[DS9] Lynch's Spoiler Review: "Shakaar"
Timothy W. Lynch
aware.
In brief: Whew. Nice to see Winn back, and we're once again back
to showing that DS9's strengths lie in the political arena.
======
Brief summary: Kira is sent by Winn to recover some farm equipment
taken by her old resistance cell leader, and finds herself caught up in
what could become a civil war.
======
Now this is more like what I signed up for. "Shakaar" once again
brings DS9 as a series back to Bajor, which is where I think it should
be much of the time. DS9 is bringing us a portrait of a world
struggling to rebuild from turmoil, and there's so much meat there that
with a little care, it's difficult to go wrong. Granted, I thought the
same thing about "Life Support" half a season back and was proven
horribly mistaken by that show -- but that's because it did a lot of
things wrong that "Shakaar" did right.
On top of that list is the characterization of Kai Winn. Back in "Life
Support", it seemed that Winn had come aboard the station sans any
trace of personality or of grey matter, and it felt like a betrayal of the
character's potential. Here, on the other hand, Winn seemed back to
form -- having achieved the power she'd craved earlier, she's
discovering that she likes the taste of it and wants more. That desire is
somewhat in character -- but her manner here was far more so than
last time. Winn, until the end, was never without some sort of fall-
back position, and as before has been only too eager to co-opt Kira
into doing Winn's dirty work against one of Kira's own loved ones.
("The Collaborator" saw the same thing, and I almost wonder if the
events in "The Homecoming" through to "The Siege", where Kira
helped foil the Bajoran coup, have something to do with Winn's
seeming interest in Kira.) She also proved as skilled at twisting
words around to justify herself as ever. In short, everything about
Winn here felt right, and that in and of itself is enough rehabilitation to
give me a profound sense of relief.
[Once or twice here, though, I almost got the sense that the pendulum
had swung back too far the other way. Winn was tiptoeing awfully
close to the edge at times -- never quite close enough to actually be
mis-written, but just close enough that I wondered if she'd end up
going too far.]
More than Winn, though, this story focused on Kira. In fact, I was
struck by the resemblance this story had to the first season's
"Progress", where Kira had to persuade a farmer to leave one of
Bajor's moons. Kira was stuck on the horns of a choice both times,
and both times chose a somewhat ... direct approach to a problem.
Both times, for one, Kira finds herself acting against fellow Bajorans.
This time, though, there were some interesting differences -- for one,
Kira actually tries a Federation tactic, offering herself as an
intermediary first. That's something I doubt you'd ever have seen the
"old" Kira do. She also, despite her personal ... distaste for Winn,
tries to be reasonably objective, and even manages it until she finds
out Winn's lied to her. (Note to self: when dealing with Kira, be
honest. Otherwise you get hurt. :-) )
It's even more interesting to see this "new" Kira compared to the old
one when you realize she's surrounded by people who know the old
Kira. Shakaar, Furel, Lupaza -- these are all people from her past
who remember her as a fighter, not a politician. Proud though
Shakaar says they are of her progress, that may not mean *Kira* is
proud of what she's made of herself, at least while she's around them.
That brings me to Shakaar, the third leg of this triangle everything
worked around. I was a trifle concerned going in, mostly because the
last time I saw Duncan Regehr (who played Shakaar), he played
Ronin in TNG's "Sub Rosa", a truly dismal piece of work.
Fortunately, there were glimmerings here and there that he might be
able to do much better work given good material -- and "Shakaar"
proved it, as I thought Regehr was terrific. I liked Shakaar within
about sixty seconds of hearing him, and he convincingly seemed like
the sort of person you might find inspiring people to follow him into
the mountains and managing to survive in the process. He seemed
both practical and charismatic, which is exactly what the character
needed to be both when we first saw him and at the end, when he
seemed on the verge of becoming First Minister.
Once the roles were set (a slight pity -- although I like seeing Winn
back in her old form, Shakaar seemed a little *too* pure of heart),
events seemed to take on a life of their own. As I have on occasion in
the past, I ended up almost feeling like I was watching something
actually happening with no sense of control over where they would
lead. Everyone worried about anarchy, about a civil war -- but it
seemed that no one was actually willing to act to prevent it. That sort
of situation is all too common in the world today, and it was definitely
gripping to see here.
The resolution to said crisis was also interesting, though Shakaar's
running for First Minister was actually somewhat anticlimactic. The
crucial moment came as Shakaar's pursuers strode into the waiting
ambush and the fugitives chose not to act. Kira not being able to fire
on her fellows was no big surprise -- but seeing Shakaar the same
way _was_ one. From the moment he chose not to, I have to say that
I was virtually certain we were seeing the *true* next First Minister;
but I also didn't mind that fact a bit. In fact, I'm looking somewhat
forward to seeing further interactions between Winn and Shakaar, as
will inevitably happen. Church and state very nearly became one
here, but now there's a significant rift between them, or at least
between their two leaders -- and I have to wonder if that's going to
have any sort of impact on the Bajoran faith or the government. I see
lots of possibilities here, and that's all for the good.
