This isn't going to be a full rewatch, and will pretty much happen on a when-I-feel-like-it basis, but since I rewatched "Emissary" tonight, I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon of all of the review threads and put in my own two cents.
Those of you who are new to the series--please be aware that this is a rewatch thread, and therefore there will be spoilers and references to future episodes. If this is not something you want to see, you may want to check out some of the first-time watching threads, many of which can be quite interesting.
So anyway...now that I have the obligatory disclaimer/warning out of the way, I'd like to share a few thoughts about "Emissary."
From the very first moments, you can tell this is going to be a very different series from TOS or TNG--opening up with a scene of destruction this personal was a very bold move for its time, in a Trek series, one that in a way, was compounded by showing Sisko actually managing to throw Picard off balance in a way that's actually visible to the viewer. Sure, it wasn't pronounced like it might have been with a less stoic character, but it was definitely there. Allowing Sisko to go after the character that I think was the ultimate symbol of TNG and its tone and philosophy was the perfect way to set DS9 apart from anything that had come before it.
After having gone a long time between series watches, it really is awe-inspiring to me to get those first few looks at DS9's external architecture. For me, personally, it's hard to see what people find so threatening or depressing about DS9's alien architecture--for me, it's beautiful, much more so than the bland Federation look. On the other hand, it's also quite a stark reminder of how far the characters have to go, at this point, to get a look at the trashed station--and to watch the openly antagonistic relationships between some of them that will only later turn into respect.
From a plot perspective...to me, it's remarkable what a compelling story the writers managed to come up with, compared to other openings (especially the horrific embarrassment known as "Encounter at Farpoint"). And even seeing the characters in their very beginnings, it's interesting how much stronger of a feel you get for them than you ever do for the TNG characters. I think that by letting us get a real glimpse at their backstories, and letting them speak from the heart instead of acting like stuffed shirts, we get an emotional investment early on that frankly, TNG, VOY, and ENT never accomplished. (Whether TOS did or did not I cannot say, since I haven't watched a lot of it.)
Seeing "Emissary" again...I have to say, I was really reminded just how much I missed the pre-"Blood Oath" Dax, the way she was before they turned her into a Klingon party girl. There was one point where she almost seemed to be channeling Leonard Nimoy, and just...overall, I like this version of her a lot more, and it's a shame that we really lose the Jadzia character after all the Klingon stuff.
Another character that comes into the picture fully realized is Dukat. If all you had seen of Marc Alaimo acting as a Cardassian had been Macet, it would be truly amazing to see just how much Alaimo changed his mannerisms to play this character. Macet was very restrained in his mannerisms and tone, the sort of person who will pause to think before he speaks: firm, but (in my opinion) not going out of his way to be a jerk. Dukat...that's someone who with every move and word is staking a territorial claim. You get a sense of that megalomania right away.
The other great thing that "Emissary" does right away is presenting the Bajorans and their faith in a way that does not have to be taken as derogatory. Whether or not one agrees with their interpretation, the fact that there actually is ROOM to interpret, instead of the viewer simply being spoon-fed the "orthodox view" from the cast, is a major step forward.
Two very small Cardassian-centric points that it was interesting to notice...
First, I couldn't help noticing that Gul Jasad's makeup was VERY much a tribute to the original design used on Macet, Daro, and Telle. You get a good close-up of Jasad's face--and I even found myself wondering if the same prosthetics, or at least the moulds, were re-used. (Personally I like this because I think it could be an ethnic-group division among the Cardassians...and if you ask me, aliens SHOULD have that sort of diversity to add realism.)
And secondly--I couldn't help noticing that the design of the Cardassian bridge...for the Galor class!...has changed drastically from episode to episode. I've seen at least three different designs: Macet's bridge, Nador's, and Jasad's, and I think there may be even more as DS9 progresses. Was there ever one official design, or not??? (Though I do find myself wondering if various Galors got retrofitted for differing purposes, and if there really ARE significant internal differences from ship to ship, even though they seem the same on the outside?)
