Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV Series) Cardassians (1993) User Reviews

A welcome return for Garak

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 5 March 2010]

This episode seems a welcome return for the Cardassian Garak who Dr. Bashir is convinced is more than just a tailor, something Garak's denials only seem to confirm. As the two of them are enjoying a meal a Bajoran arrives with a Cardassian child. When Garak goes over to say hello to the child but ends up getting bitten by the boy. No sooner has the incident been reported to Commander Sisko than he gets a message from Gul Dukat on Cardassia saying it is time that orphans left on Bajor after the occupation to come back. The problem is the boy doesn't see himself as Cardassian, in fact he has been brought up to despise his own race. While the decision is being made he is put in the care of Chief O'Brien and Keiko. It turns out the boy isn't actually an orphan, his father, a senior Cardassian, believed him dead after an attack on his house. This father understandable wants his child back as much as his adoptive father wants to keep him. While Sisko must decide what to do with the boy Bashir and Garak head to Bajor to find the records of the adoption and discover why Dukat is so interested in the case.

Andrew Robinson steals the show as Garak, it is not surprising that the creators brought him back after his single episode in the first season. Without him this might have been just another issue of the week episode.

A very real world style plot, and Bashir gets hints of vindication.

[David_Powell3006-1 · 9/10 · 27 October 2008]

I thought this one was pretty interesting: The ideas of children left behind after occupations or wars are ones we have seen in our own time and it was really daring for this show to go there. The idea of people using said children for politics was pretty rough but sadly a logical progression from the storyline of Season One and the history between Bajor and Cardassia we started hearing about in "Star Trek - The Next Generation" in episodes like "Ensign Ro." Season Two will flesh out the backgrounds even more.

That said, a person can watch this episode without ever seeing one of those others and follow it pretty well.

As the show goes through the plot, we get to see Gul Dukat (Played by Marc Alaimo) again, and get to know a bit more about him. It also covers the Bajor situation well, as the first season of DS9 did brilliantly across the entire season. We also get to know about another Cardassian who we will end up seeing a bit more of as the series goes on.

We first met the fellow named Garak in "Past Prologue" which was the second episode of the show's first season. He was the only Cardassian left on the station, and had struck up a conversation and a ready friendship with Dr. Julian Bashir (The very talented Alexander Siddig.) Dr. Bashir had heard rumors that Mr. Garak (Garak insists it is not "Mr. Garak," just plain, simple Garak) remained on the station to spy on the people there. Bashir is excited and tells his fellow officers, who sort of let it roll off (Terry "Jadzia Dax" Farrell has some priceless facial expressions when she is hearing Siddig's excited telling of it.) Well in this episode, right from the start, Andrew Robinson is back as the friendly Cardassian tailor, and things begin to pick up.

Dr. Bashir gets portrayed at times as sort of wide eyed in the first season or two, and the idea of him thinking the local tailor is some kind of spy and buying into rumors while the more experienced Dax, Sisko and O'Brien shrug it off seems to be an extension of this. Except now we get to see Mr. Garak again, and in this episode we see a couple of hints that he may indeed have some talents that go far beyond his excellent sewing skills. We also see some wonderful work by Marc Alaimo and Andrew Robinson in their brief time together that indicates there may be a bit more there between them. It's just enough to set things up for... but no, I'll let you find that one out for yourself. I can't tell you everything, that just wouldn't be as interesting, would it? (That one was for you Mr. Robinson and Mr. Siddig.) The point is, the "wide eyed" Bashir starts to look a bit more right in his thoughts about the tailor, who again is friendly and nice as can be to him, and from here on out these two characters really start to pick up, not only as individual characters but as a duo. The young, humanitarian doctor and the enigmatic Cardassian tailor are becoming a team of sorts, and now those more experienced officers begin to pay a bit more attention to them. Bashir also shows his willingness to risk his reputation and risk honking off people in command to do the humanitarian thing for the Bajorans and Cardassians involved. He comes out of this episode a bit stronger than he went in, in several ways. Avery Brooks is solid as Commander Sisko, and the rest of the cast is fine as always.

