Ya know, it's episodes like this that make me wonder about the Federation. These guys are still Federation citizens (this point is repeated several times). They were left in Cardassian hands. Why? I don't know, it doesn't make too much sense, but they were. What do they do? They form a military force to fight the Cardassians.
This is apparently their only option.
My response is "Huh?" If the Federation is a democracy/republic with representation by all, then they should protest. Form lobbiest groups. Contact their public officials, try to reopen talks or just have the Feds apply a little pressure. This should work, but no one tries it despite apparent large scale support for the DMZ residents among the Federation (and particularly Starfleet).
All I can assume is that the Federation isn't a democracy after all, but an oligarchy ruled by an elite "council" that meets far from the front lines and doesn't care about the small details like inconvenient people.
In "Journey's End", they gave up their Federation citizenship.
True, ScottN, that is why it is a changed premise. By this episode (and also in DS9) they have recovered their status, creating a whole new nit.
Ro and Picard have a rather noticable KMYF moment at the beginning of this episode.
The people on that one planet in Journey's end gave up their federation citizenship. The people on the rest of the Demilitarized Zone planets did not.
In this episode, Ro claims biomimetic gel is perfectly legal. According to DS9, it's not.
The end of the episode was kind confusing. Why didn't Riker stop Ro from betraying the Federation and from defecting? I mean, sure she's a woman and it's not polite to punch a woman, but why not give her a Karate chop or something to subdue her until the shuttle got back to the Enterprise?
The look on Picard's face at the end is priceless. You can tell HE WAS NOT HAPPY with Ro. (And possibly Riker)
John A., you are kidding about Riker subduing Ro, right?
I mean, you really, really, don't want to hear another long and passionate rant from me, this time re: the Federation's dedication to a sentient being's right to self-determination vs. the idiocy of (Klingon-like) caveman behaviour, right? Didn't think so. 
OK..how's this? Have Riker have a transporter transponder to activate & have the Enterprise beam them both out the shuttle before Ro can warn the Maquis ships
Wasn't Ro holding Riker at phaser point?
Yes...However, the phaser could be deactivated in the Transporter Room (As seen in "The Most Toys")
The scene might have gone like this then: Riker: Enter---- ZAAAAP! Ro: Dummmove asshat.
Point well taken.
I must add that this is probabably Patrick Stewart's finest episode that he got to direct.
That shot of Picard, where we see him from behind as Riker delivers his report, and then walks out when Picard says nothing, and the way the camera pans around to the hardened expression of betrayal on his face--perfect.
I liked Ro Laren. Too bad she didn't make any appearances on Deep Space Nine.
There is an odd assortment of people in the DMZ. Why would so many people from so many worlds choose to live on the front lines of an area where war could break out? The only answers I can think of is people who are dumb and/or people who want to fight.
For that matter, why are there colonies in the DMZ? I am not a military expert, but it seems to me that if you are going to establish a De-Militarized Zone, you would do it in a barren open region where you could see the other side coming, not through a high traffic area where people live.
Bajor was taken over by the Cardassians forty or fifty years ago, so theoretically, Bajor was in Cardassian space, but the DMZ is between Bajor & Cardassia. Was Bajor a 'peninsula' of Cardassian space? Was it such a vulnerable point of attack that the Cardassians decided it was easier to give it up and move their border back?
When did these Federation citizens start colonizing these worlds? After the start of Deep Space Nine, or before the war with Cardassia? It wouldn't make much sense to colonize between these points in time and even after the peace treaty was signed only an idiot or someone with a death wish would start colonizing next to a former enemy. If these worlds were colonized before the war with Cardassia, how come we never heard any concern for these Federation citizens? In Ensign Ro we learn that the Federation is trying to help Bajor, but not a word is said about Federation colonies. (Or, for that matter, other worlds taken over by Cardassia. Just how big is Cardassian space if they've only taken over one inhabited world?) If there were Federation colonists in Cardassian space during the war, do you think the Cardassians would just leave them alone? They most likely would have killed them.
The Enterprise gets a distress call from what they think is a science ship, but they can't answer back because of interference from the star. Why not? If a science ship were heading toward a region where communication would be difficult, wouldn't it make sense to give it better than average communications equipment? Possibly they could establish buoys which would boost any signal? And if a science ship got damaged and was drifting into a region that would cause communication problems, don't you think they would have sent out a message before they got into trouble?
When Ro is shooting at the Cardassians, her weapon appears to shake and it's pointing slightly down, but the beam is steady and on target.
In the scene before the final attack, I understand why Picard was dressed as a civilian. but why was Ro pretending to be a hooker? Couldn't there be members of the Maquis there who would tell others? ("Bob, can you lend me some Latinum? I just found out that Ro is a hooker.") Is hooker a time honored and much respected Bajoran activity?
Early in the show it was implied that there were certain areas where ships could cross and be searched and the rest had sensor buoys which would alert the Federation if someone just flew across. Early in the show they got around this by having Ro give the sensor a password, but later in the show, when the Maquis are about to attack the convoy, there is no evidence that Ro ever gave the sensors a password and I doubt they would cross a checkpoint to attack a convoy.
