4.12 — “Paradise Lost”
Plot: In a continuation from last week’s episode, the Federation president has declared martial law on Earth to guard against a Dominion invasion. As the promised invasion fails to materialize, Sisko begins to suspect the existence of a conspiracy within Starfleet.
Thoughts: The Red Squadron described in this story seems awfully similar to the elite cadet pilots in TNG 5.19, “The First Duty,” a story also credited to Ronald D. Moore. The scenes where Sisko puzzles out this plot and then interrogates the cadet are original, showing DS9 taking risks to breaking new ground at just the time its sister series seems reluctant to do so. The moral dilemma confronted by Sisko as he faces the would-be usurper is perhaps less original, but still presents substantial ethical issues. To me, this is good Star Trek.
Showrunner and co-screenwriter Ira Steven Behr is annoyed that they ran out of money during shooting and could not have as many special effects or extras as they wanted. I think he needn’t worry. The drama is clear, and the actor who plays Admiral Leyton (Robert Foxworth–never trust an admiral) sells the action very well.
As in part one, the writers find the power in understatment. Two deaths aboard the Dominion mean more than a truckload of big explosions, because a norm has been violated. The battle of wills between Sisko and Leyton doesn’t need to be underscored by a fistfight or the shooting of a gun. They are talking about things that matter, so less is more. As TOS proved again and again, you don’t to be elaborate or expensive to have an impact.
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