As for what happens in the episode, I won't spoil things further, it was pretty well done and a nice character study with good writing and great work all around from the guest actors as well as the regulars. As for the friendly, helpful tailor, he and Dr. Bashir will again have some conversations in the upcoming episode "The Wire" near the end of this season (Season Two.) After that one neither one of those guys looked back.

As for "Cardassians" it is pretty good and worth a look. It is more driven by character than effects, and when you have good characters with good writing and acting that can really work. This one, being a DS9 episode, has all of the above going for it. Worth watching.

A Well Tuned Episode

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 29 September 2018]

Garak is a really complex, interesting character. He is a tailor with a kind of Yoda-like being. He dispenses information by forcing the receiver into putting the pieces together--sort of like taking the cuttings of a pattern and turning them into an article of clothing. Here a young Cardassian is brought to the station by his adoptive parents, a pair of Bajorans, who took him in when his birth parents were supposedly killed. He is hostile toward his own race because of the persecution he has received in society and the history Cardassian cruelty. One day, however, his father is found and he wants his son back in Cardassia. This becomes political football. There are no simple answers as Garak and the Doctor begin to investigate his history. I was pleased with the realism presented here, even though it may be painful.

A forgotten beauty of an episode!

[thevacinstaller · 9/10 · 16 March 2020]

I keep forgetting how great DS9 was right from the get go.

This type of episode is my Star Trek JAM!

We have an ethical/moral quandary of Rugal being the adoptive son of Bajorans who are raising him to hate Cardassians (or telling him the truth from their point of view) weighed against sending him back to his father Pa'Dar. A few of the juiciest moments come with O'Brien confronting and dealing with his racism towards cardassians during the dinner put on by Keiko. It was fascinating to watch the wheels in O'briens head start to turn during the conversation he was having with Rugal after dinner.

On top of that we also get some great Cardassian espionage and political maneuvering. I can't help but love Dukat in a way ---- here is a man who knowingly shuttles a child into a orphanage as a 'potential' political tool for a later date! He then appeals to Sisko's paternal side and laments the terrible decision to leave these children on Bajor. WOW! Dukat --- you are something else. We get our first real extended introduction of Garak and we learn that he is far more than 'simple plain' Garak. We go from Rugal biting his hand to Garak uncovering a mystery 8 years old through his 'hobby' of tinkering with computers. Clearly Garak is a quote machine, "I believe in coincidences. Coincidences happen everyday but I don't trust coincidences."

Bashir apparently had a bit of a nap during protocol meeting at Starfleet academy when he interrupted Sisko/Dukat talking to interject with his newly gained knowledge. In typical Sisko fashion he admires the brass of it yet manages to set Bashir straight in a commanding yet not abrasive manner.

There's no real happy ending for Rugal in this story. He is going to spend his life living with people that he has been programmed to hate. I suppose his input could have been asked? He is old enough to have a voice about his destiny? Ahh... But even then.... Do you allow him to go to Bashir to be a living piñata to be beaten from crimes he did not commit?

This is just a great star trek episode.

Don't do it again!

[snoozejonc · 8/10 · 28 January 2022]

An orphaned Cardassian boy arrives on DS9.

This episode unravels a reasonably good mystery with some great Cardassian political manoeuvring and strong character moments.

We have seen plenty of good Bajoran politics on Deep Space Nine so this feels like a strong entry for the Cardassians. I like how the writers never demonise any particular species, but they really portray those with ambitions for power in each society as the true villains. Marc Alaimo is superb and it's good to see more of Gul Dukat.

The story unfolds as a decent investigation with some great character moments. I think this is only the second episode in which Garak makes a big contribution and Andrew Robinson entertains in every scene. This for me is the best episode for Dr Bashir (so far) and we start to see some of Alexander Siddig's potential.

One of my favourite scenes is when Bashir interrupts Sisko talking to Dukat on screen, plus Sisko's reaction after. Plus when Garak goes to Bajor he is very memorable.

Both Avery Brooks and Colm Meaney do good work here.

Gul Dukat...the humanitarian.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 17 December 2014]

When the show begins, Garak and Dr. Bashir are chatting. When a Bajoran man comes by with his son, a Cardassian, Garak tries to be friendly...and the Cardassian kid bites him! Soon they discover that this child, like several other orphans, was abandoned on Bajor when the Cardassians withdrew. Now, after having been raised by Bajorans, this particular boy HATES his own kind, as he's learned from the Bajorans what monsters his race had been.