Those of you who are new to the series--please be aware that this is a rewatch thread, and therefore there will be spoilers and references to future episodes. If this is not something you want to see, you may want to check out some of the first-time watching threads, many of which can be quite interesting.
So anyway...now that I have the obligatory disclaimer/warning out of the way, I'd like to share a few thoughts about "Emissary."
From the very first moments, you can tell this is going to be a very different series from TOS or TNG--opening up with a scene of destruction this personal was a very bold move for its time, in a Trek series, one that in a way, was compounded by showing Sisko actually managing to throw Picard off balance in a way that's actually visible to the viewer. Sure, it wasn't pronounced like it might have been with a less stoic character, but it was definitely there. Allowing Sisko to go after the character that I think was the ultimate symbol of TNG and its tone and philosophy was the perfect way to set DS9 apart from anything that had come before it.
After having gone a long time between series watches, it really is awe-inspiring to me to get those first few looks at DS9's external architecture. For me, personally, it's hard to see what people find so threatening or depressing about DS9's alien architecture--for me, it's beautiful, much more so than the bland Federation look. On the other hand, it's also quite a stark reminder of how far the characters have to go, at this point, to get a look at the trashed station--and to watch the openly antagonistic relationships between some of them that will only later turn into respect.
From a plot perspective...to me, it's remarkable what a compelling story the writers managed to come up with, compared to other openings (especially the horrific embarrassment known as "Encounter at Farpoint"). And even seeing the characters in their very beginnings, it's interesting how much stronger of a feel you get for them than you ever do for the TNG characters. I think that by letting us get a real glimpse at their backstories, and letting them speak from the heart instead of acting like stuffed shirts, we get an emotional investment early on that frankly, TNG, VOY, and ENT never accomplished. (Whether TOS did or did not I cannot say, since I haven't watched a lot of it.)
Seeing "Emissary" again...I have to say, I was really reminded just how much I missed the pre-"Blood Oath" Dax, the way she was before they turned her into a Klingon party girl. There was one point where she almost seemed to be channeling Leonard Nimoy, and just...overall, I like this version of her a lot more, and it's a shame that we really lose the Jadzia character after all the Klingon stuff.
Another character that comes into the picture fully realized is Dukat. If all you had seen of Marc Alaimo acting as a Cardassian had been Macet, it would be truly amazing to see just how much Alaimo changed his mannerisms to play this character. Macet was very restrained in his mannerisms and tone, the sort of person who will pause to think before he speaks: firm, but (in my opinion) not going out of his way to be a jerk. Dukat...that's someone who with every move and word is staking a territorial claim. You get a sense of that megalomania right away.
The other great thing that "Emissary" does right away is presenting the Bajorans and their faith in a way that does not have to be taken as derogatory. Whether or not one agrees with their interpretation, the fact that there actually is ROOM to interpret, instead of the viewer simply being spoon-fed the "orthodox view" from the cast, is a major step forward.
Two very small Cardassian-centric points that it was interesting to notice...
First, I couldn't help noticing that Gul Jasad's makeup was VERY much a tribute to the original design used on Macet, Daro, and Telle. You get a good close-up of Jasad's face--and I even found myself wondering if the same prosthetics, or at least the moulds, were re-used. (Personally I like this because I think it could be an ethnic-group division among the Cardassians...and if you ask me, aliens SHOULD have that sort of diversity to add realism.)
And secondly--I couldn't help noticing that the design of the Cardassian bridge...for the Galor class!...has changed drastically from episode to episode. I've seen at least three different designs: Macet's bridge, Nador's, and Jasad's, and I think there may be even more as DS9 progresses. Was there ever one official design, or not??? (Though I do find myself wondering if various Galors got retrofitted for differing purposes, and if there really ARE significant internal differences from ship to ship, even though they seem the same on the outside?)
"My dear Doctor...they're all true."
