Garak and Odo are cloaked in mystery. Garak did something of which we have little or no knowledge. Those actions are at the center of this episode. The first half ended with his joining forces with an evil man with whom he once had an alliance and to whom he owed a huge favor. He must save face and is forced into torturing Odo. I thought for a moment, he was in spy mode, but his allegiance to Tain turns out to be genuine. The writing here is excellent as is the non-stop action. There are some interesting twists and turns along the way. We have a confrontation among the three most powerful evil forces in the known galaxy.
10 Reviews
A satisfying conclusions with an earned twist.
thevacinstaller31 March 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This is a fascinating episode. One of the aspects to this storyline that I appreciated was that there was no Starfleet moral superiority presented in this particular situation. Starfleet was sitting on the sidelines waiting for the Romulans and Cardassians to do the dirty work.
There is no point in going through the episode on a scene by scene basis ----- you know it's great. It's got intrigue, suspense, humor, drama, mystery, action. I will instead discuss a few of the moments that stood out for me.
The Michael Eddington character is further established in this episode and we discovery that he is a 'stafleet officer' through and through. He follows order .... ... like a good officer should do.
The scenes between Odo and Garak are fantastic to watch. Odo is presenting himself as the conscious of Garak and poking holes in the grim resolve of Garak to get the information at any costs. There is a subtlety in the performances --- I noticed a look of trepidation in Odo before one of the commercial breaks. If I was Odo I would consider breaking the immobilization device and then knocking out Garak --- but that's just me and my fear of being tortured talking.
Odo's big secret turns out to not have any strategic value but instead reflects a perceived personal weakness of Odo ---- He wants to return to the great link and misses it and his family.
The climax of this being a set up perpetrated by the Founders to destroy the ruthless spec op sector of the alpha quadrant was a brilliant idea on the founders part. This two part episode was primarily a character study on the personal strengths of Garak and Odo but it is the climax that establishes the founders as being just as cunning and effective in matters of intelligence.
There is no point in going through the episode on a scene by scene basis ----- you know it's great. It's got intrigue, suspense, humor, drama, mystery, action. I will instead discuss a few of the moments that stood out for me.
The Michael Eddington character is further established in this episode and we discovery that he is a 'stafleet officer' through and through. He follows order .... ... like a good officer should do.
The scenes between Odo and Garak are fantastic to watch. Odo is presenting himself as the conscious of Garak and poking holes in the grim resolve of Garak to get the information at any costs. There is a subtlety in the performances --- I noticed a look of trepidation in Odo before one of the commercial breaks. If I was Odo I would consider breaking the immobilization device and then knocking out Garak --- but that's just me and my fear of being tortured talking.
Odo's big secret turns out to not have any strategic value but instead reflects a perceived personal weakness of Odo ---- He wants to return to the great link and misses it and his family.
The climax of this being a set up perpetrated by the Founders to destroy the ruthless spec op sector of the alpha quadrant was a brilliant idea on the founders part. This two part episode was primarily a character study on the personal strengths of Garak and Odo but it is the climax that establishes the founders as being just as cunning and effective in matters of intelligence.
"I've never been Psychoanalyzed by a Romulan Before"
XweAponX29 July 2012
Warning: Spoilers
The Obsidian Order of Cardassia and the Romulan Tal-Shi'Ar have built a fleet of ships with which to attack The Founder's Home Planet. The ships De-cloak as they pass Deep Space Nine and enter The Celestial Temple.
The governments of Cardassia and Romulus promise The Federation that "something will be done about this" but The Sisko knows, that both of those governments will do absolutely nothing to stop this fleet. And neither will The Federation, as they secretly hope that it will be successful. The Sisko is ordered by Starfleet to sit around at The Station and twiddle his thumbs: But Odo is with that fleet, and The Sisko is not about to sit on his own hands. So he orders everyone to The Defiant. With them goes Lt. Cmd. Eddington, Starfleets "Non-Odo" Security Officer.
Odo and Garak had been involved with "A Simple Investigation" to find Enaubrin Tain: They have found him, or rather he has found Odo and Garak, and now Odo is Tain's prisoner.
The Moment Odo's runabout was Tractored in to the Warbird we knew he would be imprisoned, but what we did not know was that Tain has charged Garak with his interrogation.
Garak tries to get Odo to cooperate willingly, but even Garak knows, "Fat Chance." Garak even tries to tell Tain that Odo knows nothing, but it is either Garak interrogates Odo, or someone else does.
It is up to Garak. Tain gives him a machine, which Odo initially scoffs at: But what Odo does not know is that this machine will prevent him from changing shape, even to his liquid state.
