Fairly new to DS9 and I need a little help

[Duane]

Ivsxy808, I would love to give specifics but I did not make any notes. From memory, I can tell you that the pilot episode Emissary was my very favorite. Runner up was "Duet" which was wonderfully dark and delicious.

I was bothered by a few episodes that partly re-hashed TOS episodes. One episode reminded me of "Shore Leave" in that whatever they imagined came true. Another episode reminded me of "Day of the Dove" in that they just kept killing and killing, but everybody came back to life only to be killed again.

Possibly my least favorite episodes where:

1. our heros were pieces in a game. In the end, we find out that there never was any real danger.

2. Dramatis Personae - I can't remember the plot. I only remember that I didn't care for it.

I am well into Season 2 and still not making notes, but I'll remember to post here what I liked/disliked about it. I've already heard a reference to the Dominion which really suprised me so early in the series.

I wish I could be more specific but that's about it.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

^ Well, if you are done with season 1, then it only gets better from here.

Season two has some clunkers too...but this is where they start to reveal essential elements of what is to come and so the show gets more and more arc-based as you go along.

I think that later you'll be glad that you watched the early episodes.

 

[DizzyMan]

I know you've seen season 1, but I wanted to mention it anyway…

I watched every episode of DS9 when it first aired, and in my memory, the first two seasons were pretty dull, season 3 started getting a bit better, and then season 4 is when it started to get really quite good, and the final couple of seasons were spectacular.

However, I have recently started watching them all again from the beginning (they've been shown on TV) and I have to say I'm really enjoying season 1. I'm sure it's still the worst season, but that doens't mean it's bad.

Perhaps the reason I'm enjoying it is I know what's coming in later seasons the anticipation perhaps?

Certainly, you can't really enjoy the "big finish" if you haven't even witnessed all the little character stories along the way. Odo's relationship with Quark for example is very strongly and clearly established in season 1 with some very good moments between them.

As someone said above, you don't skip pages of a book, and DS9 isn't like normal Trek. These characters' relationships grow. In season 1, no one "gets" each other, and they go from there.

None of the episodes are "bad" (even ones listed above). In my opinion, Enterprise was a bad show. There were lots of bad episodes. Nothing in DS9 s1 comes close to that standard.

DS9 season 1 certainly isn't poorly concieved or badly acted or lacking technically: all the stories and characters and production is very solid and it all workes very well indeed: there aren't even any embarassing old special effects. It's pretty great.

I would certainly say one could enjoy it more when one knows where "it's all going" and you can appreciate that this in't it — this is the build up to it, but nevertheless it's an enjoyable buildup.

Also, season 1, despite being slower and less action-packed, perhaps allows us to get to know the characters better before they start fighting Jem'Hadar.

If I had to name a 'turning point' where DS9 picks up the pace, it's when they get the defiant (that is in the episode 'The Search' at the start of season 3). Which is when they start doing a bit of 'boldy going'. But before it picks up, it's still fun.

The first episode that, in my opinion, could actually be called "really exciting" was the season 3 two-parter "Past Tense". That was a big turning point for my opinion of the show, first time round. (Haven't seen it for 10 years, so it may suck for all I know!)

My only real complaint with season 1 is that Odo never really morphs. I would have shown him morphing a lot more to establish what a shapeshifter was. Anyone who missed the 2 episodes when he morphed would be left wondering what on earth he was!

I also really think the theme tune is dreary. The new re-mix of the tune from season 5 (I think) onwards was a lot better. Just a shame it wasn't always like that.