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Star Trek: Deep Space Nine


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Haha. Yeah he and Seven did carry a bit of weight as far as interesting character lines went. But I feel like they all stood up to the other crews when it came to endearing banter and the like. Even if the week's episode was dull, I always liked seeing these people together. And I cared what happened.

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Oh I agree. Star Trek's forte has been the sense of family. Even Voyager. So there was always a warm and comforting element to the show.

But then Enterprise happened...and no chemistry met boring plots. :(

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It's sort of amazing that on-screen characters have so much chemistry, especially when considering TNG and Enterprise were the only shows were the actors reportedly all got along. And the Enterprise characters had very little chemistry.

TOS, DS9, VOY all had some divisions between the cast.

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Kate Mulgrew (Janeway) and Jeri Ryan (7) didn't get along, there was huge drama. It was apparently so bad that people tried to avoid being on set when the two were together. Robert Beltran (Chakotay) didn't get along with Jeri Ryan or Mulgrew. Garret Wang (Harry Kim) pissed off the cast early on.

I think about the only person that everyone liked was Robert Picardo. Maybe. So far as we can tell!

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Profit And Lace

Quark's mother and the Grand Nagus show up on DS9, announcing a new amendment to the Bill of Opportunities he has instituted on the home planet of Ferenganar, and then follows up with the announcement, that, due to the new amendment, chaos has followed and he has been deposed.

Generally regarded as the worst DS9 episode by many. Though in my mind it really isnt awful, just very ineffective.

Like most Ferengi episodes this one has a strong whiff of a sitcom farce, and the best ones actually make you laugh becuase of that. they are silly, energetic and despite containing some deeper character issues arent supposed to be taken too seriously.

This one, continuing with the thread of changing Ferengi politics ends up with having Quark in drag, pretending to be a woman.

This is something that could actually work, depending on how the material is played. But it's too restraint, not silly or energetic enough. There are a few nice character bits and fun lines, but it never really takes off like it should.

This is one of several episodes in the tail end of season 6 that has no B story. It could have used one. There really isnt much material there so having a secondary story might have benefitted.

Not an awful episode, but a pretty pointless one, because the satirical elements of Ferengi sexual politics don't really go anywhere, and it isnt funny enough.

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I always skip that one, and I skip very few episodes after Season 4.

I'm up to In Purgatory's Shadow/By Inferno's Light. This is one of my favorite two-parters. Garak, Worf, Martok and Bashir imprisoned and working to escape. Love how these guys play off one another. By Inferno's Light is one of Worf's finest moments. He was so much cooler in this series than in TNG. The storyline involving these characters all ending up in the same room of the same prison camp might be bordering on ridiculous, I'm not sure. Why didn't the Jem'Hadar just destroy the Runabout?? I've always considered Bashir being replaced and wearing the older style uniform after they've switched over to the First Contact movie-style to be a possible continuity error, or it had something to do with him attending the burn treatment conference (?), since they sometimes wear different uniforms for certain occasions. Whatever. He's out of character in this episode, but not in any of the previous episodes. I can't believe that's not him from Rapture until this episode. Did we never meet the real Martok prior to this? Eh, whatever.

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Time's Orphan

The Chief's daughter gets caught in a time displacement and when they get her back, she is considerably older.

I've always like this one. Good to see the Chief and Keiko after they have been awol for a while.

The story was originally written for TNG as a way to get rid of Alexander. And it does feel a bit more TNG like then DS9, even though it's obviously been rewritten for the O'Briens.

This is essentially anbother O'Brien is put through hell episode.

The concept of a feral-Molly is pretty close to the film Nell, but it's done fairly well, and the actress playing the 18 year old Molly is rather good.

The end of the episode, where the older, feral-Molly sees her younger self and sends her back, altering time and erasing her own existance is actually quite moving.

I did wonder though why the O'Briens were willing to take Moilly out of the holding cell and send her back into time, but at no point discussed the possibility of joining her there?

The B story deals with Worf taking care of Yoshi, trying to prove he is a good father to Jadzia.

It's lighweight stuff, though has some resonance if you know what fate awaits Dax. The "Gung! Gung! Gung" parts are hilarious!


I've always considered Bashir being replaced and wearing the older style uniform after they've switched over to the First Contact movie-style to be a possible continuity error, or it had something to do with him attending the burn treatment conference (?), since they sometimes wear different uniforms for certain occasions.

Why a continuity error?

It was done to highlight the fact that Bashir had been taken by the Dominion before the switch to the new uniforms.

