I didn't think Rivals was supposed to be a comedy. It did bring OBrian and Bashier closer together so that might have been it's only consequence.
Deep Space Nine Rewatch
- Thread starter tomalak301
- Start date
If it wasn't supposed to be a comedy, then mission accomplished.
Eh, I think Bo'Brien works just fine without this episode.
True, the writers of DS9 don't do comedic pieces very well. More often than not they fall flat on their faces.
I thought their best comedy episode was In the Cards so yeah comedy was not their forte all that much.
True, and In The Cards was only mildly funny.
I'm back with reviews of The Passenger and Move Along Home.
The Passenger
One of the things I like most about DS9 is the way that they would often use a given storyline merely as a means of character development and/or world-building, and both The Passenger and Move Along Home are good examples of this. With The Passenger, I like that the story was used to focus a little bit on Odo's character and give us some interesting interaction between him and Lt. Primmin, sort of foreshadowing what will later happen with Eddington.
I also enjoy this episode because of the 'red herring' involving Ty Kajada possibly being the 'vessel' carrying Vantika's consciousness, and because I like the Kobliad and the concept of someone essentially being posessed by another person's personality and mind. It's a slightly different take on the whole "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" conceptual narrative, and works fairly well, IMO.
I also like the fact that it's Bashir who ultimately ends up being the 'culprit' because it plays into the way his character has been portrayed thus far by essentially making him a victim of his own hubris, which is always nice (especially at this early stage).
Move Along Home
I'll readily admit that there are parts of this episode that are very silly, but the things that I like about it have to do with the way that the story ends up simply being a means to an end in terms of advancing the development of our characters. I also like the Wadi as a species and find the fact that their society is essentially centered around games to be interesting.
The design and concept of the Chula game is pretty interesting as well, and the way that everything is played up to maximum peril, in spite of some of the silliness, makes for a nice 'vessel' for the aforementioned character development, from Kira's frustration and annoyance with the whole thing to the nice bits of bonding between Sisko and Dax where we get more insight into their pre-existing friendship to the way that Quark and Odo interact once Quark realizes that his "players" are Sisko, Dax, Kira, and Bashir. It's also fun getting to see Quark grovel and admit to cheating.
The ending where it's revealed that our crew were never actually in any danger could seem anticlimactic, but I think it works because it's used to give us some nice character bits from Sisko, Odo, and Quark rather than just being a 'tidy' wrap-up to the whole story.
The only issue I have is Bashir disappearing in the middle of things (even though I understand the real-world reasoning behind it), but I feel like it would've made more sense, narratively (for not only this episode but Birthright as well) if he'd been present right to the end of the story.
The Passenger
One of the things I like most about DS9 is the way that they would often use a given storyline merely as a means of character development and/or world-building, and both The Passenger and Move Along Home are good examples of this. With The Passenger, I like that the story was used to focus a little bit on Odo's character and give us some interesting interaction between him and Lt. Primmin, sort of foreshadowing what will later happen with Eddington.
I also enjoy this episode because of the 'red herring' involving Ty Kajada possibly being the 'vessel' carrying Vantika's consciousness, and because I like the Kobliad and the concept of someone essentially being posessed by another person's personality and mind. It's a slightly different take on the whole "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" conceptual narrative, and works fairly well, IMO.
I also like the fact that it's Bashir who ultimately ends up being the 'culprit' because it plays into the way his character has been portrayed thus far by essentially making him a victim of his own hubris, which is always nice (especially at this early stage).
Move Along Home
I'll readily admit that there are parts of this episode that are very silly, but the things that I like about it have to do with the way that the story ends up simply being a means to an end in terms of advancing the development of our characters. I also like the Wadi as a species and find the fact that their society is essentially centered around games to be interesting.
The design and concept of the Chula game is pretty interesting as well, and the way that everything is played up to maximum peril, in spite of some of the silliness, makes for a nice 'vessel' for the aforementioned character development, from Kira's frustration and annoyance with the whole thing to the nice bits of bonding between Sisko and Dax where we get more insight into their pre-existing friendship to the way that Quark and Odo interact once Quark realizes that his "players" are Sisko, Dax, Kira, and Bashir. It's also fun getting to see Quark grovel and admit to cheating.
The ending where it's revealed that our crew were never actually in any danger could seem anticlimactic, but I think it works because it's used to give us some nice character bits from Sisko, Odo, and Quark rather than just being a 'tidy' wrap-up to the whole story.
The only issue I have is Bashir disappearing in the middle of things (even though I understand the real-world reasoning behind it), but I feel like it would've made more sense, narratively (for not only this episode but Birthright as well) if he'd been present right to the end of the story.
I wish that Julian's "alternate personality" in "The Passenger" sounded less like a robot. How about some acting?
2-10 Sanctuary
I cared even less for Sanctuary. I'm not quite sure what "message" they tried to tell. If it was about the dangers of xenophobia or even of just being sceptical of immigration then it just fell flat. First of all, anyone, no matter how supposedly tolerant that person might be, would hesitate when faced with the notion of three million refugees on their doorstep. It's common sense. Second, it was not like the Bajornas were throwing the flaky aliens to the wolves. Sisko had found them a perfectly acceptable planet to settle on - better than Bajor in fact. What sympathy one might have for those aliens went right out the airlock when they for some inexplicable reason still insisted on settling on Bajor. The shooting down of one of their ships came off as an all too blatant way of hammering "the message" down. To be honest, I found myself not caring one way or the other what happened to these aliens. For having such blind luck they couldn't afford to be picky and they were much too intransigent.
