I don't think I'll ever understand Klingons.
This scene is such a beautiful encapsulation of how DS9 handles the subject of faith and religion in a way that no trek before it had (it could definitely be hard on a certain type of a believer, but they didn't go all "we have outgrown such silly superstitions the way TOS and TNG did). And how they handle complex issues more generally, honestly. Like these are two DEEPLY spiritual people who are talking to each other about their very different belief systems. One wishes her gods would be a little more involved, one thinks his ancestors did the right thing killing their gods. They are having this conversation surrounded by their largely atheist crewmates. Kira isn't depicted as ridiculous for being a devout worshiper of the Prophets, the death of the Klingon gods isn't treated like a great loss for the Klingon people (or even like any kind of victory or turning-point. it was just a thing that happened), and no one else in the room is scoffing at the sincerely-held beliefs these two people have and that largely inform their attempts to be better people. Three radically different approaches to faith ("we need more of the gods in our life", "the gods are dead because we got sick of their dicking around", and "gods? um... i mean as long as your faith means you try to be a good person, we won't judge"). And none are treated as being any worse or better than the others. They can all coexist comfortably because mature adults can agree to disagree.
This kind of approach was always what made Deep Space Nine so special to me back in the day. There's just this underlying assumption baked into the worldbuilding that people can be radically different from each other without being perceived as Wrong or Misguided. (I mean, unless you're an augment, we need to lock those freaks up!) Especially for the 90s, it was so wonderful to see people with diametrically opposed beliefs who liked and respected each other and didn't have to argue about who is "right" and who is "wrong". And they approached all kinds of topics other than religion with that same mindset, which gives the show so many more layers (and the characters and relationships so much more nuance) than most of the Trek that had come before.
And they managed all that when Rick Berman wasactively pressuring them to make DS9 more like TNG. I salute the writers, actors, and all the other people involved who allowed DS9 to happen and made something so beautiful 🫡
even if not all of it has aged great
