Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV Series) Behind the Lines (1997) User Reviews

How reliable is Odo

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 29 July 2010]

On Deep Space Nine Rom has managed to get his hands on a pad belonging to Demar, it details his suggestion to poison the Jem'Hadar before the last of the Ketracel White runs out and they lose control. When Odo finds out Kira and the resistance had organised the theft he is not pleased as he'd advised against such an operation thinking it would endanger the Bajorans on the station. When another shapeshifter arrives on the station Odo is somewhat surprised and after he links with her Kira is concerned that he is being manipulated. When Quark hears that the Cardassians have come up with a way of deactivating the minefield the resistance come up with a plan to thwart them; this however goes horribly wrong when Odo chooses to link with the other shapeshifter rather than deactivate the security system which leaves Rom in a prison cell when the Cardassians catch him.

Back on the Defiant Sisko is given a new mission as Star Fleet have discovered why the Dominion have been able to do so well; they have a sensor array which lets them see all movements in five sectors and it even sees cloaked ships within two light-years. Sisko won't be leading the mission however as he has been promoted to a headquarters position, the job of leading the raid has fallen to Commander Dax.

This was a good episode with two quality stories, it was interesting that they chose not to show Dax's mission against the array but to show Sisko worrying back at base. I know it was probably done for cost reasons but it did work. I like how the two totally separate parts of the story have developed so far this series without any communication between those left on the station and those with the fleet. I was really surprised by the ending, I didn't think Odo would abandon his care for his friends so easily; I look forward to seeing what happens next.

Nice focus back on DS9

[snoozejonc · 8/10 · 23 March 2023]

Odo faces temptation as tensions increase on Terok Nor.

This is a solid episode with memorable character moments.

For me the best scenes involve the dynamic between Odo, Kira, and the female changeling. The story is best on its first viewing, as you don't know where Odo's arc is going, so his behaviour and Kira's reaction is quite gripping. I also enjoyed the scenes with Quark and Rom, particularly when Quark is drunk.

The subplot involving Starfleet's war effort includes some good moments of build up to an important mission, but it is a slight anticlimax not seeing any of it.

For me Rene Auberjonois, Nana Visitor, and Armin Shimerman are the standout performers.

For me it's a 7.5/10 but I round upwards.

Gee, thanks Odo!

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 20 January 2015]

Captain Sisko has been promoted to a new position off the station, so when it comes to a secret mission, it's up to Dax to command the Defiant. They are out to destroy a sensor array put up by the Dominion that allows them to see the cloaked ships in the Alpha Quadrant.

The other plot involves the Bajorans. It seems that they have a plan to poison the Ketracel that is needed by the Jem'Hadar. But it needs help--and Odo is supposed to be helping. The problem is that another shapeshifter arrives on the station and Odo is too busy joining with this being than with fulfilling his responsibilities to his comrades. Yes, for once, Odo is a selfish jerk--uncharacteristically so. Fortunately, aside form this huge problem with the plot, the rest of the show is absolutely great--and well worth seeing.

The Loss of an Ally

[Hitchcoc · 10/10 · 2 November 2018]

Remember in the Odyssey when Odysseus's men succumb to the Lotus Eaters. They are rendered useless. I'm not sure that the "Link" isn't almost like a narcotic. That female shape-shifter/founder comes on board and talks with Odo and soon connects with him. Apparently, the result is that whoever is a founder lives in a liquid universe and dismisses the hopes and dreams of the world outside. They seem to also be satisfied to cause misery and pain without discrimination--much like the drug-addled characters of Greek mythology. I would ask that one ask whether Odo has a reason for doing what he does at the time he does it.

Odo being peer pressured by his family.

[thevacinstaller · 7/10 · 12 August 2021]

Well, another serialized episode to digest.

• Captain Sisko doesn't strike me as a good candidate to be behind a desk signing paperwork.

• The female changeling continues to be a menace with her quiet rage/distain to all organic beings. I found it interesting that she considered the alpha quadrant war to be to be beneath her and delegates that to the Vorta.

• I completely forgot that the changelings apparently had solid forms before evolving into changelings. What's up with hating what you use to be?

• I am not sure what the female changelings motivations are with linking with Odo. You could conclude that she is pacifying Odo but I think her motivations is just to educate on what it means to be a changeling. Seems like it is life filled with euphoria where nothing but the link matters. The timing is interesting considering the mine field is about to be taken down.

• Looks like Nog is completely pooched and left hanging out naked by Odo getting his link orgasm on.

The hitch is attached and the serialized party trailer is now flying down the road. Let us continue on with the carrot of 'what if's' dangling in front of our collective faces.

Stupid and inconsistent plot

[yincognyto-91718 · 2/10 · 28 August 2019]

This episode is a perfect example why the writing in DS9 (apart from some quality bits involving the Cardassian and Ferengi related episodes throughout the series and the Dominion war arc that's basically the only interesting thing about the show) is simply below par and inferior to, say, TNG. While the majority of the episode is reasonable in describing the Defiant missions in the war against the Dominion, the resistance cell actions on DS9 aka Terok Nor, it fails miserably at the end, in terms of keeping the Odo character consistent with the previous 5 seasons. The latter alone destroyed both the episode and its conclusion, really.

Without spoiling it, it's simply inconceivable that a character that devoted his life to justice and, by extension, peaceful resolution to disputes (remember, he refused to carry weapons on him as the Security chief), who has an unwavering attitude of rejecting a vast array of temptations offered to himself, a character that developped more than friendly relationships with the "solids" and who holds one's responsibility and accountability - including his own - in the highest regard ... to do what he did at the end of this episode, not to mention THE WAY in which he did it. More specifically, I'm not talking about siding with a Founder once in a while (because that's understandable, after all, they belong to the same race), I'm talking about doing that irresponsibly and without caring for the repercussions of his actions. It's like having an episode where Odo looks away and doesn't bother to investigate and find the murderer of another individual that happened under his watch ... because he just doesn't give a f.... about it. Especially when the same (dumb) writers emphasized his responsibility and professionalism with every occasion throughout the series.

Lastly, Odo doing such things after just two "sessions"/meetings with another character is absurd, considering he had at least two of such encounters in the past with the said character and was clearly unfazed at this level before.

Bottom line, the writers (again) chose to suit the story after the desired result instead of modelating the result based on the story. Apparently, for such amateur writers, it's the effect that determines the cause, and not the cause that leads to a certain effect. And, of course, the whole plot is not only overly simplistic and ridiculous, but utterly not believable. The resolve is insulting the intelligence of the viewers, plain and simple. This could have been done in a million of better, more intelligent and more believeble ways than foolishly playing Odo out of character, really.