DS9 Versus: A viewing experient

[Bones2]

DS9's most glaring continuity error coming up. We've seen ships in the mirror universe cloak and decloak, yet now we're told they don't have cloaking devices. It's like they don't want us to believe in the show any more by this point.

Also, it's rubbish.

 

[Geck]

Yeah, there are few episodes I can imagine Emperor's New Cloak beating. However I remember Gravity being one of the single dullest Trek episodes out there. I've always had a really hard time sitting through it without nodding off. At least ENC can keep my attention, even if it is awful.

 

[neogothboy74]

The continuity error about the cloaking ships is pretty understandable though as an honest mistake from the writer's perspective. I read an interview about where the writers were saying that the cloaking / decloaking ships (which I think are in 'Through The Looking Glass'?) weren't in the scripts that were written; they were just effects shots that were added to the episode so the idea that they had cloaks wasn't in their minds. It's an annoying mistake for sure, but given that context, it's understandable, I think. Plus, I'm sure it can be explained away somehow (even though we know it was a mistake). They don't say the ships are cloaking, we just see it happen...maybe something else is going on there that we don't know about?

 

[Kai Winn]

the error might have been easily fixed by telling the old cloaking devices were no good against the mirror defiant because it came from the mirror universe, so they were seeking for mirror cloaking devices as well. since both upcoming st episodes are a complete mess, let's give a win to b5 by default.

 

[Sykonee]

Week 17: (Ending 02.07.99)
DS9 - The Emperor's New Cloak (Airdate 02.03.99)
VOY - Gravity (Airdate 02.03.99)

Silly. Goofy. Charming. These are words that are totally inappropriate to DS9 this week. More like sh**, g'uh, and chunk-worthy! Okay, maybe not that bad, but boy was this ever a waste of time. Not even the sight of de Boer in Hot Black Leather can help. What was even the point of this? Closure on the MU? Yay, let's focus on a plot thread that's been dead since S4. More Ferengi hijinks? Because Magnificent Ferengi seemed to only prove the "1 in 10" rule. An opportunity for the actors to ham things up again? Meh.

VOY reached into the Cliche Hat and, instead of taking just one this week, grabbed every single one. Yes, it's the *deep breath* ShuttleCrashWeeklyRomanceVagueBackstorySpatialAnomolyHardHeadedAlien Episode! Y'know, the planet-side stuff might have been a good 48 minutes of TV, and would actually give the sci-fi "time distortion" twist more poignancy if it was only revealed at the end. Actually, scratch that: it would have made Gravity MUCH improved! Who cares about the technobabble rescue operation, not to mention manufactured tension with the Hard-Headed Aliens.

The only thing I'll give VOY is it at least had a bit of heart at the end between Tuvok and Romance-Of-The-Week, even if the handling of it was muddled. I'll take that over lame "IT'S ALL ALTERNATE, LOLZ!" gags on DS9.

Weekly Winner
VOY

Next:
DS9 - Field Of Fire
VOY - Bliss

 

[DevilEyes]

The only thing memorable about Gravity is Tuvok in a very tight sleeveless shirt and kinda getting emotional, and Vulcans getting emotional & horny = sexy. Other than that, it's another boring and pointless romance-of-the-week, with zero chemistry between Tuvok and the Lori Petty character. But it's still enough to give it a win, because The Emperor's New Cloak is just that shitty. The MU arc had already been destroyed on DS9, but this was the absolute nadir.

 

[TheGodBen]

Whoever wins this week, the audience loses. Nah, that's not fair, Gravity isn't bad, it's just not good or interesting. But it does have one thing going for it; a sexy Tuvok with his nipples pointing out through his vest.

Wait, hang on a second, Tuvok is considered sexy? I know that some people like Chakotay, and Trip's admirers have almost become a cult, but Tuvok? There's a new one for me.

 

[Seven of Five]

Tuvok certainly has his moments, this episode being one of them.

The romance between Tuvok and whoever that other woman was sweet but not particularly riveting. Or memorable at all for that matter.

It trumps the stupidity in the DS9 episode though. It's the Final season, so let's have a final Mirror Universe episode, even though we had a final Mirror Universe episode in season four. (Oh, and the dumb Mirror Bareil story from the sixth season that I try not to think about too often.)

Most of the interesting characters were killed off already so the Ferengi (D'oh!) showcase in this fun-filled romp.

Two bad episodes in a row DS9; shame on you.

