I've returned to Deep Space Nine...

[Quinton O'Connor]

It's been a long time. I've caught an episode here and there in the past, and I saw the last few again while staying at a friend's a few months ago, but I haven't really watched my favorite Trek series in earnest since... well, since it ended.

Y'see, I grew up on Trek. Grandmother was watching The Next Generation as soon as it premiered -- just a few stray weeks after my birth -- and then when Deep Space Nine and Voyager debuted, she was there too. Ditto with Enterprise... unfortunately, she didn't get to see the recent film as she passed away four years ago, but otherwise, she was all about this franchise since my mother was in diapers.

We watched DS9 together as she raised me; I was around five when it premiered. It goes without saying that a great deal of issues brought up in the show totally flew over my head back then, and no doubt there are a lot of parents out there who might not approve of a five-year-old watching this show, but that's not really the point of the thread.

Around the fifth season or so, as I turned ten, I started to feel like I could get a genuine grasp on the storyline in most adult levels. By then, I certainly felt like this cast was extended family. When you're that young, and impressionable, and you see these characters week after week, there's a strong connection that goes beyond just liking that cast when you're older and wiser. You feel like you're part of it... I felt like I was a part of that station.

I finally got the DVDs. I've been looking forward to this for a very long time. Tonight, my girlfriend and I (we've been watching TNG up 'til "Chain of Command", the last episodes aired before DS9 premiered) sat down and watched "Emissary" and "Past Prologue". It felt like putting on an old hat. Maybe not, I don't wear hats. An old shirt, perhaps.

I digress. Following are a few thoughts on the first three hours of the show I wouldn't shut up about in school. I'll post them in a separate entry so as to avoid things looking too cluttered and daunting:

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

1x01/1x02
"Emissary"

In another thread recently, I commented that the first season 'didn't really do it for me'; I recalled thoughts of its slow-moving nature and 'TNG light' story elements from the random episodes I'd caught on television over the past several years. I also, I readily admit, saw this prevailing belief on the internet and it connected enough that I threw myself into it. I never remembered out-and-out disliking the first season, per se, but there was a definite feeling that it was lackluster.

Well, it remains to be seen what I think of future first-season episodes, but the pilot was pretty damned good.

While watching this, I couldn't help comparing it to "Encounter at Farpoint", as girlfriend and I started the big TNG binge just a few short months ago. I think I can sum up my thoughts on this comparison with the following sentence: I cringed and hoped girlfriend wouldn't dismiss episodic Trek forever roughly six times during the pilot of The Next Generation; I cringed and hoped girlfriend wouldn't dismiss episodic Trek forever roughly zero times during the pilot of Deep Space Nine.

I'm thinking the new show really benefited tremendously from the built-up ratings and critical respect of its predecessor and counterpart, because you can really tell from the very first scene -- no, especially that very first scene -- that the budget is there for this to work, the acting is there for this to work, the script is solid and above all else, this pilot has a heart. As much as I love Star Trek: The Next Generation, its first two hours boldly going feel stale, lifeless and painfully campy. Actors clearly struggled with their roles (Patrick Stewart was a class act from scene one, of course) and the dialogue... ugh, some was fine, but some was dreadful.

Enough about that tangent. The obvious point I'm making is, "Emissary" was much better. Avery Brooks got me going numerous times here: his primal performance as a crew member of the Saratoga yanked him from Jennifer, his quiet, cold demeanor when meeting with Picard the first time, his silly looks at Kai Opaka as she discussed his destiny, and of course, just about everything he conveyed while in the wormhole. I know some folks don't care for his acting sometimes, and I can understand why, but those times you dislike him are some of the greatest things I've ever seen on television, personally.

Other characters' debuts ranged in regard to how comfortable their actors were from square one, but long story short, no one really disappointed. Nana Visitor was a little wooden (if that's appropriate wording considering how fiery her character is!) but she got the motions down and she's a terrific actress who really excels later on once she gets the hang of things. Rene Auburjonois did exceedingly well conveying Odo and his mentality. Armin Shimerman's Quark looked really odd to me and I looked up why afterward to learn that his prosthetic nose wasn't ready in time for filming so he was wearing what was to be Rom's. But he did a good job even with his brother's nose plastered to his face.

I'd delve into everyone else, but this thread is going to become dangerously long no matter what and I'd like to avoid making it so long that it's never, ever replied-to.

Overall, the plot of the episode was interesting enough, but it doesn't really hold a candle to the places this show is headed for in the future. But it was a competent piece that set things up as it needed to, and Sisko's meeting with the wormhole aliens, while some scenes dragged a bit much here and there, was otherwise engaging through and through. Props go to the camera effects with the whitening out of the screen. Kira's standoff against the Cardassians wasn't as interesting, but it was by no means bad, either. (Her thing with O'Brien about the fact that there were, in fact, a mere six photon torpedoes available to them was great.)

