That happened a few more times, in the season 1 episode "Grail" Aldous Gajic was looking for the Holy Grail. He was named for Mira Furlan's husband, Goran Gajic.
Re-Watching DS9
- Thread starter Lord Garth
- Start date
I think the big difference between these incidents is that it's definitely supposed to show Garak going soft in terms of torture. Sabotage of the ship is one thing, being under a pyschotropic drug is another thing as well, but in The Die is Cast, Garak has nothing to gain from torturing Odo, and he likes him to an extent. If there was a legitimate reason other than Tain's approval, he might have gone for it, but there isn't. Garak is not the same man as he was, despite how he likes to project to other people. He takes no joy in torture. He has gone soft. And he doesn't want anyone to know, hence the mystique. This is also exemplified in Empok Nor, with his quiet shame at the end of the episode. Or perhaps embarrassment in his own realisation that he's not who he used to be.
Either way, those episodes you named are some of my favourties because we really see why Garak was Tain's right hand.
He also later ended up directing a season 5 episode.
"Explorers"
I'm making progress! Sisko has a goatee, Jake got a fellowship, Leeta's first appearance, O'Brien "doesn't hate" Bashir ("now I don't... not hate you!"), and Jake tries to hook his father up with Kassidy Yates. "A freighter Captain?!" We've also begun the phase in the series where they tried to make Dukat seem not-so-bad. And yes, I first came online about a year after this episode aired, and people were actually thinking maybe he wasn't so bad. Little did they know... but that's getting ahead of myself!
The A-Story: The Ancient Bajoran Ship. I liked seeing Sisko build it. I liked Jake deciding to go along even though he didn't really want to. I wouldn't have minded knowing more about Jake's story. And good on them proving it was possible for the Bajorans to achieve interstellar travel the way they did. I don't know how believable it is, but I don't care.
The B-Story: Watching Bashir and O'Brien get drunk was great fun. Bashir finally meeting up with the Valedictorian of his class at Starfleet Medical went how I would've expected. And nice to see that Bashir ended up getting the better assignment on Deep Space Nine.
To quote Jake, "What better place to gain experience than Deep Space Nine?" I give it a 9.
Highlight of the Episode: When Jake had his father going for a split-second about joining the Maquis.
I'm making progress! Sisko has a goatee, Jake got a fellowship, Leeta's first appearance, O'Brien "doesn't hate" Bashir ("now I don't... not hate you!"), and Jake tries to hook his father up with Kassidy Yates. "A freighter Captain?!" We've also begun the phase in the series where they tried to make Dukat seem not-so-bad. And yes, I first came online about a year after this episode aired, and people were actually thinking maybe he wasn't so bad. Little did they know... but that's getting ahead of myself!
The A-Story: The Ancient Bajoran Ship. I liked seeing Sisko build it. I liked Jake deciding to go along even though he didn't really want to. I wouldn't have minded knowing more about Jake's story. And good on them proving it was possible for the Bajorans to achieve interstellar travel the way they did. I don't know how believable it is, but I don't care.
The B-Story: Watching Bashir and O'Brien get drunk was great fun. Bashir finally meeting up with the Valedictorian of his class at Starfleet Medical went how I would've expected. And nice to see that Bashir ended up getting the better assignment on Deep Space Nine.
To quote Jake, "What better place to gain experience than Deep Space Nine?" I give it a 9.
Highlight of the Episode: When Jake had his father going for a split-second about joining the Maquis.
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I don't see how anyone could have thought Dukat isn't so bad. He was prefect of Terok Nor during the Bajoran Occupation. Thousands of Bajorans died under his watch. It's scary to me that people can confuse political expediency and diplomacy with 'not such a bad guy.'
Otherwise, yes, "Explorers" is a fun episode. I'm surprised you didn't mention, "Hammock time!"
Otherwise, yes, "Explorers" is a fun episode. I'm surprised you didn't mention, "Hammock time!"
It was late when I typed that review! And now it's early. Didn't sleep at all.I'm surprised you didn't mention, "Hammock time!"
But yes. As soon as I heard "Hammock Time!", the first thing I thought of was Hammer Time! "Can't touch this!" Took me back to when I was in sixth grade.
I absolutely love this one! Great story and you hit on so many of the points."Explorers"
I'm making progress! Sisko has a goatee, Jake got a fellowship, Leeta's first appearance, O'Brien "doesn't hate" Bashir ("now I don't... not hate you!"), and Jake tries to hook his father up with Kassidy Yates. "A freighter Captain?!" We've also begun the phase in the series where they tried to make Dukat seem not-so-bad. And yes, I first came online about a year after this episode aired, and people were actually thinking maybe he wasn't so bad. Little did they know... but that's getting ahead of myself!
The A-Story: The Ancient Bajoran Ship. I liked seeing Sisko build it. I liked Jake deciding to go along even though he didn't really want to. I wouldn't have minded knowing more about Jake's story. And good on them proving it was possible for the Bajorans to achieve interstellar travel the way they did. I don't know how believable it is, but I don't care.
