The Begotten (1997) User Reviews (9)

Births

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 5 July 2010]

This episodes sees the arrival of two babies on Deep Space Nine, Major Kira gives birth to Chief O'Brien and Keiko's baby and Odo comes into possession of 'baby' changeling. It is the latter of these two that provides the main story. When Odo first gets the young changeling it can't change shape and none of his attempts to help it learn seem to work. When the Bajoran who raised him arrives on the station Odo is determined not to let the methods used to raise him would not be used on the baby. Eventually however he come to agree that perhaps those methods might not be as bad as he remembered. The youngster is soon mimicking simple shapes and even forms a crude approximation of a face. Odo is overjoyed and begins celebrating, he is soon interrupted however and told that there is something very wrong with the youngster. While Odo comes to terms with the impending death of the youngster it gives him a surprising parting gift. While Odo's story is fairly downbeat over all light relief is provided by the behaviour of those waiting for Kira to give birth; it was clear that Kira's boy friend wasn't too keen on the attention O'Brien gave her even though he was only doing it because she was carrying his child.

This was a good episode where Rene Auberjonois did a fine job as Odo, showing a wide range of emotions from the joy of getting the young changeling, the frustration of having to use the methods used on him and the sadness of realising the youngster would not live. The story was perhaps a little too close to 'The Next Generation' story 'The Offspring' but as I really liked that episode too I didn't mind the similarities.

The cats in the cradle and the silverspoon.

[thevacinstaller · 8/10 · 21 July 2021]

I am always up for a good old fashioned star trek dad episode.

There's an old saying about parents ---- 'the older I get, the smarter they become..." and this episode is a well crafted exploration about discovering that and a re-examination of previous judgements. That is one of the great experiences in life ---- being able to confront and change your opinions based on understanding.

The actor that plays Mora is a gem of a guest star ---- I believe there has only been one episode less than an 8 that he has been a guest star in, in my opinion of course. His great in this episode as he goes through the gambit of human emotions in response to Odo's snide remarks about his scientific methods.

The pregnancy arc didn't really bother me and was good for a laugh or two. I am a firm believer in not having an A and B arc in an episode --- just tell one story and give it the time it needs. I'm my personal star trek fan fiction I have Miles O'Brien look at the baby and exclaim "This baby looks a lot like Dr Bashir!?!"

Also worth noting is the eye for detail in terms of the ending special effect when Odo turns into a Bellnorian Razorhawk ----- his human cloths fall to the ground when he changes shape. I appreciated that and it was noticed.

Odo's a daddy.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 6 January 2015]

When the episode begins, out of the blue Quark offers to sell Odo a dead Changeling. However, it turns out the blob of goo is alive-- and a baby. Now Odo is determined to raise it the right way--not poked and prodded and electrocuted to get it to learn to change shapes the way he was. However, unexpectedly the old Bajoran scientist who raised Odo shows up and insists on staying to watch Odo and the Goo's progress.

The other plot involves Major Kira and her troubles birthing. It seems that Bajoran women only give birth when they are totally relaxed (and it involves a lot of annoying 'music'). Soon, unfortunately, the tension levels rise and it looks as if she'll never have the baby for the O'Briens.

In some ways this was a touching episode--at least the Odo portions. I liked seeing so much emotion in the character and how this story played out for him. As for the O'Briens and the Major, this seemed more like annoying filler and I was glad this was the secondary plot. Overall, a mildly enjoyable mixed bag.

Touching and heartwarming

[gritfrombray-1 · 10/10 · 3 April 2007]

Love this show and Rene Auberjonis. His portrayal of Odo brought forth one of Trek's most unusual and interesting characters. In this we see a broken man stripped of his shape shifting abilities and how he sees the universe from human eyes. When he buys a baby changeling from Quark this gets moving. His affection towards it is touching but the real powerhouse in this show was Star Trek alumni James Sloyan as Doctor Mora, the scientist who discovered Odo. Another favorite of mine. His 'fatherly' attitude with Odo is brilliantly written. The birthing of the O'Brien's baby was real nice too but didn't detract from the Odo story. Near the end, when Odo finally comes to understand what Doctor Mora did for him we get to see an emotional side, not often seen in Odo. An episode that will leave you with a lump in your throat on first time viewing especially!!

Ignore the O'Brien Part

[Hitchcoc · 10/10 · 30 October 2018]

I was distracted by the birthing of the O'Brien baby. We've been waiting forever and the whole thing seemed sort of tiresome. I gave this a 10, strictly for the efforts of Odo to take a shape-shifter and introduce him to the world. We get a real emotional portrayal and a final reconciliation. Dr. Mora is a really interesting character and the interaction between the two is harsh and poignant. The greatest thing, however, is the ending, which I will not spoil. Suffice it to say, I am thrilled with what takes place.

Tales of Fake Bashir...

