Visible crew/equipment: After Odo orders two glasses of champagne for Dr. Mora and himself, when it cuts to the birthing ceremony as Y'Pora walks towards Nerys, there are three T-marks (one blue and two green) taped to the floor, at the bottom right corner of the screen. (00:33:10)
Visible crew/equipment: After the infant Changeling gives Odo the bittersweet gift, Odo exits the infirmary and shapeshifts into the Tarkalean Hawk. As Odo soars through the Promenade's top level, we can see a director's chair beside the spiral staircase, down below. (00:41:15)
Doctor Bashir, I Presume? - S5-E16
Visible crew/equipment: Just before Zimmerman stands up in Sisko's office, the boom microphone can be seen above Robert Picardo's head. It pulls up out of frame just as he gets out of the chair.
A Simple Investigation - S5-E17
Visible crew/equipment: In the cargo bay, Odo shares with Kira the embarrassing "bedroom eyes" comment he had received from Arissa, and when Kira asks, "Are you going to see her again?," we can see the reflection of the camera operator, who is standing directly behind Odo. (00:08:05)
Visible crew/equipment: Just after Leeta and Rom makeup and decide to proceed with their wedding plans, the camera pans up to the Chief and Julian. You can briefly see green tape on the floor indicating where the Chief is supposed to stand.
Visible crew/equipment: After Garak takes out the first Cardassian while hiding in the broken stasis chamber, when it cuts to Nog walking towards O'Brien, there are three tape marks visible on the floor behind O'Brien. (00:25:25)
Visible crew/equipment: During the last scene in the infirmary, Bashir has a word with O'Brien about Garak's condition. Then, just as O'Brien walks towards Garak, on the console's reflective surface, we can see the reflection of the moving boom mic (beside the ceiling's black stripe pattern) at the bottom of the screen. (00:42:50)
Visible crew/equipment: After Kai Winn grasps Sisko's ear to feel his pagh, it soon cuts to Jake delivering half the items to Dr. Giger, and when Giger removes the chip that Jake brought on the cart, the actor's yellow tape mark is visible on the floor near Giger's consoles. (00:31:00)
Answer: Part of the answer is found in "The Search: Part II" (season 3 episode 2). The female changeling told Odo that "the urge to return home was implanted in your genetic makeup. So he hardly has a choice in that. But being a sentient, thinking being, he recognizes the atrocities that his people are behind and he can't condone their actions. So it's a matter of his conscious mind warring with his instinctual gestalt. But on a more general level, we all instinctually wish to be among people who are like us. No matter how much he may like and love those around him and feel that emotion returned, there are numerous aspects of his life and existence that absolutely nobody on DS9 can empathize with or understand. And that's not even to address the pure joy and acceptance that is brought by the Great Link.
Garlonuss ★