The first act was also a total waste. For some reason the universal translators didn't work and they spent a lot of time just walking around not being able to communicate. That seriously dragged and it didn't even have a pay-off. Suddenly the UTs worked and it became obvious that that sequence was just inserted so they could fill up the hour.
Nothing more than a 2- for Sanctuary. The only salvageable thing about it was that it had the second mention of the mysterious Dominion.
2-11 Rivals
Rivals was another very below average episode. For a long period it didn't seem to be about anything at all, just some random and mostly uninteresting events - sort of "a day in the life of…" story. Then came the con man and the odd game that changed the laws of probability and what little interest I had left went right out. The only good thing about Rivals was the Bashir and O'Brien interaction. I couldn't care less about Quark and his problems with the new competitor. And Bashir's outfit looked all too ridiculous (and man, Siddig is really a stick figure, isn't he?).
So, another grade of 2 goes to Rivals. Man, this season is really a hit and miss so far. Either it's very good or it's very bad.
I cared even less for Sanctuary. I'm not quite sure what "message" they tried to tell. If it was about the dangers of xenophobia or even of just being sceptical of immigration then it just fell flat. First of all, anyone, no matter how supposedly tolerant that person might be, would hesitate when faced with the notion of three million refugees on their doorstep. It's common sense. Second, it was not like the Bajornas were throwing the flaky aliens to the wolves. Sisko had found them a perfectly acceptable planet to settle on - better than Bajor in fact. What sympathy one might have for those aliens went right out the airlock when they for some inexplicable reason still insisted on settling on Bajor. The shooting down of one of their ships came off as an all too blatant way of hammering "the message" down. To be honest, I found myself not caring one way or the other what happened to these aliens. For having such blind luck they couldn't afford to be picky and they were much too intransigent.
The first act was also a total waste. For some reason the universal translators didn't work and they spent a lot of time just walking around not being able to communicate. That seriously dragged and it didn't even have a pay-off. Suddenly the UTs worked and it became obvious that that sequence was just inserted so they could fill up the hour.
Nothing more than a 2- for Sanctuary. The only salvageable thing about it was that it had the second mention of the mysterious Dominion.
2-11 Rivals
Rivals was another very below average episode. For a long period it didn't seem to be about anything at all, just some random and mostly uninteresting events - sort of "a day in the life of…" story. Then came the con man and the odd game that changed the laws of probability and what little interest I had left went right out. The only good thing about Rivals was the Bashir and O'Brien interaction. I couldn't care less about Quark and his problems with the new competitor. And Bashir's outfit looked all too ridiculous (and man, Siddig is really a stick figure, isn't he?).
So, another grade of 2 goes to Rivals. Man, this season is really a hit and miss so far. Either it's very good or it's very bad.
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The Alternate
I really like this episode. There are better Odo episodes, sure, but this is the first appearence of Dr. Mora and James Sloyan is one of my favorite Trek guest actors. I loved that father/son relationship, and maybe it was a little cliche that Odo would forgive him at the end of the episode, but the fact that he was this alien monster kind of helped make that final scene more poignant. I did think the effect for his Monster self was a little cheesy (Almost Star Trek V cheesy) but this provided a lot of backstory for Odo while he is continuing his quest to find his origins. Because of that this episode works.
I really like this episode. There are better Odo episodes, sure, but this is the first appearence of Dr. Mora and James Sloyan is one of my favorite Trek guest actors. I loved that father/son relationship, and maybe it was a little cliche that Odo would forgive him at the end of the episode, but the fact that he was this alien monster kind of helped make that final scene more poignant. I did think the effect for his Monster self was a little cheesy (Almost Star Trek V cheesy) but this provided a lot of backstory for Odo while he is continuing his quest to find his origins. Because of that this episode works.
2-12 The Alternate
This was much better. I tend to prefer stories that are parts of the wider arc or that delve into the characters' background, and we got both in The Alternate. Here we get to meet Odo's "father", i.e. the scientist that observed and "raised" him after he had been found, and naturally there is some major tension between the two. Excellent and very believable interactions between them.
The monster roaming the station plot was reminiscent of all those horror movies but I didn't mind. I thought it was a nice twist that it turned out to be "sleepwalking" Odo - my bet had been on that big stone pillar. This monster of the subconscious reminded me of Forbidden Planet. I liked that Odo was affected by that gas, albeit in a different way than the others. All too often they have at least one, preferably the most alien, character being immune.
I do hope Odo takes up Dr. Mora on his offer, since I'd like to see more of him and them together again.
The Alternate gets a grade of 7 from me.
This was much better. I tend to prefer stories that are parts of the wider arc or that delve into the characters' background, and we got both in The Alternate. Here we get to meet Odo's "father", i.e. the scientist that observed and "raised" him after he had been found, and naturally there is some major tension between the two. Excellent and very believable interactions between them.
The monster roaming the station plot was reminiscent of all those horror movies but I didn't mind. I thought it was a nice twist that it turned out to be "sleepwalking" Odo - my bet had been on that big stone pillar. This monster of the subconscious reminded me of Forbidden Planet. I liked that Odo was affected by that gas, albeit in a different way than the others. All too often they have at least one, preferably the most alien, character being immune.
