Good/bad guest stars
- Thread starter RobertScorpio
- Start date
^Yes. Race to Witch Mountain was a very enjoyable movie. Johnson's acting is fine. He needs to choose better parts, but I agree with his reasoning. Mr. Johnson wants to do positive movies which are appropriate for children to see.
I think it is time for him to choose more dramatic roles over comic ones, however.
I think it is time for him to choose more dramatic roles over comic ones, however.
No, it wouldn't. I really hated Kira in the early seasons because I thought she was way too whiny and preachy and I think that episode was one of the best examples. The scenes without Yulin in that episode were painful for me to watch. I really feel he carried and saved it to the point where it became one of the better season 1 offerings.
Still, due to the fact that all the scenes without him in them are a drag, I can never understand why people call it one of the best episodes of the series. One of the best performances in the entire series, sure, but one of the best overall episodes? I just don't see it.
It's very simple: I really loved Kira from the beginning and thought she was a great character, who undergoes tremendous development during season 1 (and the rest of the series) and this episode is one of the best examples. Kira is strong, honest, principled, but angry and traumatized, and, early on, prejudiced, and while I always related to her strongly, it's her flaws that make her interesting, and it was great to watch her grow as a person. The episode has great writing and great acting by both actors - Visitor and Yulin - and it is incredibly moving and effective. The backstory of Bajor and Cardassia gave opportunities for many great stories, and many of them involved Kira interacting with a Cardassian character.
I really hated Kira in the early seasons because I thought she was way too whiny and preachy and I think that episode was one of the best examples. The scenes without Yulin in that episode were painful for me to watch. I really feel he carried and saved it to the point where it became one of the better season 1 offerings.
Still, due to the fact that all the scenes without him in them are a drag, I can never understand why people call it one of the best episodes of the series. One of the best performances in the entire series, sure, but one of the best overall episodes? I just don't see it.
Duet is also the episode that made me fall in love with the show (and with Trek, since DS9 is the first Trek show I really loved). Not only because is it a great episode in itself, but because I was astonished that an SF show could so perfectly comment on some issues that were/are very current and important in my country/region, now, when I watched DS9 for the first time (in early 2000s), and several years before (in the 1990s) and decades before (since WW2) - issues like war crimes, individual and collective responsability, 'truth and reconcilliation' vs prejudice and hatred and the endless 'they did that to us, so we're justified in doing this to them'.
Incidentally, the next episode, In the Hands of the Prophets, also turned out to be very topical to me when I watched it: the church was gaining more influence in the society, and specifically its most conservative part that tried (and have been trying) to impose very right-wing views... while the government we had at the time was also quite conservative. Winn was especially creepy to me since she reminded me an amalgam of a few people from our political scene - certain politically influential, very right-wing high church officials, and a minister of education who, around that time, tried to introduce creationism instead of evolution to the schools (but fortunately, this proved to be too much and she was eventually forced to resign under public pressure).
The episode perfectly portrayed the way religious leaders and politicians can (ab)use religion, but it was also surprisingly even-handed, without the one-dimensional "kids, say no to religion, religion is ka-ka" message. 
Emissary, In the Hands of the Prophets and Treachery, Faith and the Great River are examples how the theme of religion can be done well on an SF show. DS9 did it wonderfully until they decided to turn the Bajoran religion into "good vs evil" battle in the last 2 seasons. Still, it beats BSG's treatment of religion by a mile - the finale of BSG is an example how NOT to do religion on an SF show.Gul Madred was played by David Warner, for those who either don't remember or couldn't recognize him under the makeup.
Oh, dear. This opinion worries me as I'm planning to watch that for the first time in a few days.
But hey, maybe I'll love it since I feel the opposite of you about Kira and religion on DS9. 
Back on topic...F.L., I'd be surprised if a lot of people didn't recognize David Warner just because he was under Caradassian make-up. After all, the man has such a distinctive voice! But maybe it's just really obvious to me since I'm a huge "Batman: The Animated Series" nut, so I could never forget his voice from his performance as Ra's Al Ghul.
RobertScorpio
Pariah
Actually I didn't care for Warner as Picard's interogator. I thought it was way over the top...IMO. I liked him better as Gorkon...
Rob
Rob
Harris Yulin was definitely impressive. 
But I would also cast a vote for Lawrence Pressman in the role of Tekeny Ghemor.
I do not remember Pressman being so much of a standout as Krajensky in that other episode, but I think I understand why Tekeny's role was so personal. If you read the actor's bio, it is my personal opinion that he brought a lot of himself into his role--real losses and real experience with a horrific, oppressive regime. And the chemistry with Nana Visitor was absolutely unbelievable. It didn't come off hokey as it so easily could have--it was so easy to really, REALLY believe that they cared for each other, that they were like father and daughter.