 

[RAMA]

WEEK 9: (Ending 02.28.93)
TNG: Birthright, Part 1 (Airdate 02.22.93)
DS9:The Passenger (Airdate 02.22.93)
B5: The Gathering (Airdate 02.22.93)

Just in case you'd forgotten, there's another Trek show on, so here's a TNG episode that takes place at DS9 to remind you. The crossover seems rather pointless, though, as a story about Data learning to dream and Worf looking for his father could have taken place anywhere. Even Siddig's guest star could have been anyone. If you're gonna doing a series crossover, how's about some more characters, eh? A follow-up Picard/Sisko scene, Riker at Quark's, just somethin', huh? Ah well, Data's story was nice enough, certainly better than DS9's episode.

Yeah, what on Earth happened with The Passenger? If TNG wanted to remind the audience about DS9, this episode probably wasn't the best one to follow-up with. The Odo/Primmin stuff was good but unfortunately treated as an afterthought to the Vantika stuff, which was overwrought at best and hokey at worst. As a funny aside, although I realize there's no official Stardate for The Passenger, if we're to take the airdates of these episodes as roughly the same chronology, then poor Dr. Bashir had one crazy day: first nearly kills Data, gets him to dream, gets to write a paper about it that would obviously give him huge exposure, saves another from death (as per some dialog at the beginning of The Passenger), then becomes possessed by an EEVVIILLLL scientist. Heck, that's one wild week, even!

Meanwhile, in an entirely different universe, a bunch of ambassador aliens are gathering at a space station called Babylon 5, one of which is the victim of an assassination attempt. After a bunch of investigations, hi-jinx, courtroom drama, and shoot-outs/stand-offs, things are mostly resolved, though with a few questions left unanswered. But hey, gets you intrigued for when the show's first season starts, right? (er, in nearly a year, that is) As a pilot movie, The Gathering is actually quite good. Maybe not as good a DS9's, but certainly better than TNG's. If anything, the cast of characters make a strong impression. Peter Jurasik, even with the relatively minor role Londo has in this premiere, was excellent!

DS9 obviously loses out on this week, and as pleasant as the Data storyline was in Birthright, TNG's episode still feels... incomplete. Obviously, the fact it's the first of a two-parter doesn't help, perhaps is even a detriment. After all, aren't TNG's two-parters usually more... epic? The Gathering certainly was, though, so sorry Data fans, but B5's first versus takes this week's crown.

Weekly Winner
B5

Next: Week 10
TNG - Birthright: Part 2

Whoaa..Birthright is one of my top 20 STNG favs..I think it blows that horrible B5 premiere out of the water.

 

[Pemmer Harge]

Yes, The Emperor's New Cloak is terrible for all the reasons everyone always says, but embarrasingly, I have to say I enjoyed it! I guess for me it falls into "so bad it's good" territory. I think it's the only DS9 episode that I regard that way - usually the stinkers are just painful to watch.

I still think they should have let the Mirror Universe be after Through the Looking Glass.

 

[Sykonee]

Whoaa..Birthright is one of my top 20 STNG favs..I think it blows that horrible B5 premiere out of the water.

Y'know, I have a confession to make about that. Even though I'm trying to watch all these shows as they originally aired, I can't say I legitimately did so with The Gathering, as I only have the re-done DVD version that was included in the Movie boxset. So, perhaps I'm a little biased that way.

As for Birthright, it was okay, but felt like a wasted opportunity being set on DS9. All that happens is Data learns to dream (of ravens rather than sheep, oddly enough), and Worf heads off for some bushwhackin'. At least The Gathering had more stuff going on with the introduction of a few interesting characters, despite the plot being muddled.

 

[Pemmer Harge]

Whoaa..Birthright is one of my top 20 STNG favs..I think it blows that horrible B5 premiere out of the water.

Y'know, I have a confession to make about that. Even though I'm trying to watch all these shows as they originally aired, I can't say I legitimately did so with The Gathering, as I only have the re-done DVD version that was included in the Movie boxset. So, perhaps I'm a little biased that way.

As for Birthright, it was okay, but felt like a wasted opportunity being set on DS9. All that happens is Data learns to dream (of ravens rather than sheep, oddly enough), and Worf heads off for some bushwhackin'. At least The Gathering had more stuff going on with the introduction of a few interesting characters, despite the plot being muddled.

You can get the original version of The Gathering on iTunes if you're interested.

 

[Nightdiamond]

I think women find the Vulcan mystique attractive.


Gravity seems like an episode that should have been great, but for some reason, like some other Voyager episodes, there's something always missing.

