This episode shows Dukat in a complete mental breakdown. Dukat continues to try to convince himself and Sisko that his rule of Bajor was just. But ultimately, Dukat faces the reality of who he is and what he did... and he accepts it, embraces it, in the end. Sisko is willing to hear him out, despite his knowledge of what Dukat did to Bajor and despite his awareness of Dukat's mental breakdown. Sisko asks him a series of true or false about Dukat's involvement in the occupation. Sisko demands evidence that Dukat was not responsible for 5 million deaths. This scene is great. It is a culmination of the relationship between the two polarized leaders. While Dukat is not finished, in that he will be back, he has spiraled into an irreconcilable position of evil as a character. No redeeming quality is left.
Dramatic, thoughtful, provocative episode and one of my favorites of DS9.
Dramatic, thoughtful, provocative episode and one of my favorites of DS9.