Soon, Gul Dukat contacts the Commander--with a sob story about how sad it is that Cardassian children had been abandoned and how it was his new crusade to see them all repatriated. From what you've seen of Dukat, you figure that the guy is full of crap--and Garak leads Dr. Bashir to believe this as well. So what is really going on here?!

This is an interesting episode and the twist at the end is very good--though a bit predictable. Well worth seeing and original.

Zabo Stew: Is it Green Jello?

[XweAponX · 10/10 · 22 December 2011]

No, it's Not! Cardassian Food seems to be the most disgusting glop ever shown on Deep Space Nine.

But there is more to this ep than what Cardassians eat. For instance, If we sliced open Gul Dukat, would his innards glow fluorescent, transparent Green like Zabo Meat? One Wonders. Leave it to Keiko O'Brien to find the most disgusting food in the Replicators on DS9 and serve it up and even EAT it. EEEE-YECCH.

Garak is enjoying his "Hot Fish Juice" or whatever icky and smelly beverage Cardassians drink in lieu of Coffee - And he is joined by Doctor Bashir, when a Bajoran man and a Cardassian Child sit down across from them at the Repli-Mat. The Inquisitive Garak is rewarded with a nasty bite on the hand by the child "Rugal" (Vidal Peterson of Something Wicked This Way Comes) for his trouble.

And so we have the story of the "War Orphan" Rugal. The Sisko starts an investigation because it had been heard that Rugal was being tortured by his Bajoran FosterParent "Proka" (Terrence Evans). But Rugal claims not - And so this sets Garak on a small investigation of his own, for which he obtains the midnight assistance of Doctor Bashir and a Runabout to Bajor, where he looks into why this Child, or any Cardassian Children for that matter would be left on Bajor after the end of the Cardassian Occupation? Apparently Rugal had been adopted by Proka as a small boy. As much as Proka professes his love for Rugal, "Plain Simple Garak" discovers malicious intent. It seems that Rugal's biological, Cardassian Father "Kotan Pa'Dar" (Robert Mandan of "Soap") is a Cardassian Political Leader - And as it turns out, Gul Dukat's Political Rival- And it was Gul Dukat that made sure Rugal was lost in the first place.

This ep Explores the Cardassian and Bajoran family customs as well as Keiko O'Brien's propensity to eat bizarre and oddly coloured ethnic foods (and apparently ENJOY them!). It is the welcome return of Andrew Robinson to Deep Space Nine. Or should I say, Deep Space Slime? As in Bowl Of.

I also wonder if Garak occasionally has a bowl of what looks like Bright Green Jello, dropped into Anderson's Split Pea Soup? The whole concept of Cardassian Food is rendering me rather ill at the moment so excuse me a minute while I visit my bathroom...

An interesting dilemma with an unsatisfying resolution

[shiny_bubble · 6/10 · 23 August 2020]

Here is the dilemma. A 12 year old boy (a Cardassian) lives with his family (Bajoran) that adopted him when he was four years old. it's the only family that he remembers and knows. The four year old was secretly taken to an orphanage without the knowledge of his biological father. His biological father was told that he had died. The 12 year old loves his adopted family, and they love him. He has no desire to leave his adopted family and no desire to be among other Cardassians. Now that his biological father found out about him, the dilemma is who should get custody of the child.

Sisko (as the arbiter) decided that his biological father should have custody. I believe this was the wrong decision. I believe this only takes into consideration what is "best" for the biological father, and not what is best for his child. Imagine the trauma of being taken from your familly at age 12 when it is the only family you have known. I think the right decision in this case would be for the child to remain with his adopted family. The biological father was a victim for sure, but the child is now victimized as well.

Cardassian Scheming at its Best

[Nominahorn · 10/10 · 18 March 2019]

2.05 "Cardassians"

A Cardassian boy with a Bajoran adopted father comes aboard DS9 and attacks Garak when the tailor tries to talk to him. That event triggers a series of political machinations involving Gul Dukat and a custody battle over the boy between his adopted Bajoran parents and his biological Cardassian father, with Sisko arbitrating and Bashir and Garak working to figure out what is really going on.

