Day 69: DS9, Shakaar

Show: Star Trek; Deep Space Nine

Episode Particulars: S3EP24, “Shakaar”

 Summary: Upon the death of the First Minister of Bajor’s provisional government, Kai Winn has stepped up to fill the role, to Kira’s displeasure. That displeasure turns to bafflement when Winn comes to her with a request. It seems that the government wants to use soil reclamators to help heal the soil in an area of Bajor that could be used to increase Bajoran commerce, but the Bajorans in Kira’s home province are refusing to give them up. One of those Bajorans is Shakaar (Duncan Regehr), the former leader of Kira’s resistance cell and an old friend, hence why Winn is asking Kira to go talk some sense into him. Kira does so, and manages to convince both sides to reluctantly agree to a meeting and perhaps hash out a compromise. Or at least it seems that way, because once Winn sends armed guards to arrest Shakaar, the fight is on. And this time, when Kira has to decide where her loyalties lie, she doesn’t even have to think about it.

Standalone Thoughts: While I’m indifferent to the episode’s execution, I’d say the episode is still decent overall. If nothing else, it’s very satisfying to see Kai Winn getting called out for her power grab, even if it takes the form of subtle jabs instead of a well-deserved tirade. There’s also some good tension in the second half of the episode, and fine acting from Visitor (naturally), Regehr, and the other former resistance members. On the negative side, I think the conflict is a little rushed, though I also don’t think this should have been stretched out to a two-parter—either this needed to be in the background for a few episodes before getting a full episode to resolve it, or the conflict’s escalation needed to be scaled down a bit. In addition, the subplot for this episode (involving O’Brien being very lucky at darts) is once again superfluous and actively detracts from the main plot. I think the writers knew it, too, because it only shows up four times, for only a few minutes. Since it doesn’t do much to advance story or character, this is one subplot that I think they should have just scrapped entirely. That aside, there’s not much to say on the matter, other than to speculate on where this is going. Speaking of…

How it Relates to the Whole: While I don’t know the exact details, I do know that there will be follow-up to this episode, especially in how it relates to Kai Winn and the Bajoran government. Unlike other plot developments, though, I’m going to watch this play out in real time along with the rest of you.

Other: *Obviously, different countries (or in this case, different planets) run things differently, but it just seems weird to my American eyes that Bajor would let Kai Winn also take on the position of First Minister. Checks and Balances dictate that you probably shouldn’t let one person have both political and religious power over a country. That way can lie dictatorship, and you’d think the Bajorans would want to avoid that if at all possible, considering what they’ve gone through. Sure, they don’t realize Kai Winn is power-hungry, but I’d think they’d try to avoid it on principle.

*It’s jarring to me that Shakaar’s farm looks very rustic, mostly made out of wood…and then has a doorbell with a very metallic chime. I guess that indicates that we’re in the future, but there are better ways to mix rustic and modern.

*Just look at this shot;

It could not look more like something out of a Western if you tried. While I still haven’t really been seeing many Western overtones when it comes to life on the station, this episode very clearly gave off Western vibes, both here and in the climax in Tanis Canyon. Sometimes it’s jarring, but it’s also appropriate, and as a Western fan, I approve, on the whole.

*O’Brien winds up dislocating his shoulder again by, of all things, reaching for a drink. I’ve never dislocated my shoulder (fortunately), so I don’t know exactly how it works, but that just seems implausible. Granted, he’s apparently repeatedly dislocated his shoulder, so maybe it’s weakened enough that something like this could happen, but to the untrained eye, it just seems a little too convenient.

Best Line/Exchange: This one may seem like an odd choice, but I also feel like it’s something a lot of us can relate to on one level;

(Furel [William Lucking], one of Kira’s fellow resistance fighters, is explaining why he never replaced the arm he lost during the occupation)

Furel: Well…before I went into that interrogation center…(sighs) I asked the prophets to give me the strength to get the rest of you out of there. And in exchange, I…I said I’d give up my life. Well, as it turned out, I was able to rescue you, Shakaar, and Lupaza. (Chuckles) It only cost me an arm. I felt the…the Prophets were generous. Somehow, replacing the arm seems…ungrateful.

Sure, Furel’s taking it to an extreme, and in a way that’s making his life difficult, but it’s an admirable sentiment. He made a deal, and he’s following up on it, no matter how much it inconveniences him. And if you don’t see it that way, you can kind of see it as a form of superstition. I think we’ve all had that moment where something good happened, and we attribute it to something we ate, did, or wore. How many of us had lucky clothing for the days we had to take tests? Like I said, this is a situation where he may be overdoing it, but the attitude behind it is relatable. Or at least, it is for me.