I'd give this episode a more-than-passable rating and appreciate its ability to bring its characters into the seven-year play much more entertainingly than the maiden voyage of the Enterprise-D. (And really, if anyone reads this and loves "Encounter at Farpoint", I do apologize. It had its charms, but there was a lot about it I hated.)

Hey, Sisko, that wormhole experience was kind of trippy, wasn't it? Hopefully you don't have to deal with crap like that ever again!

Rating: 8/10

1x03
Past Prologue

A nice character piece for Kira Nerys, who needs development perhaps more regularly than anyone else for now as the viewers get acquainted with the new cast. She's the symbol of Bajor, which is in turn the all-important planet of the plot... at least for the first couple of seasons. Without the ability to identify with her and what she stands for, things would be disastrous.

What else is nice about this episode -- and indeed, this must be something every mini-review, every full-fledged review, every passing mention among fans of this episode ever made brings up -- is the introduction of the perpetually-popular plain, simple Garak. His debut is nothing short of stellar. I simply cannot fathom that there was a time in which the tailor was intended to play his role in this one episode and possibly never return. Andrew Robinson's portrayal is flawless from the start, and in light of statements I've read in which the actor has brought up that particularly early on, he played has character in a pansexual light, I admittedly giggled a few times at his gentle staring and touching of one frontier doctor Julian Bashir.

Speaking of Bashir, you get a much stronger feel for him in this episode than in the premiere. Bashir had very little to do in "Emissary"; I thought maybe as he ran to help the wounded he'd take off, but apart from the nice little bark at Odo to keep pressure on the injured Bajoran, there really wasn't anything to bite into. Here, though, we really see him -- young (though still older than damn near everyone in Trek '09...), naive, somewhat dense and yet craving excitement. He's absolutely parched for intrigue, and it really shows when he's parading around Ops sharing his tale. Of particular amusement is the fact that O'Brien doesn't give him the light of day... O'Brien, who as we all know will soon go on to join Julian in the greatest bromance in all of the 24th Century.

But enough about the subplot. Kira's the star, here, and she and the guest actor have a workable chemistry; nothing special in that department, but then, Ms. Visitor is still learning the ropes on her own character, so expecting a superb duet there (hint, hint) would be too much to ask. When Kira went over Sisko's head and spoke with the Admiral, I knew she was headed for trouble. But when Sisko made a mention of having her head on a platter, that got my attention. The Major's subsequent personal struggle ends predictably but with decent execution, and what we have here is an important first regular episode that establishes more of the mythos of things and draws us in for things to come.

Best parts of the episode: Sisko shutting off the Gul mid-sentence and Odo's talk with Kira. The latter is especially noteworthy given how their relationship develops.

Rating: 7/10

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

Frelling spectacular, I posted too much to begin with and no one is going to reply. These things happen, but I think I'm going to keep up with this topic nonetheless. If for no other reason than, I can use it as the location of my mini-reviews, given I don't do wordpress or livejournal or anything.

1x04
"A Man Alone"

This was Odo's first time to really shine, and I like how we were given a piece involving him so early on. It was also about Keiko finding a way to contribute to the station, but bigger than that, it was about a first strong effort to make the station into a home. It even showcased the first genuine 'Odo and Quark' moment of the series. Sounds like a fine episode.

Unfortunately, there wasn't a whole lot for me to like past the premise itself. I found the murder investigation dull and this is clearly the byproduct of the beginning of a new series, as I know full-well that future investigations are handled with a great deal of drama and suspense. Here, it felt hamfisted somehow; the cloaked man overlooking events trope wasn't particularly engaging, the station residents' hatred of Odo didn't feel completely real to me; Bashir's gradual discovery of the truth felt elongated; the dialogue in most scenes wasn't terribly inspiring.

The eventual revelation that the victim was in fact the clone of a man determined to see Odo suffer is an interesting idea, but it didn't seem to provide enough impact; the stiff, talky nature of the discovery lacked enough substance and Odo's one-minute-and-then-the-next confrontation of the foe wasn't all that moving.

Meanwhile, The Misadventures of Jake and Nog (TM) started on a low note; I smiled when I saw Jake introduce himself, knowing where this would eventually lead throughout the series, but their prank on the two Bajorans on the Promenade felt like the only thing it was missing was some wacky cartoon music, and I'm not much for that sort of humor. I mean, it served a purpose -- giving Keiko motivation to become a teacher, of course -- but I'm talking about the direction in that scene. It was a little too corny and kind of early Wesley-ish for my tastes. Keiko's subsequent delving into the role of teacher was typical from a script perspective, but props go to Rosalind Chao's acting chops for making it believable. Her eyes light up in such a real way when Sisko agrees.

Which brings us to the other good things in this episode, strewn throughout. I loved Sisko and Dax's meal conversation, 'like old times' sake', at Quark's. That was a great bit. The steamed azna line was classic Avery Brooks. His lip quivered and his right eye got bigger a few times as he made THIS. POWERFUL... STATEMENT. Just classic. I also loved Bashir accepting the lunch invitation not meant for him in the first place and the dialogue he had with Sisko during their meal together; young, courageous little Julian Bashir is more amusing early on than I recalled. Lastly, I mentioned the Odo/Quark scene at the beginning of this review, and I'd like to make mention of it again here. Specifically, that I'm impressed their repertoire started so strongly. The actors really got a feel and the writers really got the sense that these two should comically butt heads from the get-go.

