A pivotal episode in the development of security chief Odo (Rene Auberjonois) as a complex and sympathetic character, "The Forsaken" follows its central theme--the isolation of outcasts--on parallel plot lines. One involves Odo's comedic interplay with the aggressively amorous Lwaxana Troi (Trek veteran Majel Barrett, making the first of three DS9 appearances), and the other focuses on O'Brien's challenge when an alien probe wreaks havoc on the station's Cardassian computers. The exceptional teleplay (by Don Carlos Dunaway and series cocreator Michael Piller) handles Odo's intimate dilemma with good humor and touching emotion, allowing Auberjonois and Barrett to craft memorable scenes that broaden the horizons of their popular characters. As we learn more about them, DS9 continues to capitalize on its dramatic potential. --Jeff Shannon
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