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I don't put the medical skills past the Changelings, but he was very much in character for those episodes. He was also taken in his sleep, so maybe he was wearing the old style jumpsuit as pajamas?? I just don't like the assumption/implication that because he was in the older uniform in the prison, he's a Changeling in the previous episodes since at least the switch to the new uniforms in Rapture. It just seems like something they wrote in after the fact.

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The Sound Of Her Voice

As the Defiant races to a shipwrecked officer who is days away, the crew keeps in contact with her. Meanwhile, Jake follows Quark's latest scheme for story research.

This is a really nice, low key episode that is about certain members of the crew being better able to open themselves up to the disembodied voice of Captain Lisa Cusak, on who the Defiant is on route to rescue, then their own shipmates, friends and partners.

It deals with the fatigue and sense of isolation that comes with a long and drawn out war. The fear of getting too close to people, because it will hurt more when you lose them.

So in a sense the episode is more about our crew then Lisa, voiced excellently by Debra Wilson, but because we get to know her a little bit as a kind, compassionate and especially funny person, the eventual outcome of her fate does have some impact. I like the sci-fi idea of the crew having real heart to hearts with a person who died more then 3 years ago.

The B story is nice too. Odo actually eases up for once and lets Quark get away with a crime, as a sort of "thank you" for what he did mean for him. Though there is no way Odo would ever admit that.

So essentially a bottle show, with a moving, character driven story that highlights friendship and the possibility of loss. Just in time for the dramatic season 6 finale!

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Tears Of The Prophets.

When Sisko is picked to head up an attack on the Cardassian homeworld, the Prophets appear to him in a vision, warning him of impending doom if he leaves the station.

The season finale, and a hell of a good one. After a few low key episodes the Dominion War finally kicks into gear again when the Federation, Klingon Empire and the Romulans decide to launch a preemptive strike against the Dominion and Cardassia. This once again leads to some exciting Starship battle porn as the joined aramda engages a Jem Hadar fleet going all 9/11 on them.

Just like the Sacrifice Of Angels earlier this season the Prophets interfere, but this time its to tell Sisko that he should not leave Bajor and DS9 to join in the battle. Sisko is given a choice between his role as Emissary of the Prophets or his duty as a Starfleet Captain. He chooses the latter and will pay the price, in two ways.

Firstly Terry Farrel was leaving ther show after 6 seasons and the producers decided to kill of her character. (something that hadn't been done since season one of TNG, with Tasha Yar)

Thankfully her death is done a lot better then Tasha's. Like Yar, she's just someone who's in the wrong place at the wrong time. Thanking the Prophets for raising her chances to have a baby (the episode isnt subtle at all about foreshadowing her death, but ok)

The scene were she actually does mostly focuses on her and Worf, who let's out the famous Klingon death cry, and moody Klingon prayers strongly underscored by Jay Chattaway's atmospheric drums:

"Only Qo'noS endures. All we can hope for is a glorious death. Only Qo'noS endures. In death there is victory and honor."

Sisko gets his emotional crux as well as he says farewell to Jadzia, resting in her coffin (or actually a photon torpedo tube. A tradition since The Wrath Of Khan)

In an excellent scene Sisko shows grief, guilt, anger and dispair as he feels that by not listening to the prophets he caused her death.

An interesting touch is that he calls her Jadzia rather than Dax, which is what he almost always called her. Dax is still alive, since the Symbiont was taken rescued. But Jadzia is dead

Secondly, Gul Dukat is back, and in his madness has studied ancient Bajoran texts and thinks he found a way to take his revenge on Sisko, who he blames for the death of his daughter.

He unleashes a Pah Wraith, who kills Jadzia, forces itself into and orb and in someway closes off the wormhole. Cutting of the Prophets.

Sisko feels that by disobeying their commandment to remain on DS9 he has thus caused the death of his friend, and caused the Bajorans to be cut of from their gods.

This causes such a crisis of faith that Sisko takes a leave of absence and goes back to Earth with Jake.

In many ways this is the consequence of Sacrifice Of Angels, where Sisko defied the Prophets and wanted to die in battle. The Prophets then made an entire armada of Dominion ships disappear to prevent that. Which was seen by many as a all to convenient deus ex machina.

In Tears Of The Prophets he defies them again, and this time there is no easy save, or reset button.

The ending of this episode is the mirror image of A Call To Arms, the season 5 finale. In that one Sisko loses the battle for Deep Space Nine and is forced to abondon his post. But he has every intention of reclaiming his station, which has become his home. He leaves his baseball on his desk as a symbol of this and is seen joining a huge taskforce at the end of it. Determined to take back Deep Space Nine.

