Star Trek DS9 - Season 3 - Episode 21
Star Trek DS9 - 3x21 - The Die Is Cast
Originally Aired: 1995-5-1
Synopsis:
On the eve of a Romulan/Cardassian attack against the Dominion, Garak may have to prove his loyalty to his former mentor by eliminating Odo. [DVD]
Filler Quotient:
0, not filler, do not skip this episode.
- Numerous major long term plot threads are serviced here.
Problems
None
Factoids
- This episode is kind of a runaway idea. Someone on the writing staff just kind of blurted out an idea, wondering what would happen if Garak blew up his own shop. Eventually the idea got so large, it didn't fit the constraints of a single episode.
Remarkable Scenes
- A fleet of Cardassian and Romulan ships decloaking near DS9.
- Enabran Tain reminiscing with Garak about the old days. Supposedly, Garak got a confession out of someone during an interrogation by just sitting and staring at him for four hours straight. Disturbing...
- Eddington revealing he sabotaged the cloaking device.
- Sisko to Eddington: "I'd stay out of the chief's way if I were you."
- Odo's initial reaction to Garak's torture.
- A peeling Odo. Very disturbing...
- Odo revealing his desire to return to his people to Garak.
- The attack on the Founders' home world and the revelation that it was all a trap.
- Enabran Tain staying on the warbird.
- Odo saving Garak.
- The Defiant showing up in the battle.
- Garak: "Do you know what the sad part is, Odo? I'm a very good tailor."
My Review
A quality ending to a quality story. Garak and Odo finally have some respect for each other and the Dominion once again proves its valor. I'll never forget the Romulan officer aboard the warbird reporting that 150 Jem'Hadar ships were coming out of the nebula. 150 vs. 20! I don't like those odds at all! Enabran Tain certainly got what was coming to him, but in a way it seemed almost tragic. It seems now Garak will never get his old life back, now that the Obsidian Order and the Tal Shiar are all but eliminated. Maybe not gone per se, but definitely disarmed for the moment. I think Garak has finally begun to accept that if and when he does return to his people, that it will be to a very different life than he had and for a very different reason than he had originally expected. This two parter is one of DS9's finest moments.
The following are comments submitted by my readers.
I absolutely love the final scene of this episode, where we only see Odo's reflection in the mirror. It kind of makes the whole thing feel surreal. Odo's offer of friendship there is a beautiful moment for both of my two favorite characters of DS9, and the choice of camera angle was just perfect. Too bad I can't seem to find the proper words to describe exactly why I love this scene.
This episode is pretty jam-packed. It's got action, subterfuge, sabotage, willful disobeyance of orders, a substantial space battle (!), and - the best part - great dramatic scenes between Garak and Odo to hit you in the feels. This is some of the best Trek has to offer.
I've heard season 4 is when this series really takes off, and I hope this awesome two-parter is a taste of what's to come. Garak's wide-eyed stare is so effective, he really is a great character. I loved the special effects in this episode, both the peeling Odo and the big ship battle.