The Orb 77: A Nightmare on Odo Street / by TFM

Odo on Terok Nor.

Running Time: 43 minutes 46 seconds
Download / RSS / Send us a message / Discuss the show / Support Trek.fm

Long before he was chief of security for Captain Sisko, Odo served in the same position under Gul Dukat during the Cardassian Occupation of Bajor. It was a time when Odo was just beginning his life amongst solids, and as a result his sense of right and wrong were not well developed. He changed a lot in the years that followed, and that change was shared and contrasted with the audience thanks to unusual circumstances that led to Odo reliving key events from seven years prior in “Things Past.”

In this episode of The Orb, hosts Christopher Jones and Matthew Rushing discuss the Odo-specific elements of this story as they delve into Odo’s Cardassian background, the line between order and justice, his role in the executions of the Bajorans Ishan, Jillur, and Timor, and how his take on those events changed over time.

Chapters

Odo’s Cardassian Background (3:17)
The Line Between Order and Justice (10:06)
Looking Back at Things Past (18:40)
Ishan, Jillur, and Timor (24:45)
Final Thoughts (30:28)
Closing (33:47)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Executive Producer) Charlynn Schmiedt (Executive Producer) Ruth Ward (Associate Producer) Will Nguyen (Associate Producer) Ken Tripp (Associate Producer) William Murray (Associate Producer) Kay Elizabeth Janeway (Associate Producer) Richard Marquez (Production Manager)

More recent episodes of The Orb…
The Orb 169: Defying Gravity
The Orb 169: Defying Gravity

“Melora” 30th-anniversary reflections. We discuss what the story says about challenges and limitations, becoming comfortable with yourself, and how the character connects to the original concept for the series.

The Orb 168: A Father’s Choice
The Orb 168: A Father’s Choice

“Cardassians” 30th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the story expands the rich world created for the series, the return of Garak, and the difficult questions around culture and identity.

The Orb 167: World-Building through Worm-Building
The Orb 167: World-Building through Worm-Building

“Invasive Procedures” 30th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the intimate story sheds light on Trill society and the relationship between symbiont and host.

The Orb 166: Off the Hook
The Orb 166: Off the Hook

“The Siege” 30th-anniversary reflections. We discuss Li Nalas's fate, what the story has to say about family and community, and how Trek's first TV trilogy ends.

The Orb 165: A Warm Wind Blowing in from Minicoy
The Orb 165: A Warm Wind Blowing in from Minicoy

“The Circle” 30th-anniversary reflections. We jump into Season 2 as we discuss how the Kira/Jaro story mirrors the start of Season 1, the timeless commentary, our fondness for middle stories, and Vedek Bareil's disturbing gaze.

The Orb 164: We Don’t Need No Galacticization
The Orb 164: We Don’t Need No Galacticization

“The Homecoming” 30th-anniversary reflections. We jump into Season 2 as we discuss how this story of Bajoran isolationism transforms storytelling in Star Trek and rings true three decades after it aired.

The Orb 163: Neither Enemy Nor Devil
The Orb 163: Neither Enemy Nor Devil

“In the Hands of the Prophets” 30th-anniversary reflections. We close out Season 1 by discussing how the story bookends the pilot while setting the series on course for its destiny of richly intricate serialized storytelling.

The Orb 162: Pliable Truths
The Orb 162: Pliable Truths

“Duet” 30th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how a story pitched by interns to save budget broke the dam and unleashed the potential of the young series.

The Orb 161: You Told Me This Story This Morning
The Orb 161: You Told Me This Story This Morning

Dramatis Personae ” 30th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the writers put a distinctly DS9 twist on a TNG premise to deliver masterful character development.

The Orb 160: Will the Real Lwaxana Please Stand Up?
The Orb 160: Will the Real Lwaxana Please Stand Up?

“The Forsaken” 30th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the writers put a distinctly DS9 twist on a TNG premise to deliver masterful character development.

The Orb 159: Imagination Station
The Orb 159: Imagination Station

“If Wishes Were Horses” 30th-anniversary reflections. We discuss the story's fun veneer, the wealth of character and social commentary that lies beneath, and why Miles must be feeling like Lando Calrissian.

The Orb 158: Even the Birds Stayed Away
The Orb 158: Even the Birds Stayed Away

“Progress” 30th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the story of a stubborn landowner continues Kira’s incredible character development and focuses the DS9 narrative on everyday people.

The Orb 157: Dal’Rok Has Left the Building
The Orb 157: Dal’Rok Has Left the Building

“The Storyteller” 30th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how a long-dismissed idea finally found a home on DS9, the search for Bajoran identity, and what the story has to say about the importance of fathers and the power of collective belief.