Overall, this is one of those episodes where the plot didn't do much for me, but there were a few character pieces to save it from utter mediocrity.

Oh, and Terry Farrell still seems a little aloof. She's getting there, though.

Rating: 5/10

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

1x05
"Babel"

I've been to a few places on the internet that have blasted this episode for its silly virus and several other issues, and I can see where those places are coming from and expected to be giving this one a score lower than the previous episode. In the end, though, I (re)discovered a fun little romp, at least by early show standards. I had a good time with this one; it was nothing I'll dream about for days, but it was an enjoyable enough litlte excursion.

The episode begins with our first serious glimpse at Chief O'Brien's difficulty with the alien environment and terrible condition that is Deep Space Nine, and I found Colm Meaney's portrayal of an overworked and clearly under-slept man to be convincing. Following him around for a moment gave me a smile, as did his little outburst in Ops. The teaser ends with the display of an Ambiguous Object of Doom (TM).

The drama unfolding as various characters fell victim to the virus was hit-or-miss, but the overarching theme of communication (as suggested by the episode title, and then supported by breakdowns in discussion not just through the virus but other issues, such as the freighter captain) was a good one. Oh, and since I brought him up parenthetically, I'd like to make a full mention of that freighter captain: what a stupid-head he was. I had a hard time grasping his character and resigned to the belief that his species wasn't particularly bright or something; his insistence that he depart the station and willingness to do anything and everything to that end was kind of tough to swallow for me otherwise.

Odo and Quark not only continue the enjoyable spatting seen briefly in "A Man Alone", they're also given much more time for us to see it now. If there were any doubt in a new viewer's mind that there is an intended dynamic between them before now, it's shoved aside full-force, and it's nice to watch even here in the beginning of the series, where several aspects are still a little rough. In the climax, when Quark is running Ops, their chatter is a welcome flavor, and of course there's also the laugh-out-loud response to Kira's disbelief that Quark answers her hail.

Now, Kira. She does a fine job here, but the man she ultimately finds herself seeking -- one Surmak Ren, I believe his name was -- is about as confounding as that freighter captain, albeit far more intriguing to analyze. He's so quick to dismiss her on the comm channel as soon as she mentions the virus, and then when she tries again, it's just as blunt an answer. Upon beaming him aboard, Kira thinks she's accomplished her goal but until she references his infection, he still isn't concerned enough about the innocent people suffering his former leader's outrage to do anything about it.

So, here we have a rather perplexing situation that perhaps one of this board's resident DS9 gurus can help me with... that is, if ever this topic is replied-to. What exactly is Surmak's deal? Is he a fanatical bomber type? If that were the case, then why does he care so much once he's infected? He's sort of a failure on that job description if that's the case. Whatever his scenario is, he ends up portrayed a selfish jerk... maybe that's all I was supposed to glean from it.

Lastly, I'd like to make special mention of Avery Brooks' performance in playing Sisko handling Jake's contraction of the virus. I'm not often touched enough by these sorts of scenes in fiction to type something up about them, but knowing that Sisko is still torn-up about the loss of his wife and son's mother, and then watching said son fall victim to something, that's pretty bad. Brooks carried the scene well; he's gone on record for stating that this was a crucial scene in his development and understanding of his role, and I can see why. The whole thing also ties in nicely to the 'communications breakdown and how to overcome that breakdown' thread; the gestures made and kiss to the forehead tell Jake what needs to be said without the use of a spoken word.

All in all, this was a decent episode in that it accomplished what it set out to do admirably, but left some odd questions for me in the process.

Rating: 7.5

 

[DevilEyes]

So, here we have a rather perplexing situation that perhaps one of this board's resident DS9 gurus can help me with... that is, if ever this topic is replied-to. What exactly is Surmak's deal? Is he a fanatical bomber type? If that were the case, then why does he care so much once he's infected? He's sort of a failure on that job description if that's the case. Whatever his scenario is, he ends up portrayed a selfish jerk... maybe that's all I was supposed to glean from it.

I'm not sure what you're confused about. You don't think that all terrorists are noble, self-sacrificing idealists, don't you? Surmak had been assistant to the doctor who created the virus, later he had been involved withterrorist groups, but there is nothing to suggest that he was ever suicidal (and he probably didn't even do much that could directly endanger his life, apart from the danger of being revealed as an aide to terrorist groups). Of course he cares about saving his own skin! He's just a selfish asshole unwilling to take responsibility for what he helped create.

Also, I'm not sure what you mean when you say that the station residents' hatred of Odo didn't seem real to you?

