"Sons and Daughters"
Season Six, Episode 3
Written by Bradley Thompson and David Weddle
Directed by Jesus Salvador Trevino
Music by Jay Chattaway
Main Cast:
Avery Brooks as Captain Benjamin Sisko
Rene Auberjonois as Odo
Michael Dorn as Lt Cmdr Worf
Terry Farrell as Lt Cmdr Jadzia Dax
Cirroc Lofton as Jake Sisko
Colm Meaney as Chief Miles O'Brien
Armin Shimerman as Quark
Alexander Siddig as Dr Julian Bashir
Nana Visitor as Major Kira Nerys

Guest Stars:
Marc Alaimo as Dukat
Casey Biggs as Damar
J.G. Hertzler as Martok
Marc Worden as Alexander
Melanie Smith as Ziyal
 

 
"You don't like the dress?"
"The dress is fine, I don't like you."
-- Dukat and Kira

Synopsis:

Having rescued Sisko and crew from Dominion territory, the Klingon vessel Rotarran is sent on convoy duty as it receives some new recruits. Worf, who is serving as Martok's First Officer, is shocked to see his estranged son Alexander is among the recruits. Their relationship has always been a stormy one and this is no exception, but pulling together during their dangerous mission, they eventually reach an understamding and Alexander is welcomed into the House of Martok.

On the station, Ziyal, Dukat's daughter, arrives on the station from Bajor. Kira is Ziyal's mentor and Dukat knows this only too well, using their shared affection for Ziyal to try and bring them closer. But Kira soon realises what he's doing and backs off. Ziyal feels piggy in the middle and doesn't want to have to choose between Kira and her father. "He's your father," Kira tells her. "There is no choice."

Review: 

(NB: This review is taken from my Season Review . For my original review, see The Dominion War Arc)

Hmm. Whereas the previous episode was the best instalment of this story arc, Sons and Daughters is the only real blip. Yes, it's about time that we finally dealt with the "Alexander issue", but now is not the time nor the place -- if it weren't for the sub-plot which reintroduces Ziyal, this episode could have been jettisoned from the Arc entirely.

At times there are some sparks of genuine emotion between Worf and Alexander, but generally the episode is lacklustre and quite ineffective. We never learn why Alexander is aboard the Rotarran nor what exactly motivates him and there's an unfortunate lack of remorse on Worf's part for being such a dreadful father. Coupled with a gobbedly-gook Klingon ritual which is used to resolve the plot this rather guts whatever potential the story had. Luckily the ever-entertaining J.G. Hertzler is on hand to lift every scene he appears in, but what this episode really needed was Dax -- I'm sure it wouldn't have been too much to have had her stay aboard the Rotarran for a couple of days. Notably the writing, directing, performances and even the music and effects are all a step down from previous and succeeding episodes.

Rating: 5.5

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