Television Review: The Circle (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, S2x02, 1993)
The Circle (S02E02)
Airdate: 3 October 1993
Written by: Peter Alan Fields
Directed by: Corey Allen
Running Time: 46 minutes
The Circle represents a crucial turning point for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, firmly establishing the series’ trajectory toward its own unique identity. This episode, appearing in the middle of the trilogy that inaugurated the second season, demonstrates with crystal clarity how the show was beginning to forge a very specific character by drawing inspiration from the tumultuous history of Earth’s 20th century. The writers were not content with merely exploring futuristic concepts; they looked back at the geopolitical struggles of the past, incorporating events and practices that were strikingly relevant during the episode’s production. This historical parallelism is woven into the fabric of The Circle, creating a narrative that feels as much like a study of political revolution as it does a space adventure.
The narrative begins by addressing the immediate fallout of the provisional government’s decision to replace Major Kira Nerys with Li Nalas as the newly appointed “navarch.” Minister Jaro explains the rationale behind this appointment to the station’s staff, arguing that Li Nalas is a safer on station than on increasingly volatile planet. Simultaneously, Vedek Bareil arrives on the station and personally extends an invitation to Kira, urging her to join him in the monastery. There, she would ostensibly spend time in prayer and reflection. Kira eventually agrees to the monastery’s offer. Her departure is marked by a very emotional farewell with the other members of staff, a poignant moment that underscores her deep bonds with the station. However, Sisko intervenes with a promise, assuring Kira that he would have her back.
Once Kira is ensconced within the monastery’s walls, the episode shifts focus to the spiritual and political intrigue brewing around her. Bareil seizes the opportunity to offer Kira the chance to observe one of the Bajoran sacred orbs. During this vision, Kira experiences a profound revelation that suggests, among other things, a romantic connection between herself and Bareil. However, this serenity is shattered by the presence of Vedek Winn, who is observed monitoring Kira’s every move, hinting at sinister intentions. Concurrently, rumours begin to circulate about an impending conflict on Bajor that could escalate into civil war. This unrest is channelled through the actions of “The Circle,” a faction whose followers have begun painting the insignia of the organization on Sisko’s door on the station, signalling their determination to take control.
Sisko, recognising the gravity of the situation, attempts to discuss the matter with General Krim (Stephen Macht), the commander-in-chief of the Bajoran Militia. Krim’s response is blunt and unhelpful; he clearly states that his forces will not take part in a fratricidal conflict. If “The Circle” is to attempt to take power, Krim reveals that he will not intervene to stop them. In the meantime, Odo engages in a bout of blackmail with Quark to uncover the source of the faction’s power. Through this investigation, Odo discovers that “The Circle” has been receiving weapons shipments from the Kressari. This discovery is baffling, as the Kressari are a peaceful race of herbivores and are not known for their military industry. Odo, employing his shapeshifting abilities, becomes a stowaway on one of the smuggling freighters. This daring infiltration allows him to uncover the truth: the shipments are actually being provided by the Cardassians, a revelation that adds a layer of deep betrayal to the unfolding crisis.
Back on the planet Bajor, Kira is suddenly abducted by three masked men and transported to “The Circle” stronghold. There, Jaro reveals himself to be the leader of this particular faction. His motives are laid bare; he explains that Kira was brought to Bajor solely to extract information regarding the Federation’s defensive capabilities on the station. His faction’s ultimate goal is to take the station for themselves and expel the Federation, as he believes the Federation would ultimately oppress Bajor just as the Cardassians once did. To extract the information he needs, Jaro orders Kira to be tortured.
