‘THE BEGOTTEN’ (DS9)
Please feel free to comment on my review.
Here’s a special episode for Odo’s character where he gets to look after an infant Changeling aboard DS9. This episode also has Kira delivering O’Brien and Keiko’s baby, which we’ve been waiting for. 😀
It begins when Quark sells to Odo an infant Changeling in a jar. Odo, who has been stripped of his shapeshifiting powers, decides to teach the ‘child’ how to shapeshift. He hopes to do this by himself.
It was amusing when Odo was talking to the Changeling in a cup that’s presumably meant for drinking coffee. 😀 Worf even asks Odo why he’s talking to his ‘beverage’ before Odo corrects him. 🙂
Once Odo begins to teach his ‘child’ how to shapeshift; he’s displeased when Dr. Mora Pol returns. James Sloyan returns to the role of Dr. Mora Pol following his debut appearance in ‘The Alternate’. 🙂
Mora was the Bajoran scientist who ‘raised’ Odo when he was found aboard Terok Nor during the Cardassian occupation of Bajor. Mora is wishing to assist Odo due to his experience of handling him.
It doesn’t go too well when Odo and Mora immediately clash with each other on how it’s best to raise the Changeling. Odo’s methods of raising the Changeling might be slower compared to Mora’s.
Odo is still angry with Mora over the invasive methods he had to raise him. Interesting! I thought Odo and Mora settled their differences since the events of ‘The Alternate’. Apparently not, it seems.
Wishing to raise the infant through encouragement, Odo is disgusted when Mora wishes to probe and measure the creature. It builds up to a fierce argument between Odo and Mora in the infirmary.
Soon, Odo and Mora find themselves under pressure from Starfleet who want the infant Changeling themselves. Odo has no choice but to resort to Mora’s methods and using his equipment on DS9. 😐
As they use Mora’s equipment, Odo employs electric shocks to prod the Changeling into holding several basic forms. This works as they’re amazed to find the creature trying to imitate Odo’s face. 🙂
Happy about this, it brings Odo and Mora closer. This is especially when Mora admits that Odo’s care has helped him to connect with the infant. Odo finally forgives Mora for what happened in the past.
Odo gets to enjoy drinking champagne with Dr. Mora to celebrate their success. Odo even celebrates in Quark’s bar, to which Quark is very surprised by as he’s never seen Odo be this happy ever before.
Sadly, the happy mood gets shattered when Odo hears that the baby is dying. Bashir is unable to save the child, which must be a big shock for Odo since this turn of events has come out of nowhere.
In the end, Odo holds the dying creature in his hands. As it dies, the infant changeling merges into Odo and restores his shapeshifting abilities again. Odo has become a Changeling once again in ‘DS9’.
I’m glad Odo’s back to being a Changeling once again instead of being a ‘solid’. I wonder what would have happened had Odo been a ‘solid’ for the most of Season 5 before becoming a Changeling again.
In the Major Kira subplot, Kira goes into labour and gives birth as the surrogate mother to O’Brien and Keiko’s baby. There are issues along the way though, especially with Duncan Regehr as Shakaar.
There’s competition between O’Brien and Shakaar over their attention towards Kira. This frustrates Kira who asks them to get out of her quarters. Rosalind Chao as Keiko supports Kira in this matter. 😀
The process of Kira having the baby is a bit odd in terms of Bajoran standards. I mean, it’s not like how they deliver babies in ‘Call the Midwife’, is it? In the end, I’m glad Kira had the baby in the tale.
Mind you, there was a missed opportunity. Worf should’ve been there due to delivering Keiko’s first baby Molly in the ‘TNG’ episode ‘Disaster’. Mind you, Michael Dorn might’ve been busy at that time.
Due to making ‘Star Trek: First Contact’ perhaps. I like that final scene between Kira and Odo where she expressed her feelings of loss in turning over the baby to his parents. The two walk off together.
‘The Begotten’ is a good ‘DS9’ episode to watch in Season 5. I like Odo’s story with the infant Changeling and I’m glad the Kira baby storyline finally came to a close since it began in ‘Body Parts’.
‘The Begotten’ (DS9) rating – 8/10
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