This is an absolutely fantastic episode. The acting and dialogue are off the charts great, which is to be expected when both Dukat AND Garak appear in the same episode. The stakes are high, the political maneuverings are complex and interesting, and the consequences are profound. This is essentially a perfect DS9 episode.

We also get our first glimpse of the hatred and rivalry that exists between Dukat and Garak. The glee that Garak shows while knocking Dukat down a notch is beautiful, and the long hard stare they exchange when Dukat knows Garak has beat him is one of the best parts of an episode that is filled with great parts. You are left with a feeling of satisfaction, while also knowing that this is a story that is FAR from over.

On another note, even though O'Brien was forced to confront his racism once already in TNG's "The Wounded," we see here how he still hasn't gotten over his hatred of the "bloody cardies," and considering what he went through in the war with them (and what they inflict on him in some later episodes of the series), it's doubtful he ever will totally get over it. Keiko is right in a sense to call him out for his hateful comment, but she also shows a distinct lack of understanding for what her husband has had to endure in his life. Her cushy life as a Federation botanist and schoolteacher does not qualify her to judge Miles for reacting the way he does after the horrors he has witness and been a part of in war, and she should be slower to judge and quicker to empathy for him.

That said, it's very powerful to see him struggle with his racism. He knows it's wrong to judge an entire race based on the actions of some individuals (he even tells Rugal that, almost like he's reminding himself), but he's been so strongly affected by what he has experienced that he can't help his racist reactions. It really gives the character an incredible amount of depth and humanity, and is a big part of why I think O'Brien is the most relatable, real, and likable of all the characters in Trek lore.

O'Brien's struggle also highlights the best part of science fiction as a genre--it can address real world issues that would otherwise not be permitted to be discussed honestly. If you tried to write an episode of television set on Earth that addressed racism with the same honesty that this episode (and "The Wounded") does, you would get instantly burned at the proverbial stake by the forces of political correctness. "All racists are evil people, period," is the dogmatic teaching of modern political correctness (to which Hollywood is enslaved), and any message that deviates from that is not permitted. But because the setting here uses fictional races in a far distant fictional setting, racist motives and feelings can be examined honestly without the PC police persecuting everyone involved. This is yet another reason why this episode gets a perfect score--it addresses important social issues in an open and honest way that only science fiction is capable of doing.

THE GOOD

-So many amazing scenes. The opening and closing scenes of Bashir and Garak talking in the Replimat, Garak fixing the computer on Bajor ("It's no more difficult than sewing on a button"), O'Brien with Rugal in his quarters, the arbitration scene, etc. There's too many great moments to go into them all in detail, but the best one is the scene in ops with Dukat talking to Bashir and Sisko over the viewscreen. The way Bashir and Dukat exchange dialogue there (as well as in the arbitration scene), each trying to outmaneuver the other with words, is like watching chess masters battle each other. Absolutely top notch.

-Oh also: "Don't apologize, it's been the high point of my day. Don't. Do it. Again." I freaking love Sisko.

-Acting, writing, directing, pacing, suspense, mystery, dialogue, and intrigue are all flawlessly executed.

-Alexander Siddig has already improved his acting immensely since season 1. Here he effectively holds his own against the great performances of Marc Alaimo, Andrew Robinson, and Avery Brooks. A+ job by him.

THE BAD

Nothing to note here

THE UGLY

-10 million Bajorans murdered during the hundred-year occupation is pretty mild by the standard of Earth's authoritarian regimes. The Nazis killed 12 million in only 15 years, and Stalin's communist regime murdered 20 million over the course of 30 years. And those regimes only ruled over areas containing fractions of the world population--Cardassians occupied an entire planetary system for far longer and killed fewer people. Maybe they should have hired IBM?

-It's easy to overlook in the details of this complex plot, but we can infer that the character Zolan was hired by Dukat to lure Rugal and his father to the station and then make up lies about how Rugal was being mistreated. That also explains how Dukat immediately knew that Rugal had attacked Garak--Zolan notified him. Although why exactly Rugal needed to be on DS9 for the plan to work is unclear, and that part ended up being Dukat's downfall since it drew Garak into the plotting.

