The final episode of DS9 manages to squeeze a whole lot of story telling into what seemed like only a bit of a long episode despite it being a full double. I don't know if it needed the flashbacks to people throughout the series right at the end, but that is my only serious objection. Oh, that and the conclusion of Sisko's journey of spiritual discovery being that he has to push Dukat off a cliff and then kinda die but I guess not really is a bit weak. I suspect the writers didn't have anything in particular in mind when he was deemed the emissary in the opening episode, but I kinda hoped for a little more than this. Also it isn't clear why getting married made this so much worse, I guess because now he misses Kasidy more?
We begin with Ezri and Julian waking up together on the morning before the great battle and promising each other that they will both survive. Then Miles and Keiko with Miles worrying about having to tell Julian he is leaving DS9 for a position teaching at the academy. Ben says good bye the Kasidy and the crew of the Defiant set off to join the invasion of Cardassia. And speaking of Cardassia things aren't going well there for the Dominion. Word of Damars survival makes its way to the Founder who is pissed. Things get worse when the power goes out due to the now widespread rebellion. When things come back on they realize they still can't contact the fleets to find out how things are going and the Founder orders the genocide of the Cardassian people in retribution for their uprising. Just before the space battle Ben gets another vision from the prophets who tell him his journey's end lies behind him, not in front of him. On Bajor Dukat and Winn make there way into the fire caves, but Dukat is disappointed by the lack of fire. After Winn starts reading the Kosst Amojan things get more to his liking though.
The battle is poorly until the Cardassian ships switch sides upon hearing that one of their cities has been entirely wiped out by the Dominion. Things are still looking rough but they manage to force the Dominion to retreat further so they only hold the space directly around Cardassia. On the planet Garak, Damar and Kira's hiding spot is finally located by the Jem'Hadar who take them prisoner and then get orders to execute them, but that Cardassians with them turn against the Jem'Hadar and then agree to help them storm the capitol building. They get there only to be stopped by a neutronium door that is too tough to blast through. Fortunately some Jem'Hadar drag out several Cardassians and kill them outside allowing the rebels in. They manage to kill and the Jem'Hadar and even Weyoun and capture the founder. She won't talk to them but Odo beams down and links with her curing the disease and convincing her to surrender. She gets the ships to stand down ending the war.
They all return to DS9 to celebrate but there is also a lot of sadness. Worf is offered the position of Federation ambassador to the Klingons and O'Brien finally tells Bashir he is leaving for Earth. Even sadder Odo tells Kira he is leaving to join the great link and he won't be returning. At the victory/going away party Sisko suddenly realizes what he has to do and rushes down to Bajor. As he does so Winn gives Dukat a dose of poison so he can be her sacrafice for the pah-wraiths, but it doesn't work. They possess him and bring him back to life just as Sisko shows up. Dukat has telekinetic powers now and makes Sisko bow before him. Winn isn't having it though and tries to take the book, but is burned alive for her efforts. Dukat is distracted though and Sisko throws himself and Dukat into the abyss of the fire caves destroying the Kosst Amojan. He wakes up with the prophets and knows he is there to stay. He does get to say good bye to Kasidy, but now it seems he will return some day. The rest of the episode is all good byes and such so this is pretty much the end.
Review: Not as strong as All Good Things but a very DS9 ending with all the characters getting their due. I am going to average all the series scores after I am done, but I am sure DS9 is going to be the high water mark for me.
8 out of 10
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