[I haven't mentioned it before now, but I should mention the
Winn/Sisko scene as well. Story-wise, it was only present to show
how far Winn was willing to go and to get some sort of reaction from
the station to Kira's activities -- but regardless of its purpose, it was as
good as the Winn/Sisko scenes usually are, back from "In the Hands
of the Prophets" onwards. Nicely done.]
That said, let me turn briefly to the "let's-give-the-other-cast-
members-something-to-do" plot, namely the darts game. This was
pretty much complete fluff, which isn't a problem -- but it also seemed
a tad overplayed, which is. I liked seeing O'Brien "in the zone", and
I've no problem with the concept of what was done -- but somehow,
the combination of O'Brien *horribly* overacting the mock injury to
his arm and the lack of mention of it ever actually being a fake seems a
little odd. (At least, I'm assuming it was a fake injury -- if it was
meant to be real, it didn't work at all, and Meaney *really* blew it,
which I doubt.) I enjoyed wondering if O'Brien and Bashir had
brought the Vulcan darts player into the scam, though. :-)
That seems to cover the majority of the show. After something as
wretched as "Family Business", it's nice to be able to go into reruns
on a high note. So, some short takes:
-- The music was done by a new name this time, namely one Paul
Baillargeon. I've never heard of him before, but he did a nice job,
especially during the ambush sequence. The tension was palpable in
that scene already, but he added onto it beautifully.
-- Here's hoping we get to see Furel and Lupaza again as well, Furel
in particular. His story about how he lost his arm, while perhaps
surprisingly new to Kira, was definitely a powerful one, and I like
both the actor and the character. More, please.
-- When Kira's talking to Odo at the start of the show about Winn,
Odo almost seems to be referring to himself as a Bajoran. That struck
me as a bit odd.
-- One negative in the main story is that Sisko didn't seem even
marginally annoyed at Kira for running off and being a fugitive for
weeks. Granted, all's well that ends well, but I can't imagine he'd be
quite as nonchalant as he was. Then again, maybe he's taking lessons
from Starfleet higher-ups who've always turned a blind eye to him. :-)
-- Speaking of Sisko, Brooks seems to have relaxed a *lot* in the last
few weeks. It seems to have happened about the same time as the
beard and Sisko's trip into the mirror-universe; I wonder where it's
going.
-- Lastly, although "Shakaar" was finished well before the Oklahoma
City bombing last month, I've no doubt parallels may be drawn
between Shakaar's defiance of the Bajoran government and some
activities currently going on in the U.S.. I don't know if I really
consider such parallels valid, but I'm not going to be surprised to see
them.
That's it. So, wrapping up:
Writing: The consequences of the main story are a little too contained
on the station, but the Bajoran angle worked pretty much
beautifully. Only some minor complaints.
Directing: Nicely done pretty much everywhere.
Acting: Strong work from Visitor, Regehr, Louise Fletcher ... pretty
much everyone.
OVERALL: I think I'm calling this one a 9. Nice work.
NEXT WEEK: A rerun of "Past Tense, Part I".
Tim Lynch (Harvard-Westlake School, Science Dept.)
tly...@alumni.caltech.edu
"He's back there ... in the ZONE."
-- Sisko, referring to O'Brien
--
Copyright 1995, Timothy W. Lynch. All rights reserved, but feel free to ask...
This article is explicitly prohibited from being used in any off-net
compilation without due attribution and *express written consent of the
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Ted McCoy
Timothy W. Lynch <tly...@alumni.caltech.edu> wrote:
>WARNING: This article contains spoilers for DS9's "Shakaar". Be
>aware.
>had swung back too far the other way. Winn was tiptoeing awfully
>close to the edge at times -- never quite close enough to actually be
>mis-written, but just close enough that I wondered if she'd end up
>going too far.]
I was a little disappointed that Winn didn't have more complex schemes
waiting beneath the surface...but actually, I mostly liked the way this
was played out. Would've liked more Winn scenes, but the episode was more
about Kira than Winn.
>More than Winn, though, this story focused on Kira. In fact, I was
>struck by the resemblance this story had to the first season's
>"Progress", where Kira had to persuade a farmer to leave one of
>Bajor's moons. Kira was stuck on the horns of a choice both times,
>and both times chose a somewhat ... direct approach to a problem.
>Both times, for one, Kira finds herself acting against fellow Bajorans.
