Star Trek: Tribunal

Episode: "Tribunal"

Series: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Season 2, Episode 25

Original Air Date: June 5, 1994

via Memory Beta

The O'Briens are going on vacation.  Unfortunately, en route, they are stopped by a Cardassian patrol.  Miles is arrested, charges unknown, and brought to Cardassia Prime.  As we know from earlier stories, criminal trials are mere formalities for the Cardassians, the accused already deemed guilty in advance.  In time, we learn that Miles is being charged with smuggling photon torpedoes to the Maquis.  His friends back at the station have to work quickly to prove he's been framed.

"Tribunal" provides our first meaningful visit to the Cardassian homeworld.  The repressive society is inspired by George Orwell's 1984.  As expected, the trial (based on Franz Kafka's The Trial) is a sham.  Truth and justice are irrelevant.  Instead, the exercise, broadcast to the masses, is orchestrated to bolster pride in the state.  Miles's Public Conservator (attorney) is not expected to prove anything.  Instead, he coaches his client through the theatrics: when to cry, when to beg for mercy, etc.  Thankfully, Odo elbows his way into the proceedings to provide what one would expect for a defense - or at least to stall long enough to make it to the Perry Mason-esque reveal that saves the day in the end.

Worthy of note: one quite reasonably expects that once Odo is on the scene, he'll use his shapeshifting abilities to help Miles escape but that's not how it pans out.  Of course, the Cardassian authorities would know of Odo's particular talents already so they might not provide the advantage they would under other circumstances.

The episode has a lot to recommend it.  There's meaningful development for Miles, Keiko and Odo.  The glimpse of Cardassia Prime is important.  Colm Meany gets to flex his thespian muscles.  The guest actors are strong.  It's also the DS9 directorial debut for Avery Brooks.

Acting Notes

via Wikipedia

Fritz Weaver played the role of Kovat, the Public Conservator.  Weaver was born in Pittsburgh, January 19, 1926.  He was a conscientious objector during World War II, working in the Civilian Public Service.  He started acting in the '50s.  

Weaver was especially successful on stage, winning a Tony in 1970 for his performance in Child's Play.  He also got a Tony nomination for The Chalk Garden in 1956.  In 2010, he was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame - I didn't even know there was one.  

Weaver's television career spanned four decades, particularly in science fiction.  Beyond Trek, he made guest appearances in The Twilight Zone (in both the '60s and the '80s), Night Gallery and The X-Files.  He was nominated for an Emmy for his performance in the miniseries Holocaust in 1978.  Films include Fail Safe, Marathon Man and The Thomas Crown Affair (1999).

Fritz Weaver was married twice.  He had two children from his first marriage.  He passed away in 2016 at the age of 90.