There was similar episode in reverse, where Tuvok seems to be falling for a hologram that turns out to be an alien.

That one was pretty good too.



Emperor's New Cloak is like a weird musical that got out of control- crazy plots, subplots, cameo appearances... itturned the mirror universe into something to laugh at, rather than take seriously.




Voyager's Gravity is far better.

 

[DevilEyes]

Wait, hang on a second, Tuvok is considered sexy? I know that some people like Chakotay, and Trip's admirers have almost become a cult, but Tuvok? There's a new one for me.

VOY is not the greatest source of sexy men. It's not that they aren't good-looking (particularly Chakotay), but they're very dull (except for the Doc, who isn't good-looking). Tuvok is dull in most episodes as well, but unlike the others, he has that repressed Vulcan thing about him - he kind of looks like he's going to snap any moment... and then in his centric episodes like "Meld", he usually snaps and goes all violent...which is very hot

...Wait, did I just say that? I am a very sick person.

 

[TheGodBen]

...Wait, did I just say that? I am a very sick person.

Yes. You need to stop lusting after these violent sociopaths, it would be much more sensible to be attracted to a nice young officer like Harry Kim. You don't have to worry about him going insane and attempting to kill you, and you also don't have to worry about him changing and losing interest in you as his personality is completely static. And he has real career prospects, in 20 years he could be a Lieutenant JG.

 

[Gul Re'jal]

And he has real career prospects, in 20 years he could be a Lieutenant JG.

Actually, I find Harry Kim attractive, but it's most likely because I find Asian men magnetic

 

[Sykonee]

Yes. You need to stop lusting after these violent sociopaths, it would be much more sensible to be attracted to a nice young officer like Harry Kim. You don't have to worry about him going insane and attempting to kill you, and you also don't have to worry about him changing and losing interest in you as his personality is completely static. And he has real career prospects, in 20 years he could be a Lieutenant JG.

Wait, if it's a chick that's after Harry, doesn't that mean the gal has to have some sort of Dark Secret?

 

[Kai Winn]

I think women find the Vulcan mystique attractive.

probably because each one fancies herself as the one able to stir up emotions.

 

[Nightdiamond]

I think women find the Vulcan mystique attractive.

probably because each one fancies herself as the one able to stir up emotions.

Didn't Spock get more 'sexy' fan mail than Kirk?

Kirk was supposed to be the obvious choice, yet Spock was considered the one with sex appeal.

Vulcans always had that weird, and I mean weird, affect it seems;

Isaac Asimov: What really gets the girls is your (or rather, Mr. Spock’s) imperviousness to feminine charm.

There is the fascination of trying to break you down that appeals to the hunter instinct of every one of the dear things” .

Umm, yeah..

As far Sisko:

http://www.startrekblog.net/ben-sisko-sexy-sex

I dream every night Avery Brooks

licking his sweaty bald head is like tasting the most delicious chocolate ever
smooth chocolate head

Well, darn!, lol

 

[Sykonee]

Week 18: (Ending 02.14.99)
DS9 - Field Of Fire (02.10.99)
VOY - Bliss (02.10.99)

Another Ezri episode? That's nearly four in a row now. Sure, she was mostly a 'third character' in Paper Moon, and sort of a secondary character in New Cloak, but it sure feels like we're having an Ezri overdose lately. There are other characters on this show, y'know.

Once we get over that, however, Field Of Fire turns out to be pretty good. Despite a somewhat weak start (oh no, here's Ezri struggling with issues again), the murder investigation becomes quite interesting, especially with such a clever weapon like that rifle. Bringing out Joran? Hey, now there's an interesting use of the Trill mythos. The Vulcan twist? Love it! Why wouldn't a Vulcan snap under extreme situations? They're not a monolithic society, there's bound to be a few that couldn't handle something as traumatic as the war. This one episode manages to make up for all the rather lackluster Ezri episodes that came before. Yes, I said it.

Bliss, then. Well, it's fun. I liked it. Mm, not so much the crew being such dupes again, but the rest of it is fine. Shepperd eagerly chews some scenery, which was entertaining. The ending was nicely ambiguous (was he going back to kill the creature, or does he fancy himself something of a guardian for those who unwittingly become snared?). For some reason though, it doesn't grip me the same way Field Of Fire does.

I guess DS9 offered something a little different from the Trek norm this week, so was less predictable. Can't say the same for VOY.

Weekly Winner
DS9

Next:
DS9 - Chimera
VOY - Dark Frontier