Minor post-DS9 book series spoiler: Ro Laren is now the Chief of Security for DS9.
Actually, Ro Laren WAS supposed to go to DS9 as a reoccuring character. However,Michelle Forbes was granted a movie deal and she backed out from DS9. So TPTB wrote out Ro's character and brought in Kira Nerys. (Nana Visitor)
How come Ro didn't tell Picard about the Cardassian attack? I'm sure if she did, Picard & Starfleet wouldn't have staged the "trap" for the Maquis.
Some movie deal, John. Michelle Forbes did a few flicks (Kalifornia, Swimming With Sharks.) She returned to doing TV very quickly to take a role in Homicide. Lately, she was seen as Lynne Kresge in 24.
Here's a question: what exactly is the DMZ? Phil questions Starfleet's jurisdiction over it in his review of this episode (or was it a different episode?). I've noticed that a number of other people tend to view the DMZ in the same way: namely, a piece of neutral space, just like the Neutral Zone, in which neither the UFP or Cardassia have control. However, a DMZ is not necessarily neutral; there can still be a discrete border between two nations with a demiltarized buffer zone on either side. That's the impression I got: that the DMZ is a buffer on either side of the Cardassian-Federation border.
For such a fairly secretive, and very suspicious, orgainzation the Maquis must have a lot of people walking around in hooded robs to allow those three Cardassians to do so. Also, the expression on the black Maquis' face when aborting the mission doesn't seem to fit the situation. He looks like a businessman in the morning who's had too much coffee.
Early in the show it was implied that there were certain areas where ships could cross and be searched and the rest had sensor buoys which would alert the Federation if someone just flew across. Early in the show they got around this by having Ro give the sensor a password, but later in the show, when the Maquis are about to attack the convoy, there is no evidence that Ro ever gave the sensors a password and I doubt they would cross a checkpoint to attack a convoy.
She said until they change the password agian they could cross agian.
I wonder if this episode was based on the original ST:VI script, where Saavik, an established and well-liked character, was a traitor.
This really was a great episode, one of Season 7's best. That final scene with Picard is just perfect and Michelle Forbes gives one of her best performances on the show.
quote:KAM: There is an odd assortment of people in the DMZ. Why would so many people from so many worlds choose to live on the front lines of an area where war could break out? The only answers I can think of is people who are dumb and/or people who want to fight.
quote:KAM: When did these Federation citizens start colonizing these worlds? After the start of Deep Space Nine, or before the war with Cardassia?
quote:KAM: If these worlds were colonized before the war with Cardassia, how come we never heard any concern for these Federation citizens? In Ensign Ro we learn that the Federation is trying to help Bajor, but not a word is said about Federation colonies.
quote:KAM: If there were Federation colonists in Cardassian space during the war, do you think the Cardassians would just leave them alone? They most likely would have killed them.
quote:KAM: Early in the show it was implied that there were certain areas where ships could cross and be searched and the rest had sensor buoys which would alert the Federation if someone just flew across. Early in the show they got around this by having Ro give the sensor a password, but later in the show, when the Maquis are about to attack the convoy, there is no evidence that Ro ever gave the sensors a password and I doubt they would cross a checkpoint to attack a convoy.
Why didn't Picard pull Ro from the mission after she showed hesitation? Granted, she'd be put before a Board of Inquiry and all, but isn't the success of the mission more important than that?
He had to make a judgment call. He had faith that she would "do the right thing."
By Brian FitzGerald on Thursday, November 01, 2007 - 11:16 pm:
He had to make a judgment call. He had faith that she would "do the right thing."
Even if she did do the right thing and assist in the trap, I doubt she'd be given any assignments like this again. And Picard would always have that nagging doubt as to whether or not he could trust her.
David: I wonder if this episode was based on the original ST:VI script, where Saavik, an established and well-liked character, was a traitor.
I would say that it was the other way around. Saavik being a traitor would be shocking because she was clearly on the wrong side. I think they were having someone like Ro hookup with the Marquess to make them more sympathetic. The whole Marquees plot on DS9 & TNG was created to setup Voyager; Starfleet renegades stuck on the other side of the Galaxy with a Starfleet ship and crew.
Watching it again, and noticing that it aired right before "All Good Things..." I said "this is the setup for Voyager." Even Voyager opens up with Tuvovk doing what Ro wouldn't, trying to lead the Marquees into Janeway's trap.
Torque, Son of Keplar: Even if she did do the right thing and assist in the trap, I doubt she'd be given any assignments like this again. And Picard would always have that nagging doubt as to whether or not he could trust her.
Perhaps. I just rewatched the ep (God I love having a GF who likes Star Trek but hasn't seen any of the episodes in years) and our impression was that Picard though that he was giving her a kick in the a** for her own good. He never even considered that going after the Marquees was anything less than the right thing to do and was sure she would come around.
This was Ro's last canonical appearance.
Then Picard brings her back, only to murder her (all Roddenberry/Berman characters were fair game on Modern Trek).