I do hope Odo takes up Dr. Mora on his offer, since I'd like to see more of him and them together again.
The Alternate gets a grade of 7 from me.
I'm glad the gas did have an impact and because Bashier didn't know Odo's physiology he wouldn't have suspected it. Also I really liked the use of the scientific method here too, which is something I forgot to mention.
Wow, you're not kidding. I don't remember that at all.
2-13 Armageddon Game
Thus far the season two episodes have been either above or below average. This was the first I'd rate as just average. Not particularly good but not bad either. The plot was very predictable. I know long before it was stated that those aliens were going to try and kill everyone - Bashir and O'Brien included - who knew anything about those weapons of mass destruction. And I knew that Sisko fooled them with the Runabouts by the end of the episode. The Insta-Cure™ of O'Brien in the end was also annoyingly predictable (knowing how to neutralize some toxic agents isn't the same as curing an infected person).
What I mostly liked about Armageddon Game was not surprisingly the interaction between Bashir and O'Brien. Their predicament here reminded me of ENT's Shuttlepod One, but I do realize that this one came first. It was nice to hear Bashir talking about his backstory and O'Brien singing the virtues of family life.
It was nice to see the reactions of the others to the news of their crewmates supposed death, especially Quark's, which surprised me. But I do think that Keiko's reaction was a bit flat considering that her husband had "died". The twist at the very end was cool though, with Keiko having misremembered Miles's coffee drinking habits.
So I'll give Armageddon Game the average grade of 5.
2-14 Whispers
This is one of those stories that all hinges on the resolution. If it's disappointing then the entire story come apart, and this was the case with Whispers. The paranoid atmosphere "O'Brien" finds himself in, with everyone else acting just a little bit off, and a mounting conspiracy set to cut him out of the loop, is really intriguing. It did drag on for a bit too long though, especially the scenes with Keiko and when "O'Brien" running around trying to escape. I suppose that's because they had to show everything thing from "O'Brien's" perspective.
In the end though, none of it mattered since we find out that it wasn't really O'Brien but some cloned impostor. This is where everything just falls apart. A novel twist to be sure, but if it wasn't the real O'Brien, why should we care? It's not like this will have much impact on the real O'Brien.
And those aliens must have been pretty advanced if they could clone/replicate a human being like that, down to memories and personalities. They're at least as advanced than Data's creator Noonien Soong, or Roger Korby for that matter, which makes those creations less "special".
Oh, I noticed an ensign not only calling Chief O'Brien "sir" but also apparently taking orders from him and being under his command, which bugged me.
I'm afraid that Whispers only gets a grade of 4 from me.
Thus far the season two episodes have been either above or below average. This was the first I'd rate as just average. Not particularly good but not bad either. The plot was very predictable. I know long before it was stated that those aliens were going to try and kill everyone - Bashir and O'Brien included - who knew anything about those weapons of mass destruction. And I knew that Sisko fooled them with the Runabouts by the end of the episode. The Insta-Cure™ of O'Brien in the end was also annoyingly predictable (knowing how to neutralize some toxic agents isn't the same as curing an infected person).
What I mostly liked about Armageddon Game was not surprisingly the interaction between Bashir and O'Brien. Their predicament here reminded me of ENT's Shuttlepod One, but I do realize that this one came first. It was nice to hear Bashir talking about his backstory and O'Brien singing the virtues of family life.
It was nice to see the reactions of the others to the news of their crewmates supposed death, especially Quark's, which surprised me. But I do think that Keiko's reaction was a bit flat considering that her husband had "died". The twist at the very end was cool though, with Keiko having misremembered Miles's coffee drinking habits.
So I'll give Armageddon Game the average grade of 5.
2-14 Whispers
This is one of those stories that all hinges on the resolution. If it's disappointing then the entire story come apart, and this was the case with Whispers. The paranoid atmosphere "O'Brien" finds himself in, with everyone else acting just a little bit off, and a mounting conspiracy set to cut him out of the loop, is really intriguing. It did drag on for a bit too long though, especially the scenes with Keiko and when "O'Brien" running around trying to escape. I suppose that's because they had to show everything thing from "O'Brien's" perspective.
In the end though, none of it mattered since we find out that it wasn't really O'Brien but some cloned impostor. This is where everything just falls apart. A novel twist to be sure, but if it wasn't the real O'Brien, why should we care? It's not like this will have much impact on the real O'Brien.
And those aliens must have been pretty advanced if they could clone/replicate a human being like that, down to memories and personalities. They're at least as advanced than Data's creator Noonien Soong, or Roger Korby for that matter, which makes those creations less "special".
Oh, I noticed an ensign not only calling Chief O'Brien "sir" but also apparently taking orders from him and being under his command, which bugged me.
I'm afraid that Whispers only gets a grade of 4 from me.
My reviews of The Nagus, Vortex, Battle Lines, The Storyteller, and Progress.
The Nagus
I know this puts me in a distinct minority, but I've always loved the Ferengi, even since their very first appearance in The Last Outpost. I mention this only because it's relevant to understanding my feelings on this episode and the way it portrays the Ferengi as a whole, as well as how it portrays Quark, Rom, and Nog in particular.