So Garak begins to ask Odo questions. Meanwhile, on The Defiant, the cloaking device suddenly shorts out, leaving them exposed to The Jem Ha'Dar: It was Eddington. Since we never liked Eddington that much, because he was "The Quisling." When The Founders and The Vorta had the crew of The Defiant in the Device during "The Search part II," Eddington was the only crew-member who was actually co-operating with The Founders and The Vorta. This was not explained then, but it becomes apparent now that there is something not quite right with this guy: Why would he uphold The Dominion's interests during the simulated reality interrogation? In this episode, he reveals himself to be a legalistic bean-counter, which makes his upcoming role in the DS9 story a strange reversal, from legalistic to anarchistic in one easy step.
Odo absolutely refuses to cooperate in any way, but Tain's machine is keeping him from reverting to jelly. Odo is degenerating into a rag doll, and it is apparent that Garak is revolted by having to torture him, he hates doing it. Eventually Garak gives Odo a way out: "Tell me anything, any fact I don't know, lie if you have to" and this is where Odo finally decides he can trust Garak, he knows, Garak will never repeat anything he says to Tain or anyone else. I was expecting him to tell Garak about his attraction to Kira but instead he admits to Garak that he wants to go home: To The Great Link.
The Romulan Commander Lovok (Leland Orser) tries to press Garak for why he was protecting Odo, this is Garak's famous line: "I've never been psychoanalyzed by a Romulan before, this is a fascinating experience" and Lovok tells Garak: "You are a practiced Liar but I am a practiced Observer." This immediately shows that Lovok is more than he appears.
The Romulo-Cardassian Fleet reaches Odo's Home Planet and they begin to bombard the place, but it was a Trap: The Dominion knew all about it, all along, because Lovok was a Founder and he even encouraged Tain. 150 Jem Ha'Dar ships attack the fleet and blow them to bits. Garak quotes Shakespeare to Tain, "The Fault was not in our Stars, but Ourselves." The Cardassian and Romulan intelligence forces were efficient organizations and a definitive threat to The Dominion, now disposed of.
The Defiant arrives just in time to save Odo and Garak's runabout - Lovok had allowed Odo to leave. Because No Founder has ever harmed another.
So Ends a pair of episodes which set the tone for the next three and a half seasons of Deep Space Nine. World War Two has commenced, but the Federation, like the United States, needs to be persuaded to Join the fight: What is it gonna take?
The governments of Cardassia and Romulus promise The Federation that "something will be done about this" but The Sisko knows, that both of those governments will do absolutely nothing to stop this fleet. And neither will The Federation, as they secretly hope that it will be successful. The Sisko is ordered by Starfleet to sit around at The Station and twiddle his thumbs: But Odo is with that fleet, and The Sisko is not about to sit on his own hands. So he orders everyone to The Defiant. With them goes Lt. Cmd. Eddington, Starfleets "Non-Odo" Security Officer.
Odo and Garak had been involved with "A Simple Investigation" to find Enaubrin Tain: They have found him, or rather he has found Odo and Garak, and now Odo is Tain's prisoner.
The Moment Odo's runabout was Tractored in to the Warbird we knew he would be imprisoned, but what we did not know was that Tain has charged Garak with his interrogation.
Garak tries to get Odo to cooperate willingly, but even Garak knows, "Fat Chance." Garak even tries to tell Tain that Odo knows nothing, but it is either Garak interrogates Odo, or someone else does.
It is up to Garak. Tain gives him a machine, which Odo initially scoffs at: But what Odo does not know is that this machine will prevent him from changing shape, even to his liquid state.
So Garak begins to ask Odo questions. Meanwhile, on The Defiant, the cloaking device suddenly shorts out, leaving them exposed to The Jem Ha'Dar: It was Eddington. Since we never liked Eddington that much, because he was "The Quisling." When The Founders and The Vorta had the crew of The Defiant in the Device during "The Search part II," Eddington was the only crew-member who was actually co-operating with The Founders and The Vorta. This was not explained then, but it becomes apparent now that there is something not quite right with this guy: Why would he uphold The Dominion's interests during the simulated reality interrogation? In this episode, he reveals himself to be a legalistic bean-counter, which makes his upcoming role in the DS9 story a strange reversal, from legalistic to anarchistic in one easy step.
Odo absolutely refuses to cooperate in any way, but Tain's machine is keeping him from reverting to jelly. Odo is degenerating into a rag doll, and it is apparent that Garak is revolted by having to torture him, he hates doing it. Eventually Garak gives Odo a way out: "Tell me anything, any fact I don't know, lie if you have to" and this is where Odo finally decides he can trust Garak, he knows, Garak will never repeat anything he says to Tain or anyone else. I was expecting him to tell Garak about his attraction to Kira but instead he admits to Garak that he wants to go home: To The Great Link.
