The Die Is Cast (2)

Season 3, Episode 21, Aired
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Episode Summary

Stardate: 48622.5''''Garak must decide whether or not to kill Odo to please his mentor, Enabran Tain, on the eve of a joint Romulan-Cardassian attack on the Dominion.
9.3
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Fan Episode Reviews (4)

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  • Great conclusion.

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By pharoahsdance, Mar 09, 2011 Report Abuse
    Like TNG's "Chain of Command", an excellent set-up episode is followed by an even stronger conclusion. And like "Chain of Command", a key aspect of this episode is a rather intense torture sequence.

    The main difference, of course, is that the torture here is much more personal and harrowing than it was in TNG. There, it was about Picard standing to a fairly anonymous tormentor - here Odo suffers at the hand of a colleague who has deep misgivings about the act. It's easily the strongest sequence in the episode.

    But there's other stuff here - the shocking surprise upon arrival to the Changeling homeworld, the betrayal by Eddington (a massive red herring for later developments), and of course a thrilling space battle.

    Finally, the concluding scene - with Odo appearing only as a reflection in the mirror, is well written and beautifully shot.

    Unlike "Past Tense", this two-parter would have direct and quick implications for the following episodes.moreless

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    2 0

  • Best episode I've seen of DS9 yet!

    10
    "Perfect"
    By dcobb101, Mar 07, 2010 Report Abuse
    Yes we all love the science of Star Trek, the techno babble, the awesome sets, costumes, races, but... It's the awesome battle sequences which often times are far too lacking and sparse that really ups the wow factor. And this episode more than delivers on that front. I love seeing the various Star Trek ships, cloaking, uncloaking, flying & fighting and this episode just rocks the house with these sequences. All that said though almost equal to this are some of the most unforgettable dialog and scenes between Odo and Garak, which marks the beginning of a friendship despite what happens in the episode

    In this second half of the two-parter we really see the Defiant kick some Jem Hadar ass, wasting more than a few of their ships, meanwhile the Romulan and Cardassian armada get caught with their pants down and blown to bits. One does have to ask themselves though how the Defiant was able to reek such havoc while monster ships like the Romulan war birds were just ripped apart. Whether the battle capabilities of the Defiant were simply overblown (given this show is all about DS9 and its new flagship added in season 3) or the element of surprise of having the Defiant swoop in coming out of cloaked state, either way it still made for some nice eye candy and I probably shouldn't think to much about the realism of that tiny ship being that tough. In any case The battle scenes are quick but they are awesome and unlike the Defiants first encounter with the Jem Hadar this time it just tears through them like tin cans and certainly makes an impression upon the viewer.

    Obviously these two episodes open up a huge can of worms for the DS9 space station, the federation and really solidify the threat of the Dominion and line up some good episodes and future stories as a resultmoreless

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  • Turning point in Deep Space Nine

    8.0
    "Great"
    By dseabroo, Apr 20, 2009 Report Abuse
    "The Die Is Cast" is clearly not the greatest Star Trek episode ever aired. There are many things I as a fan would had done differently. Nevertheless its a unique piece of drama that is memorable and a turning point in the series.

    The highlights of the episode is the continued development of the relationship between Odo and Deep Space Nine space station resident Garek. The two characters are an interesting match, but prior to this episode and its lead-in, "Improbably Cause" very little of this was explored. This certainly changes when we see Odo tortured by Garek. The extremely beautifully choreographed scene between them in the tailor shop done in a single take, with Odo only visible in the mirror is classic. Unfortunately I'd had liked to had seen a little more bitterness between Garek and Odo over this event, especially in later episodes when - unfortunately - the torture scene seems too easily forgotten.

    The first thing I'd change about this episode is to tie the title more nicely with the first part: I never liked "Improbably Cause" as clever as it was. I'd much prefer if they'd chosen "The Die Cast, Part 1/2" for both episodes.

    Another thing I'd like to see changed is the unnecessary rescue of Odo and Garek by the Defiant. Eddington's sabotage of the cloaking device was interesting development of his character but it could had been left for other episodes. Frankly I'd like to had seen that air time devoted to Garek/Odo/Tain storyline and elaboration on the station resident's reaction to the attack on the Dominion.

    There is no reason why Odo could not had gotten home with the undamaged runabout. In fact I don't understand why the Jem'Hadar attacked the runabout at all with him in it! As far as I'm concerned it a major plot error. The changeling Romulan was clearly beamed aboard a Jem'Hadar ship and should had been able to make it clear that the runabout contained a shaft-shifter and to leave it alone. If they had simply done that there would be no need for the Defiant in the script at all!

    Another item on my wish list would be to see Garek captured by the Jem'Hadar instead of Tain. The Dominion could perhaps had kept him alive in exchange for trying to convince Tain to save Odo's life. He could had easily been reintroduced to the series later. This way at least we would feel that Garek paid some price for the sorts of things he did in this episode instead of just getting away with it like he did.

    Another loose end in the story is how the Cardassians developed the quantum stasis field that prevented Odo from morphing? Did they get the data from the Bajoran scientist that studied Odo? Its interesting to note this is one of two similar weapons used against the changelings. The other being the Polaron emitters which cause them to revert to their gelatinous state. Either could be lethal.

    The Tal'shair and Obsidian Order were pretty naive to think they could wipe out the Dominion so easily.

    Fast moving episode. A pleasure to watch!moreless

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  • This was a crucial episode in the development of the 'Dominion' saga. Some great action scenes and a torture scene to die for.

    8.8
    "Great"
    By travodo, Oct 19, 2007 Report Abuse
    This was a crucial episode in the development of the 'Dominion' saga. Firstly though, this conclusion to the two part episode arc was very complex. It was almost like a detective novel in which clues were eventually revealed to the viewer showing the real picture. This second episode is when the action really gets going. The torture scene with Garak and Odo is truly unforgettable and superb acting by both men. The scene really was a metaphor for the effect of torture on both sides.To see Odo literally fall apart was analogous of the effects of torture on the victim. Whilst Garak's pleading with Odo for 'something' and his final response showed that the torturer is also 'tortured'. The craftiness of the Dominion was also explored and hinted at their future plans for the Alpha-Quadrant. The fighting scene with the 'Defiant' and the Jem'Hadar was spectacular.
    One of the best episodes up to this point.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • Admiral Toddman is seen wearing a gold uniform. Usually, Stafleet admirals were seen wearing red.

      Edit
    • The Tal Shiar had no knowledge of the new device developed by the Obsidian Order that could keep shapeshifters in a single form, but when Garak brings it into Odo's room it's set up by a pair of Romulans! Edit
    • The padd that the Romulan Colonel/Changeling gives to Odo is the same one Odo used as evidence against the Circle in The Circle. Edit

  • Notes

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    • Leland Orser (Colonel Lovok) previously played Gai on the DS9 episode Sanctuary. As well, he played Loomis on the Enterprise episode Carpenter Street and Dejaren on the Voyager episode Revulsion. Edit
    • This episode's climatic space battle between the Jem'Hadar, the Obsidian Order and the Tal Shiar, which had ships filling almost the entire screen at time, took twenty days of work at the effects studio Image G. This was a record amount of time spent on special effects of an hour long television show, since the average time is two days. Edit
    • Dennis McCarthy, who composed the music in this episode, took the opportunity to sneak in a clip of music from the movie Star Trek: Generations, which he also composed the score for. The music can be heard during the first scene on the Romulan bridge, after the Jem'Hadar attack begins. This same piece of music was later re-used in The Way Of The Warrior. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Col Lovok: (referring to Odo) My interest in the changeling is based on what I believe to be the strategic interests of the Romulan Empire. But you, you seem to have a personal interest in him. Garak: Well, tell me, what else am I feeling? I've never been psychoanalyzed by a Romulan before. This is a fascinating experience! Edit
    • Sisko: (after Eddington's sabotage is revealed) I'm afraid I'm going to to have to confine you to quarters, Mr Eddington. Eddington: Sir, if we run into the Jem'Hadar you're still going to need a chief security officer. Kira: What makes you think we'll trust you again? Eddington: Because I give you my word. Sisko: (staring him in the eyes) I make it a policy to never question the word of anyone who wears that uniform. Don't make me change that policy! Edit
    • Garak: I realize it must be nearly time for you to return to your liquid state. So I thought I'd bring you something to relax in. Odo: How kind. Garak: But before you go for a swim, I have a few questions I'd like to ask you. Odo: I have nothing to say, Garak. Garak: I had hoped that a few hours alone might jog your memory, but I can see that I'm going to have to take steps I had hoped to avoid. Odo: (in a mocking voice) Oh, no, you're going to torture me, aren't you? How I've dreaded this moment. Please have mercy, Garak. Garak: You do have a certain flair for sarcasm. It's one of the things I like about you. Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • The Die Is Cast In 49 BC, Julius Caesar was poised at the Rubicon River making up his mind whether or not to cross and throw the Roman Republic into Civil War. When he decided to cross and go to war, he said, "The die is cast," meaning that he had made his choice, and the outcome was up to Fate. Edit
    • Admiral Toddman: "Sounds like Wolf 359 all over again." The Admiral refers to the battle in which the Borg obliterated over thirty Starfleet and Klingon vessels. It is also the battle in which Sisko's wife Jennifer died. Edit
    • Garak: The fault, dear Tain, lies not among our stars but in ourselves. This line is paraphrased from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. Edit

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