Review

Got mixed feelings here. It was rumored quite a bit before the season finale that Terry Farrell wanted to leave the show because of her inability to come to terms with the producers regarding a contract for season 7. So they had to kill her off in this episode and the writing reeks of a scramble to achieve that goal. As a result, we have a story where Sisko leaves Bajor at a critical moment, allowing Dukat to attack the wormhole, to seal off the Bajorans from their Celestial Temple and he kills Dax in the process. While I love the way the writers wove everything together, there is one major inconsistency. Why is Dax on the station at all? And Bashir for that matter? Bashir and Dax always joined the Defiant for missions. Personally, I find it funny how Kira goes and they don't. Oh... wait... I remember... the writers had to kill off Dax and they needed them to stay. ;) Aside from this minor inconsistency, the story is pretty concrete. I'm willing to bet they already had the finale written and that they revised it to include Dax' death. Though perhaps it is unwise to speculate about what the writers did and did not intend. The idea to get the Dominion to appeal to the Pah-wraiths was intelligent writing and despite my unhappiness with how Jadzia died, the episode is fantastic. I loved watching Dukat meticulously carry out his plan, I loved the anguish in Sisko's eyes when he realized he never should have left, and the battle for Chin'Toka was spectacular. I like how Garak once again very clearly chooses his side, he's a bridge officer on the Defiant in this battle! I may complain, but this season finished off with just as big a bang as it began with. This has possibly been the best season ever done on Star Trek.