The B-Story: Watching Bashir and O'Brien get drunk was great fun. Bashir finally meeting up with the Valedictorian of his class at Starfleet Medical went how I would've expected. And nice to see that Bashir ended up getting the better assignment on Deep Space Nine.
To quote Jake, "What better place to gain experience than Deep Space Nine?" I give it a 9.
Highlight of the Episode: When Jake had his father going for a split-second about joining the Maquis.
I would also give it a 9... but it's a 10 for me because of the fireworks at the end. (It always brings back memories of my grandfather taking me to see the 4th of July fireworks as a kid. He knew a great spot where there were no other cars and had the best view of it all. That area was more or less just a field... now it's full of homes. I'll never be able to see them that way again, but this ending always triggers those memories. And I truly value those memories because that's how I keep him alive.)
Or were the writers saying the doctor on our space station gets to do more interesting things than those on shows with Starships as their setting?
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I forgot to mention this earlier:
The Ancient Bajoran Ship, it had a steampunk quality to it. Almost feels kind of like Jules Verne, but not.
When Sisko is in his civilian clothes, you combine that with the ship, and Sisko's new goatee that was strapped on while Avery Brooks' real one grew in, he looks like a pirate at sea. In space. I like it!
The Ancient Bajoran Ship, it had a steampunk quality to it. Almost feels kind of like Jules Verne, but not.
When Sisko is in his civilian clothes, you combine that with the ship, and Sisko's new goatee that was strapped on while Avery Brooks' real one grew in, he looks like a pirate at sea. In space. I like it!
(Sisko as a pirate.)
"I am the EmissAAAAAAARRRRRRRRy!"
I'm going to binge-watch every early DS9 episode I gave a 10, except "Duet" and "In the Hands of the Prophets". In retrospect, I think some of them could be bumped down to 9s or maybe even 8s in some cases. I have a better feel for the show now again than I did at the beginning of this re-watch.
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I think I've mentioned this before, but I do think you're far kinder in your ratings than I'd be, overall. I tend to agree with a lot of your text, it's just the numeric scores that give me pause.
-- Consolidating Posts --
I'm on "GROPOS" (B5), and a couple thoughts in the spoiler section before I finish the episode:
One of the great things about Jake Sisko is that he doesn't have Daddy Issues. Neither does Ben Sisko. He just wants to make sure his aging father is taking care of himself. Either way, from son-to-father and father-to-grandfather, it's refreshing to see them not have issues with each other.
"GROPOS" (B5 S2E10)
In other news: I tweaked some DS9 S1 and Proto-DS9 TNG Reviews from earlier in the thread. Nothing major. Just made some adjustments for readability and added a couple of quick and minor new insights in there along the way.
EDITED TO ADD: I've gone over the entire DS9 portion of the thread. I made minimal adjustments to what I wrote about DS9 S2 and only corrected typos and mistakes with anything I've written about DS9 S3 up to this point. Consider it a little bit of house-cleaning.
I'm on "GROPOS" (B5), and a couple thoughts in the spoiler section before I finish the episode:
The Army Troops (that's what I'm calling them) are WAY over-the-top!
Dr. Franklin has Daddy Issues. Between all these shows, who doesn't have Daddy Issues? I know the answer to that one...
Dr. Franklin has Daddy Issues. Between all these shows, who doesn't have Daddy Issues? I know the answer to that one...
One of the great things about Jake Sisko is that he doesn't have Daddy Issues. Neither does Ben Sisko. He just wants to make sure his aging father is taking care of himself. Either way, from son-to-father and father-to-grandfather, it's refreshing to see them not have issues with each other.
"GROPOS" (B5 S2E10)
I have very mixed thoughts about this episode. The GROPOS are "jarheads" as Ivanova calls them. Like I said, they come across WAY over the top. I was never in the Army, I almost joined when I was 18 -- I was this close -- but I didn't, but even still, something about felt off about the GROPOS. They'd get into a fight over everything. I could see them in a mosh pit at a metal concert. Except it would be a lot worse. (I got somehow got sucked into a mosh pit once during a concert back in 2000. Powerman 5000, Korn, Metallica, and some other bands I can't remember. But anyway, that mosh pit, that was crazy). Back to the GROPOS. These guys (and gals!) were just itching for battle. Sheridan was right when he told General Franklin he'd rather have them on the battlefield than in the brig. Correction: I just looked it up. The GROPOS are Earthforce Marines, but the point still stands. Though someone who knows can correct me if I'm wrong about something being off.
All through the episode, I was thinking, "Great! Now there are a whole bunch of new names I'll have to learn!" I totally wasn't expecting all of them to be killed off in that battle. I have to give credit where credit is due. It's like Dodger said: they can die at any time.
Dodger's looking for a good time before she goes out, maybe for the last time. But Garibaldi has all this emotional baggage. I don't hold it against him, considering everything he's been through. Dodger shouldn't have either and I'm glad she came to her senses and understood, before heading into battle.