I started my own rewatch last year but due to circumstances stopped it after "Babel" (I intend to restart it one of these days, combined with my first run of B5). My first impression was that these first 5 episodes were in fact a very good start to the show, whatever people usually say about season 1. I didn't think any of them was bad - even if they weren't as good as later DS9 ("Emissary" is the only great episode among them), they perfectly did the job of introducing the characters, the relationships, some of the themes of the show. It helps that they mostly focus on the characters that the writers had the best grip on from the start - Kira, Odo, Quark, Garak. Odo/Quark dynamic is perfect from the start, the Kira/Odo friendship is also already developed and we get to see a start of two great friendships with Jake/Nog and Bashir/Garak. Lursa and B'etor weren't really necessary, but they didn't really hurt the episode, either.

One thing I noticed during my aborted rewatch was that, after "Emissary", all the main villains in the next 3 episodes were Bajorans: Tahna Los in "Past Prologue", Ibudan and the mob in "A Man Alone", Surmak Ren in "Babel". It's a sign of how smart and good DS9 was right from the start: with the premise of a very spiritual human-like race who had suffered under a cruel occupation by another, militaristic (and vaguely reptilian! This seems to be a rule on Trek - reptilians = villains) race that has already been established as an enemy of the Federation (=Humans), a lesser show might have taken the easy and obvious route of good Bajorans and evil Cardassians. But DS9 instead takes a more realistic approach and right from the start makes it clear that 1) there are all sorts of Bajorans, and 2) many of them weren't angels during the occupation - it would be naive to think that such a 40-year old ordeal wouldn't produce a lot of hatred, frustration, anger, and wouldn't lead some people to fanaticism and violence in the name of a good cause, or that, on the other hand, there wouldn't be others who would act out of opportunism and betray and abuse their people no less that the occupying forces. I realized that Bajorans were in fact one of the best developed aliens in all of Trek, because they were so diverse. In DS9, we start by meeting a saintly religious figure, and a spunky heroine with a dark past of terrorist/freedom fighter. But then next we see: a fanatic nationalist/extremist who can't accept the new peaceful Bajor; an opportunistic black marketeer; an irresponsible and selfish former terrorist; a bunch of prejudiced and hate-filled people... and in season 1, we are to meet Vedek Bareil but also Vedek Winn, while the start of the next season gives us a reluctant hero and a scheming politician and another extremist group. We get everything: simple Dabo girls like Leet; noble spiritual leaders; well-meaning but misguided people (like Akorem Laan); racist murderers; idealists ready to give their life to prove a point; oily politicians; resistance fighters; reluctant 'collaborators' and victims of what we'd call Stockholm Syndrome; slimy opportunistic willing collaborators like Vaatrik or the sadistic Basso Tromac (one of the most despicable characters in all of Trek, IMO).

Did we ever get that kind of variety with Humans in Trek? From characters you love despite their flaws, characters you admire, to characters you can't help feeling sorry for, to characters you love to hate, to characters you just despise?

 

[Arix]

I don't really have much to say, but I wanted to pop in and say that while I might not have anything to discuss, I do very much enjoy reading review threads.

Most of the review threads I've read have been from newcomers - its an interesting change of perspective, reading a review thread from a fellow re-watcher. So please, don't feel disheartened by the lack of replies! I only visit every once in a while, but when I do stop by the forums I'll happily read your thread and contribute if I have anything meaningful to say (or even just to say 'hey, I'm reading your thread still, keep it up!)

Oh, and I totally agree that, while not as amazing as future episodes, the first 5 episodes do a good job of introducing the characters to us. I've recently convinced one of my friends to start watching DS9 and am SO nervous that the hit-and-miss nature of the first two seasons will turn her off the series before it gets great! I'm just hoping that the wonderful character interactions and few diamonds in the rough will hook her in -crosses fingers-

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

Ah, marvelous. I'd come by to post another review and found a couple of bites!

I'm not sure what you're confused about. You don't think that all terrorists are noble, self-sacrificing idealists, don't you? Surmak had been assistant to the doctor who created the virus, later he had been involved withterrorist groups, but there is nothing to suggest that he was ever suicidal (and he probably didn't even do much that could directly endanger his life, apart from the danger of being revealed as an aide to terrorist groups). Of course he cares about saving his own skin! He's just a selfish asshole unwilling to take responsibility for what he helped create.

Perhaps my... tendency to exaggerate a little miscommunicated my meaning. All I really meant was, Surmak didn't add up quite right for me, but not in a 'this is bad writing way', more like a 'this is nagging, what does it mean' way.

Consider that he seems genuine enough in offering his sympathies to Kira for the inadvertent targets, but then he continued to deny he could help. And this was after cutting her off twice. The entire time he behaves as though there isn't anything he can do, but as soon as he is told he's infected, this man cares (understandably) and then solves the puzzle very quickly from the viewer's standing. All I'm left with is the idea that he's a complete ass.

No, I don't think all terrorists are noble, self-sacrificing idealists. I don't even think most are. But I'd figure this one would be more immediately willing to assist in the rectifying of the now-unnecessary attack, especially since there are quite a few Bajorans on the station.

