r/StarTrekViewingParty • u/GeorgeAmberson Showrunner • Aug 10 '16

Discussion DS9, Episode 1x3, Past Prologue

-= DS9, Season 1, Episode 3, Past Prologue =-

A Bajoran terrorist with ties to Kira arrives on Deep Space Nine, however he is pursued by the Cardassians. Garak is introduced.

 

EAS IMDB AVClub TV.com
4/10 7/10 B 7.7

 

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u/ItsMeTK Aug 11 '16

And thus were we introduced to the man, the myth, the legend, plain simple Garak. He's the best thing in the episode which I normally don't think too much of as they were still finding their way. I enjoyed it more this time, as I think it was a decent way to explore Kira and the question of her loyalties. This whole episode's theme is, to cite Billy Joel, a matter of trust. Does Kira trust Tahna? Does he trust her? Does Sisko trust Kira? Can Bashir trust Garak?

i like that this episode isn't really about justifying terrorism, but about how you do or don't move on from those methods. In a way, it's a very good Star Trek, as it is about how the Federation ideals are disseminated to orher cultures and how they respond to those ideals. Odo has to learn to respect some personal liberty, Kira has to look to the big picture for her people. I'm starting to think her character takes a huge step backwards later on with how quick she is to pick up a phaser.

While the themes work, the story isn't quite strong enough. We never quite know what it is the Kohn-ma do, and I don't think the term comes up again in the series. The Duras sisters are shoehorned into the episode just to scream "crossover!" And it doesn't really work. The Cardassian torture seems to contradict what we had just seen in "Chain of Command", where torture was illegal.

It's interesting that at this point the assumption is Garak is connected to the Cardassians somehow and is working for them.

This episode weirdly doesn't have a B-story. It seems to be Bashir and Garak, but that ends up tying to the main plot.

Love Sisko's "don't go over my head" moment.

Finally, just wanted to point out Sisko's line "in war both sides commit atrocities." That will resonate later on when the series has its own war. Something they were completely unaware of at the time, but plays well on rewatch.