confusedmatthew's DS9 season seven review

[flemm]

It's not a very perceptive review, a few legitimate points aside. I can understand not liking the Pagh Wraith storyline because, while I think some aspects of it work very well, it doesn't come together smoothly in the end.

Beyond that, mostly when he thinks he is pointing out flaws in the writers' choices he is revealing that he either hasn't been paying enough attention or hasn't given it enough thought. DS9 gets pretty complicated and often fairly cerebral towards the end, and there are indeed some problems that arise from the writers trying to keep a lot of balls in the air at once, so it is understandable.

 

[DS9 Gal AZ]

I don't like that review simply for the fact that he titled it a "Season 7" review and spent the entire time talking about the end of Season 6. If you want to talk about the Season 6 Finale fine, but don't lead viewers to believe you're actually going to review Season 7 and then not deliver. Also, that is not a new video, it's been up for literally years and he has yet to post part 2. I can't take him seriously. Sfdebris, on the other hand, always provides funny and insightful criticism...

 

[Zeppster]

You know, I'd imagine Holographic Led Zepplin would still have been better received than Vic Fontaine. On the other hand, I liked Vic--when he wasn't crooning. That criticism is directly on the mark.

I don't get adding a bar when you have Quark. I think it may have been better if they added Vic or changed him to an alien and had him as a guy Quark hires. But there's no need for a bar to go to when you have a bar to go to. It's redundant.

 

[Zeppster]

I don't like that review simply for the fact that he titled it a "Season 7" review and spent the entire time talking about the end of Season 6. If you want to talk about the Season 6 Finale fine, but don't lead viewers to believe you're actually going to review Season 7 and then not deliver. Also, that is not a new video, it's been up for literally years and he has yet to post part 2. I can't take him seriously. Sfdebris, on the other hand, always provides funny and insightful criticism...

You have to start with season 6 finale review because it is the start of the end. The last 3 parts are about season 7. He's posted all 5 parts on this link

http://www.confusedmatthew.com/Star-Trek:-Deep-Space-Nine-Season-7.php

 

[DS9 Gal AZ]

Okay, saw them, have a slightly higher opinion of Matthew now, don't agree with everything he says though.

 

[Zeppster]

Nobody can agree with everyone anyone says. But there's just so many problems with season 7 and the last episode of season 6 that just really hurt the show.

 

[Admiral Shran]

(Warning: this is LONG! But I wanted to be sure I'm making my points clearly. Also, I'm a windbag; so sue me)

That sir, was indeed quite long. You'll be hearing from my attorneys!

Other than that, I completely agree.

I haven't watched this review, as I lost all respect for Confused Matthew when I watched his Lion King review. He made some legitimate criticisms against the movie but, for the most part, completely missed the point. It was like he was distracted by something else while watching it - which seems to be a recurring problem with this review.

That and the fact that he said that Twilight was "okay," means I honestly think he's just crying out for attention.

 

[Sykonee]

Eh, CM often has good points to make, whether you agree with them or not. Unfortunately, his delivery leaves a lot to be desired. He just doesn't do the "Annoyed, Shouty, Loudmouth Commentator" shtick well.

Though I'll admit, before RedLetterMedia got in on the act, CM's Star Wars Prequel reviews were probably the funniest I'd ever seen.

 

[Pemmer Harge]

I actually liked Season 7 a lot and thought Season 6 was the somewhat lackluster one, but I still quite enjoyed that review. I do agree with some of his views on the Pah Wraith arc and I definitely concur that Tears of the Prophets rather messed things up. That said, I still think Season 7 overall is really strong. Even the more dubious storylines sometimes provide entertaining episodes.

I do wish people would leave off the whole "oh, he didn't hate Twilight so he must be an idiot" stuff. Anyone who's seen a lot of films or TV has some opinions that differ significantly from the consensus.

 

[Admiral Shran]

^ He has some good things to say. Almost everything I'd heard of his up to The Lion King and Twilight I agreed with.

 

[Zeppster]

I could never like the Lion King because I couldn't find the protagonists in the film likable. Simba was just a psychopath that turned into a guy that didn't care.

 

[Admiral Shran]

^ I always saw him as a spoiled little kid who got some sense knocked into him by his experience in the Elephant Graveyard. Then he had to deal with the belief that his roar caused the stampede that killed his father - which is what I think Confused Matthew completely missed. Seriously, was he even watching that scene?

Now, I agree with CM that Timon and Pumba aren't very likeable characters, because they do corrupt Simba horribly.

However, I still have sympathy for adult Simba because after getting some sense knocked into him again, by Rafiki and his father's ghost, he does step up and do the right thing.

 

[RyuRoots]

Confused Matthew's a bloody idiot. An example of one of the downsides of the internet - any twit can become well known.

Regarding Dukat's blaming of Sisko over Damar, we know Dukat was quite insane by that point, and we know he saw Sisko as a rival he came to hate. He would also see the Federation as having lured Ziyal away from Cardassia, to which he was so loyal, as was Damar. As he was mad, he would associate Sisko completely with the Federation, as seems to be borne out with the way he talks about him (it being Sisko who forced Damar's hand, "I forgive you too" at the end of Sacrifice of Angels). I think to Dukat, Sisko was synonymous with the entire Federation at that point.

Agreed on all points, especially the bolded.

 

[Bones2]

Ooh, that's an old one. Good to see my words live on.

 

[Saito S]

(Warning: this is LONG! But I wanted to be sure I'm making my points clearly. Also, I'm a windbag; so sue me)

That sir, was indeed quite long. You'll be hearing from my attorneys!

Other than that, I completely agree.

