I am watching DS9 for the first time (some observations)

[Court_Vince]

Finished Favor the Bold I'm really liking the arc with retaking DS9 and the Federation-Dominion War

My only complaint with this episode is that I felt Odo's bond with The Founder developed too quickly
Like in near the beginning he was rightfully like "you changed me into a solid and now that I'm a changeling again you walk in here like nothing happened??" and him taking on the belief of we're changeling they're solids they need our guidance, It just felt like it happened too fast, for me at least

 

[StarMan]

Finished Favor the Bold I'm really liking the arc with retaking DS9 and the Federation-Dominion War

My only complaint with this episode is that I felt Odo's bond with The Founder developed too quickly
Like in near the beginning he was rightfully like "you changed me into a solid and now that I'm a changeling again you walk in here like nothing happened??" and him taking on the belief of we're changeling they're solids they need our guidance, It just felt like it happened too fast, for me at least

I always put it down to the link simply overwhelming Odo and the Female Changeling's determination to bring Odo around this time. If it weren't for Kira, he wouldn't have come back from the brink.

Great episode. One stand out scene for me was the exchange between The Female Changeling and Weyoun when he suggested she was there to "neutralise" Odo. Jeffery Combs is a fantastic character actor; Weyoun's expression was priceless as it dawned on him he'd offended one of his gods.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

I always put it down to the link simply overwhelming Odo and the Female Changeling's determination to bring Odo around this time.

That's kinda how I've seen it as well, the Link is very overpowering for Odo, who is so used to being alone, that much connection and intimacy would be overwhelming. Add to that the fact that he admits to Garak that he wants to be with his people, despite what they are and what they've done to the GQ, I suspect he'd still feel that way even after he was punished by them--who among us hasn't yearned for a sense of belonging.

 

[Herbert]

Finished Favor the Bold I'm really liking the arc with retaking DS9 and the Federation-Dominion War

I agree. Season 5 episode 26 through season 6 episode 6 is my favorite of the entire series so far. I'm very disappointed that they didn't continue it further. Now it's back to mirror universe crap and ugh, holodeck episodes. It's almost like the war is over

 

[Farscape One]

Definitely not over.

I can tell you, without spoiling anything, that there are episodes that can be considered 'breaks' from the war.

But I always looked at that as being realistic, since even during wartime there are times when soldiers have R&R.

Plus, it helped to balance things out. DS9 was probably the best of the TREK series in having balance of light and dark.

 

[Court_Vince]

I always put it down to the link simply overwhelming Odo and the Female Changeling's determination to bring Odo around this time. If it weren't for Kira, he wouldn't have come back from the brink.

That's kinda how I've seen it as well, the Link is very overpowering for Odo, who is so used to being alone, that much connection and intimacy would be overwhelming. Add to that the fact that he admits to Garak that he wants to be with his people, despite what they are and what they've done to the GQ, I suspect he'd still feel that way even after he was punished by them--who among us hasn't yearned for a sense of belonging.

Alright I can see that and given odo's past of never knowing about his people it makes sense but I still wish we had like an episode or two

 

[Court_Vince]

Finished Sacrifice of Angels and I really like this episode! the scenes with the federations ship fighting the Dominion and Cardassains was awesome, I feel tho that Prophets coming in dealing deleting the dominion reinforcements was a of bit of a copout though I can overlook that
My main thing I wanted to talk about was Ziyal's death and Dukat's reaction that was heartbreaking he's a terrible person but just to hear him repeat over and over how he forgives Ziyal and that live on Cardassia just kills me
it really shows how after everything that happened and all the awful things he's done he still really loved her

 

[Herbert]

Just watched Honor Among Thieves from season six. What a stinker with a cliched "inside man starts to sympathize with the group he's infiltrating" trope.

 

[Court_Vince]

Alright I'm done with You are Cordially Invited..., Resurrection, Statistical Probabilities, The Magnificent Ferengi and Waltz
Here's my thoughts on them
You are Cordially Invited... So it might my own disinterest with love-centered stories, But I really don't have that much to say about this episode. Obviously the big thing is that our main crew is back on DS9, but other than that there really isn't anything that I want to talk about. Its a good breather episode and develops Worf and Jadzia's relationship.

