3.15 — “Destiny”

3.15 — “Destiny”

Plot: A pair of Cardassian scientists visit DS9 under the new treaty between Cardassia and Bajor for the purpose of helping establish a subspace communications relay on the other side of the wormhole. Complications ensue when a former Vedek warns Sisko that these events have been predicted in a prophecy that ends with the wormhole’s destruction.

Thoughts: There’s a lot to love in this heavily layered episode. You’ve got a prophecy story which triggers Sisko’s reservations about being identified as the Emissary and an examination of faith by Kira in one of the episode’s best scenes. Or you can focus on the story arc about developing peace between Cardassia and Bajor, or the culture clash story about the Cardassian scientists interacting with station staff and Miles O’Brien. Culture clash! My favorite bit is this exchange:

GILORA: Then why have you been leading me to believe that you wanted me?

O’BRIEN: I haven’t. All we’ve done since we met is argue.

GILORA: I took your overt irritability toward me as a signal that you wished to pursue some physical relationship.

The Cardassian Gilora is played by Tracy Scoggins, who portrayed Captain Lochley in the fifth season of Babylon 5. Scoggins has a very glamorous look, which is obscured under the heavy makeup and prim schoolmarm dressing of the Bajoran scientists. Her talent comes through anyway.

The prophesying Vedek is reportedly a character whom we will see again. Good! My other favorite bit in this episode is Ferengi Rules of Acquisition 34 and 35: Peace is good for business, and War is good for business.

Dax is very solid in this episode, without being particularly central to anything that happens. It’s hard to recall now that there was a time in Season One when Terry Farrell (who was the last to be cast, during shooting of the premiere) lacked confidence and Dax was the least defined character in the show. The cast is so solid now that I almost feel like it will be a mistake to add Worf to the mix in Season Four.

4 out of 5 couplings. Everything’s a coupling in this episode which features two engineers who almost couple.

http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Destiny_(episode)