After completing my latest (third, I believe) re-watch of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" since watching the series for the first time in 2008, I have a few questions and comments I'm hoping for some feedback on. Just a few things I feel like talking with fans about, from all seasons (though mostly the later ones)...
* In "Looking for Par'Mach...", how the hell does Worf successfully win Quark's fight for him? Worf and Quark are not in the same room and Worf can't see Quark's opponent, so how can Quark come up with defensive and offensive moves in response to those of the opponent? I don't understand how Worf's mechanical, planned moves could actually be effective. The opponent could not possibly be that predictable.
* How do people feel about the depiction of Vulcans in this series? Is this the only Star Trek series to depict them so negatively? I know Spock always had a bit of a smug sense of superiority towards humans, but it was all in good fun. I can't think of any other series where Vulcans were as blatantly hostile and even downright insulting towards humans and their emotional nature the way the Vulcans in "Take Me Out to the Holosuite" and "Field of Fire" were.
* I used to think "In the Pale Moonlight" was overrated, but I take it back now. Watching it again, I was riveted from start to finish. Even knowing what was going to happen, I found the suspense awesome. I especially love that sequence where Sisko storms to Garak's shop wanting to absolutely annihilate him. Truly Garak's finest hour and my favourite use of a character I never loved as much as most DS9 fans.
* I also feel differently about Damar now. The first few times I watched the show, I don't think I really cared about him until he became a hero towards the end of season 7. This time, I enjoyed the character from his first appearance to his last. His was just as entertaining as a jerk who antagonized Kira, Ziyal, and Weyoun while sucking up to Dukat as he was as a freedom fighter. I think it's neat how a character could be just as cool as a hero as he was as a villain. I don't think that happens very often.
* One thing I'm quite sure I'll never change my mind about is that Kai Winn and Dukat seriously derail the series finale. One day I might just edit out their scenes (and all the crap with Sisko at the end) to make it a smoother watch. Dukat should never have appeared again after "Sacrifice of Angels" (a perfect exit for him, declaring that he forgives Sisko while rambling crazily) and I never liked Kai Winn in the first place. The only good thing about her was that people called her "Eminence" (I want someone to call me that someday
) and the name of the book she was using (Kosst Amojen) sounds cool.
* I still don't get the hate for "The Emperor's New Cloak". It's a very entertaining episode and I never found it offensively bad like many others do. The only things in it that really bothered me were how stupid mirror Garak was (I bet a lot of people hate it for that, since he's such a beloved character) and the presence of Vic Fontaine. Vic's presence makes no sense. How is him being a living, breathing soldier a plausible alternate version of a Sinatra Era Vegas lounge singer hologram? I think it's just a gratuitous cameo.
- Watching it again, the episode finally convinced me (as DevilEyes has argued) that the alternate universe people aren't all that different from the regular universe people at their core...it's just that circumstances have warped their personalities. After all, Kira and Sisko have always been very passionate people, isn't it believable that in a more corrupt world they'd be more conniving and hedonistic? The lesbian thing at the end sort of contradicts this, though. While it doesn't bother me (I thought it was just a cute joke), I do agree on an objective level that it's cheesy and dumb.
* I hope becoming the new Nagus means Rom can afford to get that damn crooked tooth fixed! I got so sick of looking at it. YUCK!
* Shallow comment #2: Did anyone else love that Dabo girl M'Palla's outfit? That leaf design was so rad. It's too bad Leeta's clothing became so generic later on. The Dabo girl outfits were terrific. I liked M'palla's leaf thing on her face (facial tattoo?) as well.
* Another thing about M'Palla: I was kind of bummed out that while a lot of the characters ended up having nice romantic relationships throughout the show, Quark never did, although it was implied the he could have (if he wanted to) with her, since she offered to come with him if he became the Nagus and comforted him when he thought Morn died. I don't know if she was just trying to get ahead and didn't really care about him, though. What does everyone else think? I bet most of you have never given it a second thought, but I'm asking now anyway.
* I never thought this would happen, but I actually got annoyed at Jadzia Dax in "Change of Heart"!
She really took the 'joking under any circumstances' thing too far when she was on the verge of death. Poor Worf being was seriously concerned about her and she kept trying to be a comedian. I actually wanted to yell "shut up!" at her. I still love her, though 
.