I loved the character of Zek from the very first moment I saw him show up on DS9, not only because of Wallace Shawn's portrayal of him, but also because of the way he was written. Choosing to 'test' his son to see if he'd make a good Grand Nagus shows us a side of Ferengi societal culture that we hadn't seen to this point, while also hearkening back in some ways to the more militant sides of the Ferengi that we saw in The Last Outpost and The Battle... which are also on display in this episode due to the way that Rom and Krax are portrayed.
Speaking of Rom, this episode represents an interesting character study for him because we see, for the first time, that he's decidedly torn between doing what he thinks is right for his son and what Ferengi cultural and societal norms tell him is right for his son. He accedes to Grand Nagus Zek and forbids Nog from going back to school mainly because it's what Zek and every one of the other Ferengi in the room expect him to do, but you can also tell, based on the way he behaves later on in the series, that he didn't take any pleasure in it.
Another way we see Rom decidedly torn in this episode is in the way he conspires with Krax to try and get rid of Quark after he's named the new Grand Nagus. He gives Quark two different 'outs', but Quark, being who he is, dismisses those chances and continues to behave the way he's always behaved. Rom's behavior in this instance is interesting to me not only because it gives him a bit more layers to his character, especially at this early stage in the show, but also makes him representative of the kind of militant aggressiveness that defined the Ferengi as a species throughout their TNG appearances, demonstrating that there isn't actually that much of a difference between the way that series portrays them and the way they're portrayed in DS9.
I've always really liked Nog as a character, and he manages to make a pretty big impact in this episode even though he's largely relegated to the "C" storyline, but even though he plays a fairly tertiary role, he makes a splash with what we're given. The way he tries to fib his way out of turning in his homework is funny and so totally 'hew-mon', and the way he and Jake end up fighting and then reconciling is handled really demonstrates the strength of their friendship and helps enhance both characters.
I listened to a DS9 review podcast called Upper Pylon 2 where the hosts accused Sisko of behaving racistly towards the Ferengi and Nog, but I've never seen it that way at all. What I see in terms of Sisko's behavior towards Jake in this episode is the behavior of a father who cares very deeply for his child, but is also worried that said child is headed down a 'wrong' path and making assumptions that turn out to be something completely different than what's actually going on, and the way Avery Brooks conveys that is really well-done, as exemplified by the scene towards the end of the episode where he comes up to Jake and gives him a hug and a kiss before telling him to go hang out with Nog.
I also really enjoy Dax's small role in this episode, especially in terms of her interactions with Sisko, as we get to see more of their relationship develop and get yet another callback to their relationship as it previously existed, which helps both of their characters.
Vortex
I'm a self-described "continuity Nazi", and so any time that DS9 gives us stuff that can clearly be seen in hindsight as advancing the overall continuity of the series and expanding its internal mythology and the mythology of the franchise as a whole, I'm happy, and this episode gives us that in spades while also offering up a uniquely Trekkian commentary on obsession.
All 3 of the central figures in this episode - Croden, Roh-Kel, and Odo - are obsessed with something in this episode; Croden is obsessed with getting back to his daughter and will do anything he needs to do in order to accomplish that goal; Roh-Kel is obsessed with avenging his brother with a single-mindedness that ultimately ends up costing him everything; and Odo is obsessed with the possibility of learning something about his people and about himself to the point that he disregards not only all formal protocol, but also his own carefully constructed sense of morality and justice, particularly once he learns the truth about Croden's obsession and motivations, which gives us some nice development for his character.
I also really enjoy the Miradorn; I think they're a neatly designed species, and wish we'd seen more of them.
It's also neat that some of the lies/half-truths that Croden sells Odo with regards to the Changelings/Founders turn out to be true.
Battle Lines
I don't know about anyone else, but I would consider Battle Lines to not only be one of the best episodes of DS9's first season, but also among the better episodes of the series as a whole.
Some of the hosts of the Upper Pylon 2 podcast I referred to in my review of The Nagus knocked the episode a couple of points for Kai Opaka's death lacking some 'pathos' because of the fact that this is only her 3rd appearance in the show, but, to be honest, I think the role she plays in the episode and what it tells us about her character wouldn't have been as powerful had we ended up seeing more of her, because it becomes clear as the episode progresses that she came to DS9 knowing exactly what would end up happening to her, including her death, and that she was completely at peace with it and had embraced it as being what she needed to do.
Beyond the stuff with Opaka, I love this episode because of the development that it provides for Kira's character. I love that she starts out with her usual "angry" walls up and that, as the episode goes on, slowly starts to let those walls come down, first after Opaka dies and then after she's resurrected and they have their' confession' moment where Opaka tells her that she needs to let go of her guilt and her anger and forgive herself for feeling angry and guilty at all.
I also love the way that her interactions with Opaka start to show us the 'real' Kira Nerys, which we also start seeing more of as early as the episode Progress.
The Storyteller
I've always enjoyed this episode, which is, IMO, another example of an episode where the 'macguffin' plot is merely a 'vessel' for character developmen; having said that, though, I do have to say that I rather like both the 'A' and 'B' plots of the episode for what they offer in and of themselves in addition to the way that they play into the development of characters like O'Brien, Bashir, Nog, and Jake.
The hosts of the Upper Pylon 2 podcast had some very harsh things to say about the actress who plays Varis Sul, but, personally, I think she does just fine for what she's meant to do, which is to portray a leader who is trying to carry herself and 'govern' in the same way that her father did without realizing that, in the particular situation in which she finds herself, such behavior isn't really warranted. This is especially evident in her interactions with Jake and Nog where Nog suggests using the negotiations she's participating in with Sisko, Kira, and the Navot as an opportunity rather than as a 'problem' to be solved/battered into submission by being "strong" and immovable and in the conversation she has with Sisko about her father.