The Romulan Commander Lovok (Leland Orser) tries to press Garak for why he was protecting Odo, this is Garak's famous line: "I've never been psychoanalyzed by a Romulan before, this is a fascinating experience" and Lovok tells Garak: "You are a practiced Liar but I am a practiced Observer." This immediately shows that Lovok is more than he appears.
The Romulo-Cardassian Fleet reaches Odo's Home Planet and they begin to bombard the place, but it was a Trap: The Dominion knew all about it, all along, because Lovok was a Founder and he even encouraged Tain. 150 Jem Ha'Dar ships attack the fleet and blow them to bits. Garak quotes Shakespeare to Tain, "The Fault was not in our Stars, but Ourselves." The Cardassian and Romulan intelligence forces were efficient organizations and a definitive threat to The Dominion, now disposed of.
The Defiant arrives just in time to save Odo and Garak's runabout - Lovok had allowed Odo to leave. Because No Founder has ever harmed another.
So Ends a pair of episodes which set the tone for the next three and a half seasons of Deep Space Nine. World War Two has commenced, but the Federation, like the United States, needs to be persuaded to Join the fight: What is it gonna take?
Wonderful
ghanima_atrieadies20 February 2021
Garak tortures Odo
Tweekums4 May 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Following on from "Improbable Cause" this episode opens with Garak and Odo on board a ship that is part of an invasion fleet heading to the Gamma Quadrant in order to attack the Founders' home world. Their positions though are very different, Garak is working with his old friend Enabran Tain and Odo is a prisoner who he must torture to gain further information about the Founders. As the invasion fleet goes past Deep Space Nine on its way to the Gamma Quadrant Sisko request permission to go after it in an effort to rescue Odo and Garak; permission is refused but he goes anyway taking the rest of the senior crew with him in the Defiant.
This was an exciting episode with plenty of thrills and a few surprises, the highlights however were the scenes between Garak and Odo, Andrew Robinson and Rene Auberjonois put in great performances. It was interesting to see that Star Fleet would be happy to see the invasion go ahead even if they officially disapprove.
This was an exciting episode with plenty of thrills and a few surprises, the highlights however were the scenes between Garak and Odo, Andrew Robinson and Rene Auberjonois put in great performances. It was interesting to see that Star Fleet would be happy to see the invasion go ahead even if they officially disapprove.
I'm a very good tailor
snoozejonc7 June 2022
Garak and Tain continue their mission into the Gamma Quadrant.
This is a very strong finish to a two-parter that mixes action with great character development.
There is little I can say about the plot without spoiling, however it is safe to say that characters like Garak, Odo, Tain, and Lovok have the most compelling scenes. Odo and Garak in particular are developed superbly and have a number of intense scenes together. The writing is quite clever and does not spell out exactly why certain characters behave in a certain way, but you can read between the lines about their motivations.
It links back cleverly to some of the early character exchanges between Garak and Dr Bashir in the previous episode as they discussed subjects like 'Julius Ceasar' and 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf'. Humorously linked to that is an amusing lighthearted scene between Bashir and Chief O'Brien.
It is an important episode in the overarching narrative of DS9 as it shifts the focus on to the Dominion as primary antagonist, but it also leaves a certain level of uncertainty about the strategic alliances that might be formed by other antagonists like the Romans and Cardassians.
The whole DS9 crew get to contribute to the plot in a good way and all the actors do great work. The standouts easily though are Andrew Robinson, Rene Auberjonois and Paul Dooley.
Visually it is one of the best Star Trek episodes for spectacle. The space battles are good, the make-up effects are wonderful, as are the pyrotechnics. It think my favourite part is when one character wipes a mirror to reveal another perfectly framed in its reflection.
This is a very strong finish to a two-parter that mixes action with great character development.
There is little I can say about the plot without spoiling, however it is safe to say that characters like Garak, Odo, Tain, and Lovok have the most compelling scenes. Odo and Garak in particular are developed superbly and have a number of intense scenes together. The writing is quite clever and does not spell out exactly why certain characters behave in a certain way, but you can read between the lines about their motivations.
It links back cleverly to some of the early character exchanges between Garak and Dr Bashir in the previous episode as they discussed subjects like 'Julius Ceasar' and 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf'. Humorously linked to that is an amusing lighthearted scene between Bashir and Chief O'Brien.
