There are many reasons why I love Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and why it remains my favorite of the Star Trek franchise.
Reason #101: “Dax”
Not the character, we’ll get to her eventually. Much like Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s First Season episode “Measure of a Man,” a trial in Deep Space Nine‘s First Season episode “Dax” explores the ramifications of being a joined Trill.
Jadzia life becomes threatened when figures from Curzon Dax‘s past on Klaestron IV attempt to abduct her from the station for crimes of her previous host. When that fails, they try to legally extradite Jadzia for war crimes involving treason and murder under the argument that Jadzia is culpable for Curzon’s crimes.
Through the procedural arguments of the extradition hearing the show explores who Jadzia is, both a young woman and a combined being of lifetimes of experience. With Jadzia unwilling to defend herself, it falls to Sisko to put up a defense that Curzon and Jadzia are two entirely different beings and condemning one to death for the actions of the other is simply unjust. There’s also the underlying reason for Jadzia’s silence, in keeping a promise from another life (underlining the weight of previous responsibilities, a theme the show would return to when exploring Curzon’s Klingon experiences) which Odo uncovers and brings to light at the last-minute to save the Trill’s life.
