[id: 10 gifs from season 3, episode 21 “the die is cast” from the tv series “star trek: deep space nine”, the gifs show three scenes from the episode the first has elim garak, odo, enabran tain on a romulan warbird on fire, the second scene garak and odo escaping using a runabout, the third scene shows them back on the defiant with miles obrien, and julian bashir.

1st gif: the first scene features garak from the shoulders up, the romulan warbird is on fire in the background. garak begins to realize that he's not going to get tain out of that chair, but he won't leave without him.he shouts "i can't just leave you here."

2nd gif: camera cuts to tain seated on a chair. he looks at garak and says, "i always did have a soft spot for you, garak... another of my flaws..."

3rd gif: camera cuts to garak, he shouts, "enabran," he is about to make another plea, when suddenly odo's hand pulls him back from the shoulder and he punches garak hard.

4th gif: camera cuts to show a wider angle of odo punching garak. the punch is hard enough to knock garak out and as he crumples to the deck, odo carries him.

5th, 6th, and 7th gif: the second scene, odo is sitting in the pilot seat of the runabout and garak is in the other seat. garak is rubbing what is now a large bruise on his head ruefully. garak says, "you can be very persuasive on occasion, constable. but you might consider using... gentler language in the future." odo replies "i'll keep that in mind."

8th gif: the third scene, in the transporter room of the defiant. miles says, "welcome back." the camera moves from miles to show odo and garak after transporting into the defiant. camera cuts to face enabran from the front and the back of garak, he is looking at garak from the corner of his eyes as garak continues, "why do you think i'm here?"

9th gif: odo says, "thank you." julian appears in the frame, he sees the bruise on garak's head. "oh, that looks painful."

10th gif: garak says, "it is." and turns to look at odo as he continues, "but it did save my life." /end id]

Visual Language Things in Improbable Cause/The Die Is Cast that are driving me INSANE

the stuff they do with light and shadow in these episodes is just. someone went 'I know artists who use subtlety and they're all cowards' and they were so right for that

are you telling me... that this man is caught between light and dark in this moment and hasn't yet decided which side his soul is going to come down on in the end. hm. interesting. (especially cool that when the shadows of his face are lit up in the runabout at the end, that's when you see the damage underneath. he's partially made that choice and he's illuminated, but not by a comforting light yet, those are danger colours. odo and garak bonding on a day trip to hell; the episode)

I think this shot is ultimately my touchpoint for the visual language set up in this episode -- julian bashir standing there in 'wherever you have to go, come home to this afterwards' light as garak walks into the shadows (and towards tain). where does the light in his life come from currently? we may have a clue before us folks

(This one is literally just because his expression here makes my chest feel weird and aching. oof. I feel like this is one of the rare times he lets himself be really openly soft because he must know there's a decent chance he's not coming back)

aaaand what's the very first thing that greets him once he 'returns to the light' so to speak? :) little bit of a moral and emotional horror show in the middle there admittedly but thanks to odo he did come home and no one like. died or anything. well. many many people died but that honestly wasn't his fault or responsibility. we'll call it a victory

some really cool odo shots too in this ep. I love you constable this was so fucking extra for no reason

fun little detail: when the defiant starts shaking upon taking fire, Julian immediately puts his hand on Garak's shoulder -- the same way and on the same side as Garak did to Tain minutes before, when Odo had to fucking. knock him out to make him let go. (again: odo I love you. a direct and decisive thinker above all)

Clearing a path

Clearing a path

It appears I have underestimated the Founders. I should have seen it coming. There was a time when nothing got past me. You remember, don’t you, Elim?

Garak is unrelenting in his torture of Odo, desperate for acceptance by Enabran Tain.

Garak, I was thinking that you and I should have breakfast together sometime. Why, Constable, I thought you didn’t eat. I don’t.

every now and then i feel the need to repost this image, for my own sanity

We all love Garak’s Jazz Hands but I think tumblr’s sleeping on all that’s going on here.

*gay gestures*

Elim Garak in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 

We all love Garak’s Jazz Hands but I think tumblr’s sleeping on all that’s going on here.

improbable cause / the die is cast special edition of Garak text memes v.9