>This time, though, there were some interesting differences -- for one,
>Kira actually tries a Federation tactic, offering herself as an
>intermediary first. That's something I doubt you'd ever have seen the
>"old" Kira do. She also, despite her personal ... distaste for Winn,
>tries to be reasonably objective, and even manages it until she finds
>out Winn's lied to her. (Note to self: when dealing with Kira, be
>honest. Otherwise you get hurt. :-) )
Yup, I was reminded of "Progress" too. Actually, looking back at the last
few years of DS9, I find myself very impressed with the evolution Kira's
character has gone through. Subtle and believable -- and consistent.
Watching the way Bashir, Kira, Sisko, and Odo (and even Dax at times) have
grown as characters almost makes me wonder if it had all been planned from
the start.
>Once the roles were set (a slight pity -- although I like seeing Winn
>back in her old form, Shakaar seemed a little *too* pure of heart),
Shakaar was likable, but his characterization was a bit simplistic for
my tastes. But it looks like we'll be seeing him again, and maybe we'll
see other sides of his personality in the future.
>events seemed to take on a life of their own. As I have on occasion in
>the past, I ended up almost feeling like I was watching something
>actually happening with no sense of control over where they would
>lead. Everyone worried about anarchy, about a civil war -- but it
>seemed that no one was actually willing to act to prevent it. That sort
>of situation is all too common in the world today, and it was definitely
>gripping to see here.
Agreed. (And the contrast between this situation and the one in "Life Support"
was especially striking, for me anyway.)
>That said, let me turn briefly to the "let's-give-the-other-cast-
>members-something-to-do" plot, namely the darts game. This was
>pretty much complete fluff, which isn't a problem -- but it also seemed
>a tad overplayed, which is. I liked seeing O'Brien "in the zone", and
>I've no problem with the concept of what was done -- but somehow,
>the combination of O'Brien *horribly* overacting the mock injury to
>his arm and the lack of mention of it ever actually being a fake seems a
>little odd. (At least, I'm assuming it was a fake injury -- if it was
>meant to be real, it didn't work at all, and Meaney *really* blew it,
>which I doubt.) I enjoyed wondering if O'Brien and Bashir had
>brought the Vulcan darts player into the scam, though. :-)
At first I assumed he was faking it too. Then I wasn't sure. I agree:
the scenes were overplayed.
>-- The music was done by a new name this time, namely one Paul
>Baillargeon. I've never heard of him before, but he did a nice job,
>especially during the ambush sequence. The tension was palpable in
>that scene already, but he added onto it beautifully.
(Yikes, a new composer and I didn't notice....)
>-- Here's hoping we get to see Furel and Lupaza again as well, Furel
>in particular. His story about how he lost his arm, while perhaps
>surprisingly new to Kira, was definitely a powerful one, and I like
>both the actor and the character. More, please.
I liked them more than Shakaar, personally. Hope they return.
>-- Speaking of Sisko, Brooks seems to have relaxed a *lot* in the last
>few weeks. It seems to have happened about the same time as the
>beard and Sisko's trip into the mirror-universe; I wonder where it's
>going.
Brooks really seems more comfortable with that beard, and I think his
performance has improved in the last few weeks. Hopefully this'll continue....
>That's it. So, wrapping up:
>
>Writing: The consequences of the main story are a little too contained
> on the station, but the Bajoran angle worked pretty much
> beautifully. Only some minor complaints.
My only real complaint is that Shakaar was a bit too nice. The situation
was all in black and white -- shades of grey would've been nice.
>Directing: Nicely done pretty much everywhere.
>Acting: Strong work from Visitor, Regehr, Louise Fletcher ... pretty
> much everyone.
>
>OVERALL: I think I'm calling this one a 9. Nice work.
Sounds about right. I'd give it an A-.
Ted
Macwho1
that there was definitely some 'progress' in how the Kira of season 3
handled this domestic Bajoran problem vs. season 1 Kira. Well played.
To hear the word "compromise" come out of Kira's mouth! ;)
"Let's sit down and talk this over!" Yikes!
Winn is also back to her old form...just they way we like her! Looking
forward to more Bajoran political eps,I'm *proud* to say. There HAVE been
too few this season.
MAC
:crp:
}aware.
}members-something-to-do" plot, namely the darts game. This was
}pretty much complete fluff, which isn't a problem -- but it also seemed
}a tad overplayed, which is. I liked seeing O'Brien "in the zone", and
}I've no problem with the concept of what was done -- but somehow,
}the combination of O'Brien *horribly* overacting the mock injury to
}his arm and the lack of mention of it ever actually being a fake seems a
}little odd. (At least, I'm assuming it was a fake injury -- if it was
}meant to be real, it didn't work at all, and Meaney *really* blew it,
}which I doubt.) I enjoyed wondering if O'Brien and Bashir had
}brought the Vulcan darts player into the scam, though. :-)
}
in the zone and reacted realistically to his injury. Have you ever been in
a zone? Ever seen someone injur their shoulder unexpectadly?