In Tears Of The Prophets he won the space battle, but lost his best friend, and his faith. When he leaves the station he tells Jake they are heading home, Earth. And this time the baseball comes with them.

The episode ends with Sisko depressed and defeated sitting in an alley behind his dad's Cajun restaurant. Cleaning clams while a mournful jazzy trumpet plays distressingly in the background.

This is a hell of a way to close a season, with its hero dejected and defeated, and no longer defiant!

Terry Farrel is good in her final entry of DS9, though they could have been a bit more suble in foreshadowing that they were gonna kill her off. Suddenly both Quark and Bashir go back 4 seasons and seem smitten with her again, and of-course she and Worf are trying to have a baby.This sort of thing would have worked better if tones down a bit, or at least spread more throughout the season.

Another B story, or C story that works rather well is Odo and Kira having an argument, and Odo not knowing what to hell to do with it, and thinking their relationship is through.

Dukat no longer has any interest in the Dominion War or Cardassia, he's out for personal vengeance against Sisko, and become a religious fanatic. This will play out in the last couple of episodes of season 7.

Overview of season 6

In contrast to season 5, which is perfect, or near perfect. Season 6 is one of up and downs. It starts of very strong with a 6 episode story dealing with the Dominion War. and it has some of the best episodes of the series, or indeed of the franchise. (Far Beyond The Stars and In The Pale Moonlight and among the best that Star Trek has ever done)

But season 6 also has its fair share of episodes that are decent, if too underwhelming and forgettable, and at-least one that many people genuinely hate (the one where Quark becomes a woman)

Overall this is still a very strong season, especially it's first half. It manages to keep it's many story arcs and many characters up in the air and active, while also introducing a few new ones.

One more season to go!

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Image In The Sand

Having returned to Earth a couple of months ago, Sisko waits for the Prophets to instruct him on what to do next. When he receives one, he begins searching for the woman behind the face in the sand in his vision. Meanwhile, back on DS9, Kira deals with a promotion and handling the decisions surrounding her command, and finding herself wishing for the return of Sisko. And Worf deals with the loss of his wife, Jadzia Dax.

Strong season opener which is a direct continuation of the events of Tears Of The Prophets.

After 3 months on Earth Sisko finally gets a vision of the prophets, urging him to the desert planet Tyree, searching for a mysterious woman from his past.

Meanwhile Kira shows herself to be a competent leader as she has to balance Bajoran and Federation interests.

Brock Peters returns as father Sisko and is once again very moving as he reveals a long held secret to his son.

Image In The Sand doesnt waste any time continuing the well hones storylines for this season and cook up some new ones. The alliance with the Romunals means that they want to set up a field hospital on a Bajoran moon. Fine. But when it turns out they heavily armed it....not so good. A nice potential for conflict that can destroy the alliance.

The episode end with the introduction of the new Dax.

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Shadows and Symbols.

Ezri joins Sisko and his family on his quest for the Orb of the Emissary. Colonel Kira mounts a blockade around a Bajoran moon where the Romulan alliance has deposited an ammunitions dump, claiming it in the name of defense for a Romulan hospital. And Quark joins the rest of the DS9 crew as they join Worf aboard a Klingon warship as they mount a dangerous mission in Jadzia Dax's name in an effort to get her spirit into Stovokohr, the Klingon equivalent of Heaven.

The previous ep was good, but it was all set up, for the conclusion here.

The Kira storyline is good. She engages in a bluffing contest with Senator Cretak, who's refusing to take Romulan weapons off a Bajoran moon. Kira organizes a small blokade knwoing she would never be able to outgun whatever ships the Romulans send. It's interesting to see who will blink and when, and recalls the pilot, when Kira manages to stall for time by bluffing.

Nana Visitor is excellent as always. Sadly the actress playing Cretak doesnt really watch her.

The Worf/Bashir/O'Brien/Quark storyline is probably the least interesting. Then going on a mission that will ensure Jadzia a place in St-vo-kor. I like the loyalty towards the now deade Jadzia, even by those who dont even believe in a Klingon heaven. The mission is fairly perfunctory though.

The meat lies in the Sisko storyline, which further develops him as the Emissary, sows the seeds for the season finale and introduces a new cast member.

I was sorry to see Terry Farell go, she managed to create a great character after a shaky first season. Thankfully Nicole Deboer actually does rather well from the start.

Ever since The search For Spock it's been a tradition, to a fault, fot characters that have died to turn up later in some form. Given the nature of the Trill what they did here actually makes perfect sense in the Star Trek world.

