Okay done with Treachery, Faith and the Great River, Once More Unto the Breach, The Siege of AR-558, Covenant and It's Only a Paper Moon
Treachery, Faith and the Great River
Now to be completely honest while both plots are good, they are a little too tonally dissonant.
Like there's plenty of stuff that I enjoy when It comes to the episode, Miles and Nog's interactions, the constant ramping up of the situation, Miles' increasing anger, for example when Nog is explaining how Lorenzo will give them an induction modulator, and they'll trade that for something else, you can see Miles' face get red with anger great acting by Meany there and as more and more stuff disappears with his authorization code on it
. This plot also gives them both some development and shows how far they've come with their friendship. And I love the concept of Great Material Continuum, adding some nice layers to the Ferengi culture. A part of me also wishes the GMC was made to just see O'brien's reaction to that.
The plot with Odo and Weyoun 6 was great, The idea of of a Vorta defecting or not really playing by the rules like Keevan did is very interesting especially since Weyoun 6 gives Odo the idea of rebuilding The Dominion since the founders are dying of a illness. I also loved the back-and-forth with Weyoun 6 and 7 about Weyoun 6 being defective and Damar's remarks being thrown in there as well Damar convincing Weyoun 7 to destroy the runabout not only showing that Weyoun 7 is a little different himself and showing off some of Damar's sneakiness(especially with the transporter "accident")
And building relationship between Odo and Weyoun 6, and the reveal of the disease spread throughout The Link along with fact that one of few people Odo could relate to sacrificed himself, so tragic
. Overall pretty good episode
Once More Unto the Breach
I wasn't really excepting a Klingon episode during this run, and this one is pretty alright. I like foreshadowing in the beginning of this one with Bashir and O'brien discussing Davy Crockett and hero's legends that leads into the main plot of this episode. While I enjoy the ship battle sequences there are only a few things I really want to talk about, With one of them being that scene with Quark and Ezri at the bar especially the parts after it, I really love how Armin delivers that sweetheart line. But mainly how the crew is enamored with Kor until he begins to show his old age and then scene where everyone is making fun him for his slip on the bridge and then just Kor's quote "Savour the fruit of life, my young friends. It has a sweet taste when it 'is fresh from the vine. But don't live too long. The taste turns bitter after a time." With everyone just standing stunned afterword and Martok realizing how unenjoyable it was seeing him suffer compared to how to he imaged it to be. And then final scene with everyone singing to Kor as finally got his last wish what a great sendoff to his character. Overall an alright episode
The Siege of AR-558
Ooooh this one, I know DS9 has already done episodes with War themes but this is probably my favorite iteration of it. Getting to see the frontlines of combat instead what we usually see, the brutality and emotions that come with it, and after the fact. The building of relationships and friends only to see them fall. And the final with Battle just the music and SFX, God the soundtrack for this episode really is amazing. Overall a great episode
Covenant
Despite me not really caring for Kira/Odo I do still really enjoy their interactions, like how in the beginning he starts discussing about believing The Prophets just because he wants to go to services with Kira very sweet indeed. But of course the meat of the episode is hey! Dukat's back and he's in a cult. Now Dukat joining the Pai-wraith cult after his emissions in Waltz doesn't exactly make alot sense to me given his actions before, but since he was possessed by Pai-wraith maybe that had something to do with it. But here I really didn't feel like it gelled into anything. Like there are some themes with forgiveness, contradictions, for example Dukat not only a Cardassian but the prefect of Bajor preaching about love and how he wants to help The Bajorans along with Kira and Fala's arguments about Dukat, the nature of the true gods of Bajor and how faith effects them but I don't think any of it culminated into anything. Of course the scene where Dukat tries kill Mika does bring us back into all of Dukat's flaws his self-servicing nature, his disregard for lives, all of it which goes into the alot of true sadness of this one, with how if Dukat had his way followers would've all died, so loyal and blind to faith, ready to die for it. And Fala who took his life anyway all because of it. Overall an okay episode
It's Only a Paper Moon
Okay so one thing I really appreciate is the cinematography in these episodes, Like in this one how when Nog heads to his quarters the rest of the crew is out of focus in the background showing how his distanced himself for them. and the foreshadowing with the line "I don't want to go back to my quarters. Actually, I don't want to go back to my life." Oh Nog its only going downhill from here. I really liked how they were able to make Vic have a more serious role in this, its very good considering that he doesn't usually play a serious part. And some of the lighter comedic stuff in here was pretty like the scene where everyone roasts Juilan for all of his holo-suite programs, As well Nog criticizing the old movies as he's watching them. The progression of Vic & Nog's relationship along with Nog burrowing further into the program, it really shows visually how the problem progresses especially with montage(the music is also bomb here). And the Ezri coming in and reminding Vic that eventually Nog has to leave, and as much fun they've been having together he can't stay there forever. I also enjoy some of the philosophical tones(?) with Vic and his life its an interesting contrast compared to other sentient holograms we've seen, with how Vic just straight out says he's a hologram not a person and he doesn't considering himself to real in a sense. And then Nog's confession and how the war made him confront his own mortality, and then just Vic's response
VIC: "You stay here, you're going to die. Not all at once, but little by little. Eventually you'll become as hollow as I am."
NOG: "You don't seem hollow to me."
VIC: "Compared to you, I'm hollow as a snare drum. Look, kid, I don't know what's going to happen to you out there. All I can tell you is that you've got to play the cards life deals you. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but at least you're in the game." Leading to the hug with Nog and his family :']. Overall a great episode.
