Quodo in Every Episode discussion: "Shakaar"

[chacusha]

This week we're discussing... episode 3x24 "Shakaar"!

Episode synopsis: When the first minister of Bajor's provisional government passes away, Kai Winn is appointed acting first minister until an election can be held. A conflict between Winn and the head of Kira's old resistance cell over reclamators almost sparks a civil war. Meanwhile, O'Brien is on a hot streak at darts.

What The Boys are up to in this episode: Odo has one scene where he acts as a sounding board for Kira to vent her anger over Kai Winn and her popularity. Quark has several scenes in the B plotline where he sets up a betting pool on dart games against O'Brien. This ends up backfiring and Quark has to make a big payout.

One screencap from this episode:


Transcript: http://chakoteya.net/DS9/470.htm

Quodo fics tagged with this episode: None (https://archiveofourown.org/works?work_search%5Bsort_column%5D=revised_at&work_search%5Bother_tag_names%5D=Episode%3A+s03e24+Shakaar&work_search%5Bexcluded_tag_names%5D=&work_search%5Bcrossover%5D=&work_search%5Bcomplete%5D=&work_search%5Bwords_from%5D=&work_search%5Bwords_to%5D=&work_search%5Bdate_from%5D=&work_search%5Bdate_to%5D=&work_search%5Bquery%5D=&work_search%5Blanguage_id%5D=&commit=Sort+and+Filter&tag_id=Star+Trek%3A+Deep+Space+Nine)

Tell us:
- What did you think about this episode?
- Have you written a fic set during/after this episode?
- Do you know of any other fics set in or that build off this episode that weren't linked above?
- What do you see as the Quodo potential for this episode?

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Comments

[chacusha]

Random thoughts:

- I like how there's some Bajoran language in this one. Also, great opening -- I love how everyone hates Kai Winn. I'm also curious here if Kira's reaction is meant to suggest Kira thought the first minister was assassinated and is relieved that he died of natural causes? IDK.

- "It has been my observation that one of the prices of giving people freedom of choice is that sometimes they make the wrong choice." -- Amazing Odo line. I like him as like "outsider observer of humanoid culture" and also as a sounding board/adviser for Kira (which he is in a lot of episodes). I also think Odo's inclinations lean a bit anti-liberal, and so I think he tends to be a bit more clear-sighted about the downsides of liberty and is not really invested in it as the Best Type of Government and so is a bit able to see past ideology towards its flaws, which also makes this a very suiting thing for him to say.

- Kira's glare at Winn omg.

- I feel like this episode kind of recycles the plot from "Progress" (and also KIND of the B-plot of "Rivals" for the B-plot here lol). I guess the main difference here is that when Kira goes back to that insurgent lifestyle, she's a bit more justified.

- Still a bit weird how much of a revolving door there is, though, for people serving as an officer for the Federation. The end scene here where Sisko just welcomes Kira back like, "Enjoy camping out in the hills while you almost start a civil war? Great, we kept your seat warm" -- amazing.

- Overall, I feel this episode is pretty meh, which is pretty typical for episodes centered around Kira's love interests. Well, I guess Shakaar is not her love interest *yet* but according to the DS9 Companion, they did cast him with the idea that he'd be a potential love interest for Kira. (Also, speaking of casting I STILL can't believe Shakaar's actor was also the ghost from "Sub Rosa." Just wild. XD)

- I do think there are some nice moments, though. Little things like the way the different members of the cell interact with each other and work together, and the casual way Kira and Shakaar descend into the canyon -- just little details like that.

- Winn's behavior here is a bit wild in this episode, though. Took a win and turned it into a loss because... pride? Spite toward Kira? I don't know, her actions are a bit erratic. I guess they had to have a reason why Kira flips out and heads to the hills, and her trying REALLY HARD to be the bigger person and Winn just refusing to return that energy... well, uh, that would do it.


Thoughts on Quodo potential:

Oh boy, since this episode feels kind of repetitive, I also feel like my Quodo ideas are going to be kind of repetitive too.

- Quark has a plotline in this one, but Odo doesn't appear much, so maybe could write him something to do. Maybe teasing Quark about how he lost money or something, or trolling him by saying he knew O'Brien's shoulder was acting up but it just "slipped his mind" or something like that.

- Or since Winn is visiting the station, maybe Quark and Odo have a conversation with her?

- Or Odo trying his hand at darts?

- Or Quark trying to get Odo to place a bet on the darts match?