Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV Series) The Changing Face of Evil (1999) User Reviews

Cardassia changes sides

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 25 January 2010]

Things are looking bad for the Federation; first the Breen lead an audacious raid to the heart of Federation territory and attacked Star Fleet headquarters in San Francisco and then they drive Star Fleet from their only base inside Dominion territory. This latter attack has a greater effect on Sisko and the people of DS9 as they were lucky to survive the battle when the Defiant is destroyed after being hit by a Breen weapon that shut down all of its systems. Back on Bajor Kai Winn has gone over to the side of the Pah-wraiths and asks to see the ancient texts concerning them against the advice of her assistant Solbor, he believes that she is being led astray by her new friend Anjohl Tennan and looks into his true identity; when he tells the Kai that he has discovered her new friend is in fact Dukat she takes drastic action to protect his identity. There is at least some good news for the Federation Legate Damar has had enough of the Dominion's treatment of Cardassia and announces that the Cardassians are to rise up and overthrow their oppressors, their first action is to destroy the Vorta cloning facility, something which rather disturbs Weyoun.

This was another good episode which doesn't concentrate one any one character or even a single group of characters. By this point in the series each episode is part of the main story arc so one really needs to have been watching for a while to enjoy it, there is little point just dipping in and watching a single episode.

More of the same.

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 28 January 2015]

Towards the end of the run of "Star Trek: Deep Space 9", instead of the usual self-contained or occasional two-part episodes, the series instead became one enormous ongoing plot. In effect, the last 10 or so episodes of the show were more like a gigantic movie or soap opera. This isn't so much a complaint--more an observation about the style of the programs. Because of this, it's rather difficult to rate or review these shows.

As in previous episodes, the main plots involve the Kai and her descent into serving evil, the Cardassians separating themselves from the Dominion as well as the folks on DS9--who take a back seat in most of the episodes.

The Kai is determined to read the forbidden texts. They are forbidden because they are evil and tell of the power of the Pah- Wraiths. This causes problems with her people--and she no longer seems to care. But when her assistant tells her that her new lover isn't actually a Bajoran but a Cardassian, she has one more chance to back down and abandon her evil ways. Being truly nasty and vicious, watching her choice is amazingly satisfying!

The Cardassians are planning a revolt...and it comes just in time. This is because with the Breen's assistance, the Dominion regained the offensive in the war. Exactly what happens to Sisko and his ship, the Defiant, is something you'll just have to see for yourself.

Like in all the episodes, this one is exciting, tense and one you should see as a whole.

Solid episode that moves the Dominion War arc in an intriguing direction

[snoozejonc · 8/10 · 19 October 2023]

Earth is attacked, whilst events on Cardassia take an interesting turn.

The same plot threads from the previous episodes continue to hold focus, with the arc involving Winn and Dukat getting more dramatic. How much their machinations are still compelling after 4 episodes is debatable, but Marc Alaimo, Louise Fletcher, and James Otis all do great work with the material.

Worf and Ezri have further screen time, but less so than previous episodes and provide some comic relief in the midst of the politics and war scenes.

Everything that involves Damar and the Cardassians has been leading to what happens here and it does not disappoint. So much so it makes you want to find out what happens next.

Visually it is pretty good, with some strong space battle scenes. One "abandon ship" moment looks great, but felt a bit lethargic in the actors delivery compared to Captain Picard in the TNG episode 'Cause and Effect'. If I was the director I would have cranked up the pace and urgency.

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

Time Marches On

[Hitchcoc · 10/10 · 12 November 2018]

The smug Vorta and the slowly disintegrating Founder go after Earth. The Breen are formidable because they have a weapon that shuts down the ships' systems. The problem for the bad guys is that they have crossed the original bad guys, the Cardassians. They have allowed over seven million of their people to die. Damar has had enough and finally gets off the sauce and organizes. Sisko, meanwhile, suffers a huge loss. Gul Dukat, in disguise, continues to control Kai Winn, encouraging her to raise the evil prophets.

DEATH of the USS DEFIANT

[awbusa · 10/10 · 20 April 2021]

The CARDASSIAN DOMINION BREEN alliance has a new weapon that they use just 1 time - the DEATH of the USS DEFIANT when I saw it on TV had the same emotional impact on me that the DESTRUCTION of the NCC 1701 USS ENTERPRISE refit in STAR TREK 3 and the NCC 1701 D USS ENTERPRISE in STAR TREK : GENERATIONS the 1st time I saw them.

Fascinating That a Show Seven Years Into Its Run Hasn't Earned Its Threats

[frankelee · 6/10 · 30 June 2022]

As we head toward an epic conclusion we learn the Dominion is still all powerful! The Federation alliance goes to attack them and oh no the Breen have a super weapon! The Defiance blows up because SUPER WEAPON!

That's the thing about good storytelling, you always need to present it so the audience forgets that you're making it all up. Every enemy starship, every Nazi guard, every orc from Mordor, each one is just a fantasy conjured to make the hero be endangered, and every one is just as easily snuffed out of existence by the writer's imagination. In great stories it feels like the author is just reporting what's going on, what can they do, this is what happened after all.

In mediocre storytelling, well it feels like the writers are just making up the story as you watch them, incredulous. I was hoping DS9 would finish strong, but the series just didn't have the talent behind it to do so. The Dominion War reached its natural conclusion last season, but so afraid and out of touch were the writers that they didn't end it. And as a consequence, oh no, they've got more troops than ever, they've got more ships than ever... how? Don't know. Why? Don't know. Why can't any of the super advanced space civilizations working on the side of good keep up with them? Don't know. Breen super weapon? Don't know. It's fine, it's just really obvious, and contrived.

After 20 years, it's safe to say, the series deserves the middling reputation it had since it aired. It's passable entertainment, I give this episode a 6/10.

Are you for Real ?

[GoldenGooner04 · 7/10 · 28 March 2024]

That's the thing about good storytelling, you always need to present it so the audience forgets that you're making it all up. Every enemy starship, every Nazi guard, every orc from Mordor,

Mr Frank Nazi's were real, they are not "good storytellng" Are you F Sure, maybe ask the famillies of the millions that were gassed or shot or raped or tortured if the Nazis were "making it up" How can you compare the Nazi's to ORCS to Star Trek. Yes Trek has used them in episodes but they were Real and are Real pop over the Hamburg and see the old C@@@S How can you belittle all these lives lost at the hands of these Monsters by saying "good storytelling"