BTW: I thought Winn was written dumbed-down. The mannerisms were there and the
basic plotting, but not the conniving. Her plan and fall backs were not
particulary smart.
BTW 2: My opinion of 'Life Support' is now even lower.
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Conundrum: How can Oprah be best talk show when
BreakFast Time wasn't even nominated?
BreakFast Time - 7AM on FX, more than just ruffage in the AM.
Windsor A. Morgan
WARNING: This article contains spoilers for DS9's "Shakaar". Be
aware.
>-- When Kira's talking to Odo at the start of the show about Winn,
>Odo almost seems to be referring to himself as a Bajoran. That struck
>me as a bit odd.
Well, I've always thought of Odo as being a Bajoran citizen (naturalized,
of course). He was found by Bajorans, "raised" (and studied) by
Bajorans, attempts to resemble Bajorans, and is a member of the Bajoran
militia. Because (until relatively recently) he had no idea of his
origins, it make sense that if he *were* going to identify with a
nation, it would be the Bajoran nation.
--
'Verily, there be no leader as wise as the Vision!'
Windsor Morgan
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA 17013
Aarian
aware.
> In fact, I was struck by the resemblance this story had to the first
season's
"Progress"
Yes, even the lonely little shack under the stars bit.
>Proud though Shakaar says they are of her progress, that may not mean
*Kira* is proud of what she's made of herself, at least while she's around
them.
I think this should have been developed more. Those people, if anybody,
know how much she's changed.
>but regardless of its purpose, it was as good as the Winn/Sisko scenes
usually are
I thought this was much better than the average Winn/Sisko scene. I
started out liking Sisko alot because of his relationship to his son, but
now I like him more because he's finally developing into more of a leader.
And I think Avery Brooks hasn't gotten smarter about using his commanding
voice (ooooooo and whatta voice.)
>At least, I'm assuming it was a fake injury -- if it was meant to be
real, it didn't work at all, and Meaney *really* blew it, which I doubt.
Seems like they cut something out doesn't it? I was waiting for O'Brien,
Dax and Bashir to split the 15 to 1 and leave Quark high and dry.
> When Kira's talking to Odo at the start of the show about Winn, Odo
almost seems to be referring to himself as a Bajoran. That struck me as a
bit odd.
Not at all, if Odo was to refer to himself at all as Bajoran it would be
in front of Kira (in fact she would probably demand it, and would be the
first to defend it.)
>One negative in the main story is that Sisko didn't seem even
marginally annoyed at Kira for running off and being a fugitive for
weeks. Granted, all's well that ends well, but I can't imagine he'd be
quite as nonchalant as he was.
I think this is also an indication of how their relationship has grown as
well. He has alot more trust in her to do the right thing. This growth is
obvious when you read any of the DS9 Pocket Book novels that are still
stuck on the first season characterizations/interrelationships.
>
Bill Turner
> .... In short, everything about
> give me a profound sense of relief.
> [Once or twice here, though, I almost got the sense that the pendulum
> had swung back too far the other way. Winn was tiptoeing awfully
> close to the edge at times -- never quite close enough to actually be
> mis-written, but just close enough that I wondered if she'd end up
> going too far.]
I dunno, I always got the impression that Winn was a pretty shrewd
pollitical player, and this episode didn't quite seem to ring quite
right on that regard. I can see her trying to consolodate her
power/control, but not quite the way she went about it (the comments
about being willing to risk a civil war over a couple pieces of farm
machinery were right on, and it didn't sound like the old Winn, who
coverred her as##tracks quite well in previous Machiavellian dealings.)
All in all, though, I thought it was a very good episode. Maybe Winn
*has* let her power go to her head.
--Bill Turner (btu...@cv.hp.com)
David Mears
> WARNING: This article contains spoilers for DS9's "Shakaar". Be
> aware.
> I've no problem with the concept of what was done -- but somehow,
> the combination of O'Brien *horribly* overacting the mock injury to
> his arm and the lack of mention of it ever actually being a fake seems a
> little odd. (At least, I'm assuming it was a fake injury -- if it was
> meant to be real, it didn't work at all, and Meaney *really* blew it,
> which I doubt.)
I don't think it was meant to be fake. While perhaps overdone a bit in
the show, I could buy into it. There've been a couple of times when I've
reached around behind me to try to grab something and felt something twist
the wrong way in my shoulder. Fortunately, it's never been hurt worse
than just feeling sore for a few days, but I can easily how O'Brien could
have injured himself far worse. Especially if he's injured it before
during a holodeck canoe trip, or whetever it was.
David B. Mears
Hewlett-Packard
Cupertino CA
me...@cup.hp.com