Also, I'm not sure what you mean when you say that the station residents' hatred of Odo didn't seem real to you?

Consider it my opinion that there was some shoddy directing work going on there, that's all. And some below-par acting in many of the extras assigned to stand and frown at Odo. It all felt off-putting. Staged. You know, wall-breaking.

I started my own rewatch last year but due to circumstances stopped it after "Babel" (I intend to restart it one of these days, combined with my first run of B5). My first impression was that these first 5 episodes were in fact a very good start to the show, whatever people usually say about season 1. I didn't think any of them was bad - even if they weren't as good as later DS9 ("Emissary" is the only great episode among them), they perfectly did the job of introducing the characters, the relationships, some of the themes of the show. It helps that they mostly focus on the characters that the writers had the best grip on from the start - Kira, Odo, Quark, Garak. Odo/Quark dynamic is perfect from the start, the Kira/Odo friendship is also already developed and we get to see a start of two great friendships with Jake/Nog and Bashir/Garak. Lursa and B'etor weren't really necessary, but they didn't really hurt the episode, either.

Yes, I completely agree. It was very wise on the writers' part not to try too hard to break open the characters and dynamics they hadn't gotten a grasp on just yet. It would have turned off some viewers to see a struggle to get some relationships off the ground in just the first few hours. Kira/Odo is great from the beginning, and as I've mentioned a few times now, Odo/Quark is terrific. These three people were on the station for quite some time prior to Starfleet's arrival, especially Quark who I think it's later stated was there since '63. It needs to feel that way, and it does.

As for Lursa and B'Etor, a lot of people are quick to point out that there are all these TNG pop-ups in the first season and that it's distracting and annoying and unnecessary, but I really can't agree. It's distracting? Maybe a little, but not much, not to me. It's annoying? Well, I can't speak for Q or Lwaxana just yet as it's been so long since I saw those episodes, but the Duras sisters didn't annoy me. It's unnecessary? Within plot, yes, they weren't needed, but they served enough of a role. And from the bigger picture, the obvious ratings grab no doubt assisted in securing the series another six seasons, so... yeah.

One thing I noticed during my aborted rewatch was that, after "Emissary", all the main villains in the next 3 episodes were Bajorans: Tahna Los in "Past Prologue", Ibudan and the mob in "A Man Alone", Surmak Ren in "Babel". It's a sign of how smart and good DS9 was right from the start: with the premise of a very spiritual human-like race who had suffered under a cruel occupation by another, militaristic (and vaguely reptilian! This seems to be a rule on Trek - reptilians = villains) race that has already been established as an enemy of the Federation (=Humans), a lesser show might have taken the easy and obvious route of good Bajorans and evil Cardassians. But DS9 instead takes a more realistic approach and right from the start makes it clear that 1) there are all sorts of Bajorans, and 2) many of them weren't angels during the occupation - it would be naive to think that such a 40-year old ordeal wouldn't produce a lot of hatred, frustration, anger, and wouldn't lead some people to fanaticism and violence in the name of a good cause, or that, on the other hand, there wouldn't be others who would act out of opportunism and betray and abuse their people no less that the occupying forces. I realized that Bajorans were in fact one of the best developed aliens in all of Trek, because they were so diverse. In DS9, we start by meeting a saintly religious figure, and a spunky heroine with a dark past of terrorist/freedom fighter. But then next we see: a fanatic nationalist/extremist who can't accept the new peaceful Bajor; an opportunistic black marketeer; an irresponsible and selfish former terrorist; a bunch of prejudiced and hate-filled people... and in season 1, we are to meet Vedek Bareil but also Vedek Winn, while the start of the next season gives us a reluctant hero and a scheming politician and another extremist group. We get everything: simple Dabo girls like Leet; noble spiritual leaders; well-meaning but misguided people (like Akorem Laan); racist murderers; idealists ready to give their life to prove a point; oily politicians; resistance fighters; reluctant 'collaborators' and victims of what we'd call Stockholm Syndrome; slimy opportunistic willing collaborators like Vaatrik or the sadistic Basso Tromac (one of the most despicable characters in all of Trek, IMO).

That was quite a paragraph!

And quite a point, too. The Bajorans are actually my favorite race in the franchise, and you just summed up why: diversity. They're so bloody realistic, and I do love me some realism in my dramas. It's like comparing Star Trek: Deep Space Nine to Stargate Atlantis for example. Two very different shows, but let's take a look at a couple of similarities: both take place on an abandoned station of some sort, both feature a very non-human race presented at their introduction as villains and both show people negatively affected by that race.

In DS9, not only is that race, the Cardassians, presented quite three-dimensionally over the course of the show, but the victims are as well, and we get to see every facet of how a culture would realistically develop (and regress) from such horrors.

In Atlantis, certainly the more downright adventure-oriented of the two shows, the victims are very rarely portrayed in such three-dimensional lights, and when they are, it usually stems from worship or something to that extent. And apart from one very important (and very amusing) exception, the Wraith are totally flat-out evil for the entire duration of their stay.

