‘BATTLE LINES’ (DS9)
Please feel free to comment on my review.
This ‘DS9’ episode features the second appearance of Camille Saviola as Kai Opaka, the spiritual leader of Bajor. Opaka appeared in the very first ‘DS9’ episode ‘Emissary’. It was nice to see her in the episode.
In the episode, Opaka visits the space station. This is a surprise to everybody since Opaka has never left Bajor before. She requests a tour to see the space station which Commander Sisko happily agrees.
I liked that moment during the tour where Opaka meets Chief O’Brien and enquires about her little daughter. Opaka gives O’Brien a necklace of hers to give to her daughter. I found that a sweet moment.
During the tour, Opaka subtly wishes a trip through the Bajoran wormhole in space. Sisko gradually agrees to the request as he, Major Kira, Dr. Bashir and Opaka journey to the wormhole via a runabout.
They enter the wormhole before arriving in the Gamma Quadrant. There they receive a distress signal from a nearby planet. Opaka is very keen for Sisko and the group not to hold back and answer the call.
The planet has a network of satellites, one of which is malfunctioning. The runabout gets attacked by one of the satellites, which forces Sisko, Kira, Bashir and Opaka to crash-land onto the planet’s surface.
I was shocked when Opaka died during the crash-landing onto the planet. Kira is of course devastated as she begins to mourn for her in a Bajoran prayer. I did not think Opaka would come back to life then.
Sisko, Bashir and Kira then get captured by a group of penal colonists called the Ennis. They’re led by special guest star Jonathan Banks as Shel-La. They’re at war with this other group called the Nol-Ennis.
Shel-La looks like a ‘rock star’ of a rebel leader with the long hair; gruff attitude and that. He’s suspicious of Sisko, Kira and Bashir coming to the planet since he wonders whether they’ll help the Ennis.
After a brief battle between the Ennis and the Nol-Ennis, Sisko, Kira and Bashir see the return of…Kai Opaka…who has been brought back to life. I was amazed to see this and wondered what was going on.
It seems Opaka has been regenerated by some form of extraterrestrial nanotechnology. The same applies to the Ennis and the Nol-Ennis, who get revived after being killed in a battle. Quite disturbing.
It seems the Ennis and Nol-Ennis have been fighting each other for a long time. Attacks can come at any minute. The Ennis and Nol-Ennis were to sent to this ‘drab’ planet for crimes on their home world.
It’s a punishment for centuries of conflict. They’re doomed to die over and over. The Ennis and Nol-Ennis consider their gift of resurrection as a curse rather than a blessing. I imagine that’s very horrible.
This episode was also interesting in highlighting Major Kira’s character and her relationship with Kai Opaka. Kira’s instincts kick in when she suggests ways for the Ennis to defend themselves in their ‘war’.
Sisko reprimands Kira to stop but she doesn’t listen. Opaka is the one who stops Kira however. There’s then an interesting scene where Opaka questions Kira on her bloodlust to which Kira seems to be in denial.
Opaka eventually somehow opens up Kira’s pagh or spirit, I think it is. To which Opaka senses the violence Kira’s seen. Kira becomes open then about how hardened she’s become as Opaka begins her ‘healing’.
Sisko meanwhile tries to persuade the Ennis and the Nol-Ennis to accept his offer to take them off the planet they’re on by ending this conflict of theirs. A meeting is soon arranged between the two groups.
But Paul Collins as Zlangco, the Nol-Ennis’ leader stirs up trouble when he doesn’t trust the Ennis’ ‘good’ intentions. Thus, a battle ensues between the two groups where they kill each other again here.
Bashir eventually discovers that they can’t take the Ennis and Nol-Ennis groups with them as the nanotechnology keeps them alive. This means they can’t take Kai Opaka with them without killing her.
Opaka however decides to stay on the planet to help the Ennis and the Nol-Ennis once Dax and O’Brien have found the group. It seems Opaka’s found new work to do on this planet instead of being on Bajor.
I’m amazed by how this episode ended with Opaka staying on the planet whilst Sisko, Bashir and Kira return to DS9. Opaka tells Sisko that their paths will cross again. I wonder when that will occur in ‘DS9’.
‘Battle Lines’ (DS9) rating – 7/10
| The previous story
For ‘Deep Space Nine’ was |
The next story
For ‘Deep Space Nine’ is |
| Return to Star Trek | |
| Return to Sci-Fi |