Then there's Dr. Franklin and his issues with his father General Franklin. They're father-son conflict was also something that felt way over-the-top. I think if Dr. Franklin had an issue with killing being part of military life, he shouldn't have joined Earth Defense Force. It's going to happen. It's not great, but there's a huge difference between murder and casualties in the line of duty. Like General Franklin says, "Death is part of war." I understand that Dr. Franklin wants to protect all life but maybe he should've considered becoming a civilian doctor. Father and son are just polar, opposite extremes. It would be interesting to see what made Dr. Franklin choose such a vastly different career path and have such a completely different outlook on life. But that's not explored here. Just the two of them mending fences as much as they can before the General and his troops ship out.
I thought it was a good thing not to see the Narn and Centauri in this episode, and especially not G'Kar and Londo, to give us some distance, but it was interesting to see ISN covering the developments on the battle front. I'm guessing we'll be seeing ISN a lot more, updating us on things that happen outside of B5's immediate area.
The only other thing I have to say is that not only did Dodger come on very strong, and not only did things between Dodger and Garibaldi look like there going very fast, but I was wondering how far they'd actually go. I was thinking, "No way are they going to go full-on porno movie! How much are they actually going to show? How far are they actually going to go?" Then Garibaldi put an immediate stop to it.
Okay, one other thing: Keffer got along with his GROPOS buddies really well. I felt bad for him when they died. They seemed all right.
Overall, I want to sit with this before I think on a rating, so for now I give it an X.
EDITED TO ADD: Paul Weinfeld was good in this. Whenever I see him, the first thing I think of is Captain Terrell from TWOK but by the end of the episode, I totally forgot about Terrell and, while watching him, I thought of him as General Franklin.
All through the episode, I was thinking, "Great! Now there are a whole bunch of new names I'll have to learn!" I totally wasn't expecting all of them to be killed off in that battle. I have to give credit where credit is due. It's like Dodger said: they can die at any time.
Dodger's looking for a good time before she goes out, maybe for the last time. But Garibaldi has all this emotional baggage. I don't hold it against him, considering everything he's been through. Dodger shouldn't have either and I'm glad she came to her senses and understood, before heading into battle.
Then there's Dr. Franklin and his issues with his father General Franklin. They're father-son conflict was also something that felt way over-the-top. I think if Dr. Franklin had an issue with killing being part of military life, he shouldn't have joined Earth Defense Force. It's going to happen. It's not great, but there's a huge difference between murder and casualties in the line of duty. Like General Franklin says, "Death is part of war." I understand that Dr. Franklin wants to protect all life but maybe he should've considered becoming a civilian doctor. Father and son are just polar, opposite extremes. It would be interesting to see what made Dr. Franklin choose such a vastly different career path and have such a completely different outlook on life. But that's not explored here. Just the two of them mending fences as much as they can before the General and his troops ship out.
I thought it was a good thing not to see the Narn and Centauri in this episode, and especially not G'Kar and Londo, to give us some distance, but it was interesting to see ISN covering the developments on the battle front. I'm guessing we'll be seeing ISN a lot more, updating us on things that happen outside of B5's immediate area.
The only other thing I have to say is that not only did Dodger come on very strong, and not only did things between Dodger and Garibaldi look like there going very fast, but I was wondering how far they'd actually go. I was thinking, "No way are they going to go full-on porno movie! How much are they actually going to show? How far are they actually going to go?" Then Garibaldi put an immediate stop to it.
Okay, one other thing: Keffer got along with his GROPOS buddies really well. I felt bad for him when they died. They seemed all right.
Overall, I want to sit with this before I think on a rating, so for now I give it an X.
EDITED TO ADD: Paul Weinfeld was good in this. Whenever I see him, the first thing I think of is Captain Terrell from TWOK but by the end of the episode, I totally forgot about Terrell and, while watching him, I thought of him as General Franklin.
In other news: I tweaked some DS9 S1 and Proto-DS9 TNG Reviews from earlier in the thread. Nothing major. Just made some adjustments for readability and added a couple of quick and minor new insights in there along the way.
EDITED TO ADD: I've gone over the entire DS9 portion of the thread. I made minimal adjustments to what I wrote about DS9 S2 and only corrected typos and mistakes with anything I've written about DS9 S3 up to this point. Consider it a little bit of house-cleaning.
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"Family Business"
I'm not going to lie. A large part of this episode feels like a '70s sitcom from Norman Lear. Ishka says, "Women can earn money just like men!" Insert applause. Quark is outraged. Insert laughter. Rom asks if Ishka can get undressed. Ishka says, "Only for you." Cut to commercial break. They fool the FCA at the end. And even Quark. Audience applauses. Roll credits. Ishka's outspoken. I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar. Not only like Helen Reddy who sang that song, but also like Bea Arthur on the TV series Maude.
Except this was made in the '90s. And I'm re-watching it in the 2020s. Ferengi society is so backwards, sexist, and obsessed with money. I think it's Donald Trump's dream world.
I like Ishka. She's great. I like Quark when he's not in this episode. I like Rom as someone trying his hardest to be the voice of reason in a difficult situation. Too bad Ishka wasn't able to mold Quark into someone more open-minded. He's a victim of his society's thinking.
Then there's "Brunt! FCA!" in his first appearance. He's every bit of the love-to-hate character I remembered. Great character to watch, with a lot of slimy energy, but he can go fuck himself.
