Day 88: DS9, Rules of Engagement

Show: Star Trek; Deep Space Nine

Episode Particulars: S4EP17, “Rules of Engagement”

 Summary: Following a mission where Worf fired on and destroyed a Klingon civilian transport while escorting a medical convoy through dangerous territory, a hearing is held to see if Worf will be extradited to Klingon space to stand trial for his actions. The prosecutor is Ch’Pok (Ron Canada), who makes it very clear he wants to bring Worf down to benefit the Empire. To do this, he will attempt to prove that Worf was acting like a Klingon rather than a Starfleet officer, which would make it easier to extradite him. With Sisko acting as defense lawyer, it turns into a battle of wills, where the phrasing of questions makes all the difference. It also makes for very engaging viewing.

Standalone Thoughts: I wasn’t sure what I’d think about this episode going into it. It’s a “character is put on trial” plot, which has been done numerous times in Star Trek, so I wasn’t sure if we’d be descending into cliché or not. I’m glad to report that while there are a few familiar tropes on display, the content is really well-handled.  It opens well, with Worf having a nightmare before coming to in a holding cell and being told by Odo that his hearing is starting in a few hours. It’s unexpected and intriguing, and we want to see where this goes. Then the trial itself starts, and the crew does everything in its power to keep it from feeling boring. Instead of simple testimony or flashbacks, they have flashbacks where the characters give their testimony directly to the camera, which is an unusual technique that definitely stands out. They manage to keep the atmosphere heavy and tense, even though, again, it’s just people asking and answering questions (I’d guess the lighting and camera angles contribute to this, but that’s not my area of expertise). Ron Canada does a great job as Ch’Pok, coming across as threatening even though he’s very rarely openly hostile. It all adds up to really well-done storytelling, and the inevitable “last minute evidence” that solves the problem is cleverly executed as well. Basically, if you like “trial” stories, you’ll probably have a great time with this episode.

My only issue with the episode is the very last scene, and even then, it’s a minor one. Sisko and Worf discuss Starfleet ideals and what it means to be a Starfleet officer, and on the whole, it’s a good conversation, showing that grey morality and giving us a nice example of Sisko at his best. My problem is that Sisko is chastising Worf for doing something that, as we saw earlier in the episode, Sisko told him to do. I get the point they were going for, but it just winds up feeling a little hypocritical. Like I said, it’s a very minor point, but it might cause you to raise an eyebrow. That aside, it’s a very good episode, only missing that little bit extra to put it into the best of the season. Which is high praise coming from me.

How it Relates to the Whole: While there’s not a lot of direct follow-up (unless you want to read something into Ch’Pok’s gloating), the episode does continue to develop Worf and the Klingon conflict. I think this is one that’s better to watch for the atmosphere and story rather than the larger picture, at any rate.

Other: *Just one observation today; I think this may be one of the shortest teasers DS9’s ever had. Most of the teasers are around three minutes long, while this one is just over a minute. I’m not sure why they decided to make this one so short, but they use the time well, so it’s more an interesting deviation than an active distraction.

Best Line/Exchange: While a lot of the speeches in this episode are good (in fact, I’d say each one gets progressively stronger), the bit that really jumped out to me was just one sentence;

(Ch’Pok is explaining why he’d defend Worf if Worf was extradited, despite being the prosecutor in this hearing)

Ch’Pok: What matters to me is the thrill of the fight, not which side I’m on.

It’s a nice little aside that suggests that all Klingons have the same approach to life, even if not all of them are warriors. For a writer, it’s a fun thought experiment to try to imagine how other Klingons fight battles and gain honor, even if they’re in mundane jobs like baker or accountant. And the best part is, you can be as serious or as silly about it as you like.