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After the explosive reveal that there are dark forces at work in the Gamma Quadrant, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine wastes no time in piling on even more surprising revelations, in “The Search, Part I” and “The Search Part II”.
Mindy
-I believe the information and stories that came from the little girl in “Shadowplay” is meant to reinforce the idea that the Changelings were at one time persecuted and attacked out of fear of their extreme difference from “solids”. So, I do take the Female Changeling as being at least partially honest. And I believe Richard is correct that the context of the episode does tend to support that reading.
However, you were both correct when you pointed out that this persecution likely happened centuries or perhaps even millennia ago. The little girl in “Shadowplay” talked of Changelings as if they were myth. So, indeed, it seems as though they’ve held onto this grudge for a long time.
It especially seems suspect considering it likely that hundreds of years have passed. Richard pointed out how the Bajorans and Federation members treat Odo with respect. It is worth pondering how tolerant humans of a thousand years prior would have been of Odo. Perhaps the Changelings encountered “solids” at an early stage of cultural evolution, and have since refused to acknowledge any cultural changes. (Or, all of those cultures were subsumed by the Dominion before they evolved.)
This indicates an extremely rigid culture and philosophy, likely reinforced by the information bubble created by the Great Link. In this sense, it is surprising that they bothered to send out Changelings into the galaxy to report back their findings.
Eric Brasure
-All good points! I tend to also think that the Changelings are being at least somewhat truthful, but of course we will find out much more about them in the months to come.
As for them sending out Changelings to other parts of the galaxy–my cynical read on that has always been that they were “done” with the Gamma Quadrant and were preparing to conquer other parts of it.
Jonas Q.
-Regarding “Nobody wants to see The West Wing in space”:
I disagree – I’ve always been eager to see a political drama set at Starfleet Headquarters during a crisis. No star ships, no high-budget space battles, just an insight into the administrative decision-making process in San Francisco. Probably as a set of miniseries, dealing with one event at a time: The first Borg attack, the Changeling scare during Homefront/Paradise Lost, the Dominion War, rebuilding the Federation after the war and so on. Maybe even get an explanation why 95% of all admirals turn out to be complete assholes? š