This is the first time we ever see Ferenginar and I have to say two things:
Then there's the B-Story: Sisko finally meets Kassidy Yates. Jake told everyone else about it beforehand, and he looks like a great matchmaker. Sisko and Kassidy hit it off right off the bat with a lot in common, including baseball.
Overall: I'm not supposed to like the parts I don't like, so I'm not going to hold them against the episode. I'm on Ishka's side. I'm glad Sisko and Kassidy clicked from the get-go. I give it a 7.
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By the way, since I already mentioned Trump anyway, here's an oldie-but-a-goodie post of mine from 2018. Works just as well today! Unfortunately.
I'm not going to lie. A large part of this episode feels like a '70s sitcom from Norman Lear. Ishka says, "Women can earn money just like men!" Insert applause. Quark is outraged. Insert laughter. Rom asks if Ishka can get undressed. Ishka says, "Only for you." Cut to commercial break. They fool the FCA at the end. And even Quark. Audience applauses. Roll credits. Ishka's outspoken. I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar. Not only like Helen Reddy who sang that song, but also like Bea Arthur on the TV series Maude.
Except this was made in the '90s. And I'm re-watching it in the 2020s. Ferengi society is so backwards, sexist, and obsessed with money. I think it's Donald Trump's dream world.
I like Ishka. She's great. I like Quark when he's not in this episode. I like Rom as someone trying his hardest to be the voice of reason in a difficult situation. Too bad Ishka wasn't able to mold Quark into someone more open-minded. He's a victim of his society's thinking.
Then there's "Brunt! FCA!" in his first appearance. He's every bit of the love-to-hate character I remembered. Great character to watch, with a lot of slimy energy, but he can go fuck himself.
This is the first time we ever see Ferenginar and I have to say two things:
1) I like the interior architecture of the sets. It looks both like what we've seen in their ships, and it somehow has a very corporate look to it.
2) With how much it rains, I'm surprised they're not living underwater. It's crazy.
Then there's the B-Story: Sisko finally meets Kassidy Yates. Jake told everyone else about it beforehand, and he looks like a great matchmaker. Sisko and Kassidy hit it off right off the bat with a lot in common, including baseball.
Overall: I'm not supposed to like the parts I don't like, so I'm not going to hold them against the episode. I'm on Ishka's side. I'm glad Sisko and Kassidy clicked from the get-go. I give it a 7.
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By the way, since I already mentioned Trump anyway, here's an oldie-but-a-goodie post of mine from 2018. Works just as well today! Unfortunately.
"Folks, believe me, I don't know what Real Star Trek is but Real Star Trek is the best Star Trek you've ever seen. No one makes better Star Trek than the people who make Real Star Trek. That I can tell you. But no money in the future? Give me a break! And bumps on foreheads? What is that? Can you imagine looking at that on your TV every week? But that's okay. I like Star Trek. Real Star Trek, folks. See all those beautiful women Captain Kirk kissed? 10s, all of them. And I love the Ferengi! Any Ferengi fans out there?! I love the Ferengi. Let me tell you any Star Trek that treats the Ferengi poorly is Fake Star Trek! It's Fake Star Trek, people."
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"All Alone in the Night" (B5 S2E11)
What an episode! Definitely the right way to mark the midpoint of the season.
I figured that the Minbari Council would cast out Delenn. No surprise that Neroon would be chosen to replace her. And their rationale fits how hawkish the Minbari are turning, saying they should have more of the Warrior Caste in the Council if they're potentially going to war. Then Neroon, asshole that he is, gives a backhanded rationale for Delenn staying at Babylon 5: she belongs to neither world, Human nor Minbari, so she's the perfect bridge. But only he can make it sound like a bad thing. Nice to see that Lennier will stand by Delenn's side no matter what.
Valen, who they keep referring to, sounds like he was the George Washington of the Minbari.
When Sheridan is captured and fighting a mind-controlled Narn, it felt a little cartoonish at first but, luckily, it doesn't last. After Sheridan gets the mind-controlling device off of the Narn, Sheridan says they're going to escape. The Narn doubts it and, when he goes to sleep, at first I thought he was dead! Glad he wasn't and that they do escape. All I'll say about that subplot, other than nice alien interiors on that ship.
General Hague is back and updates Sheridan on what's been going on the past six months, since the season started, but takes precautions to make sure whatever they say isn't heard or recorded. Hague thinks there was a coupe to assassinate President Santiago and put Clark into power. I knew it! I knew Clark was a corrupt piece of shit. Very timely since I also happen think our own current "President" in the US is a corrupt piece of shit, but that's a whole other topic.
This is the type of episode that couldn't have happened before the middle of the season. It took time for the Minbari decide what to do with Delenn. That sounds realistic. It took time for Sheridan to get to know the senior staff at Babylon 5. Also realistic.
At the end, Sheridan tells Ivanova, Garibaldi, and Franklin about what's going on and how they're going to fight corruption but stay within the rules and do their part. Both sage wisdom and effective strategy at the same time. This definitely hits differently today than it would've if I was watching this in the '90s.
Sorry to hear about what happened to Ramirez! Driving home the point from last episode that anyone can die at any time.
