LogFAQs > #973064618

Episode 16: The Forsaken

Lwaxana is our next guest star.

Sisko actually gets a bit worried when his teasing seems to have genuinely offended O'Brien, which is proper sweet. Has to brace himself and plaster a smile on his face when dealing with the idiots. Manages to diplomatically get them to fuck off. Delighted at Odo's romance and almost sadistically makes himself of no help at all in getting him out of it. Merrily admits to both offloading his job onto Bashir and the utter glee he feels in doing so right to his face. Actually seems to be a bit fond of him now.

Odo applies his detective skills and effortlessly finds the culprit. Gives Quark some credit. Has no idea how to handle apparent interest in his work, but is cautiously happy for a moment. Has even less idea how to handle interest in himself. Seeing him on the back foot with a look of utter panic is a rare treat. I truly don't get why everyone keeps refusing this woman. Like a scared little boy when he runs to Sisko for help. That little head flourish when he says "delicately". Imitates Picard in trying to sneak out the lift and bolts right for it in a wonderfully ridiculous fashion when spotted. His nonexistent stomach drops when he learns that Quark knows. Spends his time in the lift frantically looking for an escape, letting out as much exasperation and sarcasm as he dares think he can get away with and failing to ignore the chatterbox next to him. Some amazing acting throughout. Seeing him finally become vulnerable and admit to a lifetime of mockery is a little heartbreaking. Ends up enjoying the event more than he'd ever expect.

Bashir is both pained and nervous as fuck dealing with self important idiots. Each lie is a double edged sword. Hard work being a people pleaser. Gives a variety of fed up, exasperated looks and sighs behind the idiots' backs. Defends Dax from being patronised. Whines at Sisko over his job and briefly huffs when he realises why he has it. "Ambassadors of unhappy" didn't just make his boss laugh.

Dax is perplexed by the probe.

O'Brien begins to lose his mind in a fight with the computer. One remark from Sisko too many puts him at the "fuck it all" point. Can't believe his luck when it starts to behave. Rightly suspicious of how nice it is to him.

Quark has no sympathy for lost property. Receives Odo's back handed compliment with clenched teeth.

Kira is quite amused by Sisko's plight.

Lwaxana is her wonderful self. No love for Ferengi. Instantly smitten with Odo. Fantastically forceful flirt. Witty as hell, too. "I can swim" is a fantastically funny line. Quite hurt by Odo's desire for silence, but it doesn't take long before she picks herself up and babbles the hours away. One thing I've always adored about her is her sincere compassion for everyone and the relationship between her and Odo quickly becomes quite beautiful once he stops fighting. Removing her hair to showcase her own vulnerability is amazing.

Can recognise Lwaxana from her voice alone. Odo receives some dark lighting when he's briefly stalking the thief. Bashir recomposing himself behind the ambassadors' backs is quite funny. Odo sits down when he's at his most vulnerable. Main characters have a tendency to actually do something in the background. Even though it's just moving in to talk or making their way across ops, there's something quite natural about how they're used. Having Odo scanning for an exit in the foreground whilst Lwaxana blathers on is brilliant. Odo gets a lot of sweat on him when he's reaching hour 16. Very 2001, that computer shutdown bit. That hair part really was quite shocking.

It's all about empathy and the letting down of barriers. It's not completely elegant, but all three plots involve some level of understanding being reached. Bashir's happens mostly offscreen, but by the end of the episode, his party is comfortable enough to be on a first name basis with him. O'Brien eventually recognises Pup's antics as a call for attention after being isolated for so long and adopts the little rascal. And, then, Odo and Lwaxana is resoundingly obvious. The self sufficient sweetheart showing his inner depths to the one person empathetic enough to coax him out of his shell. But attention plays a bit more of a role than just Pup's nonsense. Odo's backstory has him "growing up" as an object of study, then finding himself the life of the party and throwing himself into that life, until it gradually dawns on him that he's being treated as a particularly pathetic clown. There's a sense that if he got a bit more positivity in his early years, he may have been considerably more sociable man now. As it stands, he's in the same weird halfway house I mentioned in a previous episode: doing the bare minimum to vaguely fit in, whilst keeping himself at a clear remove, yet also being unwilling to let people see who he really is. He's picked the exact point on the scale that seems most likely to have him be left alone. And Lwaxana takes every difference of his in her stride and finds the few glimmers of his real personality to be utterly wonderful. But the final beauty of all this, is how her own vulnerability is that she is too normal for her own liking. She wants to simultaneously stand out and sincerely connect with people, in fact, standing out and making a bit of a show of herself is how she connects; they're one and the same to her, and by demonstrating who she really is, she convinces Odo, if only a little, that he might be able to be simultaneously a completely unique individual and a beloved member of the community.

Incredibly funny and touching. When she's allowed to be serious, as well as funny, Lwaxana sings. Pair her up with another great Odo story and you've got a piece of brilliance.

Dramatis Personae is next.