The Upper Pylon 2 hosts also accused the episode of demeaning the Bajorans and painting them in a very negative light, which, to be quite honest, I really don't see as happening at all in this episode. What I see with the storyline involving O'Brien and Bashir down on Bajor is a storyline in which the writers actually avoid making any sort of comment about the customs and behavior of the villagers with whom those two characters interact, and instead go out of their way to simply place Bashir and O'Brien into the midst of the situation and let it define and develop their characters, to the point that they even have Bashir provide an alternative resolution to the situation, which he personally finds amusing simply because of the way that it makes O'Brien uncomfortable due to the fact that he (O'Brien) is an outsider and wholly unsuited for the role into which he's been suddenly and arbitrarily thrust.
Progress
I really enjoy this episode, not only because I see a lot of similarities and parallels in it to one of my favorite TNG episodes, Journey's End, but also because I love what it does for Major Kira's character and the way that it continues the theme of slowly starting to show us the 'real' Kira Nerys that was started in Battle Lines.
The conundrum that Kira faces in this episode is very nearly identical to the dilemma that Picard and the Enterprise crew are faced with in Journey's End, but what differentiates the two episodes is the way in which that 'shared dilemma' is approached and handled, and the way that the plotline ends up being used as a 'vessel' for character development rather than being a significant development in and of itself.
Even though he's portrayed in the episode as being obstinate, ornery, and somewhat unreasonable, it's hard not to fall in love with Mullibok, and the way that he's able to subtly push Kira's buttons and get her to see his point-of-view even if she doesn't want to and wants to be the "hardass" who has a job to do and intends to do it no matter what really helps make him likeable in spite of his curmudeognly attitude.
I also really enjoy the way that this episode shows us just how far Sisko and Kira's relationship has come in just the 13 episodes since Emissary by giving him the responsibility of 'snapping' her out of her confused funk and helping her see that, even if she feels a bit of kinship with Mullibok, there's nothing she can do in this particular instance and is bound by the duties of her office, which leads her to make use of the fierceness that had defined her character since their first meeting in Emissary in a way that both solves the problem at hand while also attempting to preserve at least some of the affinity she'd developed with Mullibok over the course of the episode.
The Nagus
I know this puts me in a distinct minority, but I've always loved the Ferengi, even since their very first appearance in The Last Outpost. I mention this only because it's relevant to understanding my feelings on this episode and the way it portrays the Ferengi as a whole, as well as how it portrays Quark, Rom, and Nog in particular.
I loved the character of Zek from the very first moment I saw him show up on DS9, not only because of Wallace Shawn's portrayal of him, but also because of the way he was written. Choosing to 'test' his son to see if he'd make a good Grand Nagus shows us a side of Ferengi societal culture that we hadn't seen to this point, while also hearkening back in some ways to the more militant sides of the Ferengi that we saw in The Last Outpost and The Battle... which are also on display in this episode due to the way that Rom and Krax are portrayed.
Speaking of Rom, this episode represents an interesting character study for him because we see, for the first time, that he's decidedly torn between doing what he thinks is right for his son and what Ferengi cultural and societal norms tell him is right for his son. He accedes to Grand Nagus Zek and forbids Nog from going back to school mainly because it's what Zek and every one of the other Ferengi in the room expect him to do, but you can also tell, based on the way he behaves later on in the series, that he didn't take any pleasure in it.
Another way we see Rom decidedly torn in this episode is in the way he conspires with Krax to try and get rid of Quark after he's named the new Grand Nagus. He gives Quark two different 'outs', but Quark, being who he is, dismisses those chances and continues to behave the way he's always behaved. Rom's behavior in this instance is interesting to me not only because it gives him a bit more layers to his character, especially at this early stage in the show, but also makes him representative of the kind of militant aggressiveness that defined the Ferengi as a species throughout their TNG appearances, demonstrating that there isn't actually that much of a difference between the way that series portrays them and the way they're portrayed in DS9.
I've always really liked Nog as a character, and he manages to make a pretty big impact in this episode even though he's largely relegated to the "C" storyline, but even though he plays a fairly tertiary role, he makes a splash with what we're given. The way he tries to fib his way out of turning in his homework is funny and so totally 'hew-mon', and the way he and Jake end up fighting and then reconciling is handled really demonstrates the strength of their friendship and helps enhance both characters.
I listened to a DS9 review podcast called Upper Pylon 2 where the hosts accused Sisko of behaving racistly towards the Ferengi and Nog, but I've never seen it that way at all. What I see in terms of Sisko's behavior towards Jake in this episode is the behavior of a father who cares very deeply for his child, but is also worried that said child is headed down a 'wrong' path and making assumptions that turn out to be something completely different than what's actually going on, and the way Avery Brooks conveys that is really well-done, as exemplified by the scene towards the end of the episode where he comes up to Jake and gives him a hug and a kiss before telling him to go hang out with Nog.
I also really enjoy Dax's small role in this episode, especially in terms of her interactions with Sisko, as we get to see more of their relationship develop and get yet another callback to their relationship as it previously existed, which helps both of their characters.
