2.26 — “The Jem’Hadar”

2.26 — “The Jem’Hadar”

Plot: Sisko’s camping trip in the Gamma Quadrant with Jake, Nog, and Quark is interrupted by an encounter with the Jem’Hadar, an unfamiliar race who are the enforcers for the mysterious Dominion.

Thoughts: The opening scene between Sisko and Jake crystallizes a lot of why I love this show. You understand immediately that Sisko still wants his son to be the future Starfleet officer he isn’t, Jake still wants to support his friend Nog, and despite their differences, these characters love each other, and they’ll be fine, unless something (like the Jem’Hadar) prevents them. Callbacks to previous episodes were rare in TOS and TNG, but in DS9, the Star Trek show with a memory, they are so layered that it becomes part of an evolving fabric that becomes richer and more complex over time. The special treat is when they talk about Jake’s mother.

Something has really shifted in this show, because I find myself really liking Quark sometimes. He and Nog both talk too damn much, especially when shouting during a crisis and when the Jem’Hadar are nearby.

Still, you have to love this exchange, which is pure Ira Steven Behr:

QUARK: You don’t like Ferengi, do you?

SISKO: That is not true.

QUARK: All right, name me one Ferengi you do like. Ah ha. You see? I was right. You Federation types are all alike. You talk about tolerance and understanding but you only practice it toward people who remind you of yourselves. Because you disapprove of Ferengi values, you scorn us, distrust us, insult us every chance you get.

SISKO: Quark, I don’t have to stand here and defend myself.

QUARK: Tell me, Commander, would you allow your son to marry a Ferengi female?

SISKO: I never thought about it.

QUARK: Exactly my point.

Quark doesn’t miss the chance later to pronounce the Ferengi better than humans, and he’s got a point maybe. As long as we ignore the sexist yuk yuks about the females not being allowed to work or wear clothes, a holdover from the other (inferior) series.

“The Jem’Hadar” is a nice season finale. It moves well and introduces the conflict central to the next season without a “To be continued…”. I hope the Jem’Hadar and Dominion will be interesting, and there will be enough to differentiate them from the other Trek villains. The Borg is already more technically advanced than the Federation, and the Romulans are already masters of espionage. Some of the strengths I see so far are in common with the Cardassians: they are alien, but smart, cultured, and well-spoken, so it doesn’t seem farfetched that they are a space-faring race at all (hello, Klingons), or that they would be able to match wits with the Federation.

I’m feeling excessively generous. 5 out of 5 puzzle lock collars.

Season two is over!

http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/The_Jem%27Hadar