Can't wait to see what happens next! Overall, except for some minor, minor nitpicks, a pretty solid episode. I give it a 9.
I figured that the Minbari Council would cast out Delenn. No surprise that Neroon would be chosen to replace her. And their rationale fits how hawkish the Minbari are turning, saying they should have more of the Warrior Caste in the Council if they're potentially going to war. Then Neroon, asshole that he is, gives a backhanded rationale for Delenn staying at Babylon 5: she belongs to neither world, Human nor Minbari, so she's the perfect bridge. But only he can make it sound like a bad thing. Nice to see that Lennier will stand by Delenn's side no matter what.
Valen, who they keep referring to, sounds like he was the George Washington of the Minbari.
When Sheridan is captured and fighting a mind-controlled Narn, it felt a little cartoonish at first but, luckily, it doesn't last. After Sheridan gets the mind-controlling device off of the Narn, Sheridan says they're going to escape. The Narn doubts it and, when he goes to sleep, at first I thought he was dead! Glad he wasn't and that they do escape. All I'll say about that subplot, other than nice alien interiors on that ship.
General Hague is back and updates Sheridan on what's been going on the past six months, since the season started, but takes precautions to make sure whatever they say isn't heard or recorded. Hague thinks there was a coupe to assassinate President Santiago and put Clark into power. I knew it! I knew Clark was a corrupt piece of shit. Very timely since I also happen think our own current "President" in the US is a corrupt piece of shit, but that's a whole other topic.
This is the type of episode that couldn't have happened before the middle of the season. It took time for the Minbari decide what to do with Delenn. That sounds realistic. It took time for Sheridan to get to know the senior staff at Babylon 5. Also realistic.
At the end, Sheridan tells Ivanova, Garibaldi, and Franklin about what's going on and how they're going to fight corruption but stay within the rules and do their part. Both sage wisdom and effective strategy at the same time. This definitely hits differently today than it would've if I was watching this in the '90s.
Sorry to hear about what happened to Ramirez! Driving home the point from last episode that anyone can die at any time.
Can't wait to see what happens next! Overall, except for some minor, minor nitpicks, a pretty solid episode. I give it a 9.
Yeah Valen is part George Washington, part Jesus, part Nostradamus. JMS has very efficiently made all of their major historical figures the same person so it's easier to remember. I suppose he's a bit like Surak and Kahless in Star Trek.
The plot on the alien ship does feel very cliché and throwaway, and I have a bit less appreciation for the set design on the alien ship than you do, but it serves a very important purpose: it shows off the Agamemnon in action! It would've been a damn shame to give us a glimpse of that ship in the first episode and then never let it do its thing. Especially as if it's Sheridan's old ship then it must be the closest thing Earthforce has to the Enterprise.
Oh, plus it lets Delenn feel useful after the Grey Council was mean to her, and demonstrates her commitment to Babylon 5.
The ending, with Sheridan getting the crew together to work against President Clark, is a nice twist. It somehow feels like it's taken forever to get to this point, but you're right it could only happen now. I like how it turns out that while the crew were figuring out if Sheridan was going to be a good guy, he was secretly doing the same to all of them. He's the one bringing them into the group.
Personally I'd give the episode a 7 so I'm a little less positive, but I'm still positive.
The plot on the alien ship does feel very cliché and throwaway, and I have a bit less appreciation for the set design on the alien ship than you do, but it serves a very important purpose: it shows off the Agamemnon in action! It would've been a damn shame to give us a glimpse of that ship in the first episode and then never let it do its thing. Especially as if it's Sheridan's old ship then it must be the closest thing Earthforce has to the Enterprise.
Oh, plus it lets Delenn feel useful after the Grey Council was mean to her, and demonstrates her commitment to Babylon 5.
The ending, with Sheridan getting the crew together to work against President Clark, is a nice twist. It somehow feels like it's taken forever to get to this point, but you're right it could only happen now. I like how it turns out that while the crew were figuring out if Sheridan was going to be a good guy, he was secretly doing the same to all of them. He's the one bringing them into the group.
Personally I'd give the episode a 7 so I'm a little less positive, but I'm still positive.
I just watched "Shakaar", no review yet. Now I'm watching B5's "Act of Sacrifice". I'm watching them back-to-back. I'll review them both at the same time. Tomorrow.
Pausing to say I now feel like I've seen enough so that I can comment on DS9 battles versus Babylon 5 battles. On DS9, the battles feel more choreographed. On B5, it seems less staged and less fluid, more like how a battle actually would be, even though the ships look obviously CGI. But it looks good for '90s CGI and I can live with that in exchange for battles that seem less polished. So, it's like B5 battles look less realistic but feel more realistic. If that makes sense.
Pausing to say I now feel like I've seen enough so that I can comment on DS9 battles versus Babylon 5 battles. On DS9, the battles feel more choreographed. On B5, it seems less staged and less fluid, more like how a battle actually would be, even though the ships look obviously CGI. But it looks good for '90s CGI and I can live with that in exchange for battles that seem less polished. So, it's like B5 battles look less realistic but feel more realistic. If that makes sense.
