a more subtle tale, about Odo's own sense of loneliness and how it has led him to abandon those friends who cared so very much for him. Perhaps most importantly, "Behind the Lines" was another classic example of how DS9 lets the characters and not minutae fill in the plot details, making for extremely effective storytelling.
The beginning was one of the best in Trek's history, that simple. It was good to finally see the Resistance doing something, and something that made sense. But what really warmed my heart was how it was played out. The wry commentary by Kira along with Rom's interjections was classic example of how voiceovers can be effectively used to convey what is about to happen and why. All in all, the scene had it all - a good premise, good direction, and good acting. And, of course, the back snapping sound.
Of course, this story was actually about Odo, though the riot is important in that regard too. What better thing than a riot to show Odo how chaotic human existance can be? The first scene between him and Kira showed that he was already on the Female Shifter's side before she had even arrived. It is his nature to want an orderly, safe rebellion, but human existence won't allow that. Indeed, the guiding concept throughout this show was how Odo's priorities differ from the priorities of solids. Weyoun and Dukat wanted to impress the Shifter; he did not. The Shifter would take advantage of this and so exploit Odo's differing priorities to the point that before it was over they didn't match the priorities of solids at all, leading to the shocking series of events at the end.
That in my mind is a very elegant way of setting up a person's betrayal of others. It worked so well not because Odo gave Rom away - that's not Odo - but because he lost all interest in Rom. It's a much more painful betrayal, a betrayal that says that Odo simply doesn't care any more. That's what stung about the show, and made Odo's transforamtion so absolutely chilling. The natural analogy is that Odo is on drugs now, and indeed all the symptoms are there - a change in values, dependency, lost sense of reality, etc. But it is so much more, because it is not a physical addiction he is attached to. It is an emotional one, based on loneliness and a lack of self-understanding. Odo didn't know who he was, so, as Kira put it, he went on a "personal quest" - a very selfish thing that proved to have very selfish repercussions.
Some may have trouble swallowing Odo's interest in the Great Link. But Odo has alway wanted to be with his people, to have that "clarity." (One thing that did drive me crazy about this show was the constant Zenisms). "The Die Is Cast" is probably the best example of that. Yes, it seems sudden that Odo would betray all for the Link, but remember how lonely he truly is. The thing he prizes most is his relationship to Kira, and if the Link can offer something stronger than that, then his betraying the war effort should not come as a surprise to anyone.
My favorite part of this portion of the episode though was the Female Shifter herself. With all her talk about how humans try to contend for attention, it was really her doing that same thing with Odo. The drug dealer analogy works with her of course, but I think it goes much further. She in a sense raped Odo, not just in dictionary terms, but in terms of personality as well, ripping from him all sense of self-being and replacing it with a illusion that he was in control. She took from him his personality - his humanity - by saying he would get something far greater, when instead she deprived him of that ability to make decisions that defines us all as human beings.
Let's hope the writers finish this well. Obviously Odo must be good before it is over. Let's hope it is slightly more complex than Darth Vader's turn to the light side of the Force. Let's also hope that Kira struggles to forgive him,and there's some question as to whether or not he can be trusted any more. My hope is that Odo will become stronger as a result of this and more attached to the humanity he so often struggles with.
A few other notes. Damar's a great character I think. He's a complete jerk and borderline incompetent, but he always just narrowly misses messing up, as his promotion to Gul shows. Quite realistic I think, and somehow an appropriate assistant to Dukat. Speaking of Dukat, didn't you just love his scene with the Shifter, especially his comment about they being leaders of their "respective worlds"? Boy is he in for a reality shock. Weyoun was sleazy as usual, and even had a bit of polish scratched off his diplomatic exterior in his scene with Dukat and the Shifter. He's not in control, and he realizes it I think. Quark's role, though hurt by the predictable "Let's get the bad guy drunk" scene, was quite funny, especially when he was making fun of Rom. Overall, good work with the side people, with the exception perhaps of Bashir, who should not be thinking about women at a time like this.
I found the B-plot interesting if not completely effective. It essentially involved little plot-wise, and indeed missed the chance to have big explosions, but in its own way worked as a nice character piece. It was relieving in a strange sense because at least with it there were no shocking betrayals or disappointments, as with the A-story. Though nothing truly compelling happened, I did feel for Sisko when he saw his ship depart, and there were several good bits of dialogue, with the scene on the Defiant's bridge being the outstanding example. It showed how Sisko truly was concerned for the ship and its crew. Mostly there, but mostly it worked too.
There were weak points. I thought the mechanisms that led up to Rom's capture could have been better handled, though the fruit basket was a nice touch. Having the minefield knocked out by such a simple thing seems like a bit of a cheat I think. I've already mentioned Damar's drunkeness. Another thing that irked was Terry Farrell. The battle ritual, while a good idea, seemed a bit hammy as it was done. I would have suggested a simple tally of the number of ships killed, but the ritual did have an idea behind it, so I'll let it slide. But Terry Farrell! She was fine the rest of the show, but in the end she was simply horrible, sort of a bright and cheery Shatner. She may have improved over the course of the dialogue, but I was in such convulsions that I think I may have been rendered unconscious.
A couple of weeks ago I criticized LeVar Burton for some horrendous directorial work with "The Raven." I eat my words here. He did a great job with the camera angles I thought. The opening sequence in the Promenade was great, but in several other places he did well also. The scene in the Security Office between Kira and Damar worked well in particular I thought.
So overall a good effort and a nice example of how once again DS9 lets the characters drive its plots. A couple of weak lines here and there, and maybe the B-plot could have been more substantial, but all in all a nice way to set up things to come.
Some short takes:
-Bolian mission? Does that mean the Bolian world has been captured?
-Catch the reference to Area 51, the movie Ron Moore is working on with Brannon Braga? It was the name for the section Rom was working in. Quite nice.
-I thought Kira's calling Odo made sense and was not a nitpick. She was frustrated, of course, but also she had to consider that he may have done it already. It was pretty clear that she was concerned about Rom, but Damar prevented her from acting on it.
- Dukat said he confined his men to quarters. I doubt he had very many to confine!
-Interesting how the Founders let the Vorta handle the war. Of course, with only a couple of them around, that makes sense.
Writing: Strong character work.
Acting: Good all around, with the Jens, Visitor, and Auberjunois do particularly good.
Directing: .Solid work throughout by the suddenly good Burton.
`
Rating: 9.1 out of 10.0
Quote: Female Shifter: "You look troubled Odo. Did she upset you?"
Odo: "No... not really"
Next week: Time runs out.
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