Vortex
I'm a self-described "continuity Nazi", and so any time that DS9 gives us stuff that can clearly be seen in hindsight as advancing the overall continuity of the series and expanding its internal mythology and the mythology of the franchise as a whole, I'm happy, and this episode gives us that in spades while also offering up a uniquely Trekkian commentary on obsession.
All 3 of the central figures in this episode - Croden, Roh-Kel, and Odo - are obsessed with something in this episode; Croden is obsessed with getting back to his daughter and will do anything he needs to do in order to accomplish that goal; Roh-Kel is obsessed with avenging his brother with a single-mindedness that ultimately ends up costing him everything; and Odo is obsessed with the possibility of learning something about his people and about himself to the point that he disregards not only all formal protocol, but also his own carefully constructed sense of morality and justice, particularly once he learns the truth about Croden's obsession and motivations, which gives us some nice development for his character.
I also really enjoy the Miradorn; I think they're a neatly designed species, and wish we'd seen more of them.
It's also neat that some of the lies/half-truths that Croden sells Odo with regards to the Changelings/Founders turn out to be true.
Battle Lines
I don't know about anyone else, but I would consider Battle Lines to not only be one of the best episodes of DS9's first season, but also among the better episodes of the series as a whole.
Some of the hosts of the Upper Pylon 2 podcast I referred to in my review of The Nagus knocked the episode a couple of points for Kai Opaka's death lacking some 'pathos' because of the fact that this is only her 3rd appearance in the show, but, to be honest, I think the role she plays in the episode and what it tells us about her character wouldn't have been as powerful had we ended up seeing more of her, because it becomes clear as the episode progresses that she came to DS9 knowing exactly what would end up happening to her, including her death, and that she was completely at peace with it and had embraced it as being what she needed to do.
Beyond the stuff with Opaka, I love this episode because of the development that it provides for Kira's character. I love that she starts out with her usual "angry" walls up and that, as the episode goes on, slowly starts to let those walls come down, first after Opaka dies and then after she's resurrected and they have their' confession' moment where Opaka tells her that she needs to let go of her guilt and her anger and forgive herself for feeling angry and guilty at all.
I also love the way that her interactions with Opaka start to show us the 'real' Kira Nerys, which we also start seeing more of as early as the episode Progress.
The Storyteller
I've always enjoyed this episode, which is, IMO, another example of an episode where the 'macguffin' plot is merely a 'vessel' for character developmen; having said that, though, I do have to say that I rather like both the 'A' and 'B' plots of the episode for what they offer in and of themselves in addition to the way that they play into the development of characters like O'Brien, Bashir, Nog, and Jake.
The hosts of the Upper Pylon 2 podcast had some very harsh things to say about the actress who plays Varis Sul, but, personally, I think she does just fine for what she's meant to do, which is to portray a leader who is trying to carry herself and 'govern' in the same way that her father did without realizing that, in the particular situation in which she finds herself, such behavior isn't really warranted. This is especially evident in her interactions with Jake and Nog where Nog suggests using the negotiations she's participating in with Sisko, Kira, and the Navot as an opportunity rather than as a 'problem' to be solved/battered into submission by being "strong" and immovable and in the conversation she has with Sisko about her father.
The Upper Pylon 2 hosts also accused the episode of demeaning the Bajorans and painting them in a very negative light, which, to be quite honest, I really don't see as happening at all in this episode. What I see with the storyline involving O'Brien and Bashir down on Bajor is a storyline in which the writers actually avoid making any sort of comment about the customs and behavior of the villagers with whom those two characters interact, and instead go out of their way to simply place Bashir and O'Brien into the midst of the situation and let it define and develop their characters, to the point that they even have Bashir provide an alternative resolution to the situation, which he personally finds amusing simply because of the way that it makes O'Brien uncomfortable due to the fact that he (O'Brien) is an outsider and wholly unsuited for the role into which he's been suddenly and arbitrarily thrust.
Progress
I really enjoy this episode, not only because I see a lot of similarities and parallels in it to one of my favorite TNG episodes, Journey's End, but also because I love what it does for Major Kira's character and the way that it continues the theme of slowly starting to show us the 'real' Kira Nerys that was started in Battle Lines.
The conundrum that Kira faces in this episode is very nearly identical to the dilemma that Picard and the Enterprise crew are faced with in Journey's End, but what differentiates the two episodes is the way in which that 'shared dilemma' is approached and handled, and the way that the plotline ends up being used as a 'vessel' for character development rather than being a significant development in and of itself.
Even though he's portrayed in the episode as being obstinate, ornery, and somewhat unreasonable, it's hard not to fall in love with Mullibok, and the way that he's able to subtly push Kira's buttons and get her to see his point-of-view even if she doesn't want to and wants to be the "hardass" who has a job to do and intends to do it no matter what really helps make him likeable in spite of his curmudeognly attitude.
I also really enjoy the way that this episode shows us just how far Sisko and Kira's relationship has come in just the 13 episodes since Emissary by giving him the responsibility of 'snapping' her out of her confused funk and helping her see that, even if she feels a bit of kinship with Mullibok, there's nothing she can do in this particular instance and is bound by the duties of her office, which leads her to make use of the fierceness that had defined her character since their first meeting in Emissary in a way that both solves the problem at hand while also attempting to preserve at least some of the affinity she'd developed with Mullibok over the course of the episode.
Finally had time to see some more DS9. I just got back from probably the worst trip I've ever been on so this week has been really rough.
