Season 4 finale: AH ODO. This is another one of those meh episodes for me. It was definitely entertaining. I enjoyed it. I think turning Odo into a human was a pretty good twist. But you know, also super sad. Does Odo ever emotionally recover?

The one thing I outwardly didn’t like about this episode is the whole, “Gasp, a high ranking official is actually a changling interfering with alpha quadrant politics!” We KNEW that. If they have operatives on earth, it’s not exactly surprising that they’re also everywhere else. This particular plot “twist” isn’t exactly new to this show.

Season Three Intro (Apocalypse Rising): There are lots of details to this that I love. Dax went with Sisko to meet with the Star Fleet, which feels right because they’re such old friends. It feels good to watch them side by side (a little weird she didn’t go on the mission but it looks like they’re all males, so I guess it makes sense). What a cool title, by the way. The Kira/Julian scene where he is checking in with her is hysterical. “But I’d rather blame you!” They both look so genuinely happy in that moment, I’m smiling so much just writing about it. THAT acting is why I love this show. Speaking of wholesome, Julian trying to comfort Jake is so sweet. I think it’s cool that we brought Dukat back to help but his daughter has been lost in translation again. She lives on the station... where is she? She’s been in two episodes even though she’s supposedly under Kira’s care.

Watching each of the characters trying to imitate Klingons is pretty amazing. Sisko does a pretty good job, but it’s clear that he’s not nearly as fluid as Worf. On a cinematic note (which I usually don’t comment on because... what do I know?), the lighting/color scheme of this episode is SUPER dark. I have vision trouble caused by migraines and affected by light changes, and I can’t see a lot of it. I know they probably put a ton of effort into the details of the Klingon sets and costumes but I can’t see about about half of the screen. The episode about Dax, Worf, and the other dude going to find the thing I can’t spell in the cave had a similar problem for me. If there were any cool easter eggs in this episode let me know! The ending was, again, not a terribly surprising, but still kind of exciting. Yet again, Odo was responsible for killing “one of his own.” But I have a feeling we’ll be hearing about that soon. And one of my favorite scenes from this entire series was Odo listening to the bubbles in his drink. I do that and I’ve been human my entire life. It just made me feel good.

As for final thoughts, Odo is the only character who I liked less in this season than in the others. Season 2 Odo was amazing. Season 2 Odo was like a not-so-arrogant, different skill set Julian. And I am so inspired by that value set and conviction. But now Odo is just sad and he has every right to be. We talk about the seasonal Miles gets bullied episode but it’s like the whole series is designed to break Odo down as an entity. I am really looking forward to the episodes in season 5. I’m hoping Odo either gets his changy changy back or adjusts to being human.

Edit: Also I am VERY PROUD of the show writers for not having Kira randomly go into labor at the token inconvenient time.