Star Trek 342: Defiant

342. Defiant

FORMULA: Second Chances + The Maquis + The Wounded

WHY WE LIKE IT: Tom Riker!

WHY WE DON'T: Despite Kira's promises, he was never seen again.

REVIEW: You always know what Riker is pulling with his rugged good looks and charming smile, but you want to let him. And that's as true of William as it is of Thomas, his transporter duplicate from Second Chances (very economically explained too, my hat off to the writers). It's really nice to see a TNG alumnus on the show, and there's a lot of good humor surrounding his arrival, from Kira being burnt out to Dax's girl talk.

Once Tom steals the Defiant and reveals himself to be a Maquis (and Thomas rather than Will), the episode switches gears totally and because a tight political thriller. It's a lot like The Wounded, with a Federation officer going rogue and trying to show the Cardassians aren't to be trusted, and being right, but this time it's the Obsidian Order that's pulling a fast one, even on the Central Command. There's a definite sense that Dukat is politically on his way out, and the Order's ships in the Orias system set up a mystery for later. Also, nice to see the Cardassian Command Center (here bigger than in later appearances?).

As for Tom Riker, Kira's assertion that he's trying to be a hero, not a terrorist has the ring of truth, but doesn't devalue the character. It's still fundamentally Will Riker in there, and he ends up doing the right thing. It's too bad he was never was rescued from Lazon II, even after the Federation-Cardassian treaty fell apart. Haven't read it yet, but the novels do free him in Peter David'd Imzadi II, or you can free him yourself in the computer game Star Trek Deep Space 9 - Dominion Wars, but it's just not the same.

A few other notes: Anyone know what O'Brien was thinking after getting the cold shoulder from Riker? He left in a hurry, so he must've thought Riker was referring to SOMEthing. I wonder. One cute thing I noticed was Thomas using the words "tough little ship" in reference to the Defiant. Will makes the same comment rather more jokingly in First Contact, which makes perfect sense and is a great tie-in.

LESSON: Starship security systems need a beard identification system.

REWATCHABILITY - High: A well-used guest star and some furthering of the Cardassian plot that's been brewing all season, along with some nifty action and good writing. I'd say we have a winner.

Comments

De said…
The only weakness of the episode was the re-use of the most boring actors this side of watching Vulcan paint dry as the Maquis cell.
Siskoid said…
Amen brother, that Kalinara, or whatever her name is, is deadly dull.
Dan said…
I was just so pleased by this episode that Tom Riker wasn't eternally consigned to "must-maintain-the-status-quo, 'Let us never mention this again'" status after his first appearance. At the end of "Second Chances," I assumed we'd never see him again and no one would ever acknowledge that Will had an "identical twin" out there.
Siskoid said…
It happened so often, I don't blame you.

But then DS9 forgot he ever existed :(
Jeremy Rizza said…
I remember exactly one thing about this episode, and it's Tom Riker peeling off his fake sideburns. Facial hair psyche-out!
Anonymous said…
I figure O'Brien had no idea what Riker was referring to, which is why he skedaddled. Without knowing what he'd allegedly done, the only safe move was to back away.
LiamKav said…
Ronald D Moore once said (I believe) that the "tough little ship" call-back was completely coincidental and wasn't planned at all. Which almost makes him a better writer, come to think of it.
Stonger04 said…
I think Tom is angry at Miles because of the transporter incident. That would explain why Miles did not seem to understand why Riker was so dismissive. And, if Miles had started to reminisce old times with whom he thought was Will, it would've blown Tom's cover, ultimately preventing him from successfully taking control of the Defiant.
Siskoid said…
O'Brien didn't cause the transporter accident which was, if you remember, years before while Riker was serving on another ship. The second part of your statement is the real answer.