DS9: Covenant

         Maybe it is because of when it was made, but DS9 seems to have a lot more of an obsession with cults than other Trek series. Specifically on the dangers of blindly following an individual and trusting them with your life. This is somewhat counter to the message that they also seem to love that faith is the most important thing. I guess only have faith in a distant god? This is a show all about gods that are real and as long as they aren't hands on gods like the founders or pah-wraiths they seem to be good. 
         The episode opens at Quark's where Odo is expressing regret that he doesn't attend Kira's religious ceremonies but they all agree that without faith he wouldn't get much out of it. That night Kira gets a ring on her bell and a visit from Vedek Fala, the man who taught her faith in the camp she grew up in. But it turns out to be a trap, he hands her a small bundle and she is transported all the way to way to Empok Nor and greeted by members of the pah-wraith cult. It turns out their leader asked them to bring her to him. Of course their leader is Dukat. Back on the station they begin investigating her disappearance but she could be anywhere within three light years so it will be quite a search. Kira is horrified to see how the people on the station worship Dukat. So much so that they go to him to get permission to have children.
         And speaking of children one of the women and pregnant and when the child is born it is half Cardassian. Dukat declares it a miracle by the pah-wraiths and the people accept this, well, they do other than Kira. She talks to the father but he refuses to believe it is anything but a miracle. That night Dukat tries to kill the mother by opening an airlock on her, but she survives when Kira arrives, but misses Dukat. Before the mother can recover though Dukat declares he had a vision from the pah-wraiths and they want the people to join them so they should all commit suicide. Kira manages to escape and drops from the second level of the promenade onto Dukat making him drop his pill. His trick is revealed when he freaks out not sure which pill was his because of course he wasn't going to kill himself. The people turn on him and he flees.

         Review: Not sure where they were going with the message that faith is important, but sometimes those you have faith in are actually evil monsters. Not a boring or terrible episode, but a bit ambiguous, but I guess so is life.

5 out of 10