The Circle is Definitely Broken

Jim’s Take on Episode 2.3: “The Siege”

The fact of the matter is, in the Star Trek universe, if you bet against the Federation, you are probably going to lose. If you compound this mistake by betting against Benjamin Sisko, your odds get even worse. So Minister Jaro, Vedek Winn, The Circle, and even the Bajoran Military are all clearly heading for a fall when they confidently believe they will just scare away Sisko and the Federation without having a real fight on their hands. It’s satisfying and fun just to sit back and watch them receive their comeuppance for this hubris!

Even though “The Siege” is an action-packed conclusion to an epic trilogy, DS9’s greatest strength is in character moments, and there are some outstanding examples in this episode. The opening scene, where Sisko rallies his people with some stirring reminders of how invested they all are in the success of their mission to help the Bajorans become a part of the Federation, shows the loyalty and confidence he inspires in everyone around him. He is a true leader who brings out the best in everyone under his command. But remember, just a year ago, he didn’t really want to be here and almost turned down the posting. Bajor, and Deep Space Nine, has changed Sisko while he has fought so hard to help them realize their potential.

Other characters get some great moments as they prepare to evacuate the station. It does my heart good to see that Quark and Rom have really fully established their brotherly relationship now, even if that means a realization that Quark absolutely WOULD risk his brother’s life for latinum. At least Rom gets his revenge by selling Quark’s seat on the evacuation roster! Jake and Nog have an utterly adorable moment when they realize they’re being evacuated to different locations, but plan to be back together soon. Truly, no “stupid French thing” that Nog can’t pronounce will keep them apart for long.

Great moments continue throughout the siege of the station. O’Brien’s enthusiasm for combat rations, while everyone else cringes at being forced to eat them, is perfect for the loveable Everyman that is Miles O’Brien. Kira and Dax have some wonderful banter on their dangerous mission to fire up a creaky old Bajoran fighting ship and deliver the evidence of Cardassian involvement in this coup. It’s great to see Kira putting some of her oh so sneaky combat skills to use and to see the dynamic duo in action. There can never be too many Kira/Dax team-ups! Dax: “Great! Seat of the pants technology!” 

It becomes a bit of a recurring motif in DS9 that when Sisko leaves his baseball behind in his office, he is warning you that he’ll be back for it. Over-General Kim is not as clueless as Colonel Day, but the fact that he thinks he can just sit in Sisko’s chair and fondle his baseball clearly demonstrates that he has underestimated his opponent. The commander and his people are ready for whatever the Bajoran military can throw at them. Doctor Bashir, now with combat leader action, really gets to show that he’s not just about hyposprays and smooth pick-up lines when he captures a squad of Bajoran troops. Colonel Day falls for the old “fake holosuite bait” routine, and Quark teaches us another valuable Rule of Acquisition (#31: Never make fun of a Ferengi’s mother!). Even Li Nalas rises to the occasion inspired by Sisko’s leadership. These misguided Bajorans don’t stand a chance. 

Thematically, it all comes back to the concept that the legend of a hero is more important than the reality. Li Nalas may not have been the man his people believed him to be, but he did become the hero they needed by saving Sisko, preserving the Federation’s alliance with Bajor, and passing into legend as a hero whose story will continue to inspire and motivate his people. The fact that both Kira and O’Brien found him to be a bit of a disappointment in reality is just not as important as what his story can do as it lives after him. And, as Sisko points out to an embarrassed Major Kira, there are plenty of genuine heroes on Bajor to do what Li Nalas couldn’t. “There are heroes all over Bajor. I’m sitting with one.” 

Don’t bet against the Federation, don’t bet against Ben Sisko, don’t bet against the Bajoran people, and don’t bet on anything with Quark. You’ll lose! And then you’ll be left with nothing but those sweet, sweet, combat rations to console yourself

Return to Episode 2.3 Episode Guide or Episode Logs .