Tears of the Prophets
- FIRST SHOWN (US)
- 15 June 1998
- ON
- First-run syndication
- STARDATE
- None given
- DIRECTED BY
- Allan Kroeker
- PRODUCTION NO.
- 550
WRITTEN BYWritten by Ira Steven Behr & Hans Beimler
As Starfleet prepares a major offensive against the Dominion, Sisko must choose between his duty as an officer and a warning from the Prophets, while Dukat makes a dangerous bargain.
Red alert: the full plot, ending included. Haven't watched yet?REVEAL SYNOPSIS
Admiral Ross tells Sisko that Starfleet intends to strike the Chin'toka system before its Cardassian and Dominion defences can be strengthened. On the eve of the attack the Prophets send Sisko a vision warning him not to leave the station, but he chooses his Starfleet duty. Meanwhile Dukat breaks open a Bajoran artifact and lets a Pah-wraith possess him. As the fleet battles Chin'toka's automated weapons platforms, Dukat appears in the station's Bajoran temple, strikes down Jadzia and releases the Pah-wraith into an Orb, which turns dark as the wormhole collapses. At Chin'toka the platforms are finally destroyed and the offensive succeeds, but the victory is hollow. Bashir saves the Dax symbiont, but Jadzia dies after saying goodbye to Worf. With the Prophets cut off from Bajor and blaming himself, Sisko takes a leave of absence and leaves the station with Jake, placing Kira in charge.
- 01Terry Farrell left the series when her six-year contract ended with this episode. She was tired of the long hours and constantly changing schedule.
- 02The working title was “Tears of the Gods”. The final title comes from a name for the Orbs established in “Emissary”.
- 03Michael Piller felt an earlier version of Jadzia's death scene was too rushed, and urged the writers to keep an emotional goodbye between Dax and Worf.