That's it now: The final DS9 episode. After I watched all episodes in a few months I am a little sad because I got used to the characters. Somehow they felt like family. And since it's 2023 I know, that there are no sequels anymore. While we meet Worf again in Picard's third season and also meet Quark, Kira, Rom and Leeta again in Lower Decks as comic characters, DS9 itself is done. O'Brien, Bashir, Sisko... those characters won't see any more episodes (at least not with those actors). And other actors unfortunately have already passed away (Rene Auberjonois, Aron Eisenberg...).
This episode is the conclusion to the war with the Dominion. I feel though that it is rather rushed. After dozens of episodes the war is over after Odo links with the sick female changeling that then orders all troops to stand down. Unfortunately the whole prophets vs pah wraiths culmination didn't matter anymore. Even the characters don't bother anymore. Kira never seemed really worried. Dukat's transformation and his evil plan to release the pah wraiths was overshadowed by the Dominion war. Even worse: Sisko is on a party on DS9. Then he has a vision, tells Kasidy that he has to go to the fire caves and in the next scene he is already right next to Dukat. It felt to me that even the writers in the end just wanted to end this whole prophet and emissary story quickly.
We also see lots of good byes with some cheesy flashbacks: Worf becomes ambassador on Kronos, Miles becomes professor for engineering on Earth, Sisko now lives in the Celestial Temple, Garak is back on Cardassia and Odo goes back to his people into the great link. It's sad to see that Quark seems to be the only one that has not gained anything and still is a lonely bartender. The others that stay on DS9 at least have gained something: Kira is now in charge of the station, Bashir is in love with Ezri and Nog is Lieutenant Junior Grade. Well, Jake also seems to not have progressed at all since several seasons.
All in all still a worthy last episode to a great show.
This episode is the conclusion to the war with the Dominion. I feel though that it is rather rushed. After dozens of episodes the war is over after Odo links with the sick female changeling that then orders all troops to stand down. Unfortunately the whole prophets vs pah wraiths culmination didn't matter anymore. Even the characters don't bother anymore. Kira never seemed really worried. Dukat's transformation and his evil plan to release the pah wraiths was overshadowed by the Dominion war. Even worse: Sisko is on a party on DS9. Then he has a vision, tells Kasidy that he has to go to the fire caves and in the next scene he is already right next to Dukat. It felt to me that even the writers in the end just wanted to end this whole prophet and emissary story quickly.
We also see lots of good byes with some cheesy flashbacks: Worf becomes ambassador on Kronos, Miles becomes professor for engineering on Earth, Sisko now lives in the Celestial Temple, Garak is back on Cardassia and Odo goes back to his people into the great link. It's sad to see that Quark seems to be the only one that has not gained anything and still is a lonely bartender. The others that stay on DS9 at least have gained something: Kira is now in charge of the station, Bashir is in love with Ezri and Nog is Lieutenant Junior Grade. Well, Jake also seems to not have progressed at all since several seasons.
All in all still a worthy last episode to a great show.