‘DUET’ (DS9)
Please feel free to comment on my review.
Here we are on the penultimate episode of Season 1 of ‘DS9’. This is a Kira episode and this time she gets to deal with her prejudices against the Cardassians when she interrogates one inside his brig cell!
In the episode, a space freighter docks at DS9. Apparently one of the passengers needs treatment for something called Kalla-Nohra. Kira knows of this. It was caused by a mining accident at a labour camp!
Kira goes to see the patient in the Infirmary. He turns out to be a Cardassian. Kira orders for the man to be arrested and accuses him to be a war criminal. This is because he was at the labour camp himself.
Years ago, the brutal labour camp called Gallitep, during the Cardassian occupation of Bajor, was liberated by Kira and her resistance movement. This was the same time the mining accident occurred.
The Cardassian – revealed as Harris Yulin as Marritza – was reported as a filing clerk at Gallitep. He’s not listed for crimes during the Cardassian occupation of Bajor. Sisko sees no reason condemning him.
But Kira insists that Marritza being present at Gallitep is reason enough to condemn him. This is where Kira’s anger boils over her reason whilst everyone else is persuading her to see beyond her prejudices.
Sisko eventually decides to investigate further whilst Marritza’s held prisoner. Kira becomes difficult when she insists conducting the case herself. Sisko persuades Kira not to do it as she’s being emotional.
Kira however emotionally pleas to interrogate the Cardassian, promising that she will remain professional during the case. Sisko eventually agrees. Thus, Kira interrogates the Cardassian in his cell.
This episode is well-remembered for featuring Kira’s confrontation scenes with Marritza. Nana Visitor and Harris Yulin deliver brilliant performances as their characters and this ‘DS9’ episode is a fan favourite. 🙂
Kira struggles to believe that Marritza was simply a file clerk at Gallitep. She wants him to be something more. She wants him to be the monster she thinks she is, despite the possibility he isn’t a war criminal.
Eventually, when investigating a photograph from Gallitep to confirm his identity, it turns out Aamin Marritza isn’t who he says he is. He happens to be Gul Darhe’el, also known as ‘the Butcher of Gallitep’.
Kira challenges Marritza now Darhe’el over this and he proudly admits to the claim. Kira becomes more convinced than ever that the Cardassian is a monster and he declares vile words for his atrocities.
But as the episode progresses, it seems that are errors in his story that stand out. For one thing, Darhe’el claims that he knows Kira’s of her Shakaar movement. This all makes Kira and Odo suspicious.
The episode also features the second TV appearance of Marc Alaimo as Gul Dukat. I’m surprised he only did two appearances in Season 1 of ‘DS9’. He would return for more TV stories in the rest of ‘DS9’.
When Odo asks Gul Dukat questions about their Cardassian prisoner, Dukat insists that Darh’el is dead. Apparently half of Cardiassia viewed his funeral. Darhe’el was not on Bajor during the mininig accident.
As more sparing takes place between Kira and Darhe’el in his cell, Odo interrupts to tell Kira that the man who is their prisoner isn’t what he appears. It seems this Cardassian wanted to be taken prisoner.
As Sisko and Odo question this further, Kira is refusing to believe any of the evidence that the man in the brig is not Gul Darhe’el. She’s so convinced this is all a set up by the Cardassians to let Darhe’el go.
Bashir eventually turns up to tell Sisko, Odo and Kira that their prisoner has undergone cosmetic surgery. This means the Cardassian is truly Marritza and that he’s deliberately impersonating Darhe’el.
As Kira confronts Marritza in his cell about this revelation, he breaks down into tears, branding himself as a coward. He wanted to be punished in order for Cardassia to be punished for persecuting Bajorans.
Kira decides to release Marritza, knowing him to be a good man in the end. Sadly, Marritza gets stabbed by Bajoran man. He killed him because of Cardassian prejudice. Something Kira has overcome.
‘Duet’ is a very well-written, dramatic ‘DS9’ episode. It showcases Kira in a good light in facing her Cardassian hatred and overcome her prejudice when dealing with a man that wanted to get punished.
‘Duet’ (DS9) rating – 9/10
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