Star Trek: DS9 - The Die is Cast

Garak interrogates Odo scenes (all screencaps from trekcore.com)

I had always been struck by the very unusual camera angles in these scenes. But it’s only recently that I’ve given it a good deal of thought on how effective they are.

When Garak and the Romulans first enter Odo’s cell, Odo gives a sarcastically defiant, “Oh, no. You’re going to torture me, aren’t you? How I’ve been dreading this. Please have mercy, Garak.”

As Garak expresses admiration for Odo’s sarcasm, they’re both in the frame and close together. But after the Romulans depart and Odo issues a warning to Garak, they’re still in the frame together but there is a distance between them.

When Garak explains how the device in the room will prevent Odo from using his shape-shifting abilities, they no longer appear in any frame together. Furthermore, the camera is looking up at each of them which creates a sense of disconnect and unease.

As Odo deteriorates because he can’t revert to his liquid state, both he and Garak are still separate from each other. And not only is the camera still looking up at each of them, it’s slightly skewed as well which creates a very disturbed feeling.

Finally, Garak breaks down and pleads with Odo to tell him something, anything, even if it’s a lie. And they’re both back together in the frame. The camera view is still a bit skewed but not as much as previously.

I’ve long thought it a shame that DS9 never received any awards for the writing and acting. But it also deserved credit for the directing as well.