The Dogs of War (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)

"The Dogs of War" is the 174th and penultimate episode of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the 24th of the seventh season. It is the eighth of the nine-episode story arc concluding the series. This episode was written by René Echevarria and Ronald D. Moore, based on a story by Peter Allan Fields, and was directed by Avery Brooks, who also played the role of Captain Benjamin Sisko.[1]

"The Dogs of War"
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode
Episode no.Season 7
Episode 24
Directed byAvery Brooks
Story byPeter Allan Fields
Teleplay by
Featured musicDavid Bell
Cinematography byJonathan West
Production code574
Original air dateMay 26, 1999 (1999-05-26)
Guest appearance(s)

Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the crew of the Starfleet-managed space station Deep Space Nine near the planet Bajor, as the Bajorans recover from a decades-long occupation by the imperialistic Cardassians. The station is adjacent to a wormhole connecting Bajor to the distant Gamma Quadrant; the wormhole is home to powerful alien beings worshipped by the Bajorans as the godlike "Prophets", who have made Sisko, DS9's human captain, their "Emissary". The later seasons of the series follow a war between the United Federation of Planets and the Dominion, an expansionist empire from the Gamma Quadrant, which has already absorbed Cardassia; the Dominion is ruled by the shapeshifting Changelings.

In this episode, when the organized Cardassian resistance against Dominion rule is wiped out, resistance leader Damar (Casey Biggs), with the aid of Starfleet Commander Kira (Nana Visitor) and ex-spy Garak (Andrew J. Robinson), tries to restart the resistance as a grassroots uprising. The episode also concludes the series's long-running plot arc exploring the politics of the greedy Ferengi, as the Ferengi leader Grand Nagus Zek (Wallace Shawn) announces his retirement and names Rom (Max Grodénchik), an engineering technician on DS9, as his successor.

Plot

The Dominion strikes back against the Cardassian rebellion. Damar, Garak, and Kira are forced into hiding in Garak's childhood home, protected by Mila (Julianna McCarthy), Garak's late father's housekeeper, where they see the Dominion's announcement that the rebellion has been crushed and Damar killed. Mila tells them that the Cardassian populace mistrust the propaganda, and Kira sees an opportunity to provoke a civilian revolution. The three bomb a Jem'Hadar barracks, where Damar reveals to the people that he is not dead, and calls upon the Cardassian populace to rise up against the Dominion.

On Deep Space Nine, Ferengi bartender Quark (Armin Shimerman) receives a message from Grand Nagus Zek, apparently informing him that he has been chosen as Zek's successor upon his imminent retirement. Upon discovering that Zek has instituted a number of reforms, including promoting workers’ rights, environmental protection and outlawing monopolies, Quark is so disgusted that he threatens to turn down the job. Upon Zek's arrival, Quark discovers that he was never the intended heir of the Grand Nagus; it was Quark's brother Rom (Max Grodénchik). Quark swears that his bar will be a refuge for the unrestrained capitalism that was symbolic of his Ferenginar, though he admits that his brother is better suited to be the leader of a new Ferenginar.

Several minor subplots set the stage for the upcoming series finale. Sisko is given command of a new starship USS Defiant to replace the Defiant recently destroyed by the Dominion. Security chief Odo is disgusted to learn that the Federation deliberately infected the Dominion's Changeling Founders with a deadly virus, using him as a carrier. Dr. Julian Bashir and Lt. Ezri Dax finally acknowledge their mutual attraction and begin a romantic relationship. The Dominion withdraws its forces to within Cardassian borders, hoping that the Federation and its allies will leave them alone long enough for them to rebuild their fleets; but Sisko persuades Admiral Ross (Barry Jenner) to launch a full-scale assault on Cardassia to end the war. Sisko's wife Kasidy Yates (Penny Johnson Jerald) tells him that she is pregnant, but she is concerned by a warning from the Prophets that Sisko, as the Emissary, must walk his path alone.

Guest stars
  • Tiny Ron as Maihar'du
  • Wallace Shawn as Zek
  • Penny Johnson Jerald as Kasidy Yates
  • Jeffrey Combs as Weyoun and Brunt
  • Andrew Robinson as Garak
  • Barry Jenner as (Federation) Admiral Ross
  • Max Grodenchik as Rom
  • Casey Biggs as Damar
  • Chase Masterson as Leeta
  • Aron Eisenberg as Nog
  • J.G. Hertzler as Martok
  • Salome Jens as Shapeshifter
  • Mark Allen Shepherd as Morn
  • Majel Barrett as Computer Voice
  • Cecily Adams as Ishka
  • Julianna McCarthy as Mila
  • Vaughn Armstrong as Seskal
  • Mel Johnson Jr. as Legate Broca
  • Stephen Yoakam as Velal
  • David B. Levinson as Broik
  • Leroy D. Brazile as Lonar

Production

This is the 8th (and last) appearance of the ambitious Ferengi official Brunt and the 30th (and second last) appearance of Dominion administrator Weyoun, recurring characters both played by Jeffrey Combs since season 3 (Brunt, "Family Business") and season 4 (Weyoun, "To the Death"). This was the only episode to feature both, but there are no scenes with both characters present.

The episode title "The Dogs of War" comes from Act 3, Scene 1, line 273 of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, where Mark Antony says "Cry 'Havoc!', and let slip the dogs of war.".[2]

Reception

This received Nielsen ratings of 3.7 points, just under 3.7 million viewers when it was broadcast on television in May 1999.[3] As of 2018, TV.com rated the episode a 9.0 out of 10 on 138 user inputs.[4]

This episode is part of the concluding story arc of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. In 2018, CBR ranked the final episodes, starting with "The Changing Face of Evil" and concluding with the final episode, "What You Leave Behind", as the best multi-episode saga in the Star Trek franchise.[5]

In 2016, The Washington Post called the Dominion war story arc possibly the "richest narrative" of the Star Trek universe.[6]

References
  1. TV.com (May 26, 1999). "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Dogs of War (8) Cast & Crew". TV.com. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  2. Spiteri, Geoff (March 14, 2016). A Smidgen of Shakespeare: Brush up on the Bard with Quotations, Trivia and Froli By Geoff Spiteri. ISBN 9781911042327. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  3. "WebTrek - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine * SEASON 7 NIELSEN RATINGS". Users.telenet.be. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  4. TV.com (May 26, 1999). "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Season 7, Episode 24: The Dogs of War (8)". TV.com. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  5. Michael Weyer (November 23, 2018). "Star Trek's Greatest Episodic Sagas, Ranked". Cbr.com. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  6. Drezner, Daniel (September 13, 2016). "The top 10 'Star Trek' episodes ever". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  • Star Trek: Deep Space Nine DVD set, volume 7, disc 6, selection 4
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