DS9 is a drama. Atlantis is an adventure. But DS9 is an adventure as well, and whatever it aims to be, it typically does well. That's a damn good television series right there.

Did we ever get that kind of variety with Humans in Trek? From characters you love despite their flaws, characters you admire, to characters you can't help feeling sorry for, to characters you love to hate, to characters you just despise?[/QUOTE]

Not quite so much. The Maquis served a very much-needed role in helping to grey and murky our fair humanity to a greater extent, and TNG episodes like the one with Tasha's sister helped on a smaller scale. But the Bajorans... really, by virtue of so much screen time devoted to a plot that brings out all the layers in anyone, really wind up more diverse than our own people in Trek, I think.

I don't really have much to say, but I wanted to pop in and say that while I might not have anything to discuss, I do very much enjoy reading review threads.

Well, even just knowing someone is reading is encouragement! Truth be told, I might well have kept posting even if no one ever replied, though. It's a nice little place to keep this log.

Most of the review threads I've read have been from newcomers - its an interesting change of perspective, reading a review thread from a fellow re-watcher. So please, don't feel disheartened by the lack of replies! I only visit every once in a while, but when I do stop by the forums I'll happily read your thread and contribute if I have anything meaningful to say (or even just to say 'hey, I'm reading your thread still, keep it up!)

Haha, I'd like if you were to do that from time to time if I seem to have stalled. It could be that at some point life and its many adventures will have taken hold of me for a while and I'll have to stop for several weeks, but coming back and seeing someone reminding me to keep going will be a welcome thing.

Oh, and I totally agree that, while not as amazing as future episodes, the first 5 episodes do a good job of introducing the characters to us. I've recently convinced one of my friends to start watching DS9 and am SO nervous that the hit-and-miss nature of the first two seasons will turn her off the series before it gets great! I'm just hoping that the wonderful character interactions and few diamonds in the rough will hook her in -crosses fingers-

Good luck! My girlfriend has seen the first two seasons of TNG already, so I'm convinced she can handle everything from 'Sacrifice of Angels' down to 'Meridian'. Girl's got an iron stomach when it comes to bad writing; she'll see the one good line in an episode and laugh at it just as eagerly before acknowledging once the episode's over that it was kind of terrible.

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

1x06
"Captive Pursuit"

"I am sorry. I have no vices for you to exploit."
"A challenge!"
-Tosk and Quark

I thought this was pretty good, and I was particularly impressed with the actor portraying Tosk and the character himself. Scott MacDonald did a great job, as he did in all his Trek appearances.

This was undeniably an O'Brien episode, and Colm Meaney is an extraordinarily talented actor. The man could have been one of the Big Four in Stargate SG-1 and I never would have tired of him; he can carry a scene all on his own. (And his Irish accent is delicious, but that's beside the point.) I really enjoyed watching O'Brien and Tosk interact, showcasing their differences and developing a lovely little friendship in such a short span.

The concept of 'The Hunted' is age-old and done to death, but it's a good little trope that, when done well, proves exciting. Giving us time to see Tosk for the majority of the episode, and grow to like him despite being shown that he's searching for weapons and that he refuses to discuss his past, must have been kind of hard to pen and it all relied on MacDonald's performance giving the character a real heart to him. It worked well, and Tosk's interaction with Quark specifically makes for some great, timeless television.

A few things I didn't like. Is it just me, or did the hunters look more like Power Rangers than anything? I mean, once their leader unmasked himself that was resolved, but man, I laughed out loud at their appearance. To each their own, I'm sure their culture has its alien rationale, but wow. Just kind of funny in a slightly bad way.

The other little issue I had was some of the music was more over-the-top than in previous episodes, and (and of course this is all up to interpretation) a personal peeve of mine is corny, over-the-top sound in television and film. It often happens when a show is young, as the producers must wish to give us a full sweeping taste of the soundtrack. I don't know why I keep mentioning Stargate tonight but SG-1 for example had an absolutely obnoxious obsession with doing this for its first season. DS9 hadn't been bad about it until now, and it was only at a couple of beats. Surely it's not something most reviewers would even think to mention, if it even occurred to them in the first place, but the beat-BEAT after the hunters were introduced as shots were fired on the Promenade was really jarring and 'bad 80's-sounding' and there were a couple of other little quibbles.

Neither negative mark detracts much from the overall score, which ultimately arrives at a respectable number thanks to another small-scale, character-moving episode.

But is that all this was? Indeed, upon typing that just now, I decided maybe it isn't. After all, this was first contact with an alien race from the Gamma Quadrant, and that's big. I wonder how much time has passed between "Emissary" and "Captive Pursuit", exactly? How long did it take for this to happen? I get the impression it's probably been around three months or so, because the characters seem to have built up a bit of a repertoire with one-another, like how O'Brien is comfortable enough with Quark to tell him to shut up, or how he regards Sisko as 'if I know my commander' to Tosk. Did it really take like three months or so to bump into someone? Hard to believe, if so.