But I would also cast a vote for Lawrence Pressman in the role of Tekeny Ghemor.
I do not remember Pressman being so much of a standout as Krajensky in that other episode, but I think I understand why Tekeny's role was so personal. If you read the actor's bio, it is my personal opinion that he brought a lot of himself into his role--real losses and real experience with a horrific, oppressive regime. And the chemistry with Nana Visitor was absolutely unbelievable. It didn't come off hokey as it so easily could have--it was so easy to really, REALLY believe that they cared for each other, that they were like father and daughter.
da vinci possibly was most diversely talented person ever to have lived. did rhys-davies display that believable? well, not really. he was top as gimli, however.
i go with louise fletcher, but in case recurring guest actors don't count, i vote for concetta tomei as voth minister in 'distant origin'. menacing, obsessed with her doctrine.
Oh, dear. This opinion worries me as I'm planning to watch that for the first time in a few days.
Don't worry, that guy doesn't know what he's talking about. The BSG finale was fab.
RobertScorpio
Pariah
In a recurring role, I agree with the selection of Louise Fletcher. Alalmo was great too, but I hated Kai Winn more than I hated Dukat, who, at least for part of a season, was pretty okay.
Not Winn..she was never nice...
Rob
Not Winn..she was never nice...
Rob
I thought Mark Harelik was exceptional as Inspector Kashyk in Voyager's Counterpoint. He had great chemistry with Mulgrew as well.
Someone mentioned Jason Alexander, and I had almost mentioned that myself. I didn't necessarily think it was bad, I have just always thought that there was something a bit "off" about how he portrayed that character.
Someone mentioned Jason Alexander, and I had almost mentioned that myself. I didn't necessarily think it was bad, I have just always thought that there was something a bit "off" about how he portrayed that character.
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Fair enough. My favorite guest star is Andreas Katsulas as Tomalak, then. I should start another thread about recurring characters...
Herschel Sparber as President Jaresh Inyo in DS9's Homefront/Paradise Lost never convinced me.
That "guy"Oh, dear. This opinion worries me as I'm planning to watch that for the first time in a few days.
Don't worry, that guy doesn't know what he's talking about. The BSG finale was fab.
knows from Too Much Fun's thread on the BSG forum that he expects to see some kind of resolution to Starbuck's arc... I wouldn't hold my breath. 
And since he dislikes the religious aspects of DS9, well, I am very curious to see how he reacts to the "explanations" of major mysteries in the BSG finale. It would be very funny if someone who has such a problem with religion on DS9, which offers an explanation for godlike beings as powerful aliens, ends up liking "Daybreak"'s
"God did it, and oh well, we don't have to explain anything, because it works in mysterious ways!" approach
I forgot to mention how much I always enjoyed Jennifer Hetrick as a guest star. She wasn't as appealing on DS9 as she was on TNG, but even in that episode I thought she was a lovely presence. The scenes where she rubs Quark's ears and flirts with Bashir (who was hilariously corny hitting on her) were so funny.
Like Q, I love the way she forced Picard to lighten up and really challenged his extremely disciplined manner as he had to try exceptionally hard to maintain his cool whenever she was around. She was such a delightful foil for him.
A lot of that was in the writing of the character, but it takes a really charismatic actress to nail it as well as Hetrick did. Her sitting in Picard's chair seductively with her legs up is one of my all-time favourite TNG moments.
Like Q, I love the way she forced Picard to lighten up and really challenged his extremely disciplined manner as he had to try exceptionally hard to maintain his cool whenever she was around. She was such a delightful foil for him.
A lot of that was in the writing of the character, but it takes a really charismatic actress to nail it as well as Hetrick did. Her sitting in Picard's chair seductively with her legs up is one of my all-time favourite TNG moments.
RobertScorpio
Pariah
I agree with you.. the only time I saw her after QLESS was on 24. She was the perfect example of opposites attracting...
Rob
Rob
Jennifer Hetrick was awesome. Michelle Forbes in both her roles was outstanding. Louise Fletcher was hypnotically evil although I thought her plot went a bit wierd right at the end. Andrew Robonson as Garak, particularly when he was being enigmatic in his early episodes. Suzie Plakson was always good. Diana Muldaur was great as Ann Mulhall but totally squandered by having her possessed by someone else who was quite frankly a drip. I would have loved Mulhall to have been a more regular character.
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