Resurrection
While I enjoyed mirror!Bareil character and his interactions, this episode still feels pretty out of place considering that we didn't have any mirror universe episodes for an entire season, still it is a little nice to see The Intendant again I guess. But its episodes like this that make me wonder what the DS9 writers saw in the mirror universe since they kept makin episodes about it.

Statistical Probabilities
It was nice to see an episode that build on Bashir's genetic engineering and seeing how its effects others like him. Bashir's conversation with everyone else on the people from The Institute is also pretty good as well especially this part
O'BRIEN: "Besides, it's not as if we're trying to exclude them from anything. We're just talking about limiting what they're allowed to do".
BASHIR: "Like joining Starfleet".
WORF: "Exactly".
BASHIR: "Are you saying that I shouldn't be allowed to wear this uniform?"
WORF: "Well, you are an exception".
BASHIR: "An exception. I should be used to that, I've been one all my life. First because of the DNA resequencing, and now because I've been allowed to join Starfleet".
It also is pretty interesting when you think about the fact that Worf himself was probably considered an exception himself. Overall I thought that it was pretty good I liked watching them analyze all the dominion conversations and Bashir's outburst in quark's over the Dominion calculations and why they should surrender highlights his character he's a doctor and wants to save lives but still has that sense of superiority at times.

The Magnificent Ferengi
This episode was way better than I thought it was gonna be, Quark and Rom's little scene where they pop into Sisko's office and they just excuse themselves was pretty funny and watching Quark and Rom gather up all the Ferengi and try keep the deal under control was hilarious. And Keevan his snark and interactions with the team were great and his last words being "I hate Ferengi" perfect .

Waltz
Watching Dukat's descent into madness and his hallucinations was fascinating and Sisko slowing realizing that Dukat is not as recovered as he seems/seemed has such good tension to it. His argument with Sisko over his actions in the occupation and he was trying save wanted to rule differently despite the fact even with some of attempts at a softer hand ruling still caused millions(or billions I can't remember which) of deaths really show well the whole "villians never think of themselves as villians" things can work. But the one thing I have to bring up is whether they should have brought him back. imo they shouldn't have Dukat arc was done here and I feel that it was good end for him. But overall a great episode

 

[kkt]

\
The Magnificent Ferengi
This episode was way better than I thought it was gonna be,

Yep, DS9 stole only from the best

 

[Court_Vince]

Yep, DS9 stole only from the best

lol who'd they steal it from?

 

[saladdays]

lol who'd they steal it from?

Not "stealing" exactly, but the title is taken from the film The Magnificent Seven, and there are several homages in that episode to the film.

The Magnificent Seven is actually a remake of the Japanese film Seven Samurai, so I guess you could probably find some homages to that film as well.

 

[Bad Thoughts]

Not "stealing" exactly, but the title is taken from the film The Magnificent Seven, and there are several homages in that episode to the film.

The Magnificent Seven is actually a remake of the Japanese film Seven Samurai, so I guess you could probably find some homages to that film as well.

Yes, ISB likes his old movies.

 

[STEPhon IT]

Waltz
Watching Dukat's descent into madness and his hallucinations was fascinating and Sisko slowing realizing that Dukat is not as recovered as he seems/seemed has such good tension to it. His argument with Sisko over his actions in the occupation and he was trying save wanted to rule differently despite the fact even with some of attempts at a softer hand ruling still caused millions(or billions I can't remember which) really how well the whole "villians never think of themselves as villians" things can work. But the one thing I have to bring up is whether they should have brought him back. imo they shouldn't have Dukat arc was done here and I feel that it was good end for him. But overall a great episode

Dukat is an unreliable narrator in this episode, who the hell knows what he's talking about or what his motivations originally were for Bajor??? In this episode Dukat is simply "EVIL" and lost all of the 3 dimensional complexities I loved about him in the first 3 seasons of the series. He's flushed down the toilet bowl and sadly he'll continue to spiral down to the realm of mediocrity, I agree with you the character was better off done in that episode.

 

[kkt]

In Waltz, the parts where Dukat was saying how compassionate he wanted to be towards the Bajorans seem like he's pretty unreliable. The part where worked down to wishing he had slaughtered them all when he had the chance seem more like the real Dukat. However, I agree, they did lose the interesting three dimensional character that Dukat used to have. I wish they had continued to use Dukat as ambiguous up to the end, rather than set him up as just evil to be destroyed.