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"Acts of Sacrifice" (B5 S2E12)
The A-Plot: With the Narn and the Centauri at war, and with Earth and the Minbari not taking sides, Sheridan can't do anything officially to help G'Kar when he says that the Centauri aren't limiting their attacks to military targets. Londo claims the Centauri are strategically putting military targets near civilian sites so they can say the Centauri are killing civilians. One side says one thing, the other said says another, and everyone else has their hands tied.
What's great about this is watching how everyone plays the system. G'Kar doesn't want the Narn to look bad so, when one of them goes too far, he has someone to pin the blame on. When the Narn don't want to listen to G'Kar, he reasserts his power and they fall in-line. Londo, already feeling conflicted about the situation he's in (thanks to Morden's "help") and not wanting people on Babylon 5 to think of him as a monster, is willing to not escalate things even further and accepts that this Scapegoat Narn is a ne'er-do-well and leaves it at that. Meanwhile, Sheridan and Delenn agree to help evacuate Narn civilians to safety through unofficial channels and on the quiet. G'Kar reluctantly agrees and is appreciative of Sheridan and Delenn taking a risk and going out on a limb.
With Sheridan in particular, his actions in this episode are an outgrowth of last episode where he wants to do the right thing even when his leaders, even when his superiors either can't or won't. And he's camouflaged by his fortune that the higher-ups think he's a "jarhead". As Hague said in the previous episode, "You're not, but your record makes it look like you are." That line in and of itself builds off of the episode before that, "GROPOS", where we get to see said actual jarheads.
So, I'm beginning to see how one episode builds into the next, even if it's not so obvious at first, and this feels like the series I was told about beforehand. Where everything's connected. I'm starting to see it now.
Finally, there's some subplot within the A-Plot where Londo tells Garibaldi about how people see him differently now, and how even Garbaldi approaches him from arms' length. At the end of the episode, after Londo chooses not to escalate things even further with that Narn, and shows that he also wants to maintain some sort of order, then Garibaldi has a drink with him. They can be friends. "At least for a little while," as Londo says.
The B-Plot: Frankly, this is the type of story that could only have been done in the '90s. Any later, and it would've been considered too inappropriate. Especially after Me Too! Any earlier, it would've either been considered too raunchy for daytime TV (the '70s and '80s) or outright taboo (the '50s and '60s).
Ivanova is to establish diplomatic relations with an alien species, the Lumati. There are two Lumati, one doesn't speak, the one who Ivanova has to impress, and the other Lumati who speaks for him. No matter what Ivanova shows him, he's still not impressed and still won't speak, until she shows them the disadvantaged. Then the main Lumati speaks and says he's impressed and thinks it's ingenious how Humans deal with the poor. Even though it's terrible. Then, to finalize diplomatic relations, he wants to have sex with Ivanova!
I'm going to tell you straight-out, I was NOT expecting that! Never saw it coming. And Ivanova already told Sheridan she had diplomatic relations sorted out. So, she has to come up with something. Then we get some crazy, sitcom level thing where she tells the Lumati that they'll have sex, but they'll do it the Human way. She's counting on him not knowing what the Human way is. Then she pulls it off by not having sex with him at all but by doing some crazy thing and screaming, "YES! YES!!! YESSSS!!!!!!"
Now, I have to stop right here for a moment and talk about my actual life. My father and his girlfriend are retired. They spend half the year living down in Georgia to avoid the cold weather up north during the winter and then half the year living with me in Massachusetts to avoid the hot weather down south during the summer. So, they just moved back in with me last week. So, when Ivanova started screaming, "YES! YES!!! YESSSS!!!!!!" Not only did I not see that coming, but I was dreading them overhearing that and asking me, "What are you watching?!!" I mean, I'm in my 40s, we're all adults but, still, you get what I'm trying to say...
Anyway, regardless, the B-Plot was still an amusing way to fill up the time.
Overall: It would've been higher if it were just the A-Plot, but I give it an 8. Should've been a 9.
What's great about this is watching how everyone plays the system. G'Kar doesn't want the Narn to look bad so, when one of them goes too far, he has someone to pin the blame on. When the Narn don't want to listen to G'Kar, he reasserts his power and they fall in-line. Londo, already feeling conflicted about the situation he's in (thanks to Morden's "help") and not wanting people on Babylon 5 to think of him as a monster, is willing to not escalate things even further and accepts that this Scapegoat Narn is a ne'er-do-well and leaves it at that. Meanwhile, Sheridan and Delenn agree to help evacuate Narn civilians to safety through unofficial channels and on the quiet. G'Kar reluctantly agrees and is appreciative of Sheridan and Delenn taking a risk and going out on a limb.
With Sheridan in particular, his actions in this episode are an outgrowth of last episode where he wants to do the right thing even when his leaders, even when his superiors either can't or won't. And he's camouflaged by his fortune that the higher-ups think he's a "jarhead". As Hague said in the previous episode, "You're not, but your record makes it look like you are." That line in and of itself builds off of the episode before that, "GROPOS", where we get to see said actual jarheads.
So, I'm beginning to see how one episode builds into the next, even if it's not so obvious at first, and this feels like the series I was told about beforehand. Where everything's connected. I'm starting to see it now.
