"A Man Alone"
DEEP SPACE NINE: Season 1
Originally Aired January 17, 1993
I'm not quite sure why this is listed on Netflix as the second episode when it was actually the third, but I don't think that should matter too much this early in the game. I did wonder why this particular story was so early in the series though, as Odo is accused of murder and briefly relieved of his duties. We barely know him but we do know he's a main character, so it's probably too early to let allegations like that fly and put him in jeopardy. I realized after finishing the episode that's its exactly the reason why it made sense to write this episode so early in it's run. The point is we don't know him at all and it serves to highlight the division aboard Deep Space Nine. There's the new regime in the form of the Federation (Sisko, O'Brien, Dax, and Dr. Bashir) and the characters who were already aboard the space station (Kira, Odo, and Quark the bartender) that have a shared history we as viewers aren't familiar with just yet. Casting a shadow of doubt on the character of Odo is a good way to become acquainted with him. Quark even comes to Odo's defense, much in the same way as that phrase, "keep your friends close, but your enemies closer." While Sisko trusts Odo, he does relieve him of his duties because you really can't have a guy accused of murder investigating a murder when he's the prime suspect, can you?
This shady old guy who's pictured above is seen lurking a few times and it made me think of the old man in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade; "He chose poorly." I figured that guy had to have been behind the crime, since the close-up on a shifty-eyed guy is usually a clue, but not for the reason I was thinking it would be. I assumed he was another shape-shifting being like Odo. Before the revelation of the murderer is resolved, an angry mob cornered Odo in his quarters. That really hit me with a different realization- that DS9 is a Western in outer space. I think I'd read that before years ago, but now it's sinking in after seeing it with my own eyes. Think of the space station as a frontier town, with various drifters and shady characters passing through and also the Bajorans could serve as the Native Americans. Sisko could be the town mayor, with Odo acting as his sheriff. Brings new meaning to the "final frontier" motto. This episode even has the stereotypical angry lynch mob, sans pitchforks and torches, also sans a good slogan. "Shifter" just doesn't have a good ring to it.
Even with the darker murder plot, there's still plenty of humor present, just like in the Pilot. Dr. Bashir continues his flirtation with Dax and even sees Sisko as a threat to his attempts to "woo" Dax. I just hope my attempts with women haven't been that pathetic (yes, they are!) Quark is funny too, but the real highlight is Odo, who has a surprisingly sardonic viewpoint on relationships.
"I'll never understand the humanoid need to...couple." "I choose not to, too many compromises. You want to watch the Karo-net tournament, she wants to listen to music, so you compromise; you listen to music. You like Earth jazz, she prefers Klingon opera, so you compromise; you listen to Klingon opera. So here you were, ready to have a nice night watching the Karo-net tournament and you wind up spending an agonizing evening listening to Klingon opera."
Now I do want to hear Klingon opera! I'm sure it sounds like someone gargling mouth wash. That conversation was prompted following Quark and Odo hearing O'Brien's argument with his wife over being stationed on DS9. I like O'Brien and want to see more of him, but his wife is so far the least interesting character, but I guess she fills the role of "local school marm."
With Sisko being featured throughout much of the Pilot episode, and now Odo in the second (third) episode, hopefully this trend continues with each main character being given the spotlight. This episode had just the right mix of humor and suspense; so far 2 for 2 and no duds.
Originally Aired January 17, 1993
This shady old guy who's pictured above is seen lurking a few times and it made me think of the old man in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade; "He chose poorly." I figured that guy had to have been behind the crime, since the close-up on a shifty-eyed guy is usually a clue, but not for the reason I was thinking it would be. I assumed he was another shape-shifting being like Odo. Before the revelation of the murderer is resolved, an angry mob cornered Odo in his quarters. That really hit me with a different realization- that DS9 is a Western in outer space. I think I'd read that before years ago, but now it's sinking in after seeing it with my own eyes. Think of the space station as a frontier town, with various drifters and shady characters passing through and also the Bajorans could serve as the Native Americans. Sisko could be the town mayor, with Odo acting as his sheriff. Brings new meaning to the "final frontier" motto. This episode even has the stereotypical angry lynch mob, sans pitchforks and torches, also sans a good slogan. "Shifter" just doesn't have a good ring to it.
"I'll never understand the humanoid need to...couple." "I choose not to, too many compromises. You want to watch the Karo-net tournament, she wants to listen to music, so you compromise; you listen to music. You like Earth jazz, she prefers Klingon opera, so you compromise; you listen to Klingon opera. So here you were, ready to have a nice night watching the Karo-net tournament and you wind up spending an agonizing evening listening to Klingon opera."
Now I do want to hear Klingon opera! I'm sure it sounds like someone gargling mouth wash. That conversation was prompted following Quark and Odo hearing O'Brien's argument with his wife over being stationed on DS9. I like O'Brien and want to see more of him, but his wife is so far the least interesting character, but I guess she fills the role of "local school marm."
With Sisko being featured throughout much of the Pilot episode, and now Odo in the second (third) episode, hopefully this trend continues with each main character being given the spotlight. This episode had just the right mix of humor and suspense; so far 2 for 2 and no duds.
Comments
Post a Comment