-Bashir retcon watch (WARNING: this section contains major spoilers for a future story arc): there are times in this episode where I feel like I can see Bashir flipping a switch from "pretty darn smart" to "superhuman genius." I know it's just in my mind because the showrunners had no idea yet that they were going retcon Bashir in a genetically engineered supergenius, but his dialogue scenes with Dukat it almost looks like he decides to stop pretending briefly and just unleash the full force of his intellect on the Gul.

Custody Issues

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 21 November 2019]

The performance of Vidal Peterson as a Cardassian kid left behind and adopted by Bajorans and raised to hate his own kind is compelling and touching. Even in the distant future the refugee problem is still with us.

In fact Peterson is the long lost son of a Cardassian government official played by Robert Mandan who is a rival of the former commander of Deep Space Nine Marc Alaimo. Peterson's very existence brings to light some nasty games.

Andrew Robinson as Garak the tailor gets more mysterious with every appearance. But I swear when he greets young Peterson he was like a chickenhawk circling the prey and Peterson responded accordingly.

Dr. Bashir plays a key role in uncovering the dirty deeds.

Good idea, poor writing in parts

[mouzafphaerre · 13 June 2020]

As a whole, the half-century long Cardassian occupation and colonialistic exploitation of Bajor was well explored in Star Trek, beginning with Ro Laren's appearance in TNG, stretching throughout DS9 and extending -to some degree- to Voyager. This episode is, in principal, no exception.

However, various apparently careless bits of writing, causing not only scenes that don't quite make sense but result in discontinuities in major characters overshadow the otherwise well made episode.

When the boy was temporarily given to the custody of Keiko, it is reasonable to assume that she would be informed about the teenager's disposition as a Cardassian born, yet Bajoran raised person. Therefore, to help him feel at home, she would rather prepare Bajoran cuisine (which the boy would be accustomed to all his waking life) than Cardassian.

Assuming she wasn't informed of the situation would be illogical; assuming she did it on purpose leads to further problems: Was she trying to indoctrinate the kid into accepting his Cardassian identity? If so, she was not only overstepping her duty as a temporary custodian, but also is the character continuity and integrity of a distinguished scientist and Starfleet personnel is severely jeopardized.

Or was she assuming him to be Cardassian anyway just by the look? That would be an essentialist attitude bordering racism, which would create a discontinuity-within-discontinuity inside the very scene, contrasting with her chastising Miles for his bigotry, more of which below.

Portraying Miles O'Brien as a bigot (when he was alarmed at the news of his daughter and the boy having played together) is also a major discontinuity of his character. It was established back on TNG that he couldn't quite overcome his war experiences, particularly the Setlik 3 massacre. However, showing a racist attitude towards a mere child (who wasn't even raised a Cardassian in spite of his birth) betrays his previous efforts in coming to terms with his war trauma.

I interrupted the episode at the dinner scene in this most recent rewatch and don't remember the details although I haven't forgotten the overall story. Overall, minus the dinner scene, it's still one of the good episodes.

"Suddenly Human" TNG but way more complex.

[Thecuchix · 7/10 · 24 December 2023]

There was a episode in Star Trek: The Next Generation called "Suddenly Human", and it is about a child who get raised by aliens, so when the Federation finds out he have another life style now.

Cardassians have a similar plot, a Cardassian kid is take cared by a Bajoran family, and since this two races are on dispute, there is concern if they love their child or is just a attempt to revenge.

But then, it becomes more complex...

Doctor Bashir with Garak (Who came back after many episodes without know anything from him) since the story of how this Cardassian kid stay in Bajoran dosen't make sense, and there is something hidden about all of this. Making the decision more complicated than just stay with the people he care.

A nice episode, and the acting is very good.

Where does Starfleet get family court powers on a Bajoran station?

[bgaiv · 3/10 · 1 November 2021]

A Bajoran father takes his son to Bajor's space station and instantly has to battle Starfleet and Cardassia for custody. Excuse me? How does Sisko have any authority at all in this matter? The only sliver of authority he has in this matter is regarding the boy biting Garak, and only regarding that matter.

The issue of family court is only mentioned offhand, while in reality, that would be the primary issue. The episode very quickly gets lost in its fascination with political intrigue and all but completely forgets about the kid.

