Did You Ever Notice This About 'Emissary'?

[ninetofive]

I wish they had left Kira's hair the way it was in Emissary.
I suppose they gave her a short butch lesbo hairdo to emphasise that she's a tough ex-resistance fighter etc. but I wouldn't call her original one girly by any means.

(Incidentally, my favourite Dax hairstyle is the one that appeared only in The Search.)

 

[Sykonee]

I wish they had left Kira's hair the way it was in Emissary.
I suppose they gave her a short butch lesbo hairdo to emphasise that she's a tough ex-resistance fighter etc. but I wouldn't call her original one girly by any means.

(Incidentally, my favourite Dax hairstyle is the one that appeared only in The Search.)

Actually, Visitor suggested the cut herself.

 

[jamestyler]

She did? She made the right call.

The Ro hair didn't suit her as much as the shorter look.

 

[Michael]

It really is a great, great pilot episode. Michael Piller does a wonderful job of introducing all the characters and story threads.

You mean "Michael Piller AND RICK BERMAN" don't you? Come on, people - if you lot are going to blame Berman for everything that went wrong in the world over the last 20 years, you should at least give him his dues too...

Whoa, whoa, whoa! I certainly didn't want to imply Berman had nothing to do with Emissary's development. Heck, the guy even co-created the whole damn show! And I'm certainly not one who bashes Berman. I have never done that. Not at all. So please don't put words into my mouth. Thank you.

Michael Piller and Rick Berman both outlined the story for Emissary; as indicated by the Story By ... credit they share for the pilot. But Michael Piller is the one who actually wrote the script. By my understanding that means that he's the one who wrote the dialog and who thought up most of the scenes. So I think it's only fair to credit him with the introduction scenes of the characters. I'd bet Berman had not much to do with it. And he certainly didn't write any of the wonderful dialog. I can see that Berman had a hand in coming up with some of the larger story threads of the show. But again, I think it's mostly thanks to Piller that they were so well-presented in Emissary.

I remember back when DS9 was bein' promoted by TV Guide & Newsweek and other media, there was mention of the wormhole and how the station would be a galactic outpost and some other stuff.

I'm fairly sure that it was mentioned in commercials building up the show, as well, although I don't remember exactly. I don't believe the wormhole came as a surprise to me when I saw the episode the first time.

Yeah, that's what I figured as well. I mean, I was around when Deep Space Nine originally premiered in Germany. It's just that I can't remember the promotion that well. But I seem to remember knowing of the wormhole before watching Emissary.

I suppose they gave her a short butch lesbo hairdo to emphasise that she's a tough ex-resistance fighter etc.

I can't tell you how many women I know who have such short hair. And none of them are 'butch lesbos'. Stereotyping much?

 

[Hober Mallow]

It's true, Nana Visitor wanted her hair short. Interesting that Berman and Co. allowed this by the second episode of the series, while it took four years for Avery Brooks to get the hair-do (or rather, hair-don't) he always wanted.

She did? She made the right call.

The Ro hair didn't suit her as much as the shorter look.

The fact that she was originally supposed to be Ro made it worse. It made it look like they were trying to clone Ro in the absence of Michelle Forbes' cooperation. The new doo gave Kira a look all her own.

 

[DGCatAniSiri]

Nana Visitor's reasoning for the short hair was that Kira was few much of a 'no mess, no fuss' personality - no need to style it, do anything, just roll out of bed and get to work. Given the fact that she was a member of the Resistance, it makes complete sense. The only thing that doesn't is the original hair. Personally, I never liked her hair in the pilot - she looked much better after that. Though her hair style in the seventh season looked very nice.

 

[od0_ital]

(Incidentally, my favourite Dax hairstyle is the one that appeared only in The Search.)

Oh, dear lord, I hated that look! God, her ponytail was so much better than that awful gelled mess on her head for the third season premiere.

 

[Thestral]

I remember watching through the episodes on video for the first time (never saw Emissary first-run) and being really impressed that they'd left out the wormhole for that first episode. In general, I liked how DS9 tweaked the opening credits as the show went along, both the visuals and music, in a way that other ST shows really didn't (to my knowledge).

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

The thing that's odd about the No-Wormhole credits of Emissary is that the station is still floating by itself in space, not in orbit of Bajor. The only reason it left the orbit of Bajor was because of the wormhole. Wouldn't an audience think it strange the credits would have the station on its own?

Bajor was there... on the other side of the station where we couldn't see it.

To be fair, we had only just seen the station for one brief shot before the credits. It probably slipped by 99.9% of fans until later viewings that the planet wasn't there. Who the hell cared about it? We were finally getting to see lottsa cool shots of the space station!

uh, the planet IS there in that first shot. look at 6:00 of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKZsWZ5u-74

 

[dave_R_treker]

I just finished watching Emissary for the umpteenth time as part of my plan to rewatch all of DS9 again. (Well, I have to do something while waiting for new Lost episodes. ) Really, I can't remember how often I actually saw the pilot episode. However, this time I noticed something I had never seen before and I'm curious if I'm the only one who missed this all these years:

The opening sequence – it's missing the wormhole! At first I thought I just missed it, so I skipped back to take a closer look. I can't tell you how astonished I was when I found out that it just isn't there! That's actually very cool and logical, because it doesn't spoil the discovery of the wormhole, which, of course, will take place later in the episode.

