Personal Progress

Rhonda’s Take on Episode 14: “Progress”

The title of this episode is “Progress” so it should give the viewer a sense that it addresses, well, progress. The title is a bit of a mis-direct about progress of the fledgling Bajor government, but is actually much more personal. The primary story is about Bajor mining its fifth moon, Jeraddo, and whether the three remaining inhabitants should be forced to move in order to benefit the entire planet. Of course, this is Star Trek and it can’t just be about a nebulous group of people. It becomes the story of progress in the lives of these three inhabitants and Major Kira. 

I hadn’t remembered this episode so found myself surprised at each turn that showed progress for our characters, which also includes the growing lobes of Nog and Jake. The “NoJay Consortium” story is entertaining and contains the iconic mention of self-sealing stem bolts, but this episode is about Kira’s and Nana Visitor owns Kira’s growth.

Kira’s Divide

Previously, Kira has faced how her role as a political liaison between the Federation and Bajor has changed how she is expected to behave and the choices she is forced to make. In “Progress,” it becomes very externalized as Mullibok verbalizes all the ideas she fought the Cardassians over, but that he is saying are now Bajoran decisions creating the same outcomes.

Mullibok, as played by Brian Keith, is a fantastic foil for Kira. His anger is measured and soft-spoken where hers has been explosive and loud. It is unclear if Mullibok once used more violent methods against his oppressors, but in this fight, 40 years after escaping the Cardassians and establishing his life on this moon, he is a paragon of civil disobedience. He doesn’t fight the Bajoran forces who come to remove him; he just won’t move. There’s a brief moment when one of the security guards manhandes Keena and Mullibok attacks back. Otherwise, he remains calm and calculating. In Terry J. Erdmann’s Deep Space Nine Companion, the writer of this episode, Peter Allan Fields, says that Keith played the role more meekly than Fields intended. Perhaps his gentle curmudgeon does help us believe the connection between him and Nerys (notably the first time a character uses Major Kira’s first name on screen). Fields felt that Keith played the final scene as Mullibok giving in when Kira put her hand on Mullibok’s shoulder to beam him to the runabout. I did not receive his delivery that way. I felt that he was still angry as he accused her of choosing her uniform over him and wondered if Mullibok would be her “friend on Bajor” as she hoped or if he would ever forgive her.

Mullibok also shows Kira how she has played the game in manipulating those in power. He sexually objectifies her with comments about her “pretty eyes” and how good she looks “from this angle.” She takes offense at being called “girl,” but quickly realizes he is purposefully trying to anger her.

Visitor flexes her acting muscles in this episode as she smiles earnestly at Mullibok when he tells his story of escape and establishing his new home. The hitch in her voice tells the audience Kira realizes that his plight isn’t so different from the one she fought for as she says, “We beat them because we hung on like fanatics.”

We really don’t know Kira’s intentions when she removes her uniform jacket and begins helping build Mullibok’s kiln. Visitor maintains an introspective look as Kira picks up the masonry tools.

Sisko, of course, saves Kira from herself. When he tells her he thought she was “hostile and arrogant” at first, we remember our first meeting where she was in his office yelling at an official and then at our commander. We also agree with him as he tells her, “I was wrong. Bajor needs you, and I need you.” Yet, Visitor maintains Kira’s look of conflict as Sisko says, “His fate is decided; yours isn’t,” and we know she hasn’t made her choice.

During the night, Kira remains as Mullibok’s caretaker. A few episodes prior I might have considered this out-of-character, but it feels so natural that she would be softened by the gruff Mullibok. Together, they soften each other.

It seems inevitable her final choice. Mullibok says he won’t leave as long as his cottage is standing. Some might think Kira’s decision to set fire to it is heartless, but she truly believes it is the only way to save him. She also wants to believe that it can be his Bajor and hopes he will find it a welcome home now.

Uncles and Nephews

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Quark’s parenting of Nog in this episode. In one scene, he harangues Nog not to be like his father after giving a patron a new drink to replace a spilled one without charging for it, but the scene ends with Quark praising Nog as a “good boy.” We don’t see the scene after Quark discovers that the NoJay Consortium is Nog and Jake, but we imagine the excitement Quark would show at Nog’s ability of turning something worthless (the yamok sauce) into profit (land that was going to cost Quark five bars of gold-pressed latinum). We’re also left to wonder if Quark pays the boys the suggested price for the land. I like to imagine that he does, even if he is going to get less from the Bajoran government. I like to think pride has its own price too.

Return to Jim’s Take: “Stem bolts and The Man”

Continue to Ray’s Take: “Fiery Solutions and the Art of the Deal”

Skip to Matt’s Take: Teamwork that works; Complex decisions

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