Finally, I'd like to make special mention of the last scene in the episode. I went into it expecting Sisko to be a little harsh and then tell O'Brien he did the right thing. That's what Picard would have done. (WWPD?) But no, Sisko beat into O'Brien big-time. And indeed, every word he said was the truth. This was first contact with a race from a whole 'nother quarter of the galaxy, some 90,000 light years away. Hell, man, even Voyager didn't blast off that far, did it? And O'Brien went and did what he did. But then at the end, only after the good engineer's run off to fix another replicator or what-have-you, does Sisko smile just a tad. Twisted!

Rating: 7.5 (yes, this is my default score for episodes without much to nag about that are solid and enjoyable, but not mind-blowingly good in any way)

 

[Arix]

Ah, marvelous. I'd come by to post another review and found a couple of bites!

I don't really have much to say, but I wanted to pop in and say that while I might not have anything to discuss, I do very much enjoy reading review threads.

Well, even just knowing someone is reading is encouragement! Truth be told, I might well have kept posting even if no one ever replied, though. It's a nice little place to keep this log.

Most of the review threads I've read have been from newcomers - its an interesting change of perspective, reading a review thread from a fellow re-watcher. So please, don't feel disheartened by the lack of replies! I only visit every once in a while, but when I do stop by the forums I'll happily read your thread and contribute if I have anything meaningful to say (or even just to say 'hey, I'm reading your thread still, keep it up!)

Haha, I'd like if you were to do that from time to time if I seem to have stalled. It could be that at some point life and its many adventures will have taken hold of me for a while and I'll have to stop for several weeks, but coming back and seeing someone reminding me to keep going will be a welcome thing.

Oh, and I totally agree that, while not as amazing as future episodes, the first 5 episodes do a good job of introducing the characters to us. I've recently convinced one of my friends to start watching DS9 and am SO nervous that the hit-and-miss nature of the first two seasons will turn her off the series before it gets great! I'm just hoping that the wonderful character interactions and few diamonds in the rough will hook her in -crosses fingers-

Good luck! My girlfriend has seen the first two seasons of TNG already, so I'm convinced she can handle everything from 'Sacrifice of Angels' down to 'Meridian'. Girl's got an iron stomach when it comes to bad writing; she'll see the one good line in an episode and laugh at it just as eagerly before acknowledging once the episode's over that it was kind of terrible.

I'll be sure to pop in and check on your thread whenever I'm around

And yeah, I first watched DS9 (and all of Trek) with my family, then my now ex-boyfriend watched all of DS9 with me, so this will be my 3rd or 4th rewatch :P I'm hoping that, like me, she'll get hooked - I'm proof enough that girls can be Trekkies, but I'm yet to convert any of my lady friends. I'll let you know how I go

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I'll pop back in to discuss things when you work your way up to the eps that interest me...not long now...

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

I'll be sure to pop in and check on your thread whenever I'm around

And yeah, I first watched DS9 (and all of Trek) with my family, then my now ex-boyfriend watched all of DS9 with me, so this will be my 3rd or 4th rewatch :P I'm hoping that, like me, she'll get hooked - I'm proof enough that girls can be Trekkies, but I'm yet to convert any of my lady friends. I'll let you know how I go

I know what you mean... I've been fortunate enough to bump into several women (well, mostly teenage girls while I was a teenage boy, now more recently women) who have enjoyed Star Trek and other science fiction shows to their fullest. But I'd be lying if I told you I hadn't noticed a serious gap in the ratio between those several fans and the hundreds of male Trekkies I've bumped into.

I kind of think it's partly social engineering, you know? Girls are taught to like pretty things... pink things, and puppies, and Barbie dolls. Boys are taught to like sports cars that go fast (the Enterprise) and war games (whenever the Enterprise gets shot at) and if they're in a higher-quality learning environment, then waxing philosophical (whenever Picard of the Enterprise pwns the enemy using only his mouth.)

And it's not that girls can't grow up and enjoy all that, but a lot of the time they might have already been told to go down another route. And a lot of the time they could have grown up enjoying both sides of the coin (especially the puppies, because puppies are cute) but they're already tailored to just buy a pink house and be done with it. So then they get involved with a guy who, maybe he likes Star Trek, and they're just like, whatever, boy stuff.

Forgive me, I've ranted over a superfluous matter. You'll find it sometimes hard for me to avoid showing the slight faux-activist living inside me.

I'll pop back in to discuss things when you work your way up to the eps that interest me...not long now...

Excellent!

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

1x07
"Q-Less"

"An abysmal place, Earth. Oh, don't get me wrong. A thousand years ago it had character: the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, Watergate. Now it's just mind-numbingly dull."
-Q

Now here's a great example of some of these early DS9 stand-alones: so many golden little character moments without a plot worthy of their keeping.