* I think one of many signs that this was a great series is that even after watching it many times, one can still have new questions/thoughts/reactions.
* In "Looking for Par'Mach...", how the hell does Worf successfully win Quark's fight for him? Worf and Quark are not in the same room and Worf can't see Quark's opponent, so how can Quark come up with defensive and offensive moves in response to those of the opponent? I don't understand how Worf's mechanical, planned moves could actually be effective. The opponent could not possibly be that predictable.
* How do people feel about the depiction of Vulcans in this series? Is this the only Star Trek series to depict them so negatively? I know Spock always had a bit of a smug sense of superiority towards humans, but it was all in good fun. I can't think of any other series where Vulcans were as blatantly hostile and even downright insulting towards humans and their emotional nature the way the Vulcans in "Take Me Out to the Holosuite" and "Field of Fire" were.
* I used to think "In the Pale Moonlight" was overrated, but I take it back now. Watching it again, I was riveted from start to finish. Even knowing what was going to happen, I found the suspense awesome. I especially love that sequence where Sisko storms to Garak's shop wanting to absolutely annihilate him. Truly Garak's finest hour and my favourite use of a character I never loved as much as most DS9 fans.
* I also feel differently about Damar now. The first few times I watched the show, I don't think I really cared about him until he became a hero towards the end of season 7. This time, I enjoyed the character from his first appearance to his last. His was just as entertaining as a jerk who antagonized Kira, Ziyal, and Weyoun while sucking up to Dukat as he was as a freedom fighter. I think it's neat how a character could be just as cool as a hero as he was as a villain. I don't think that happens very often.
* One thing I'm quite sure I'll never change my mind about is that Kai Winn and Dukat seriously derail the series finale. One day I might just edit out their scenes (and all the crap with Sisko at the end) to make it a smoother watch. Dukat should never have appeared again after "Sacrifice of Angels" (a perfect exit for him, declaring that he forgives Sisko while rambling crazily) and I never liked Kai Winn in the first place. The only good thing about her was that people called her "Eminence" (I want someone to call me that someday
) and the name of the book she was using (Kosst Amojen) sounds cool.* I still don't get the hate for "The Emperor's New Cloak". It's a very entertaining episode and I never found it offensively bad like many others do. The only things in it that really bothered me were how stupid mirror Garak was (I bet a lot of people hate it for that, since he's such a beloved character) and the presence of Vic Fontaine. Vic's presence makes no sense. How is him being a living, breathing soldier a plausible alternate version of a Sinatra Era Vegas lounge singer hologram? I think it's just a gratuitous cameo.
- Watching it again, the episode finally convinced me (as DevilEyes has argued) that the alternate universe people aren't all that different from the regular universe people at their core...it's just that circumstances have warped their personalities. After all, Kira and Sisko have always been very passionate people, isn't it believable that in a more corrupt world they'd be more conniving and hedonistic? The lesbian thing at the end sort of contradicts this, though. While it doesn't bother me (I thought it was just a cute joke), I do agree on an objective level that it's cheesy and dumb.
* I hope becoming the new Nagus means Rom can afford to get that damn crooked tooth fixed! I got so sick of looking at it. YUCK!
* Shallow comment #2: Did anyone else love that Dabo girl M'Palla's outfit? That leaf design was so rad. It's too bad Leeta's clothing became so generic later on. The Dabo girl outfits were terrific. I liked M'palla's leaf thing on her face (facial tattoo?) as well.
* Another thing about M'Palla: I was kind of bummed out that while a lot of the characters ended up having nice romantic relationships throughout the show, Quark never did, although it was implied the he could have (if he wanted to) with her, since she offered to come with him if he became the Nagus and comforted him when he thought Morn died. I don't know if she was just trying to get ahead and didn't really care about him, though. What does everyone else think? I bet most of you have never given it a second thought, but I'm asking now anyway.
* I never thought this would happen, but I actually got annoyed at Jadzia Dax in "Change of Heart"!
She really took the 'joking under any circumstances' thing too far when she was on the verge of death. Poor Worf being was seriously concerned about her and she kept trying to be a comedian. I actually wanted to yell "shut up!" at her. I still love her, though .* I think one of many signs that this was a great series is that even after watching it many times, one can still have new questions/thoughts/reactions.
