S04.E23: To The Death

[John Potts]

Quote

Following a hit and run attack on Deep Space 9 by a band of rogue Jem'Hadar, Sisko and his crew are joined by the Dominion on a mission to locate the rebels who have discovered another Iconian Gateway.

I think this is the first episode to really investigate what the Jem'Hadar (and the Vorta) are really like: have to say, I actually like them. Bunch of scary mofos, no doubt, but you have to respect them for their samurai sense of honour. And that contrasts with the first appearance of the oleaginous Weyoun, who you know just everyone on the mission wanted to see killed! (And even though his face was buried under all that rubber, I found Brian Thompson's voice instantly recognisable as the Jem'Hadar Second).

Also liked the little humanising (if that's the right word) moments where Jadzia and Miles discuss the fact that they both leave "just in case" messages for their loved ones and the contrasts between the two forces "My name is Toma'Toklan. We are dead - only victory brings life!" "My name is Miles O'Brien - I'm alive and intend to stay that way!" (Of course, of the Federation forces, only the named characters came back alive, so maybe not so different...)

[blueray]

I like the part with them in the dinning hall and they tell Odo that he could tell Weyoun to stand on his head.

I agree its the first episode where you really see the Jem'hadar and I like how they add some personality to them at least in this episode. The one who is talking to Jadzia mentions how short they live and it's the first time we hear "victory is life". I like that at the end the Jam'hadar tells Sisko if they ever meet again, they will be enemies which foreshadows the coming war. Of course he doesn't see that particular one again.

Edited April 29, 2017 by blueray

[iMonrey]

I could sense true bafflement and a glimmer of humanity from the Jem 'hadar assigned to watch Jadzia, as she finds out how short their lives are and his surprise that she's hundreds of years old. 

But there was just one throwaway line earlier, when Jadzia, Miles and Julian are all sitting around the table, and Jadzia talks about putting her kids to bed or something in a previous host. And it struck me how profound it would be to have lived so many lives and had so many children, grandchildren and descendants from so many different hosts. Wouldn't you want to go and look them up? Is there a Trill law against that? There's so much of the "joined species" mechanics that's never fully explored on this show. 

[Maverick]

 In "Rejoined", we learn there's a Trill taboo against taking up with someone from a past life (a thinly--and poorly--veiled allegory for homosexuality).  Dax risks banishment and the ability to take a new host when she begins a relationship with a Trill she was previously married to (who is now in a new, also female host).   I't called "re-association" and is taboo because joined Trill are supposed to make new relationships and have new experiences.  It's not explicitly stated but apparently this taboo only applies to romantic relationships (given Cuzon was very good friends with Sisko and Jadzia was allowed to work for him and be his trusted confidant).  Which...makes no sense.   Why wouldn't it apply to all relationships?  And why was Ezri allowed to hang around Worf, even if they weren't dating (but flirted with doing so).  It was just another example of them pulling some Trill quirk out of their ass to satisfy their plot of the week (and get Terry Farrell in some girl-on-girl action) that was promptly forgotten in subsequent episodes.  

[rmontro]

On 6/5/2017 at 8:49 PM, Maverick said:

 In "Rejoined", we learn there's a Trill taboo against taking up with someone from a past life (a thinly--and poorly--veiled allegory for homosexuality).

Interesting, I never got the impression at all that it was an allegory for homosexuality.  Still don't see it.  

The Trill taboo about not revisiting romantic relationships may not make much sense to us, but it's not surprising that alien species would have traditions that we find puzzling.

Getting back to this episode, wow the Jem'Hadar are a scary bunch.  I enjoyed seeing Worf get into a scuffle with one of them, kind of reminded me of Scotty getting into a fight with the Klingons on TOS' The Trouble with Tribbles.  Seeing the First kill his Second as punishment, while Worf was confined to his quarters was also an eye opener.

[BigBeagle]

Clarence Williams III as the Jem'Hadar First was super creepy, what with the soft monotone delivery and those eyes that never blinked. This episode really put the Jem'Hadar high on everyone's Don't Mess With List.