Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

After a decent start, the third season of Star Trek: Deep Space 9 sort of languished through the bulk of it’s 26 episodes. Beginning with Odo’s continuing quest to learn more about his people (concluding a two-part episode that finished season two), the series seemed to have wandered a bit, almost becoming lost in space.

Older Trek viewers may recognize that pun, but really, there are many forgettable episodes in season three (and, to be fair, some decent ones too). But things don’t really start to pick up until the Dominion returns in episode 67, The Die is Cast. This is really the second half of a two part story, and to get the whole scope you’ll need to also check out Improbabale Cause to get the whole scoop.

Still, The Die is Cast stands on its own as a complete episode, too. As our story begins, a massive fleet of Romulan and Cardassian ships appears at the entrance to the wormhole. Commander Sisko and his staff are prepared for an attack on the station, but the ships mysteriously begin to go through the wormhole instead.

Soon, a message is intercepted on its way to Cardassia. The sender is none other than Enabran Tain (Paul Dooley), the head of Cardassia’s top secret Obsidian Order. Along with the Romulan secret service, the notorious Tal’Shiar, Tain is launching a preemptive strike on the homeworld of the Founders, the shape-changing leaders of the sinister Dominion.

Both the Romulans and the Cardassians disavow the actions of their “renegade” secret orders, but do nothing to stop them. In truth, they fear the Dominion, and secretly desire Tain’s mission to be a successful one. Meanwhile, the Federation has ordered Commander Sisko (Avery Brookes) stand at ready with the Defiant at DSS9 to protect Bajor from the Jem’Hadar, who are certain to attack when the Founders homeworld is destroyed.

But things don’t quite go as planned, and Sisko soon learns that both Odo (Rene Auberjonois) and Garak (Andrew Robinson) are somehow onboard one of the cloaked Romulan ships. Unwilling to abandon a member of his crew, Sisko races through the wormhole to the rescue-and ends up smack dab in the middle of a colossal space battle. But has he arrived in time to rescue Odo and Garak?

This episode packs a punch in several departments. There are plenty of shoot ‘em up space battles to rachet up the adventure level a few notches. But there is also an allegory here, one about acceptance. Garak is willing to go to great lengths to win back a place in his own society, even betraying this friendship with Odo. Ironically Odo, a pariah himself even if by choice, is in the best possible position to understand Garak’s desires.

Add to this some great performances by Robinson, Auberjonois, and especially, Paul Dooley as Enabran Tain. Add to all this a blockbuster surprise ending that will have ramifications for the entire future of the series, and you have one of the best episodes ever of Deep Space 9.

More Deep Space Nine

Blood Oath

Crossover

The Jem’Hadar

Classic Trek Episodes

Arena

The City on the Edge of Forever

The Doomsday Machine

This Side of Paradise

What Are Little Girls Made Of?


And Movies

Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan




Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV