My Watering Hole: 3 in Dax (Deep Space Nine S01-E08)

The fugitive Dax is charged with treason... and the murder of my father.

I like this episode. Dax, in the 90s, for its entire runtime was a compelling story modeled on the Ship of Theseus argument way before Wandavision and its 2 minute scene. It’s only fault is that the episode didn’t draw attention to itself as identity metaphysics.

What I also love of the episode is that it deals with lies: those we tell ourselves, the reputations we value, and the lies a country tells to itself too.

Jadzia Dax was almost kidnapped aboard Deep Space Nine by representatives of Klaestron IV. When kidnapping didn't work the Klaestron’s change their approach to an extradition request. Noticeably the warrant was for Dax, meaning the Klaestron’s are aware that Curzon Dax their true target was already dead.

They argue that the entity who has committed the crimes against them – treason and murder – lives on in the symbiont. It was a legal request so the only move left to Sisko, ironically, is to argue on Jadzia’s behalf that she was different from Curzon despite always referring to her as Old Man.

I don't expect help, Benjamin. Thank you, though.

Here are the 3 things that stand out for me in the Episode.

I’m crushing on Major Kira

Oh, yes...

Just to give an in-story excuse, I like the above mentioned scene because it showed teamwork, maybe for the first time. Watching an imperfect team is fun, it makes them human. Remember how the relationship between the Commander and Major Kira started with distrust, it makes the coming together sweet, as it is now.

Sisko and Kira were informing Ilon Tandro, in tandem, that his expectation of smooth sailing under Federation extradition laws is invalid under a Bajoran held station.

Personally, I just love Major Kira’s smile in this scene even with the dubious emotional motivations underneath it.

via GIPHY

The Widow scorns the Hero

My husband wasn't nearly the hero in life that he was in death, Mister Odo.
In death he became a legend. And I became a legend's wife.

Odo confronted the widow Enina Tandro about the timing of Curzon’s communications. It was his theory that the General, whom the Dax symbiont is now accused of betraying to the rebels of Klaestron IV, could have been murdered for a motive that is more primal than political.

Because this is the first time anyone had dared to ask, Enina goes off on a tirade against her dead husband whom many revere as a hero. But it’s how she told it, that no one wants to hear details of the General’s life that I submit that what the people really want is a god.

How often do people look for such gods in times of crisis, not the type cried for at altars but the hero, that godsent, who will save them; that politician who can do no wrong? Myths inspire and unite, yes, but how long before it festers as a piece of fiction, until a devil arises?

Why do people have to create such myths at all if they believed in themselves?

via GIPHY

My favorite line in the Steven Spielberg directed Lincoln is:

The greatest measure of the 19th century was passed by corruption, aided and abetted by the purest man in America.

As a non-American, I always thought the problems of race ended with Abraham Lincoln, because that is the abridged version. The 16^th president of the United States was basically a god: he kept the country together in a war; he succeeded in passing a 13^th amendment.

He will always be remembered as Honest Abe. But the movie had him shaking hands with a wide spectrum of people, he obviously didn’t shy away from using force, he played tricks, and he bribed.

If people were aware of the human processes instead of attributing successes to myth, would they have put in the extra work? Would they have stopped looking for societal gods as saviors or as inspiration. This myth seems to be worthless now.

In my country, Benigno Aquino III would often remind people that he was the son of an assassinated Anti-Marcos hero – a god – especially if it was a bad day. Rodrigo Duterte in Filipino would be referred to as Tatay Digong.

If you won't defend yourself, you're not going to testify.

The obvious reason is that one does not question gods or fathers, and the Philippines has always been the worse for it.

Dax Remembers

He (Curzon) was in my bed

I am not sure what YOLO (You Only Live Once) actually means but another meaning could be: do whatever you want in life including dangerous and foolish things, because if you die it wouldn’t matter to you anyway.

The argument that won over in the Vision vs White Vision fight in the season ender of Wandavision was memories. I was in favor of Dax before watching Wandavision, now in my 2^nd viewing I am in favor of extradition.

Also now I began to see how disingenuous Sisko’s stand was with him always calling Jadzia the old man. When Enina Tandro came into the extradition hearing, Jadzia’s eyes was of familiarity, love, and regret.