For The Uniform - Capaldi's book

Discussion in 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine' started by Qonundrum, Apr 8, 2021.

  1. Qonundrum

    Qonundrum Vice Admiral Admiral

    So, in rewatching "For the Uniform", which is a layered, thought-provoking, taut, gripping, and out-of-comfy-zone thrill-ride du jour.

    The direction is sublime and adds so much.

    So does the naval setting, brought about by Eddington's virus. This is reminiscent of Nicholas Meyer's approach, but it's "familiar done right" and often makes for very strong Trek episodes given the right material, and this episode is jam-packed with it.

    It's a little hard to see Eddington, who was a gas in "Our Man Bashir" becoming an uber-villain, but this was long in the making. Then again, the episode is aware of this and there is one of DS9's most powerful and impactful scenes (no pun intended) involving Sisko and Dax in a holosuite as he beats up a punching bag in total disgust.

    The episode almost feels rushed, but the balance and flow are maintained and each event is impactful and relevant to the story's setup, denouement, and so on.

    Never before has "fight fire with fire" been shown in such a jaw-droppingly big way.

    Eddington, a person seen as no less Starfleet by the Cardassians (hence Sisko and the Federation needing to keep the treaty going), was also a facet unable to be squeezed in... for all the story's tautness, there are facets and ideas that just could not be put in.

    Or Les Miserables as a reference for plot inspiration, but it's done eminently well and I still need to check that novel out. Indeed, FTU is cinema-worthy and a 2 hour padded version of this could flesh out more detail and wrap up the story more effectively...

    ...since, yes, the ending is a little too quick and there's no follow-up. Would Starfleet approve of such maverick tactics? Sisko's juggling so much already and the new commander assigned to deal with Eddington was defeated. Eddington was not going to stop poisoning planets and was asked nicely via a leaflet campaign to stop doing so. This was shocking to show in the 1990s. It is no less so now.

    Every rewatch fleshes out a nuance not picked up earlier or feels more poignant as a result. Any story that just remains compelling for a rewatch is always much-embraced.

    The biggest nitpick is simple: Eddington cleverly puts in a virus that takes out the Defiant and be glad DS9's were found. So what does Eddington do later on? Offer a free book-of-the-month club download for Sisko, who casually downloads and reads it later. (Then again, Eddington wouldn't waste such time on a triviality, given the scope of everything else he was doing.)

    It was once claimed that Peter Capaldi auditioned for the role of Sisko. Noting more recent shows he's done, ask Malcolm Tucker but after washing his mouth out with soap and then royally chew it as much as he does scenery because he, like Avery, know how to do it right. FTU is a clear example of how Capaldi might have pulled off the story without having to imagine too much into it.

    And, of course, "Set course for Traken II!" The occasional Doctor Who reference is always lovely. Not since "Argolis Cluster" has there been a really good one.
     
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2021
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  2. Lynx

    Lynx Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Is Peter Capaldi related to Jim Capaldi, the drummer of Traffic?

    "For The Uniform" is a great episode. I like the interaction between Sisko and Eddington.
    In fact, I have deep sympathy for both of them.
    I wasn't happy when Eddington was killed off. he was a great character and would have deserved to be alive when the Dominion was defeated.
     
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  3. Mr. Laser Beam

    Mr. Laser Beam Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    I was.
     
  4. Lynx

    Lynx Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Why? :shrug:
     
  5. Mr. Laser Beam

    Mr. Laser Beam Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    ^ Because he was an egotistical jackass with delusions of grandeur.

    And the mere fact that he was willing to use biological weapons on Cardassian colonies proves that he was no better than said Cardassians anyway. And in fact could be worse (I'm not aware of the Cardies using such weapons against the human colonies).

    In fact, I seem to remember that Eddington was willing to attempt to destroy Cardassia itself. How open-minded of him. :lol:
     
    Last edited: Apr 9, 2021
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  6. kkt

    kkt Commodore Commodore

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    Was he? Maybe I misremember, but I thought that was only an empty threat to get Sisko to come with him to the colony where the few surviving Maquis were holed up.
     
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  7. Lynx

    Lynx Vice Admiral Admiral

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    I must admit that you do have some points here.
    Otherwise I liked him for being a freedom fighter who fought for his homeworld. I think that the Federation did the wrong thing in selling out those people to cardassia in the first place. It reminds me of some historical treaties that didn't end up well.
     
  8. NewHeavensNewEarth

    NewHeavensNewEarth Commodore Commodore

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    You are correct! And it was to rescue his wife before the Dominion reached their last stronghold in the Badlands.
     
  9. fireproof78

    fireproof78 Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Yeah. Eddington started out understandable but he went to the extremes. He pretty much seemed to be someone hunting for a cause when his Starfleet career didn't pan out like he wanted.
     
  10. Mr. Laser Beam

    Mr. Laser Beam Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    In the Federation, where there is a near-infinite amount of living space, the question of "defending one's home" loses a lot of its meaning.

    If you'll recall, it was those colonists' IDEA to stay in the DMZ. They knew full well they would be living under Cardassian rule.

    Now of course this doesn't justify the Cardassians' later actions, but it puts paid to the notion that the Federation and Cardassia simply re-drew the borders without anyone's consent.
     
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  11. Orac

    Orac Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    I remember watching the shit out of this episode on VHS tape back in the halcyon days of the late 20th century.
     
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  12. Lynx

    Lynx Vice Admiral Admiral

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    No, it doesn't!

    I'm not going into real world politics here but I've been in a similar situation due to crazy political decisions when it comes to my home province which forced my parents to move when I was a kid.

    As a grown up, I returned and have no intention to leave again.



    It was actually a bad treaty. The Federation sold out their own people and this time they didn't get "peace in our time" either.

    Jaresh-inyo, the Federation President with the dogface must have been the worst political failure since the Federation was created. First he and his government sold out the colonies in the DMZ to Cardassia and got nothing but trouble for it, then his government did chose to support the Cardassians against the Klingons which almost started a devastating war between the Federation and their allies the Klingon Emprie and then the Cardassians thanked for this by stabbing the Federation in the back and joined the Dominion instead.
     
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  13. fireproof78

    fireproof78 Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    I guess the evolving past the need for possessions doesn't include property.
     
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  14. Nerys Myk

    Nerys Myk A Spock and a smile Premium Member

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    No, but he is related to musician Lewis Capaldi.
     
  15. Serveaux

    Serveaux Fleet Admiral Premium Member

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    I missed something. What does Capaldi have to do with this episode?
     
  16. Mr. Laser Beam

    Mr. Laser Beam Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    What's more, since replicator technology is universal, one's exact home can be recreated in precise detail on any of those thousands of worlds in Federation space.

    That's why you don't need to defend your home anymore - you can take it with you!
     
  17. Nerys Myk

    Nerys Myk A Spock and a smile Premium Member

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    Apparently Capaldi was up for the role of Sisko. So for some reason he needs to be mentioned in the thread title. :shrug:
     
  18. Serveaux

    Serveaux Fleet Admiral Premium Member

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    Richard Dean Anderson was discussed for Sisko. Half the actors on TV were discussed for Sisko. Why aren't they all in the thread title?
     
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  19. Orac

    Orac Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Discrimination!
     
  20. Farscape One

    Farscape One Vice Admiral Admiral

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    Then it should be fine that the Dominion wanted Federation planets, Earth for instance? So the population should just move to another planet in another system?
     
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