Star Trek: Shadowplay

Episode: "Shadowplay"

Series: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Season 2, Episode 16

Original Air Date: February 20, 1994

via Memory Alpha

Dax and Odo venture to the Gamma Quadrant.  While investigating an unusual particle field, they encounter a village where people are disappearing.  They stick around to help investigate.  In all, there are three stories going in "Shadowplay."  In the secondary narrative, Kira tries to stay one step ahead of Quark's nefarious activities while fielding the surprising though welcome advances of Vedek Bareil.  In the tertiary plot, Jake starts his first job, helping O'Brien in engineering.

"Shadowplay" is the strongest episode in a while with significant character development in all three stories.  The A plot is particularly sweet.  For the first time, we see a more tender side to Odo, with suggestions that he might be ready to let more people into his life.  The Kira-Bareil relationship will have important consequences for all involved moving forward.  Jake asserts his independence from Dad for the first time.  The younger Sisko also makes an important break from any confusion with Wesley Crusher's tale.  Jake makes clear that his dreams for his future, whatever they may be, do not involve Starfleet.  It's a moment of growth for the whole Star Trek concept.

Getting back to the village, I'd forgotten the plot twist until just before it was revealed.  What seemed initially to be too close to the previous week's story veers to a completely different tone.  

Acting Notes

via Wikipedia

Kenneth Mars played the role of Colyus, one of the villagers.  He was born April 4, 1935 in Chicago.  He attended Northwestern University.

His film credits included work with several high-profile directors: The Producers and Young Frankenstein with Mel Brooks, What's Up Doc? with Peter Bogdanovich and Radio Days and Shadows and Fog with Woody Allen.  Television work included Malcolm in the Middle, Love, American Style and Sha Na Na.  His voice credits were extensive.  He voiced King Triton in The Little Mermaid, Littlefoot's grandfather in The Land Before Time and King Colbert in Thumbelina.  

Mars died in 2006 of pancreatic cancer.