Isn't it amazing how after all these years you can still find things in this series you never noticed before?

Some other unrelated observations:

• It really is a great, great pilot episode. Michael Piller does a wonderful job of introducing all the characters and story threads. It's nice how all of the characters got a little scene that lets them shine. I was amazed how much we get to know about everyone, even in such a short time. It's a shame, though, that it took the producers almost another year to finally grasp the possibilies of DS9's premise.
• I love the special effects of the inside of the wormhole! I loved them as a child and I still love them today. I think they hold up pretty well, even after all these years. I always thought they are quite imaginative.
• I love the dialog and Avery Brooks' fabulous acting in the scene where the wormhole aliens bring him back to the day Jennifer died on the Saratoga: "I ... exist here. I don't know if you can understand. I see her like this every time I close my eyes ... in the darkness in the blink of an eye, she's there ... like this ..." Heart-breakingly brilliant!
• One thing I wondered: What if they hadn't found the wormhole? What if it really just was the desolate place on the border of known space? Would Sisko seriously have considered going back to Earth (as he told Picard)? Would it not have been nice if they'd have discovered the wormhole a little later in the series? What would these first episodes have dealt with then? Maybe they would have had more focus on the Bajorans and their upcoming civil war ...

However, in conclusion: I (still) love this show!

I noticed it back in 1993.

 

[Michael]

The thing that's odd about the No-Wormhole credits of Emissary is that the station is still floating by itself in space, not in orbit of Bajor. The only reason it left the orbit of Bajor was because of the wormhole. Wouldn't an audience think it strange the credits would have the station on its own?

Bajor was there... on the other side of the station where we couldn't see it.

To be fair, we had only just seen the station for one brief shot before the credits. It probably slipped by 99.9% of fans until later viewings that the planet wasn't there. Who the hell cared about it? We were finally getting to see lottsa cool shots of the space station!

uh, the planet IS there in that first shot. look at 6:00 of this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKZsWZ5u-74

They are talking about the opening sequence, not the episode itself.

 

[doubleohfive]

It's true, Nana Visitor wanted her hair short. Interesting that Berman and Co. allowed this by the second episode of the series, while it took four years for Avery Brooks to get the hair-do (or rather, hair-don't) he always wanted.

Berman had reservations about having two bald series leads. This same logic was applied when developing DS9 -- the producers didn't think having two series airing simultaneously about ships exploring space would be very conducive.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

I remember watching through the episodes on video for the first time (never saw Emissary first-run) and being really impressed that they'd left out the wormhole for that first episode. In general, I liked how DS9 tweaked the opening credits as the show went along, both the visuals and music, in a way that other ST shows really didn't (to my knowledge).

If I remember, Sisko was still credited as a "Commander" in "The Adversary" even though he was promoted to Captain in the teaser. That annoyed me a little.

 

[dave_R_treker]

I remember watching through the episodes on video for the first time (never saw Emissary first-run) and being really impressed that they'd left out the wormhole for that first episode. In general, I liked how DS9 tweaked the opening credits as the show went along, both the visuals and music, in a way that other ST shows really didn't (to my knowledge).

If I remember, Sisko was still credited as a "Commander" in "The Adversary" even though he was promoted to Captain in the teaser. That annoyed me a little.

It sortof annoyed me as well, but it may have been "cost" productive to just keep it as it was.

 

[Hober Mallow]

Michael Piller and Rick Berman both outlined the story for Emissary; as indicated by the Story By ... credit they share for the pilot. But Michael Piller is the one who actually wrote the script. By my understanding that means that he's the one who wrote the dialog and who thought up most of the scenes. So I think it's only fair to credit him with the introduction scenes of the characters.

And IMO it was Piller that made the whole show with a last minute decision that Berman was unsure about. They had just built some of the most amazing sets ever constructed for television, and Michael Piller thought something was missing from the script. He was trying to get a handle on Sisko and wasn't quite sure what it would be that would keep him on the station.

Then Piller was inspired by having seen footage of LA shopkeepers and mom and pop small business owners staying behind and cleaning up and rebuilding after the LA riots of 1991. He realized then they were going to have to make a major change to the script ands the sets. He went to Berman and told him they had to take the beautiful sets they had just build and tear them apart. Sisko was going to be the guy who stays behind to rebuild while others take what they have and leave. To me, this made Sisko's character in the pilot. I imagine Berman needed a bit of convincing, however.

In the end, Piller got his way, and as he has said, they tore apart the sets and slowly over the course of the first season patched them back up.

I'd bet Berman had not much to do with it. And he certainly didn't write any of the wonderful dialog.

I think you're right in the case of Emissary, and I seldom will stand up for Berman, but I just have to say Berman did write some nice dialog in one of his episodes of TNG in which he got sole writing credit. It was "Brothers," his first TNG script. One of my favorite scenes of the series comes from that episode, where Dr. Soong explains to Data why he created him.