[XweAponX · 10/10 · 10 July 2023]

The senior senior Trekker writes/types.

This is the third episode with the Ersatz Bashir, we started with rapture, which we know the original real Bashir never got the new federation uniform. And then, the next episode, "between the darkness, and the light", that was also fake Bashir.

He certainly has the part of Dr. Bashir down perfectly, he looks and speaks exactly like Bashir. I mean, we didn't know, we did not even suspect. So, when the real Bashir is revealed later, in the dominion prison camp, this was the biggest shocker that we received in season five.

Which makes me think about a couple of things.

How did FakeBashir feel when Quark entered the infirmary with a sick changeling infant? Did that changeling really want to assist a baby changeling?

And apparently it does whatever the real Bashir would have done to fix the sick changeling, or did "he"?

Meanwhile, the O'Brien's second child is being born.

And I can use this Interlude to talk about a Star Trek coupling that should have been exploited more.

Duncan Raegher aka Shaakar and Miles Edward O'Brien- A match made on this side of Laurel and Hardy!

The characters interactions were extremely funny, and this was all we ever got, this one episode. There should have been more episodes, it wasn't just a triangle between the chief, Keiko, and Kira, it was a double triangle which included Shaakar, Kira and Miles.

It wasn't funny enough, the family arguments between the O'Briens and "the other O'Briens"- Shaakar should have been part of this as well, and it was only ever exploited in this one episode.

But meanwhile, we also have Odo and his "Father" Doctor Mora. And then Odo becomes a father in his own right.

And so while the O'Briens are having their second offspring, Doctor Mora becomes a grandfather of sorts.

The parallels between the two events are striking. And just like the O'Briens, this was all we got on the Odo Side of the equation- this was the very last time we ever saw Dr. Mora as well.

But in the middle of both of these "births", is the fake changeling Dr. Bashir.

Who was living with solids, as a solid, for a whole month if not a little bit more. And as we see later, this changeling was willing to blow up Bajor's sun, and possibly himself as well, as a gesture of hatred against the solids, the alpha quadrant, and the federation.

But here he is actually acting as Dr. Bashir, helping the O'Briens give birth and helping Odo with the infant changeling.

But when we think about this, a little bit more, we have to ask, did ersatzBashir do something to the changeling? Did he link with it? We never see any evidence that fake Bashir was interacting with this changeling infant, did he have anything to do with this changeling getting sick again? Did he link with it and tell it to do what the changeling ultimately did?

"Tales of FakeBashir", we just have to wonder what fake Bashir was doing when he was pretending to be Bashir. A month is a very long time, and the other question is was fake Bashir reporting to the other founders at this point?

This is always one of my favorite episodes to revisit when I do a deep space nine binge. Sometimes I will watch it more than once. There are a lot of things in this episode.

If the O'Brien Baby segments had been left out, this would be a solidly good episode

[txriverotter · 7/10 · 27 June 2021]

I really don't get the writers sometimes. I hated Shakir in this episode and thought Kira and Keiko were horse's a$$es as well. Miles desperately wants to see his baby born, especially as he missed Molly's birth (ST:TNG) and Shakir ruins it for him at every turn. But what do Kira and Keiko do? Blame the both of them and kick them out. Miles may have been acting a bit overprotective, but it is his baby for heaven's sake!

Give me a freaking break!

Watch this episode for the main storyline: Odo and Dr. Mora working with a baby Changeling, as Mora worked with Odo when he was a baby. Well, not at first, because of Odo's major chips on his shoulders, but they get there. It's a touching and sad story, and this episode would have been all the better if they'd focused solely on it, and just announced at the end "oh yeah, the O'Brien's had their baby too. Congrats!"

Watch for continuity and the Odo plot

[snoozejonc · 7/10 · 9 January 2023]

Odo adopts a young Changeling as Kira goes into labour.

This is a good episode with some strong character moments.

The A-B plot is hit and miss, but comes together well in the final exchange between Odo and Kira. For me the Odo scenes are easily the strongest. His arc here is similar to Data's in 'The Offspring', but with implications to his overarching character development. It is great to see the writers giving Rene Auberjonois an opportunity to show more range, like in the bar exchange with Quark.

Kira's scenes are okay, but would have been more purposeful if there had been a build up to her feelings about handing the baby over. Also, the failed attempt at light comedy using O'Brien and Shakaar is not good and was a poor creative decision by the writers.

The visuals are great, especially during the scenes involving the young Changeling.

This is essential viewing for continuity, particularly for the ongoing arcs of Odo, Kira and the O'Briens.

Gaslighting "dad" ruins it more than O'Brien

[ashleyannkennedy · 7/10 · 24 September 2021]

Does nobody else abhor this freak? I love Odo too much by now to see him succumbing to Stockholm syndrome and forgiving someone who tortured him.