'Paradise' S2 ending - was it just Stockholm?

[Gojirob]

I know its meant as a twist ending, and that many laud it for not being a happy, cookie-cutter plot. But even after accepting all that, I find myself wondering about the colonists. Speaking of what Alixius had 'given' them. To me, she seemed the embodiment of the worst sort of leader, one who says 'Its a dream worth you dying for'. Speaking of 'how much they had invested' in that place. But that time and effort had been in effect stolen and invested for them so a fanatic could prove a point while lording it over them.

Ok, its a frustrating ending, and its supposed to be. But what was the deciding factor in all the colonists staying? Were they determined to succeed despite Alixius, and maybe enjoy their rural life without her bullying? Or were they just so beat down and programmed that they were still under her control, despite her soon-to-be absence and utter discrediting? Lastly, do you think at least some of the colonists eventually left, maybe when O'Brien came to check on them?

 

[LeadHead]

I think probably during Season 5 the Federation may have forced them to evacuate, knowing that things were heating up with Cardassia and the Dominion. Just because they had no technology wouldn't stop the Jem'Hadar from attacking.

I think after a time anyway after the depth of Alexus' depravity had sunk in with them, that many of them would have wanted to leave. Who knows how they would accomplish that, it wuld be entirely dependent on whether or not another Runabout came for a visit.

 

[Jono]

^ Could the Federation force them out? They didn't seem to have much luck doing that in the DMZ. It would also depend on whether the colony joined the Federation or chose to be independent.

I think even if in the short term they decided to turn back on the generator that was cancelling out all modern technology that eventually they would have switched it off. Someone would have got sick or injured and they would not have been able to treat him/her properly. Knowing that if the field was down they could use advanced technology or call for help at least one person would have demanded that.

If they did not put the field back up I can picture the colony turning out similar to Gaia where rural lifestyle is highly valued but technology is not totally shunned/banned.

 

[Gojirob]

^ Could the Federation force them out? They didn't seem to have much luck doing that in the DMZ. It would also depend on whether the colony joined the Federation or chose to be independent.

I think even if in the short term they decided to turn back on the generator that was cancelling out all modern technology that eventually they would have switched it off. Someone would have got sick or injured and they would not have been able to treat him/her properly. Knowing that if the field was down they could use advanced technology or call for help at least one person would have demanded that.

If they did not put the field back up I can picture the colony turning out similar to Gaia where rural lifestyle is highly valued but technology is not totally shunned/banned.

For me, the appeal of that life would be forever diminished - perhaps even to zero - by how it was brought about. Maybe those people would never go back to living in sealed domes with replicators, but the only way I can see them staying is to honor the dead, or should I say, the murdered.

 

[Timo]

I don't get that argument. They came to colonize a planet; they colonized a planet. They got what they wanted, and the going would only be uphill from the point where they got rid of Alixus. The planet was theirs, the settlement was working all right, and they could now proceed with their original plan, or any sort of altered plan they wished for.

Apparently, nothing had changed as regarded their original goals. Quitting now, when things were taking a turn to the better, would have been illogical to the extreme. What possible motivation would these people have had for abandoning their original goals at this point?

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Gojirob]

I don't get that argument. They came to colonize a planet; they colonized a planet. They got what they wanted, and the going would only be uphill from the point where they got rid of Alixus. The planet was theirs, the settlement was working all right, and they could now proceed with their original plan, or any sort of altered plan they wished for.

Apparently, nothing had changed as regarded their original goals. Quitting now, when things were taking a turn to the better, would have been illogical to the extreme. What possible motivation would these people have had for abandoning their original goals at this point?

Timo Saloniemi

Was that their original goal? Besides, I almost got the impression that Alixius had chosen an unforgiving climate to make doubly certain of her goals. To just give up might be in them. But I think some would eventually feel bitterness about that place.

 

[Timo]

But any hardship the planet might throw at them was already behind them - they had achieved more than they thought they could. Now they could bring in all the luxuries they needed for making life sweeter and softer - not a great incentive for giving up.

And I'd like to claim that this group had an original goal similar to its eventual fate:

Joseph: "Our group was on its way to settle on Gemulon Five over ten years ago when our ship developed life support problems and we had to land for repairs."

It would be a bit odd to call this a "group" if these people were just a random selection of people moving to an already settled world. But it's open to interpretation, admittedly.

As for "bitterness about the place", well, perhaps. But the possible embittered individuals would have all the time in the world to reverse their initial decision to stay. And the place as such didn't seem all that bad, save for the one bug and the disease it carried...

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Gojirob]

But any hardship the planet might throw at them was already behind them - they had achieved more than they thought they could. Now they could bring in all the luxuries they needed for making life sweeter and softer - not a great incentive for giving up.

And I'd like to claim that this group had an original goal similar to its eventual fate:

Joseph: "Our group was on its way to settle on Gemulon Five over ten years ago when our ship developed life support problems and we had to land for repairs."

It would be a bit odd to call this a "group" if these people were just a random selection of people moving to an already settled world. But it's open to interpretation, admittedly.

As for "bitterness about the place", well, perhaps. But the possible embittered individuals would have all the time in the world to reverse their initial decision to stay. And the place as such didn't seem all that bad, save for the one bug and the disease it carried...

Timo Saloniemi

You have several good points. I just feel its a fine line between having invested a chunk of your life in a place and having that part stolen and invested by someone else. Maybe if Joseph had handed Sisko Alixius' books and said 'But we won't need these anymore' and maybe had O'Brien phaser the Box, it would have seemed like less of a victory for her fanaticism.

 

[Mark_Nguyen]

It's true, there was nothing to prevent them from moving forward form that point. There was no dialogue to confirm it, but I doubt they would remain "off the grid" forever. Whether or not they were in true danger from the Cardassians, Klingons or Dominion baddies in subsequent seasons would be largely dependent on whether their planet had any worthwhile resources to plunder. As it stood, it seems that they would not fare well as hostages, since it seems no one had missed them much in a decade...

Mark