 

[Court_Vince]

Not "stealing" exactly, but the title is taken from the film The Magnificent Seven, and there are several homages in that episode to the film.

The Magnificent Seven is actually a remake of the Japanese film Seven Samurai, so I guess you could probably find some homages to that film as well.

Ah I see

Dukat is an unreliable narrator in this episode, who the hell knows what he's talking about or what his motivations originally were for Bajor??? In this episode Dukat is simply "EVIL" and lost all of the 3 dimensional complexities I loved about him in the first 3 seasons of the series. He's flushed down the toilet bowl and sadly he'll continue to spiral down to the realm of mediocrity, I agree with you the character was better off done in that episode.

Yeah it sucks considering that Dukat is probably one of my favorite villians now that I'm watching DS9. It honestly feels now that the writers didn't seem get all of Dukat's 3 dimensions and how ending Dukat's character here probably could've made the him even better but I guess not . And one thing I have bring up is how in this season it seems there are a lot of episodes that jump in quality/interest for me. Like for example You are Cordially Invited... and Resurrection while these are both alright episodes they just imo don't feel or seem very interesting and Resurrection in particular is just out of place and One small ship while having a pretty cool concept is still largely forgettable for me.

 

[Court_Vince]

In Waltz, the parts where Dukat was saying how compassionate he wanted to be towards the Bajorans seem like he's pretty unreliable. The part where worked down to wishing he had slaughtered them all when he had the chance seem more like the real Dukat. However, I agree, they did lose the interesting three dimensional character that Dukat used to have. I wish they had continued to use Dukat as ambiguous up to the end, rather than set him up as just evil to be destroyed.

Agreed I definitely take what Dukat said in this episode with massive grains of salt. And its probably going to annoy me for while with the direction they took Dukat's character

 

[Bad Thoughts]

In Waltz, the parts where Dukat was saying how compassionate he wanted to be towards the Bajorans seem like he's pretty unreliable. The part where worked down to wishing he had slaughtered them all when he had the chance seem more like the real Dukat.

He's unreliable to the extent that his own worldview is warped, and his sense of charity and benevolence don't match our definitions. However, Dukat is entirely familiar as a colonizer or imperialist, who believes that they are fulfilling the sacred of duty of bringing "civilization" to the primitive peoples. Forcing them to work in slavery was the price they paid for the gifts that the West brought them. Dukat's thinking is the same as that of the British officers of the Raj, the French administrators of West Africa, and the German soldiers in South West Africa.

 

[kkt]

He's unreliable to the extent that his own worldview is warped, and his sense of charity and benevolence don't match our definitions. However, Dukat is entirely familiar as a colonizer or imperialist, who believes that they are fulfilling the sacred of duty of bringing "civilization" to the primitive peoples. Forcing them to work in slavery was the price they paid for the gifts that the West brought them. Dukat's thinking is the same as that of the British officers of the Raj, the French administrators of West Africa, and the German soldiers in South West Africa.

Yes. Also the Americans regarding the American Indians in the 1800s and 1900s, and the Americans in the Philippines.

 

[STEPhon IT]

Ah I see

Yeah it sucks considering that Dukat is probably one of my favorite villians now that I'm watching DS9. It honestly feels now that the writers didn't seem get all of Dukat's 3 dimensions and how ending Dukat's character here probably could've made the him even better but I guess not . And one thing I have bring up is how in this season it seems there are a lot of episodes that jump in quality/interest for me. Like for example You are Cordially Invited... and Resurrection while these are both alright episodes they just imo don't feel or seem very interesting and Resurrection in particular is just out of place and One small ship while having a pretty cool concept is still largely forgettable for me.

Dukat in the first 3 seasons, like Garak, his interests were to the benefit of Cardassia, like a patriot who can only see the views of the political order. Make a treaty with the Federation? If it benefits Cardassia?! Make kind with Bajorans? If it only benefits Cardassia?! The one thing there was no doubt in my mind was Dukat loved being a Cardassian and his true loyalties was his country. The episode "Explorers" was a very good story, here Sisko and Jake journey to the stars in a primitive ship to Cardassia. Dukat thought it was dangerous and risky but in the end he congratulated Sisko and Son rewarded there journey in a burst of a firework celebration. This was a well faceted character.