Interesting though that they made Ezri a counselor, Trek hasnt had one since Troi.

The Siskop story is very good. I liked his trek throygh the desert (though why did they have to walk such a huge distance from the Runabout?)

They even wear desert garbes!

Unsurprisingly Sisko finds the Orb Of The Emissary, but what happens then is totally unexpected, and rather brilliant. The story flashes to Benny Russel, from Far Beyond The stars, now in a mental hospital, writing the story of Deep Space Nine on the walls. His doctor giving him a chance for freedom if he will just paint over his writings. In tandem Sisko is seen struggling whether to open the orb or not.

The conclusion, that the Prophets arranged to Sisko's birth might come of as a bit hokey to some, but it works for me, and in the framework of his larger story arc it's totally plausible.

So season 7 starts off well!

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Afterimage

Sisko tries to convince Ezri to stay in Starfleet and serve aboard DS9, as Ezri tries to get to know Jadzia's friends aboard the station, especially Worf. Meanwhile, Garak tries to deal with a severe bout of claustrophobia.

The first ep to deal with Ezri specifically. It does a very good job in both highlighting the differences between Jadzia and Ezri, but also hot the crew reacts to this new addition.

It seems easiest for Sisko. Since he already went through this when Curzon became Jadzia. He sees that Ezri is neither of them, but she still is Dax.

Quarks responds in a similar fashion, because he (misguidingly) sees this as an opportunity. He could get Dax before, maybe now he can. That's 100% in character for Quark.

Bashir's response is more complicated, hovering between sorrow and joy that some part of Jadzia has survived.

The stand out material in this episode is between Word and Ezri. Worf's reaction is totally understandable. He lost his wife, and how there is this women who has the essence of the person he loved, yet she isnt not her.

His reaction goes from totally rejecting Ezri to getting possessive when he thinks Bashir is trying to make a move on her. O'Brien talks some sense into him, which leads to Worf finally accepting to some extent the nature of the Trill.

A part of them will live on. This is actually rather interesting, since most of their relationship dealt with Jadzia having to accept Klingon culture. This is really the first time it happens the other way around. Worf must accept that according to his beliefs Jadzia is in Sto-vo-kor, but she is also still alive, in some fashion.

Since Ezri is a counselor she is given a counselors job to do. Dealing with Garak's sudden bouts of claustrophobia.

This actually leads to a subject that I wished was explored more indepth that this B story allowed. Garak is a Cardassian, providing intelligence to Starfleet, who are in a war with the Cardassians. He feels like a traitor.

Garak has ofcourse killed many Cardassians in his lifetime, but always justified it as it being his job, serving his race. Here he is essentially helping to destroy them.

Good introductory episode to Ezri Dax.

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Take Me Out To The Holosuite

The Federation starship T'Kumbra, staffed with an all Vulcan crew, has docked at Deep Space Nine for repairs. Its Captain is Solok, who has an intense rivalry with the Captain of DS9. Since the holosuites on the T'Kumbra are down, Solok requests the use of the station's holosuites. In doing so, he puts forth the challenge to Sisko and his staff to best his Vulcan athletes in an old Terran form of competition: Baseball.

https://youtu.be/HYVSkOh3ZBM

Such a fun episode! It reminds me of In The Cards in that it offers some great lightweight comedy in a series that at that point was all about the war and a lot of heavy handed story arcs. Both episodes are also about baseball, a game introduced in the pilot, and which crops up from time to time because Sisko loves it so much.

This time he gets a chance to play against a team of Vulcans led by Solok, a Vulcan who humiliated him years earlier (the scene where Sisko confides in Kasidy about this is brilliant, you can really feel Sisko's pain)

The episode is all about the character scenes. So Kira and Dax trying to comprehend the rules. Odo having fun as an umpire.Worf chanting "Death to the opposition!".

Nog trying to pl;ay but failing hopelessly,a nd then getting booted off the team by an agry Sisko just shows how serious the Captain takes it. I like the partr where the rest of the crew...eeehhh team want to quit because of this.

Their team is called The Niners, which would later became the name for fans of the show. They are indeed an awful team, and dont have a shot at winning. But Rom gets his moment and in the end everyone feels the triump!

Again, such a fun episode. I kinda wish more would have been done with Solok and the rest of the Vulcans. But other then that. A fine episode.

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Chrysalis

Dr. Bashir attempts to bring one of his genetically engineered friends out of the catatonic state she is in, and when he is successful, he begins to fall for her.

An episode that has some good and interesting aspects to it, but ultimately falls a bit flat.