Armageddon Game
This episode is decent for the Obrian/Bashir stuff. We finally get to see them become the friends we know and love for the rest of the series and they were the best parts of the episode. I loved learning about Bashir's take on marriage and Obrian defending it, or Bashir's backstory with his girlfriend.
In regards to the Harvesters, you would think the Federation would have a major problem if they found out that two of their officers would be murdered because they had the knowledge. They offer help, and the two officers have to die to preserve the peace. That seems wrong and kind of a prelude to war. In the end, I do like this episode, but like @King Smurf said, it's somewhat average.
Whispers
I still like this episode a lot. Yeah you know the resolution and the episode kind of hinges on the resolution but Meany does a great job making you convinced that there is something wrong on the station and it's fun to follow the imposter around thinking he was a good guy. The mystery is well written and I appreciate the twist at the end. Also, speaking of Coffee, man does O'Brian drink a lot of coffee in this episode.
Armageddon Game
This episode is decent for the Obrian/Bashir stuff. We finally get to see them become the friends we know and love for the rest of the series and they were the best parts of the episode. I loved learning about Bashir's take on marriage and Obrian defending it, or Bashir's backstory with his girlfriend.
In regards to the Harvesters, you would think the Federation would have a major problem if they found out that two of their officers would be murdered because they had the knowledge. They offer help, and the two officers have to die to preserve the peace. That seems wrong and kind of a prelude to war. In the end, I do like this episode, but like @King Smurf said, it's somewhat average.
Whispers
I still like this episode a lot. Yeah you know the resolution and the episode kind of hinges on the resolution but Meany does a great job making you convinced that there is something wrong on the station and it's fun to follow the imposter around thinking he was a good guy. The mystery is well written and I appreciate the twist at the end. Also, speaking of Coffee, man does O'Brian drink a lot of coffee in this episode.
I've always enjoyed "Whispers" myself, though it does lose some impact on multiple rewatches (the first rewatch is at least fun for gauging everyone's reactions knowing what the real situation is). I still remember having a WTF moment at the end of my first viewing of the episode, where I wasn't sure what exactly I was seeing at first. It's a nice contrast to episodes where the protagonist is the real person and everyone else is possessed/etc.
Yeah, nothing that happens to O'Brien is real, but at least it's real for everyone else. I guess it's somewhat a shame that there isn't really any arc significance to this story, unless you consider "O'Brien must suffer!" to be a story arc.
Yeah, nothing that happens to O'Brien is real, but at least it's real for everyone else. I guess it's somewhat a shame that there isn't really any arc significance to this story, unless you consider "O'Brien must suffer!" to be a story arc.
Paradise
I'm not a fan of this episode. Alexis was a tyrant, and I don't care if she wanted to form a community. She brainwashed that community to think on her terms and when they were punished it was outright torture. There was nothing likable about her and I couldn't buy that there were people from that community who didn't want to go. Also, just like Cardassians, they show these two kids there at the end and no one dares to ask them. I guess the point of this episode is to show how people can be swayed so easily, but it still doesn't make it a good one.
Shadowplay
Now this is an episode I find a little underrated. I loved the relationship formed between Odo and Taya, and we get our third and final mention of the Dominion before they actually show up. The stuff on the station with Kira and Bareil is ok, if lightweight and didn't bother me too much. Still, it was the relationships I found really nice on the planet and this might do a better job explaining holographic rights than Voyager, even though I liked their explanation too.
I'm not a fan of this episode. Alexis was a tyrant, and I don't care if she wanted to form a community. She brainwashed that community to think on her terms and when they were punished it was outright torture. There was nothing likable about her and I couldn't buy that there were people from that community who didn't want to go. Also, just like Cardassians, they show these two kids there at the end and no one dares to ask them. I guess the point of this episode is to show how people can be swayed so easily, but it still doesn't make it a good one.
Shadowplay
Now this is an episode I find a little underrated. I loved the relationship formed between Odo and Taya, and we get our third and final mention of the Dominion before they actually show up. The stuff on the station with Kira and Bareil is ok, if lightweight and didn't bother me too much. Still, it was the relationships I found really nice on the planet and this might do a better job explaining holographic rights than Voyager, even though I liked their explanation too.
2-15 Paradise
While an interesting look into political/sociological philosophy Paradise left a sour taste in my mouth. I did like the revelation that what this cult leader woman did is probably what would be necessary to maintain her population in this low-tech "paradise". This is something I think many of the more loud-mouthed environmentalists aren't too ready to admit, but this type of "back to nature" and simple rural life would actually mean something of a totalitarian society to work, like "Khmer Verts", since it is in human nature to invent and perfect technologies to make life easier. While one can criticize the "evolved" humans of the 24th century for being too much like bland automatons, that is also true of these "devolved" cultists.
I wasn't at all surprised that it turned out that the cult leader woman had orchestrated the situation, and even put up that dampening field (sometimes technology does come in handy even for green extremists). I guess it shows how much she'd managed to indoctrinate her people that none took the opportunity to leave with Sisko and O'Brien, but it was a tad implausible. For one thing Starfleet should send personnel down there to help those people out since Sisko took cult leader woman away to face charges.
Sisko was good in Paradise though, and his behaviour with the "hot box" reminded me of Colonel Nicholson's in a Japanese POW camp in Bridge on the River Kwai.
I'll give Paradise an average grade of 5.