While Kira endures this ordeal, Quark manages to learn where she is being held and relays this intelligence to Sisko. Sisko, acting swiftly, mounts a rescue mission. Kira is eventually brought back to the station, and Sisko now possesses a clearer picture of the geopolitical chess game being played. He understands that the Cardassians are supporting “The Circle” because they know that a Bajor without Federation support would be an easy target for a retaking, as well as strategically priceless wormhole. He also learns that “The Circle” has just begun moving its forces to take control of the station. At the same time, Jaro and Vedek Winn strike a tentative deal: she would support his coup if he supports her election as the new Kai. Sisko, desperate for assistance, appeals to Starfleet for help, but he is met with a cold reality from Admiral Chekote (Bruce Gray). Chekote informs him that due to the Prime Directive, the Federation cannot take part in Bajoran internal conflicts. Sisko is forced to order the preparation for evacuation, but O'Brien delivers a grim report at the end of the episode, stating that the evacuation won't be completed before “The Circle” forces arrive.
Despite being mostly talkative and concentrated on exposition and complicated internal and interplanetary intrigues, The Circle is a very good episode, arguably even better than the previous installment, The Homecoming. The episode was written by the very talented and renowned scriptwriter Peter Alan Fields, who does more than simply tie up loose ends; he creates a spectacular cliffhanger that is far more spectacular than anything seen in the previous episodes. Fields allows the story to unfold organically, balancing the political machinations with the character development required to keep the audience engaged.
The direction provided by Corey Allen also delivers great moments that elevate the production value. One standout is the brilliantly directed scene of Kira’s farewell, which is often considered a homage to the Marx Brothers film A Night in the Opera. Allen also cleverly builds suspense, particularly when Kira on Bajor is able to listen approaching gunfire and explosions, creating a tense atmosphere where the protagonist is completely unaware of the danger closing in on her.
The concept central to the episode—that a superpower is secretly arming rebels to bring down a hostile government and ultimately lay its hands on a strategic resource—looks like something that was ripped directly from today’s headlines. This theme was very relevant to the world three decades ago, and the premiere of this episode coincided with the spectacularly bloody culmination of the 1993 constitutional crisis in Russia.
There are some interesting character moments throughout the episode, most notably the suggestion that Kira and Bareil are genuinely attracted to each other. The orb vision serves as one of the more erotic moments for Star Trek or Deep Space Nine in that particular period, exploring the spiritual and physical chemistry between the characters. The script also subtly suggests that Jaro and Winn might have some sort of romantic history, which explains the easiness of their apparent alliance and adds a layer of personal complexity to the political maneuvering.
However, the character of Jaro, although shown as shrewd and ruthless, tends to look like almost a stereotypical villain. Despite his very understandable motives to take over Bajor as a hardcore patriot who wants independence from the Federation, he doesn’t seem to fully grasp the implication of his actions in terms of giving the Cardassians the opportunity to reoccupy the planet. He is so focused on his own agenda that he fails to see the bigger picture, a blindness that makes him a competent antagonist but a somewhat one-dimensional one.
Furthermore, Li Nalas, who was rather an interesting character in the first episode, is rendered almost completely useless in this outing. He struggles to assert any authority or competence, serving more as a plot device to explain Kira’s replacement than as a character in his own right.
Yet, despite these flaws, The Circle is a very good episode with a quality that elevates it way above the Season 1 average. It points towards the bright future for Deep Space Nine, proving that the show could handle complex, multi-layered storytelling that went far beyond the traditional confines of the franchise. It sets the stage for a season defined by deep political intrigue and character growth, marking the moment the show truly came into its own.
RATING: 8/10 (+++)
Blog in Croatian https://draxblog.com
Blog in English https://draxreview.wordpress.com/
InLeo blog https://inleo.io/@drax.leo
Substack https://draxster.substack.com
LeoDex: https://leodex.io/?ref=drax
InLeo: https://inleo.io/signup?referral=drax.leo
Hiveonboard: https://hiveonboard.com?ref=drax
1Inch: https://1inch.exchange/#/r/0x83823d8CCB74F828148258BB4457642124b1328e
BTC donations: 1EWxiMiP6iiG9rger3NuUSd6HByaxQWafG
ETH donations: 0xB305F144323b99e6f8b1d66f5D7DE78B498C32A7
BCH donations: qpvxw0jax79lhmvlgcldkzpqanf03r9cjv8y6gtmk9