168: A Father's Choice

168: A Father's Choice

Author: TFM June 14, 2025 Duration: 56:33

"Cardassians" 30th-anniversary reflections

A biting boy in the replimat presents a mystery that leaves Garak's arm in pain and puts the tailor's suspected spy skills to the test. Teaming up with Bashir, he helps uncover the background behind this young Cardassian wearing a Bajoran earring. The boy turns out to be an orphan, left behind after the Occupation and adopted by a Bajoran family. But there is much more to the story than it first seems, and when it is discovered that the boy is actually the son of one of Gul Dukat's opponents, Sisko's decision to allow him to remain on Bajor or be returned to his father becomes all the more difficult.

In this episode of The Orb, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss "Cardassians,"how the story expands the rich world created for the series, the return of Garak, and the difficult questions around culture and identity.

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
Plain Simple Garak (00:03:40)
Complex Cardassians (00:10:30)
Impacting the Innocent (00:17:34)
All in the Family (00:22:08)
Oversimplifying Issues? (00:25:32)
Culture and Identity (00:27:12)
Misguided Assumptions (00:35:06)
A Father's Choice (00:42:03)
Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:47:48)
Closing (00:52:37)

Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)


For nearly a decade, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing have been guiding listeners through the intricate universe of The Orb: A Star Trek Deep Space Nine Podcast. This isn't a general Star Trek show; it's a deep, sustained focus on the station at the edge of the final frontier. For years, the conversation revolved around the finer details and hidden layers of DS9's rich narrative. Now, marking a significant milestone, the podcast has embarked on a fresh journey. Starting in January 2023, the hosts launched a comprehensive 30th-anniversary retrospective, a project designed to revisit the entire series from the very beginning. Each episode of the television show becomes the subject of its own discussion, creating a methodical and celebratory walk through what many consider the franchise's most complex chapter. You'll hear thoughtful analysis, personal reflections on decades of fandom, and a clear appreciation for how the show's themes continue to resonate. It's a perfect time to join this long-running podcast, whether you're a lifelong fan or a curious newcomer, as it systematically unpacks the story of Emissary Sisko, the Bajoran wormhole, and the lasting impact of a station that was much more than a setting-it was a character itself. TFM's dedication ensures this remains the definitive audio companion for all things Deep Space Nine.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Orb: A Star Trek Deep Space Nine Podcast
Podcast Episodes
160: Will the Real Lwaxana Please Stand Up? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:29
"The Forsaken" 30th-anniversary reflections When the ambassadors of arrogance visit the station for a fact-finding mission, the crew's hospitality is put to the test. But no one faces a bigger challenge than Odo, who fin…
159: Imagination Station [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:15
"If Wishes Were Horses" 30th-anniversary reflections Bedtime stories are supposed to be fun, but one gets a bit too real for Molly O'Brien when the straw-spinning imp Rumpelstiltskin shows up in her room. Not the kind of…
158: Even the Birds Stayed Away [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:42
"Progress" 30th-anniversary reflections Plans by the provisional government to convert a Bajoran moon into a massive power plant sets Major Kira on a collision course with a stubborn, sweet-talking farmer who refuses to…
157: Dal'Rok Has Left the Building [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:40
"The Storyteller" 30th-anniversary reflections An uninvited guest menaces a Bajoran village and only one man can save the day: Miles O'Brien. At least that's what he has been told. There's just one problem, the solution…
156: Welcome to the Hotel California [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:50
"Battle Lines" 30th-anniversary reflections A joy ride to the Gamma Quadrant turns deadly for Kai Opaka. At least until she springs back to life. Along with Sisko, Kira, and Bashir, the spiritual leader of Bajor finds he…
155: Double Your Danger [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:11
"Vortex" 30th-anniversary reflections When Miradorn twins arrive on the station and offer to sell a Tamagotchi to Quark, things get weird, and soon two become one. An alien named Croden enters and wants the item for hims…
154: All About the Greed [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:25
"The Nagus" 30th-anniversary reflections Having heard that some of Quark's holosuite programs are quite alluring, Grand Nagus Zek, leader of the Ferengi Alliance, pays an unexpected visit to the station. As he shares his…
153: Down the Wrong Warp Pipe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:10
"Move Along Home" 30th-anniversary reflections First contact with a race from the Gamer Quadrant … uhm … Gamma Quadrant doesn't go quite as Sisko had hope when it turns out that they obsessed with, you guessed it, games.…
152: Dead Giveaways [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:43
"The Passenger" 30th-anniversary reflections Doctor Bashir's arrogance is interrupted when the runabout Rio Grande receives a distress call from a Kobliad transport. They find a fire aboard the ship and two people in dis…
151: Who Is What and What Is Where?! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:27
"Dax" 30th-anniversary reflections Aliens with an uncanny knowledge of the station and its systems attempt to abduct Jadzia and take her back to Klaestron IV to stand trial. Only it's Dax they really want, and the crimes…