Finally, there's some subplot within the A-Plot where Londo tells Garibaldi about how people see him differently now, and how even Garbaldi approaches him from arms' length. At the end of the episode, after Londo chooses not to escalate things even further with that Narn, and shows that he also wants to maintain some sort of order, then Garibaldi has a drink with him. They can be friends. "At least for a little while," as Londo says.
The B-Plot: Frankly, this is the type of story that could only have been done in the '90s. Any later, and it would've been considered too inappropriate. Especially after Me Too! Any earlier, it would've either been considered too raunchy for daytime TV (the '70s and '80s) or outright taboo (the '50s and '60s).
Ivanova is to establish diplomatic relations with an alien species, the Lumati. There are two Lumati, one doesn't speak, the one who Ivanova has to impress, and the other Lumati who speaks for him. No matter what Ivanova shows him, he's still not impressed and still won't speak, until she shows them the disadvantaged. Then the main Lumati speaks and says he's impressed and thinks it's ingenious how Humans deal with the poor. Even though it's terrible. Then, to finalize diplomatic relations, he wants to have sex with Ivanova!
I'm going to tell you straight-out, I was NOT expecting that! Never saw it coming. And Ivanova already told Sheridan she had diplomatic relations sorted out. So, she has to come up with something. Then we get some crazy, sitcom level thing where she tells the Lumati that they'll have sex, but they'll do it the Human way. She's counting on him not knowing what the Human way is. Then she pulls it off by not having sex with him at all but by doing some crazy thing and screaming, "YES! YES!!! YESSSS!!!!!!"
Now, I have to stop right here for a moment and talk about my actual life. My father and his girlfriend are retired. They spend half the year living down in Georgia to avoid the cold weather up north during the winter and then half the year living with me in Massachusetts to avoid the hot weather down south during the summer. So, they just moved back in with me last week. So, when Ivanova started screaming, "YES! YES!!! YESSSS!!!!!!" Not only did I not see that coming, but I was dreading them overhearing that and asking me, "What are you watching?!!" I mean, I'm in my 40s, we're all adults but, still, you get what I'm trying to say...
Anyway, regardless, the B-Plot was still an amusing way to fill up the time.
Overall: It would've been higher if it were just the A-Plot, but I give it an 8. Should've been a 9.
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"Shakaar"
This was an episode that I remembered the broad strokes of but forgot the specific details. I remembered that there was some type of internal conflict on Bajor, but I didn't remember that Kai Winn had decided to make herself First Minister as well! If anyone wants any more evidence that Winn is power-hungry and wants to control everything, it's this.
If being power-hungry wasn't bad enough, it's the power-plays. She wants the reclamations back from Shakaar and is willing to declare martial law over something as minor is that. Worse is when she when she sends in troops to stop Shakaar's resistance. Kira was initially sent to speak to Shakaar on Winn's behalf, but Winn casts her aside when she considers her too soft to go through with making Shakaar cooperate, then Kira joins Shakaar's resistance cell against Winn. So, instead of fighting the Cardassians like during the Occupation, they're fighting against their own government.
This whole conflict was over in an episode but it played around with convention by having the episode span over two weeks. Kira being with Shakaar's resistance and having it last two weeks gives more weight to the situation and adds to the idea that this isn't a dispute that can be solved in one day even if it's in one episode. Winn feels too insecure to budge even a millimeter out of fear that it will make her look weak and that if she makes exceptions for anything, it'll be a slippery slope where she'd end up making exceptions for everything.
Winn even tried to strong-arm Sisko by saying that unless Starfleet aided her, she would withdraw Bajor's petition for Federation Membership. Even though she knows perfectly well that Sisko aiding her that way would influence the balance of power in Bajor's internal conflict and would violate the Prime Directive.
Just so we're keeping track, under First Minister Winn: civil war erupts on Bajor, Bajor would end up backing out of Federation membership, and it's most likely that the Cardassians would look for even the smallest thing to say their Peace Treaty with Bajor was null-and-void and then find even the tiniest excuse to re-annex Bajor so they could have control of the Wormhole. They'd love for Winn to remain First Minister. They'd love it.
But common sense prevails. Winn's militia doesn't want to fight other Bajorans and neither does Shakaar. They unite against Winn. Shakaar says he'll run to be the new First Minister in the election, since Winn was only stepping in after the previous First Minister died, and now Shakaar will be the new First Minister since it's guaranteed he'd win. Great news for Bajor, as far as I'm concerned.
I have to mention this before I forget: some great location-shooting! Everything feels more real when it's outdoors and not on a set. And the trench the Shakaar resistance try to entrap Winn's militia into makes for a strategic battlefront.
I really, really hate saying this though, but the pink Bajoran Uniform, I don't know how else to say this but to say it: I think it looks horrible on Syvar, who otherwise looks like one of the manliest of manly men. Right or wrong, I'm sorry. Tar me if you want, but that's my honest take. But speaking of Syvar, the actor who plays him: at first, I thought to myself, "Is that Hank from Breaking Bad?" It looks a lot like him, and I could imagine that in the decade-plus between this and BB, he just lost some more hair. I could see it. But then I looked it up and it wasn't the same actor. Sherman Howard played Syvar. Dean Norris played Hank.
