The Good: Decent acting, Interesting character conflict
The Bad: Very basic plot, Nothing superlative in the episode.
The Basics: “Field Of Fire” is a Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode that has nothing superlative or terribly detrimental, but puts Ezri in the role of detective.
Arguably the final weak episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is “Field Of Fire.” “Field Of Fire” is not a terribly weak episode, but it is also the last episode that is not terribly strong. The series went out on a very high note, but between the establishment of Ezri Dax and the final arc of the series, there were a few weaker episodes. The episodes were not terrible (outside “Take Me Out To The Holosuite”), but they were not incredible in any way.
In “Field Of Fire,” Ezri Dax is again given the spotlight and the fact that she is involved in yet another murder mystery is less a lack of imagination on the part of the writers and producers – “Prodigal Daughter” did something similar – than it is a chance to push Ezri’s character in a new direction. Ezri gets an experience with Joran Belar, who was briefly Joran Dax. The tension of dealing with Joran becomes a story that gives Ezri yet another new direction to grow in.
The fresh lieutenant Hector Ilario is being honored in Quark’s by Bashir and O’Brien for an amazing maneuver aboard the Defiant when he is disappointed by the men’s refusal to let him join them in the Holosuite for a trip to the Alamo. After a night of drinking and revelry, Ezri returns Ilario to his quarters and is awakened later to learn that he has been murdered. Odo and Bashir are confused when the weapon fired to kill Ilario used a projectile weapon, but there are no powder burns for the projectile’s launch at the range it was fired from.
In order to assist in the investigation using her knowledge of criminal psychology, Ezri accesses Joran from the Dax symbiont. As another murder occurs, Ezri and her perception of Joran look closer at the method used to kill the Federation officers. When a Bolian officer is killed, Ezri and Joran look for clues. As the investigation continues, Ezri becomes more and more unsettled by Joran whispering in her ear. Resisting Joran and finding the killer becomes a devastating psychological issue for Ezri and she becomes more and more concerned that she will become a murderer herself.
“Field Of Fire” is edgier for the character of Ezri Dax than any of the prior episodes. The character is working very hard to differentiate herself from Jadzia Dax and “Field Of Fire” works very well to do that. The two prior episodes involving Joran – “Equilibrium” where his presence is first revealed and “Facets” where the character is briefly revisited as a pure psychopath for a scene – had Jadzia more unsettled than empowered. “Field Of Fire” helps to further differentiate Ezri from Jadzia by giving her more of a commanding presence against Joran.
In “Field Of Fire,” Leigh McCloskey takes on the mantle of Joran Belar. Taking the role from Jeff McBride, McCloskey restores a level of control to the character of Joran that the performance Avery Brooks gave in “Facets” lacked. McCloskey is eerie and smart and his analytical qualities make “Field Of Fire” a more compelling episode than some of the others in the Dax arc. Belar comes across as interesting and troubling in the episode and that is what “Field Of Fire” needs; otherwise, it is a pretty mundane murder mystery.
Nicole de Boer does a decent job as Ezri Dax in “Field Of Fire.” Losing the insecure character aspects, de Boer presents Ezri as a confident, but inexperienced character and it works. Instead of second guessing herself or coming across as dippy, Ezri in “Field Of Fire” is using a new skill set provided by Joran, without seeming like she is an idiot or still mired in her initial characterization. “Field Of Fire” forces Ezri into a remarkably quick character progression. And it actually works.
What makes “Field Of Fire” more memorable is actually how the bottle episode ties in well to the overall series. Details of Odo – his reading of Mike Hammer detective novels – and Bashir and O’Brien’s Alamo program are good. The way Worf, of all characters, talks Ezri into accessing Joran for the Rite of Emergence is surprisingly wonderful.
But “Field Of Fire” is surprisingly light on substance. Ezri is slowly unsettled by Joran such that she ends up throwing an officer to the ground and putting a knife to his throat. But the mystery is not terribly compelling. Unlike the buildup on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine for the character of Enrique Muniz, who appeared for several episodes before his character was brutally murdered, Ilario shows up in “Field Of Fire” and is pretty promptly killed. The other two victims were shown only as casualties; the viewer does not really care about the murder victims. “Field Of Fire” is appropriately character-driven and focused on Ezri and Joran and it works for that.
But, while it is good television, “Field Of Fire” is not great television. Fortunately, it is the last episode of the series to truly leave the viewer less than enthusiastic about coming out for the next one!
[Knowing that the season is a much better investment, it's worth looking into Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - The Complete Seventh Season on DVD, which provides the full story for the conclusion to the series. Read my review of the final season by clicking here!
Thanks!]
6.5/10
For other Star Trek episode, movie and season reviews, be sure to visit my Star Trek Review Index Page for an organized listing!
© 2012 W.L. Swarts. May not be reprinted without permission.
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