I've been watching through ds9 for the first time and the show has always been good, even the first season I thought started fairly strong. And season 6 (as I've said in another post) has started really strong, with an actual deviation from the show's status quo that lasts longer than one episode.
But holy shit, this might be one of my favorite episodes. Not just of ds9, or star trek in general, but maybe of any show I've seen. And as far as I'm aware people barely talk about it.
The whole episode is essentially Dukat's facade of composure slowly breaking down. He's always been an interesting villain, and at times his insistence that he's doing his best can almost convince you that he might not entirely be the bad guy; that maybe he is, in some way, trying to do good.
And a lesser show might try to redeem him. But not ds9. Millions died under his command, people were sent to the deaths, and as long as he tries defend his actions in any way there's no room for redemption.
This episode finally breaks down all of his fake pretenses of helping Bajor, or trying his best to "rule with a softer hand." Finally his deception is broken down and reveals what he has always been. And it's done in the best way possible.
The scene where he finally breaks down is fantastic. No music, just Marc Alaimo acting his ass off. The panning back and forth between him talking to sisko and talking to the various voices in his head...
"And that is why you're not an evil man?"
I think that Marc Alaimo excels in the part. With all of Dukat's machinations and manipulating he could have ended up as a mustache twirling, cliched joke. Dukat is no joke. One moment Dukat has me sympathetic for him as he follows a path that could redeem him. Then, he's trying to destroy what might redeem him. Such a great, unpredictable character. I agree that DS9 handled Dukat perfectly. Even the cause of Dukat's grief that ignited his descent into madness was sullied. Sure, he loved Ziyal. He also first intended to kill her.
Exactly. You can see how he gained power, he's great at talking like a politician. He masks his true intentions under the guise of being a mediator. He's so good at it that you might start to believe he can be redeemed, but inevitably he reminds you what he's really like.