Dax (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode)

"Dax" is the eighth episode of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures on Deep Space Nine, a space station located near a stable wormhole between the Alpha and Gamma quadrants of the Milky Way Galaxy, in orbit of the planet Bajor. This episode focuses on Jadzia Dax, a Trill alien that has been implanted with Dax. The episode explores the nature of Dax and of Trill society.

"Dax"
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 8
Directed byDavid Carson
Story byPeter Allan Fields
Teleplay by
Featured musicJay Chattaway
Production code408
Original air dateFebruary 14, 1993 (1993-02-14)
Guest appearance(s)

This episode was co-written by D.C. Fontana, who had also written for the original series.[1]

Plot

After having a meal with Dr. Bashir, Lt. Dax is abducted by a group of aliens while walking back to her quarters. Dr. Bashir comes across the group and alerts Commander Sisko that she has been taken. The aliens nearly escape with her on their ship, having sabotaged Deep Space Nine's tractor beam, but the Deep Space Nine crew is able to reestablish the tractor beam and prevent the ship from leaving.

Back on the station, one of the abductors, Ilon Tandro, accuses Dax—the Dax symbiont, then in the body of Curzon Dax—of murdering his father, Ardelon Tandro, a famous military hero from Klaestron IV; he wants to punish Jadzia Dax for the crime. His claim is based on the fact that during a civil war a coded message informed the opposing side of his father's location, and of the people who knew the location, Curzon was the only one without an alibi.

Major Kira insists that Dax cannot be extradited to Klaestron without an arbitration hearing under Bajoran law. At the hearing, Sisko argues that Jadzia and Curzon Dax are two different individuals, sparking a lengthy debate. The arbiter suggests removing the Dax symbiont and leaving Jadzia behind, but Dr. Bashir says that neither would survive the operation.

While Sisko and Ilon debate the merits of Ilon's claim that Trills are responsible for crimes committed by past hosts, Odo visits Ilon's mother, Enina. She tells him that Ilon has become obsessed with finding the one who betrayed his father. Tandro's murder inspired his people to victory and he has since become a worldwide hero. However, Enina is adamant that Curzon did not betray her husband.

Back on the station, Dax's fate is uncertain. Ilon argues that failure to punish Trill symbionts for acts committed in past lifetimes would create a perfect crime. Curiously, Jadzia seems complacent about the entire affair.

Odo discovers evidence of an affair between Curzon and Enina, giving him a motive for the murder. Enina admits the affair to Odo and reveals that her husband was not the hero in life that he was in death. As the hearing resumes, Enina states that at the time of the murder, Curzon was in her bed. The arbiter dismisses the case.

After the hearing is over, Enina talks privately with Dax of how no one must ever know that her husband had sent the coded message himself in an attempt to betray his own people, and the rebels killed him for the favor.

Reception

In 2018, SyFy included this episode on their Jadzia Dax binge-watching guide for this character.[2] They note this episode helps build the relationship between Jadzia and Sisko, as well as explore the nature of Dax.[2]

References
  • P. Farrand, Nitpicker's Guide for Deep Space Nine Trekkers New York: Dell (1996): 35 - 38
  1. "6 Iconic Star Trek Episodes by D.C. Fontana". Star Trek. Retrieved 2020-01-23.
  2. Lane, Carly (2018-02-05). "A binge-watching guide to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Jadzia Dax". SYFY WIRE. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
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