I haven't watched this review, as I lost all respect for Confused Matthew when I watched his Lion King review. He made some legitimate criticisms against the movie but, for the most part, completely missed the point. It was like he was distracted by something else while watching it - which seems to be a recurring problem with this review.

That and the fact that he said that Twilight was "okay," means I honestly think he's just crying out for attention.

Oh man, that was like... my second post here ever, or something. That's what happens when old threads get revived, haha.

I went back and reviewed what I'd written, and my opinion hasn't really changed. Since writing that, I've watched a couple other vids of his, and they did nothing to improve my opinion of him (quite the opposite, in fact). In particular, his First Contact review was laughable. He's nothing more than a whiny idiot who's criticisms really sound more like "I totally missed this aspect of the show" than anything. I don't always agree with ANY single reviewer, but at least some (such as sfdebris) are generally funny, and present their opinions in a rational, coherent manner.

And the thing that sticks out to me the most from the DS9 s7 review is still the massive contradiction that I pointed out in that old post. First, he calls the writers morons for not acknowledging the role that the Prophets have played in the war, for having Ross dismiss Sisko's role as the Emissary. Then, he calls the writers morons for suggesting that the Prophets have played some kind of role in the war, and that Sisko's role as the Emissary has had anything to do with "how he has conducted himself" in the war. Leading me to ask, who is the moron here, exactly?

 

[Char Aznable]

Ah, Confused Matthew . . . is there a point you DON'T miss?

Seriously, the fact that the guy genuinely believes that NEM was the only good TNG movie speaks volumes about his, "reviews."

The man literally is incapable of film analysis. He doesn't understand abstract concepts or even something simple as fucking character development. No, CM, a movie isn't bad just because a character isn't a perfect, likable hero right out the gate (The Lion King). Some of us like our heroes to grow, you babyish anti-intellectual!

 

[Zeppster]

Ah, Confused Matthew . . . is there a point you DON'T miss?

Seriously, the fact that the guy genuinely believes that NEM was the only good TNG movie speaks volumes about his, "reviews."

The man literally is incapable of film analysis. He doesn't understand abstract concepts or even something simple as fucking character development. No, CM, a movie isn't bad just because a character isn't a perfect, likable hero right out the gate (The Lion King). Some of us like our heroes to grow, you babyish anti-intellectual!

I think he's wrong about NEM being good and it's for the reasons he said in that review. The end is such a clusterfuck. If the movie were written better that had a chance to be a good film. The other TNG movies didn't have that.

As for the Lion King I would agree with him there too. I don't get why everyone likes that movie because there is no protagonist in the movie.

Where in DS9 did anyone actually grow in season 7? Dukat never grew into satan he basically became him for no real reason. I don't know the motivation for any of the characters in season 7 of DS9 because there isn't much of one all season.

 

[Admiral Shran]

Dukat never grew into satan he basically became him for no real reason.

The loss of his beloved daughter, his loss of ultimate power (which is what he craved the most), his imprisonment at the hands of his enemies, his descent into madness = reasons.

 

[flemm]

Where in DS9 did anyone actually grow in season 7? Dukat never grew into satan he basically became him for no real reason. I don't know the motivation for any of the characters in season 7 of DS9 because there isn't much of one all season.

While there are certainly a variety of reasons given for Dukat's final arc, it is controversial because it strikes some fans as forced and artificial. I think that is a valid criticism in the case of this particular character because, while Dukat's involvement with the Pagh Wraith makes sense in certain respects, I can definitely feel the authorial strings being pulled here.

That said, what applies to Dukat doesn't apply to the rest of the characters in the slightest way. Odo and Kira have perfect character arcs in season seven that resonate in all kinds of subtle ways with their experience throughout the show, including with material presented as early as seasons 1 and 2. Nog, Bashir, Martok, Worf, Damar, Sisko... all these characters have very coherent story arcs in season 7, not to mention all the great material there is for the various clones of Weyoun. Garak also comes full circle as he finally returns to Cardassia from his life in exile, but to a Cardassia in ruins.

O'Brien has some decent material, but he and Jake are neglected somewhat, especially Jake, so I think that is another valid criticism. But don't let your distaste for creative choices such as the Pagh Wraith blind you to all the magnificent material in season 7.

 

[Char Aznable]

But don't let your distaste for creative choices such as the Pagh Wraith blind you to all the magnificent material in season 7.

This is my main beef with CM. His reasons for disliking something basically amount to, "HERP DERP I DUN UDNERSTAND DIS RIGHT AWAY AND ITS NOT XACTLY HOW I'D DO THINGS DERFORE IT'S BAD! HERP DERP!" Without really stopping to look at the overall picture or at creator's intent. Honestly, he's not intelligent enough to review movies.

I think he's wrong about NEM being good and it's for the reasons he said in that review. The end is such a clusterfuck. If the movie were written better that had a chance to be a good film. The other TNG movies didn't have that.

He gave NEM a pass for virtually the same things he gave XI a hard time for (catering to the general public, etc.). He thinks NEM was the only good TNG movie over FC. These things make him an idiot.

As for the Lion King I would agree with him there too. I don't get why everyone likes that movie because there is no protagonist in the movie.

Just because you can't warm up to a character with flaws doesn't mean the movie has no protagonist. I think you called Simba psychotic as a kid earlier in the thread . . . why, because he got into trouble? Jesus Christ, you've obviously never seen or talked to a child in your life if you think Simba was nuts.

Again, CM's typical, "HERP DERP! I HAVE TO LOVE A MAIN CHARACTER IMMEDIATELY OR HE DUZN'T COUNT AS A CHARACTER! HERP HERP!" logic. The most infuriating thing about him is his insistance that his reviews are objective facts.