It's fun to see the Jack Pack again, and the highlight of the ep is the musical number they do.

This is essentially a Bashir episode, and deals with his loneliness and how he feels slightly disparate as a genetically engineered human.

While this is interesting in itself it does result in Bashir essentially falling in love with a patient and displaying a massive amount of professional and personal stupidity.

The ep salvages itself by actually pointing that out near the end. but the damage is largely done.

Like most of the DS9 45 minute love stories, this ultimatly isnt very interesting.

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  • 1 month later...

Treachery, Faith and the Great River

A Vorta offers Odo valuable information on the Dominion in exchange for asylum. Meanwhile, Nog tries his Ferengi knowledge as he wheels and deals for a valuable piece of equipment for Chief O'Brien

This is a really good episode. We get a chance to see Weyoun in a different light as one of the Weyoun clones begins to doubt the Founders war against the Alpha Quadrant and defects to Odo. Another Weyoun is given the task to dispatch him.

Jeffrey Combs is as good as ever in both. Having great character scenes with both Odo, who Weyoun 6 surrendered too because in his eyes he is a God, and Damar (Weyoun 5 died in mysterious circumstances. The glance Weyoun 7 gives Damar when he mentions this is priceless)

This story also establishes the fact that the Founders are dying, and when that happens Odo will be the only one left.

Like Sisko, who is seen as a Messiah figure by the Bajorans, Odo has always had to deal with the fact that he is seen as a God. And unlike Sisko its not a concept he is warming too.

I like the ending where Weyoun 6 kills himself to save Odo.

The B story is nice too. A trading game for merchandise engineered by Nog so O'Brien can get certain parts quicker. Nothing ground breaking, but done in a fun way. (The shot of Sisko's office without the desk, because Nog traded it away is priceless.)

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Once More Unto The Breach

An aged Kor requests an opportunity to die with honor as a warrior.

The last time Kor, who was the first Klingon ever to feature on Star Trek, makes an appearance. Once again John Colicos is a delight to watch in a more sombre, sadder performance.

In the end this is a Martok episode though, as it is about how his perception of Kor changes from a man who ruined his life, to an great warrior having one last hurrah!

J.G. Hertzler is as good as ever in playing Martok with a chip on his shoulder, gnawing old hurts and being disappointed when the taste of vengeance isnt as sweet as hoped.

There isnt really much more to the episode then this, but it's good stuff. The B story is slight. Dealing with people's perception of Ezri and Quark making a bit of a fool of himself.

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  • 2 years later...

25 years since Emissary aired in the US.

 

The story of a black commander, a father, and a widower. Killed by Picard.

Assigned to a shitty detail in the arse end of space, with religiously fanatic space Jews and with Space Nazi/Communists at the back door.

 

I liked it a lot!

Star_Trek_Deep_Space_Nine_(1993).jpg

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20 minutes ago, Stefancos said:

Cimmunists

 

Do people still try that cimmunist challenge where you put cimmunist on a spoon and try to avoid choking to death? 

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17 minutes ago, Stefancos said:

Cardassians have spoons on their heads!


Racist!

 

43 minutes ago, Stefancos said:

Assigned to a shitty detail in the arse end of space, with religiously fanatic space Jews and with Space Nazi/Communists at the back door.

 

I knew you were PVV!

 

Why did you give up posting on your re-watch?

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Last year, I watched DS9 for the first time alongside my Dad who was an oldschool TOS die-hard - and even he had to admit that DS9 is probably the best Trek! :D Wish I'd actually done mini-reviews as I watched each episode for the first time. Oh well, maybe I'll do it for the inevitable rewatch that will happen soon enough.

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I think it stands out because of its unique setting, characters and storylines. It's taken a while for people to warm up to it. The rest of the series were set on starships and basically followed the same pattern until Enterprise featured a heavily serialized season. DS9 is something different.

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22 hours ago, Philippe Roaché said:

I think it stands out because of its unique setting, characters and storylines. It's taken a while for people to warm up to it. The rest of the series were set on starships and basically followed the same pattern until Enterprise featured a heavily serialized season. DS9 is something different.

 

I think it has taken people time to warm to it but I also feel like it's aged better than maybe any other Trek. I'm not saying all the rest are totally dated or anything and I love them all in their own ways. But I didn't watch Star Trek as a kid, I got into it as an adult who had watched a hell of a lot of modern prestige TV before I came to Star Trek. I found DS9 so easy to embrace and so addictive because it was really ahead of its time and spoke to a lot of the things that modern TV audiences look for.

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  • 3 months later...

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