 

[Michael]

Sisko was going to be the guy who stays behind to rebuild while others take what they have and leave. To me, this made Sisko's character in the pilot.

Nicely put and I completely agree. I loved this aspect of Emissary.

I think you're right in the case of Emissary, and I seldom will stand up for Berman, but I just have to say Berman did write some nice dialog in one of his episodes of TNG in which he got sole writing credit. It was "Brothers," his first TNG script.

Oh, I don't doubt it. And in fact I enjoyed many of the episodes where he co-wrote the story. I'm the last one to jump on the BERMAN SUX!!1!1 bandwagon (let alone the B&B SUCK!!!11!!1 bandwagon).

 

[neogothboy74]

However, this time I noticed something I had never seen before and I'm curious if I'm the only one who missed this all these years:

The opening sequence – it's missing the wormhole!

I had not noticed that. Or if I did, I've forgotten it. I'm planning on rewatching the series either later this year, or early next year, so I'll look for it then.

• It really is a great, great pilot episode.

Agreed. It's my favorite Trek pilot actually. I think Voyager's pilot is really good too (and a close 2nd), but given what came after it, it's more painful to watch then DS9's, which actually pays off so much of what is displayed here. For the record, I loathe TNG's pilot; I think it's dull and pointless - the only exception being McCoy's cameo appearance - which is perfection. Enterprise's is slightly better then TNG's. While "The Cage" / "Where No Man Has Gone Before" are so ingrained in my brain that it's hard to compare them to the others.

• One thing I wondered: What if they hadn't found the wormhole? What if it really just was the desolate place on the border of known space? Would Sisko seriously have considered going back to Earth (as he told Picard)? Would it not have been nice if they'd have discovered the wormhole a little later in the series? What would these first episodes have dealt with then? Maybe they would have had more focus on the Bajorans and their upcoming civil war ...

However, in conclusion: I (still) love this show!

I don't think Sisko would have stayed on DS9 if they hadn't found the wormhole. I think the whole point of the pilot was that Sisko's life had been stuck in limbo to some degree ever since his wife's death, and was only getting more mired in the past as he continued on. But having to face that and come through it in his 1st contact with the Prophets reinvigorated him, allowing him to move on. I love this show too. Just talking about it makes me want to go back and watch it now!

Have you read the 3 'Terok Nor' books yet? The first 1 is perfect. The other two are great, though slightly less the the first. But they manage to set up DS9 really well; giving backstory to so much of what pops up later in the show. I plan to reread them just before I start watching the series again.

I also noticed the nod to "Emissary" with the line about thoron fields and duranium shadows in "The Way of the Warrior". Only thing is, four years later, it really did turn out to be "no illusion".

This however, I noticed right away, and I appreciated the irony of it. It also brought home what the writers said at the time about how 'Way of the Warrior' served as almost a 2nd pilot to the series - those lines coming back at that moment, in another 2 hour installment, with new credits, and perfect moments for all the characters in the plot: old, new, and recurring. It was perfectly played. ;-0)

 

[Zulu Romeo]

I also noticed the nod to "Emissary" with the line about thoron fields and duranium shadows in "The Way of the Warrior". Only thing is, four years later, it really did turn out to be "no illusion".

This however, I noticed right away, and I appreciated the irony of it. It also brought home what the writers said at the time about how 'Way of the Warrior' served as almost a 2nd pilot to the series - those lines coming back at that moment, in another 2 hour installment, with new credits, and perfect moments for all the characters in the plot: old, new, and recurring. It was perfectly played. ;-0)

I've always thought of "The Way of the Warrior" as having the look and feel of a second pilot as well. It certainly did the job of breathing new life into the series - the Klingon arc was arguably one of the bravest decisions to make at that point.

 

[Anwar]

And despite what detractors say about how it messed with the Dominion plot, the Klingon arc in DS9 only advanced it. I mean honestly, at the end of "Die is Cast" the Lovok Changling told Garak and Odo that since the Tal Shiar and Obsidian Order were gone the only threats were now the Feds and the Klingons.

And one season later, we see those two remaining threats go to war which mutually weakened them. And it was all Dominion manipulation.

 

[neogothboy74]

Edit: I wrote this entry as Anwar was writing his apparently; we had the same thoughts, more or less.

Here's what I wrote:

^ The thing was, at the time, when the writers were saying that stuff about a new pilot, and they were bringing in Worf... I was already a DS9 fan, and extremely worried that bringing in Worf and the Klingons was going to derail the series, but the writers didn't allow that to happen. DS9 didn't turn into the Worf show, though he seemed to fit in perfectly; so much so that I have a hard time thinking of him as a Next Generation character. And while Kira went through an odd transition around this time, everything continued to expand and grow as the series continued. This proved to be just the next logical step in the evolution to the series, especially after the Founder's remark in "The Die is Cast" about the only threats to the Dominion being the Klingons and the Federation. Very nice.