“TREACHERY, FAITH AND THE GREAT RIVER”
“What’s that?...You want mouth-to-mouth resuscitation? I don’t think so, pal.”
“Treachery, Faith and the Great River” boasts one of my favourite titles of the entire series and, fortunately, the episode itself does not disappoint. It’s a return to the A/B plot structure the series has often done so well, but which has become a rarity over the past season. I’m happy to say that both storylines are thoroughly enjoyable.
From the moment he first appeared in the fourth season’s “To the Death”, Jeffrey Combs’ Weyoun immediately became one of the show’s most consistently enjoyable characters and this is the closest he gets to carrying an entire episode. Although we haven’t actually seen much of Odo and Weyoun together, the brief moments they’ve shared over the years have been compelling, complex and beautifully performed by both Combs and the ever dependable Rene Auberjonois. While on opposing sides, Weyoun nevertheless views Odo with godlike awe, even as he’s plotting against him (and, apparently, in “To the Death”, infecting him with a deadly virus!). The episode’s hook, that Weyoun is defecting from the Dominion, is a masterstroke, and along the way things are complicated as we learn that this Weyoun is actually a “defective” renegade clone. I’m delighted the writers finally decided to capitalise on the possibilities offered by the Vorta’s use of cloning. I’d actually have loved it if each Vorta had dozens of clones operating at any given time—and, let’s say, each time we encountered Weyoun, we were never quite sure if it was a clone we’d dealt with before.
Once the twists are out the way, plot is actually fairly simple: Odo has to transport this Weyoun back to the station while being pursued by the Jem’Hadar. What makes the episode come alive is the wonderful interplay between the two, as well as some fascinating insight into how the Vorta came to be. Auberjonois and Combs are at the top of their game and a surprisingly touching bond forms between the two—so much so, that when Weyoun 6 ultimately sacrifices himself to save Odo, it’s a genuinely heart-rending moment. The Jem’Hadar chase sequences add an element of excitement and are notable for two reasons. First of all, this is one of the only instances I can think of where the writers remember that space is three-dimensional during a battle scene. So, how do you get away from a pursuing ship? Fly above it! The sequence where they hide the runabout in comet fragments is very Star Wars-esque and features some beautiful special effects. Aside from the occasional nebula, Trek never added much visual interest to space scenes, which made this all the more novel and welcome.
The B-plot featuring Nog and O’Brien, is a delight from beginning to end. It’s great to see that Nog hasn’t entirely lost his “lobes for business” and, despite being a Starfleet officer, hasn’t completely lost his cultural identity. The concept of “the Great Material Continuum” is an inspired touch, lending Ferengi culture a surprisingly Taoist philosophy which adds some colour and depth to an extremely monolithic society. This plot reminds me quite a bit of the Nog/Jake B-plot in season one’s “Progress”. Once again, I’m not entirely sure the writers have factored replicators into the equation—or, indeed, holosuites (surely Lorenzo could have recreated the desks of famous Starfleet captains in the holosuite?). But it’s a joy to watch, nevertheless.
Ultimately, the lasting contribution this episode makes to series lore is the revelation that the Changelings are suffering from a mysterious disease—a storyline that will have great significance later in the season. This immediately creates a great deal of conflict for Odo and sets the stage for some difficult times to come. “Treachery, Faith and the Great River” is everything I’d want to DS9 to be at this stage. It’s a self-contained story that nevertheless advances the show’s overarching narrative and delivers some wonderful character moments. Jeffrey Combs definitely steals the show, managing to create an entirely new, and surprisingly sympathetic, character in Weyoun 6. Credit also goes to Bradley Thompson and David Weddle for turning in one of their strongest scripts, which is beautifully brought to life, not just by the impressive performances, but by solid directing and impressive music and visual effects.
Rating: 9