Treachery, Faith and the Great River
Now to be completely honest while both plots are good, they are a little too tonally dissonant.
Like there's plenty of stuff that I enjoy when It comes to the episode, Miles and Nog's interactions, the constant ramping up of the situation, Miles' increasing anger, for example when Nog is explaining how Lorenzo will give them an induction modulator, and they'll trade that for something else, you can see Miles' face get red with anger great acting by Meany there and as more and more stuff disappears with his authorization code on it
. This plot also gives them both some development and shows how far they've come with their friendship. And I love the concept of Great Material Continuum, adding some nice layers to the Ferengi culture. A part of me also wishes the GMC was made to just see O'brien's reaction to that. The plot with Odo and Weyoun 6 was great, The idea of of a Vorta defecting or not really playing by the rules like Keevan did is very interesting especially since Weyoun 6 gives Odo the idea of rebuilding The Dominion since the founders are dying of a illness. I also loved the back-and-forth with Weyoun 6 and 7 about Weyoun 6 being defective and Damar's remarks being thrown in there as well Damar convincing Weyoun 7 to destroy the runabout not only showing that Weyoun 7 is a little different himself and showing off some of Damar's sneakiness(especially with the transporter "accident")
And building relationship between Odo and Weyoun 6, and the reveal of the disease spread throughout The Link along with fact that one of few people Odo could relate to sacrificed himself, so tragic
. Overall pretty good episodeOnce More Unto the Breach
I wasn't really excepting a Klingon episode during this run, and this one is pretty alright. I like foreshadowing in the beginning of this one with Bashir and O'brien discussing Davy Crockett and hero's legends that leads into the main plot of this episode. While I enjoy the ship battle sequences there are only a few things I really want to talk about, With one of them being that scene with Quark and Ezri at the bar especially the parts after it, I really love how Armin delivers that sweetheart line. But mainly how the crew is enamored with Kor until he begins to show his old age and then scene where everyone is making fun him for his slip on the bridge and then just Kor's quote "Savour the fruit of life, my young friends. It has a sweet taste when it 'is fresh from the vine. But don't live too long. The taste turns bitter after a time." With everyone just standing stunned afterword and Martok realizing how unenjoyable it was seeing him suffer compared to how to he imaged it to be. And then final scene with everyone singing to Kor as finally got his last wish what a great sendoff to his character. Overall an alright episode
The Siege of AR-558
Ooooh this one, I know DS9 has already done episodes with War themes but this is probably my favorite iteration of it. Getting to see the frontlines of combat instead what we usually see, the brutality and emotions that come with it, and after the fact. The building of relationships and friends only to see them fall. And the final with Battle just the music and SFX, God the soundtrack for this episode really is amazing. Overall a great episode
Covenant
Despite me not really caring for Kira/Odo I do still really enjoy their interactions, like how in the beginning he starts discussing about believing The Prophets just because he wants to go to services with Kira very sweet indeed. But of course the meat of the episode is hey! Dukat's back and he's in a cult. Now Dukat joining the Pai-wraith cult after his emissions in Waltz doesn't exactly make alot sense to me given his actions before, but since he was possessed by Pai-wraith maybe that had something to do with it. But here I really didn't feel like it gelled into anything. Like there are some themes with forgiveness, contradictions, for example Dukat not only a Cardassian but the prefect of Bajor preaching about love and how he wants to help The Bajorans along with Kira and Fala's arguments about Dukat, the nature of the true gods of Bajor and how faith effects them but I don't think any of it culminated into anything. Of course the scene where Dukat tries kill Mika does bring us back into all of Dukat's flaws his self-servicing nature, his disregard for lives, all of it which goes into the alot of true sadness of this one, with how if Dukat had his way followers would've all died, so loyal and blind to faith, ready to die for it. And Fala who took his life anyway all because of it. Overall an okay episode
It's Only a Paper Moon
Okay so one thing I really appreciate is the cinematography in these episodes, Like in this one how when Nog heads to his quarters the rest of the crew is out of focus in the background showing how his distanced himself for them. and the foreshadowing with the line "I don't want to go back to my quarters. Actually, I don't want to go back to my life." Oh Nog its only going downhill from here. I really liked how they were able to make Vic have a more serious role in this, its very good considering that he doesn't usually play a serious part. And some of the lighter comedic stuff in here was pretty like the scene where everyone roasts Juilan for all of his holo-suite programs, As well Nog criticizing the old movies as he's watching them. The progression of Vic & Nog's relationship along with Nog burrowing further into the program, it really shows visually how the problem progresses especially with montage(the music is also bomb here). And the Ezri coming in and reminding Vic that eventually Nog has to leave, and as much fun they've been having together he can't stay there forever. I also enjoy some of the philosophical tones(?) with Vic and his life its an interesting contrast compared to other sentient holograms we've seen, with how Vic just straight out says he's a hologram not a person and he doesn't considering himself to real in a sense. And then Nog's confession and how the war made him confront his own mortality, and then just Vic's response
VIC: "You stay here, you're going to die. Not all at once, but little by little. Eventually you'll become as hollow as I am."
NOG: "You don't seem hollow to me."
VIC: "Compared to you, I'm hollow as a snare drum. Look, kid, I don't know what's going to happen to you out there. All I can tell you is that you've got to play the cards life deals you. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but at least you're in the game." Leading to the hug with Nog and his family :']. Overall a great episode.
