Ties of Blood and Water
"Ties of Blood and Water" is an episode of the syndicated American science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the nineteenth episode of the fifth season.
| "Ties of Blood and Water" | |
|---|---|
| Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 5 Episode 19 |
| Directed by | Avery Brooks |
| Story by |
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| Teleplay by | Robert Hewitt Wolfe |
| Featured music | Jay Chattaway |
| Cinematography by | Jonathan West |
| Production code | 517 |
| Original air date | April 14, 1997 |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
| |
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 this episode, Major Kira (Nana Visitor) must deal with her feelings over the impending death of her friend Tekeny Ghemor (Lawrence Pressman) as she takes notes from him as he reveals secrets about the Cardassian Union and the Dominion.
This episode marks the second appearance of Weyoun, played by Jeffrey Combs. Although his character was killed in "To The Death", the producers were impressed by Weyoun and established that the Vorta were clones in this episode.
Plot
Two years earlier, Major Kira (Nana Visitor) had been abducted and told she was the long-lost daughter of a Cardassian Legate named Tekeny Ghemor (Lawrence Pressman), disguised as a Bajoran for a top-secret mission. Although Kira never truly believed it, Ghemor did, and as he attempted to reestablish a bond between them, Kira developed a sympathy for him. When the truth came out and Ghemor realized she was not really his daughter, he told Kira he cared for her anyway.
Ghemor arrives on the station, having left Cardassia after his activities as a dissident became known, and informs the staff that he is dying. He wishes to participate in the ritual of shri-tal, a Cardassian tradition in which a dying person reveals their secrets to the rest of the family for use against their enemies. He chooses Kira to interview him, since he still regards her as if she were family. Captain Sisko (Avery Brooks) encourages her to participate, as Ghemor's information could greatly aid the Federation and Bajor. Before the ritual can begin, Gul Dukat (Marc Alaimo) contacts the station with a request for Ghemor's extradition to Cardassia, but Sisko brusquely rejects him.
Kira is hesitant at first, remembering the injuries that her father suffered at the Cardassians' hands during the occupation of Bajor. However, she agrees to hear Ghemor's secrets and use them for good. The shri-tal commences, but is later interrupted by the arrival of Dukat and Weyoun on the station, intent on taking Ghemor with them. Dukat first offers to reunite Ghemor with his real daughter, then gives Kira information that incriminates Ghemor in a massacre at a Bajoran monastery. Finally he delivers a bottle of poisoned liquor to Ghemor's quarters, but Sisko intercepts it.
Kira becomes furious at Ghemor and spends as little time caring for him as possible. However, she later learns from Odo that he would have only been nineteen at the time of the massacre. While he was a part of the Cardassian military, and did take part in the raid, he was simply an inexperienced foot soldier whose unit had been told that the monks at the monastery had been stockpiling weapons that were being used to kill Cardassians. Kira recalls that when her own father was badly injured, she chose to participate in a counterattack rather than stay with him, and missed his death by minutes. Realizing that she is letting her own past bitterness taint her relationship with Ghemor, she returns to his bedside and stays until he dies. Dukat intends to tell the public that Ghemor praised the Dominion with his last words and wants to the body returned to Cardassia for a military funeral. Sisko rejects the request and allows Kira to bury Ghemor on Bajor, next to her father's grave.
Reception
In 2018, SyFy recommend this episode for its abbreviated watch guide for the Bajoran character Kira Nerys.[1] They note that Cardassian character Tekeny Ghemor, previously introduced in the episode "Second Skin" returns to pose interesting questions for Kira.[1]
References
- Krishna, Swapna (January 16, 2018). "A binge-watching guide to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Kira Nerys". SYFY WIRE. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine DVD set, volume 5, disc 5, selection 3