The B-Plot: I remembered this B-Plot but, like with many other cases, I didn't remember which episode it was from. O'Brien's in the zone with darts. "In the zone!" Quark wants to take advantage of it by placing bets. O'Brien doesn't want to go along with it at first but then changed his mind.
Personally, I think O'Brien was messing with Quark. When his shoulder suddenly, randomly gets messed up, I think it was all an act. He didn't want to play darts for Quark's amusement and financial gain, he just wanted to play and be left alone. He probably let Bashir in on his plan too. That's my headcanon. After that, and when O'Brien said he wasn't in the zone anymore after he healed (yeah right!), Quark finally left him alone.
Overall: The main plot resonates more today, since Winn reminds me of you-know-who when she thinks she has all the power. Shakaar is a rugged, salt-of-the-"Earth" type, and this was a great introduction to him. An amusing, inoffensive B-Plot. And some great location-shooting. I liked this more than I thought I would, but it's not a "best of all-time!" type of episode. I don't know if I want to give it an 8 or a 9, so I'll spilt the difference and call it an 8.5.
This was an episode that I remembered the broad strokes of but forgot the specific details. I remembered that there was some type of internal conflict on Bajor, but I didn't remember that Kai Winn had decided to make herself First Minister as well! If anyone wants any more evidence that Winn is power-hungry and wants to control everything, it's this.
If being power-hungry wasn't bad enough, it's the power-plays. She wants the reclamations back from Shakaar and is willing to declare martial law over something as minor is that. Worse is when she when she sends in troops to stop Shakaar's resistance. Kira was initially sent to speak to Shakaar on Winn's behalf, but Winn casts her aside when she considers her too soft to go through with making Shakaar cooperate, then Kira joins Shakaar's resistance cell against Winn. So, instead of fighting the Cardassians like during the Occupation, they're fighting against their own government.
This whole conflict was over in an episode but it played around with convention by having the episode span over two weeks. Kira being with Shakaar's resistance and having it last two weeks gives more weight to the situation and adds to the idea that this isn't a dispute that can be solved in one day even if it's in one episode. Winn feels too insecure to budge even a millimeter out of fear that it will make her look weak and that if she makes exceptions for anything, it'll be a slippery slope where she'd end up making exceptions for everything.
Winn even tried to strong-arm Sisko by saying that unless Starfleet aided her, she would withdraw Bajor's petition for Federation Membership. Even though she knows perfectly well that Sisko aiding her that way would influence the balance of power in Bajor's internal conflict and would violate the Prime Directive.
Just so we're keeping track, under First Minister Winn: civil war erupts on Bajor, Bajor would end up backing out of Federation membership, and it's most likely that the Cardassians would look for even the smallest thing to say their Peace Treaty with Bajor was null-and-void and then find even the tiniest excuse to re-annex Bajor so they could have control of the Wormhole. They'd love for Winn to remain First Minister. They'd love it.
But common sense prevails. Winn's militia doesn't want to fight other Bajorans and neither does Shakaar. They unite against Winn. Shakaar says he'll run to be the new First Minister in the election, since Winn was only stepping in after the previous First Minister died, and now Shakaar will be the new First Minister since it's guaranteed he'd win. Great news for Bajor, as far as I'm concerned.
I have to mention this before I forget: some great location-shooting! Everything feels more real when it's outdoors and not on a set. And the trench the Shakaar resistance try to entrap Winn's militia into makes for a strategic battlefront.
I really, really hate saying this though, but the pink Bajoran Uniform, I don't know how else to say this but to say it: I think it looks horrible on Syvar, who otherwise looks like one of the manliest of manly men. Right or wrong, I'm sorry. Tar me if you want, but that's my honest take. But speaking of Syvar, the actor who plays him: at first, I thought to myself, "Is that Hank from Breaking Bad?" It looks a lot like him, and I could imagine that in the decade-plus between this and BB, he just lost some more hair. I could see it. But then I looked it up and it wasn't the same actor. Sherman Howard played Syvar. Dean Norris played Hank.
The B-Plot: I remembered this B-Plot but, like with many other cases, I didn't remember which episode it was from. O'Brien's in the zone with darts. "In the zone!" Quark wants to take advantage of it by placing bets. O'Brien doesn't want to go along with it at first but then changed his mind.
Personally, I think O'Brien was messing with Quark. When his shoulder suddenly, randomly gets messed up, I think it was all an act. He didn't want to play darts for Quark's amusement and financial gain, he just wanted to play and be left alone. He probably let Bashir in on his plan too. That's my headcanon. After that, and when O'Brien said he wasn't in the zone anymore after he healed (yeah right!), Quark finally left him alone.
Overall: The main plot resonates more today, since Winn reminds me of you-know-who when she thinks she has all the power. Shakaar is a rugged, salt-of-the-"Earth" type, and this was a great introduction to him. An amusing, inoffensive B-Plot. And some great location-shooting. I liked this more than I thought I would, but it's not a "best of all-time!" type of episode. I don't know if I want to give it an 8 or a 9, so I'll spilt the difference and call it an 8.5.
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