‘CHIMERA’ (DS9)
Please feel free to comment on my review.
This ‘DS9’ episode has Odo meeting another Changeling. But it also has Odo and Kira’s love for each other explored. Will Kira give Odo up so that he can be with someone else of his kind in the series? 😐
The episode begins with Odo and Chief O’Brien returning to DS9 in a runabout. I found it funny when O’Brien saw Odo having bought two gifts for Colonel Kira but he hadn’t bought anything for Keiko. 😀
Soon, Odo and O’Brien are boarded by an unfamiliar Changeling. This happens to be Garman Hertzler as Laas. And yes, that’s really J.G. Hertzler who regularly plays General Martok in the series.
Interesting J.G. Hertzler plays a different character in this ‘DS9’ episode compared to playing Martok. I wonder if Hertzler’s name is so recognisable that people would wonder why he isn’t Martok in this.
Apparently, Laas has no knowledge of the Dominion or its Founders. Odo deduces Laas is one of the 100 Changelings that the Founders sent out into deep space as infants to learn about the universe. 🙂
I like this story idea since we don’t get to see other Changelings like Odo who were sent out into the universe by the Founders. This might be the first and only time that the ‘DS9’ series has done that. 🙂
Upon returning to DS9, Odo and Laas get to know each other, learning about each other’s past. Laas doesn’t support the Founders’ agenda for conquest, but he doesn’t trust or like humanoids either.
He just wants to avoid them. Odo tries to persuade Laas to see his way of thinking and they both go through the process of ‘linking’ with each other – similar to the Female Changeling and Odo ‘linking’.
Although the ‘linking’ experience is fulfilling for both Odo and Laas, Laas works out that Odo would have returned to join the Founders and experience their Great Link if he was not in love with Kira. 😐
This was an intriguing angle to take with the episode. Both Odo and Kira’s love for each other are tested, especially when Odo is concerned about his identity and whether he is accepted by humans.
Laas keeps trying to persuade Odo to embrace his potential as a Changeling rather than blend in with humanoids. He even behaves rudely and condescendingly in front of Odo’s humanoid friends. 😦
This includes Kira, Ezri, Bashir and O’Brien. If only the Founders that Odo met weren’t so filled with a superiority complex then they could have been happy in the universe and not cause war with others.
Odo is disappointed in Laas’ behaviour towards his humanoid friends. Laas tries persuading him to join him in travelling the galaxy. Laas hopes to locate more of the Hundred and form their Great Link.
Odo seems to be tempted, especially when Laas demonstrates his skill to shapeshift into unusual forms such as fire in Odo’s former quarters. But Odo struggles to come to a final decision about that.
Things get worse when Laas causes a disturbance aboard the station by transforming into fog on the promenade. He draws the attention of two Klingon officers. They assume he’s one of the Founders.
It doesn’t end well when the Klingons confront Laas violently. With his shapeshifting powers, Laas is able to evade the attack and kill one of the Klingons. Laas gets arrested for killing the one Klingon. 😐
If only Laas shapeshifted into General Martok, less messy things could have happened. Odo protests to Captain Sisko that Laas acted in self-defence, but it’s very unlikely that Laas will receive a fair trial.
Odo is in self-doubt about himself and his relationship with Kira. Kira, who loves Odo, gives him the chance to travel with his own kind by releasing Laas and informing him to wait for Odo on Koralis III.
Kira privately lets Odo know where Laas is. Odo soon meets Laas on Koralis III, but he only says goodbye to him as he decides to go back to Kira on DS9. I like how Odo and Kira reunite at the end. 🙂
There is a touching scene where Odo shows his love for Kira by transforming into a glowing, golden mist which surrounds her. Some might disagree with me on that, but I do think it’s rather touching. 🙂
‘Chimera’ is a nice ‘DS9’ episode featuring Odo and Kira’s love for each other as well as Odo interacting with a new Changeling character. I don’t think it’s regarded highly, but I rather enjoyed it.
‘Chimera’ (DS9) rating – 8/10
|
The previous story For ‘Deep Space Nine’ was |
The next story For ‘Deep Space Nine’ is |
| Return to Star Trek | |
| Return to Sci-Fi |
Bradley's Basement 