Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Covenant

Season 7 Episode 9

Plot Summary: Kira is surprised to receive a visit from Vedek Fala, an old mentor from the occupation days. She wants to reminisce, but he has his own plans. He beams here of the station via a transponder, and together they arrive at Empok Nor (That old abandoned sideways Cardi space station). There Kira meets up with a group of pagh-wraith-worshipers led by Dukat. Fala is one of them. Dukat wants her at his side while he heads the group, but naturally she refuses. Slowly suspicious incidents convince some members that Dukat doesn't have they're best intentions in mind, and when Dukat orders a mass suicide, Kira takes the opportunity to, uh, jump on him. Not the most ingenious of plans, but she was working under pressure. Well she jumps on him causing him to drop his suicide pill among the ones for the other worshipers. When Kira is restrained, Vedek Fala offers Dukat another pill. He refuses continuing to look for the one he dropped. Kira announces him a fraud and for once the cult-members see the light. Angrily Dukat beams away. Fala eats a pill of death and, well, he dies. Kira ponders al this with Odo on the way back to DS9.

Sub-Plot: None

My Opinion: Covenant was a fine episode, but nothing too wonderful. Basically the story was fresh but predictable, and the implications involved don't seem all that great. Probably the best thing about it was the interesting viewpoints and questions it brought up, the paghwraiths being the true gods and all that. The reasoning was well-placed, after all perhaps they've been helping Sisko just so he can help them keep the wraiths out of the wormhole. Of course, then there's that whole red eyes and evil grin bit, but you can't judge a god by it's contact lenses. Probably why this episode was a tad disappointing was because they left you convinced that the wraith-lovers were wrong, since Dukat was revealed as a fraud. The real interesting question is, was Dukat a fraud in his own mind? Does he really believe he's a messenger from the wraiths, or was that all an act to get Bajorans to love him? Maybe it all started that way (as an act) and progressed into a reality to him. The final interesting question would be what the meaning of Vedek Fala's answer to Kira's "Why?" truly meant. After swallowing the pill of death, Fala told Kira that his reason for doing so was "Faith". Did this mean he still believed, or did it mean he was upset that his beliefs had been falsely placed? All interesting thoughts to ponder.

Wrap-Up: "Covenant" had an fresh and interesting plot that was just a tad too predictable. The episode was still quite enjoyable, though, and brought up many interesting points and ideas. I give it three stars.

Review by -William Phillips

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