It is an important episode in the overarching narrative of DS9 as it shifts the focus on to the Dominion as primary antagonist, but it also leaves a certain level of uncertainty about the strategic alliances that might be formed by other antagonists like the Romans and Cardassians.
The whole DS9 crew get to contribute to the plot in a good way and all the actors do great work. The standouts easily though are Andrew Robinson, Rene Auberjonois and Paul Dooley.
Visually it is one of the best Star Trek episodes for spectacle. The space battles are good, the make-up effects are wonderful, as are the pyrotechnics. It think my favourite part is when one character wipes a mirror to reveal another perfectly framed in its reflection.
A follow-up to the prior episode...
planktonrules26 December 2014
Warning: Spoilers
At the end of the last episode, Garak rejoined his old 'friend', Tain, with the Obsidian Order. Now, at least, the audience knows exactly who Garak was--and they learn his real name as well as his old status as the #2 man of the Order. In addition, the Order is able to take Odo custody--and they want to cross-examine him to learn more about their enemy, the Founders. Why do they need this information? Because some rogue Cardassians and Romulans are planning on attacking the Founders and, hopefully, ending any threat to their empires.
When the show begins, Tain pushes Garak to interrogate Odo--though Odo is less than helpful. Additionally, though the Federation is against the attack on the Founders in principle, they have a wait and see attitude--and order the Commander to stay put. Naturally, however, the Commander chooses to ignore this and he proceeds into the Gamma Quadrant with his ship, the Defiant.
This is an action-packed episode--with lots of explosions, bravery and betrayals. I like this sort of episode--especially since "Deep Space 9" was so often cerebral. Well worth seeing--and a shade of evil Founders action to come.
When the show begins, Tain pushes Garak to interrogate Odo--though Odo is less than helpful. Additionally, though the Federation is against the attack on the Founders in principle, they have a wait and see attitude--and order the Commander to stay put. Naturally, however, the Commander chooses to ignore this and he proceeds into the Gamma Quadrant with his ship, the Defiant.
This is an action-packed episode--with lots of explosions, bravery and betrayals. I like this sort of episode--especially since "Deep Space 9" was so often cerebral. Well worth seeing--and a shade of evil Founders action to come.
A Shakespeare tragedy
stephendibb25 October 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Continuing the Shakespeare motif, a quote from A Midsummer Nights Dream. "The course of true love never did run smooth"
Garak is undoubtedly a most interesting character and the scene where he and Tain share a drink side by side on the sofa, reminiscing, shows the true reason for his need to want to be by Tain's side again. As any militaristic hierarchy would understand, "Don't ask, don't tell". Also the torture scene shows the horror of trying to keep a friend alive under the most extreme conditions. Which is worse, betraying a friend to help them live or killing them?
Beneath the fighting and back-stabbing, this to me is a tale of what true love and true friendship can sometimes cost .
Third Time Watching BUT...
CzyboutFlix10 December 2021
Only now, I have a real issue with Sisko disobeying a lawful order! It never bothered me before but now that I'm older and have actually been in command...this episode now rubs me wrong. I like Sisko's energy and compassion for "his" people but the prospect of his entire crew receiving a court-martial because of his action to save one of his crew; well, this doesn't sit well with me, no matter how I try to suspend my beliefs.
The torture of Odo is another issue for me now. Garak should never be received back onto DS9. No redemption for him!
The torture of Odo is another issue for me now. Garak should never be received back onto DS9. No redemption for him!
The heroes are villains
bbraat20 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I agree that the crew are presented as good for violating the law and Garak is nonredeemable.
Once again, the Fed's most inept captain, Sisko, takes the senior command on a mission in violation of orders thus risking those on the Defiant. This also risks Sisko's command, DS9, since all the most experienced station commanders are gone thus leaving the station vulnerable to attack.
Who knew that Starfleet dispensed starships to inexperienced commanders of space stations? I guess operating a space station is the same thing as operating a starship, right?
It's like having Air Traffic Controllers take a battleship on a military mission. It's an almost identical skill set.
Garak tortures Odo with Nazi like precision and in the process SOMEHOW endears himself to Odo and they become friends.
WTH?
Once again, the Fed's most inept captain, Sisko, takes the senior command on a mission in violation of orders thus risking those on the Defiant. This also risks Sisko's command, DS9, since all the most experienced station commanders are gone thus leaving the station vulnerable to attack.
Who knew that Starfleet dispensed starships to inexperienced commanders of space stations? I guess operating a space station is the same thing as operating a starship, right?
It's like having Air Traffic Controllers take a battleship on a military mission. It's an almost identical skill set.
Garak tortures Odo with Nazi like precision and in the process SOMEHOW endears himself to Odo and they become friends.
WTH?
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