Synopsis: An attack on Quark causes Odo to reinvestigate a past murder.
In this episode the shape-shifting character of Odo can be seen as a physical manifestation of what James Hillman calls the metaxy, that third inbetween place where soul, or psyche, is made. The metaxy lies somewhere between the conscious and the unconscious, the rational and the irrational, and is a place where they can merge to become something wholly different.
In “Necessary Evil” in flashbacks viewers see how Odo came to be made the constable on Deep Space Nine during the Cardassian occupation of Bajor. We learn that he was appointed to this position by Gul Dukat because he was regarded as a neutral third party. We are also shown how in all initial meetings he is identified as the “shape shifter” (Fields & Conway, 1993). These are all traits of the metaxy.
Just as Odo is an alien presence that can move between the Cardassian occupiers and the Bajoran subjects, Hillman’s concept of the metaxy is something that is a third place, or thing, that can incorporate two opposing, or converging, sides. And as Odo can transform himself into anything that he can imagine, the metaxy can also become almost anything we can imagine, through uniting two elements into a third new one.
Dukat tells Odo that because he is neutral and can become anything, he is good at his job. Because the metaxy is a neutral third place where the conscious and the unconscious can meet, it is a good place to make soul.
Reference:
Fields, P. A. (Writer), & Conway, J. L. (Director). (1993, November 14). Necessary evil (Season 2, Episode 8) [TV series episode]. In M. Piller & R. Berman (Executive Producers), Star trek: Deep space nine. Paramount Television.
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