2-16 Shadowplay
Total Oasis flashback here. Now I know what people meant when they say that that particular ENT episode was a rip-off from DS9. At any rate I didn't find this plot all that engaging, and it might have something to do with the fact that I've seen it before. I do realize DS9 was first, but as it happens I did watch the ENT version first (which also featured René Auberjonois). So it all came of as very predictable and the resolution a foregone conclusion - with some talk about what is life. I suppose Odo and the little holo-girl was kind of cute.
I didn't care that much for the B-plot either. I don't see much chemistry (romantic anyway) between Kira and Vedek Bareil. They should've done more with the Kira despising Quark story instead.
Then there is even a C-plot, involving Jake struggling to admit to his father that he doesn't want to join Starfleet. That part I actually liked, and props to Sisko for accepting what his son wants to do - or in this case doesn't want to do. The father-and-son relationship between them is something I really like about this show.
I also noticed another reference to the Dominion.
But overall, I'll give Shadowplay a below average grade of 4-.
While an interesting look into political/sociological philosophy Paradise left a sour taste in my mouth. I did like the revelation that what this cult leader woman did is probably what would be necessary to maintain her population in this low-tech "paradise". This is something I think many of the more loud-mouthed environmentalists aren't too ready to admit, but this type of "back to nature" and simple rural life would actually mean something of a totalitarian society to work, like "Khmer Verts", since it is in human nature to invent and perfect technologies to make life easier. While one can criticize the "evolved" humans of the 24th century for being too much like bland automatons, that is also true of these "devolved" cultists.
I wasn't at all surprised that it turned out that the cult leader woman had orchestrated the situation, and even put up that dampening field (sometimes technology does come in handy even for green extremists). I guess it shows how much she'd managed to indoctrinate her people that none took the opportunity to leave with Sisko and O'Brien, but it was a tad implausible. For one thing Starfleet should send personnel down there to help those people out since Sisko took cult leader woman away to face charges.
Sisko was good in Paradise though, and his behaviour with the "hot box" reminded me of Colonel Nicholson's in a Japanese POW camp in Bridge on the River Kwai.
I'll give Paradise an average grade of 5.
2-16 Shadowplay
Total Oasis flashback here. Now I know what people meant when they say that that particular ENT episode was a rip-off from DS9. At any rate I didn't find this plot all that engaging, and it might have something to do with the fact that I've seen it before. I do realize DS9 was first, but as it happens I did watch the ENT version first (which also featured René Auberjonois). So it all came of as very predictable and the resolution a foregone conclusion - with some talk about what is life. I suppose Odo and the little holo-girl was kind of cute.
I didn't care that much for the B-plot either. I don't see much chemistry (romantic anyway) between Kira and Vedek Bareil. They should've done more with the Kira despising Quark story instead.
Then there is even a C-plot, involving Jake struggling to admit to his father that he doesn't want to join Starfleet. That part I actually liked, and props to Sisko for accepting what his son wants to do - or in this case doesn't want to do. The father-and-son relationship between them is something I really like about this show.
I also noticed another reference to the Dominion.
But overall, I'll give Shadowplay a below average grade of 4-.
Sisko was the only thing I really liked about that episode, to be honest.
Playing God
I could take or leave this episode, but I really liked the Jadzia/Arjin story. It was more of a self reflection on Jadzia and how she went through the initiate program which is something I wish we got more of. I get the character is Dax and that's basically what you need to cover, but I wish we could have seen Jadzia's life before she got the symbiont. Through Arjin, it felt like we were able to get that, albeit a little. In terms of the universe storyline, it was ok I guess. I think they tried to make it a heavy decision for Sisko, but it didn't entirely work. I did love the scenes with the Vols though.
Profit and Loss
I always forget Garak is in this episode, and I think it's probably his weakest episode. As much as I like Lang, my issue with this episode (Which I found just average really) was it was too talky in a repetitive sort of way. How many scenes did we get of Quark trying to convince Natima to stay? Not only that, but the about face after she shot Quark was a little cliched for me. I did love Garak though, especially at the end when he shot the Cardassian Gul (Forgot his name). Garak has some of the best lines on this series and he's always a highlight. I just wish there was more meat to the story rather than Quark begging for Natima to stay. At least we got the first episode of the Cardassian dissident movement, which will be important later.
I could take or leave this episode, but I really liked the Jadzia/Arjin story. It was more of a self reflection on Jadzia and how she went through the initiate program which is something I wish we got more of. I get the character is Dax and that's basically what you need to cover, but I wish we could have seen Jadzia's life before she got the symbiont. Through Arjin, it felt like we were able to get that, albeit a little. In terms of the universe storyline, it was ok I guess. I think they tried to make it a heavy decision for Sisko, but it didn't entirely work. I did love the scenes with the Vols though.
Profit and Loss
I always forget Garak is in this episode, and I think it's probably his weakest episode. As much as I like Lang, my issue with this episode (Which I found just average really) was it was too talky in a repetitive sort of way. How many scenes did we get of Quark trying to convince Natima to stay? Not only that, but the about face after she shot Quark was a little cliched for me. I did love Garak though, especially at the end when he shot the Cardassian Gul (Forgot his name). Garak has some of the best lines on this series and he's always a highlight. I just wish there was more meat to the story rather than Quark begging for Natima to stay. At least we got the first episode of the Cardassian dissident movement, which will be important later.
