Plotlines

In my last post, I was almost at the end of the fifth season, and now I’ve reached it.

First, we get “Empok Nor” (S05E24), an episode that once again deserves a big compliment to the set designers. The usual station must be rebuilt again to represent DS9’s sister station, Empok Nor.

This episode also breaks a common Star Trek principle, as the previously never-mentioned members of an away mission no longer wear “redshirts,” they wear gold. I wouldn’t rule out that this has been different before, but here it really caught my attention for the first time.

The last episode, “Call to Arms” (S05E26), is now the episode where there’s no turning back. It’s been mentioned several times that the Dominion keeps sending ships through the wormhole, at least it’s suspected, but there’s little that can be done about it. However, Sisko wants to change this!

Through Rom, he gets the suggestion to place self-replicating mines in front of the wormhole. But not without first looking for another solution that isn’t quite so drastic. However, negotiations with Weyoun, the Dominion’s negotiator and the Founders, fail, leaving Sisko no choice.

The situation escalates, and after an attack by the Cardassians and the Dominion, Sisko must leave the station with his crew. However, this shouldn’t be counted as a form of giving up, as this tactical retreat serves to join up with the Federation and Klingon fleet to finally go to war.

Interestingly, this episode doesn’t focus entirely on the war.

They first try to tie up some loose ends. Ziyal and Garak say goodbye with a kiss, something Garak has been longing for a very long time. But that’s not all, Rom and Leeta also get to experience something beautiful and are married by Sisko.

Again, this shows great sensitivity from the series creators, as we’re not only confronted with the consequences or beginnings of a war, but they also want to show that even in such a time, there must simply be something positive. Of course, this also relates to the real world, because even though wars are something terrible and inhumane, there must still always be room for something positive and especially for hope.

Both an unsettling and a beautiful end to a season, as it’s exactly the right mix of uncertainty and hope.

Personally, I’m following Sisko’s lead and leaving DS9 for now. On one hand, because I’m currently watching The Blacklist, but on the other hand, because I’d rather watch Lower Decks again, or rather the last season, and build up some anticipation for the new season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

In addition to all this, I’m currently back in my RPG phase and therefore want to play a bit more. Although a series is always running in the background, it can be something gentler or lighter. And with all these activities, there’s also work and some university stuff that still needs to be done.

So many great things, so little time!