The Orb 156: Welcome to the Hotel California
The Orb 156: Welcome to the Hotel California

“Battle Lines” 30th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how Opaka’s new calling changes not only her life but also Kira’s, why it was necessary to remove Opaka from her role on Bajor, what the story says about conflict, punishment, and redemption, and more.

The Orb 155: Double Your Danger
The Orb 155: Double Your Danger

“Vortex” 30th-anniversary reflections. We discuss revelations about Odo's people and how the story sets up the Dominion and why it's important to always keep an extra glass around.

The Orb 154: All About the Greed
The Orb 154: All About the Greed

“The Nagus” 30th-anniversary reflections. We discuss the resetting the Ferengi, subtle morality, the importance of fathers, and more.

The Orb 153: Down the Wrong Warp Pipe
The Orb 153: Down the Wrong Warp Pipe

“Move Along Home” 30th-anniversary reflections. We discuss the Wadi, whether budget was really the problem, why the crew should have played more Legend of Zelda, and more. Shap 6!

The Orb 152: Dead Giveaways
The Orb 152: Dead Giveaways

“The Passenger” 30th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how it works as a Bashir story, the introduction of Primmin, the Odo connection, the original concept, and more.

The Orb 151: Who Is What and What Is Where?!
The Orb 151: Who Is What and What Is Where?!

“Dax” 30th-anniversary reflections. We discuss the complex matter of where the line between host and symbiont begins and ends, how the story helps build the mythos of the Trill, some potential inspiration from Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges, and much more.

The Orb 150: Like Oil and Water
The Orb 150: Like Oil and Water

“Q-Less” 30th-anniversary reflections. We discuss the appearance of John de Lancie’s fan favorite on DS9, the original premise compared with what we got, why it does (and doesn’t) make sense, and how the story makes more sense if you shift how you look at it.

The Orb 149: The Most Dangerous Game
The Orb 149: The Most Dangerous Game

“Captive Pursuit” 30th-anniversary reflections. We discuss the first visit by an alien from the Gamma Quadrant and how the story challenges the idea of IDIC and Starfleet’s rule of non-interference.

The Orb 148: Miles and Miles of Sass
The Orb 148: Miles and Miles of Sass

“Babel” 30th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the story long kicked around for The Next Generation found a home on DS9, how it sets the series apart from its predecessor, and how it tests the limits of the Star Trek formula.

The Orb 147: Questioning the Foundation
The Orb 147: Questioning the Foundation

“A Man Alone” 30th-anniversary reflections. We discuss how the story subverts expectations and charts new paths for Star Trek, the attempt to avoid serialization, and the choice to reverse the airing of the episode with “Past Prologue.”

The Orb 146: It’s Not Easy to Let Go
The Orb 146: It’s Not Easy to Let Go

“Past Prologue” 30th-anniversary reflections. We discuss the introduction of Garak, ties to TNG, and how the story showers viewers in character development.

The Orb 145: Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of
The Orb 145: Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out Of

“Emissary” 30th-anniversary reflections. We begin a 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one episode at a time.

The Orb 144: How Gullible Is the Federation?
The Orb 144: How Gullible Is the Federation?

“How Gullible Is the Federation?“ We conclude our discussion of the breadcrumbs sprinkled by the writers as they set up the story of the Dominion and one of Star Trek’s most complex stories.

The Orb 143: Finding It As They Go
The Orb 143: Finding It As They Go

“Finding It As They Go.“ We discuss the breadcrumbs sprinkled by the writers as they set up the story of the Dominion and one of Star Trek’s most complex stories.

The Orb 142: In Awe of the Pylons
The Orb 142: In Awe of the Pylons

“Hear All, Trust Nothing.“ We discuss how this humorous installment in the Star Trek franchise successfully captures the feel of the richest and most serious series while also delivering plenty of laughs.

The Orb 141: What She Left Behind
The Orb 141: What She Left Behind

Remembering Louise Fletcher. We reflect on the actor who brought Kai Winn to life, how her skill in portraying the character led the DS9 story in a different direction than first planned, and why Fletcher’s Winn triggers self-reflection in so many of us.

The Orb 140: Gul Facade
The Orb 140: Gul Facade

Dukat’s “Civil Defense.” We discuss Gul Dukat within the context of the episode “Civil Defense,” including the character’s selfish nature, desire for adoration, hatred of Garak, and lust for anything that puts him on the pedestal. You have two minutes to start listening before we release the hounds!

View the full episode directory