They quarter the boy with the O'Briens while Sisko butts into his life. Miles O'Brien despises Cardassians, to put it mildly. This is all very cute from a scripting point of view but this would not happen. It's a space station and there are endless other places to put the kid.

The father is pretty blaise about potentially losing his adopted child of 8 years. His behavior is so cavalier, it seems as if he's in some manner working for the Cardassians. Why did he even go to the station to start with?

There is some good stuff here. The return of Garak, and his interactions with Bashir. Siddig and Robinson always play well off each other.

The show's tendency toward self-righteousness on display

[cloudbuster63 · 3/10 · 26 May 2020]

The entire premise of this episode, that the space station authorities have the power to take over the life of an innocent family and rip their son away from them against both their wishes and against the wishes of the son, is extremely offensive.

It is consistent with this show's constant self-righteousness and the idea that the government (in this case the federation) have the right to meddle and impose their views on what ought to be a free people.

As if.

[davidhiggins-89756 · 2/10 · 24 February 2021]

**Contains Spoilers**. AS if the foster parent of the Cardassian kid upon the Avery Brooks guy saying 'do you want me to call security' to remove the child from those quarters. As if the foster parent would have caved in to that!. He'd have said "go ahead and we'll both physically fight your Security Staff, do YOU want to see that". Son get your teeth ready for action.

Sisko would have backed down. End of storyline there then. No separation leading to permanent separation. one thing lead to the other.

Like the foster parent would have wanted Sisko to adjudicate over the matter and have the final say about whether his kid was taken away.

We hear "Despite the Federation presence, the station remains subject to Bajoran law". The foster parent would have called the Bajoran Govt and they'd have been picked up & taken back to Bajor.

WHAT were they doing on DS9 in the first place?. The pair turned up there, as "New Arrivals", what for?. They were on Bajor then they turn up on DS9 and were going to go WHERE?. Just hang around the place, then go WHERE?.

So yet another preposterous badly thought out script. The Bajoran Govt would not have allowed it no matter what Sisco/Sesco said of the matter. The foster parent would have fought to keep the kid, no matter what anyone said, not just clear off back to Bajor empty handed with no son.

Barely worth a 2 star rating then on this one then. The whole series is worth MORE, quite a bit more but in this case they must do better on the scripts, unlikely scripts just won't do. And neither will insulting our intelligence with events that would never happen the way they are so conveniently depicted. Too many "as if's" for my liking.

He Who Cries For Terok Nor?

[iamirwar · 5/10 · 18 January 2023]

This was certainly a daring subject for a popular TV series to explore; the abandonment of war refugee children. I feel it was a brave decision to make this a central theme of the story although I was disappointed that the main focus of that story was Rugal. A Cardassian child who was brought up by Bajoran parents and learned to hate the planet of his origin. This then develops into a custody battle, with Dukat, of all people, pulling a few strings. This is suprising when we consider Dukat's own indiscresion. (Ziyal) which will become apparent in later seasons.

This was always going to be a difficult subject to cover and I feel that maybe the writers realised that there was no simple way to end such a story on a happy note.

Serious Subject Matter (inter-racial adoption) Horribly Handled

[dand1010 · 4/10 · 30 August 2021]

A 2-SENTENCE EPISODE SYNOPSIS: A Cardassian boy, orphaned 8 years earlier on Bajor when he was 4-years-old, has been raised by Bajorans to hate his own race. What happens when his Cardassian father comes back for him?

VIEWERS TAKE NOTICE: *Racial overtones abound.

*The Cardassian tailor, Garek, features prominently in this episode.

*Cardassian bad guy Gul Du Kat has a huge role as well.

*The mystery begins.....is Garek a spy, a liar, a friend of Bajor, an enemy of Du Kat???

*Almost nothing of Odo, Quark, Dax or Kira. They've all featured prominently in first 4 episodes of new season - sitting on bench here.

*Sisko continues to leave me with the impression that Doctor Bashir really rubs him the wrong way.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: I think this episode leaves the core issue of a child from a different race being raised by a family with strong feelings against the child's race -undeveloped and disappointedly so. The writers stumbled around with political side issues and election intrigue which was very unsatisfying. The ending left me saying, "What the...?" Poopheads.