In many ways, "Q-Less" is the most obvious tie-in and ratings-grab in Deep Space Nine's freshman season. The Duras sisters in "Past Prologue" are well-done but could have been anyone and while Lwaxana Troi's appearance in "The Forsaken" is close, having such an absolute fan-favorite in the form of Q -- complete with Vash, too -- is so very, very blatantly a way of keeping Enterprise-D fans in the Bajor sector. This isn't necessarily a downright bad thing. Indeed, we Trekkies like to see some continuity, and a sense of this all really being the same universe no matter the series title. But it's a worthy starting point for the review because of its implications for the rest of it.

As soon as I saw Vash, I knew that personally, this might be a slightly bumpy ride. Don't get me wrong: I don't hate her. But she wears out her welcome for me about halfway into all her episodes, and sure enough, she was three-for-three after this. (I've been watching TNG also, as I've said before.) Her actress does a good job at conveying the character's mischievous, flirtatious nature but Vash's antics just aren't my cup of Earl Gray, and if it weren't for backstory-probing in the form of "Tapestry", I'd never understood what our good captain saw in her.

This is becoming a tangent. Let's backtrack slightly: I don't hate Vash. Her plots are never all that compelling, though, and the 'box is screwing with the station' thing didn't do it for me. It was handled about as well as it could, but seeing O'Brien keep cursing Q's name told me enough to remember my long-past viewing and recall that Gamma Quadrant trinket being the cause of all the hoopla. And then that embryonic life form at the end, or rather, the space stingray, felt very Next Generation to someone who's seen all of DS9 before. That didn't help matters.

We've gone over the negative marks of the episode first because more often than not, I like to go over plot first, almost to get it out of the way. It's not that I don't care about plot; obviously very few people would find the plots of their beloved shows irrelevant. It's just that my heart has always been with the characters of a favorite series, and that's one of the reasons Deep Space Nine is my Trek. (Another reason being, incidentally, it's overall plot.) And here is when this episode begins redeeming itself, for it's rife with quotable quotes and more than a couple of moments played for laughs deliver as they should.

Particularly delightful pieces can be found with Bashir's thwarted attempts at wooing Vash, Quark's almost head-over-heels attitude concerning the woman, damn near every other thing Q says (par for the course with the legendary John de Lancie) and some of the more noteworthy lines during the auction. Although speaking of the auction, I suppose this is as good a place as any to note that I found the patrons' uniform decision to ignore Q's warnings of the station hurling to its impending doom a hard pill to swallow. Surely one of them would have gone to make sure he wasn't bluffing and then realized they did, in fact, have minutes to live.

And now we arrive at what many consider the hallmark of this episode: the brief boxing scene between Q and Sisko, instigated of course by Q and leading to the pseudo-omniscient being's surprise upon being hit in the face.

"You hit me! Picard never hit me."
"I'm not Picard."

This was, more than anything else in the show's first season, the most obvious and unequivocal way in which the writer's endeavored to stress that point. The scene is played for laughs, but it stresses a very urgent matter. Sisko isn't Picard. And he never will be. By the end of the third season, we'll have already seen multiple pieces of evidence to support that statement, and we'll only have just begun. The station sure as hell ain't the Enterprise, either, and things are going to get pretty dark sometimes. Oh, and matters addressed one week won't simply disappear.

I've spent more time ranting about things unrelated to this episode than I'd intended, but that's sort of what this episode brings out in me. Its inclusion of Q and Vash for the sake of TNG fans debating on whether or not to keep up with the new kid on the block and then its routine handling of matters in a somewhat TNG-light kind of way serve to remind me that the show is still finding its footing, and always, always remind me that later on in its run, it will be a very different take on life in the 24th Century.

So, what's the verdict? Surely I've been uneven here and more than a little wandering. Again, that's what this episode does to me. It makes my mind wander. The great dialogue is blended in with a lot of more rudimentary dialogue during the technobabble scenes, and the best moments in the episode can't save its overall plot from being less compelling than might have been intended. It's a nice enough little package but it's nothing I'd immediately recommend, nor is it even one of Q's best outings. In other words, it's simply alright.

Rating: 6.5/10

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

1x08
"Dax"

"What if I find out the answer is yes?"
"Then that answer is wrong."
-Kira Nerys and Benjamin Sisko

Now this is more like it. After last week's tad-below-par offering, this one nailed it like Tiger Woods. There was even an affair.

We've seen little of Jadzia Dax compared to several other crew members at this point, though we've also been treated to a few depth-adding conversations with her, typically as she shares old times and discusses the hardships of adapting with Sisko, or smiles nonchalantly whilst turning down Bashir routinely. Nonetheless, I would imagine early viewers of this first stretch of Deep Space Nine had considered this episode absolutely inevitable; the Trill are a wealth of potential storytelling and Jadzia is clearly in need of fuller disclosure.

The first thing I'd like to address is a thinly-veiled 'sexism' motif seen twice in this episode, which I put in quotations because that's not the goal of these occasions but rather an insistence that the lines between Curzon and Jadzia, between male and female, be murky and grey for the uninitiated. This statement I'm addressing manifests itself twice:

1.) In the teaser, Bashir is prepared to throw a punch when he realizes the kidnapper he's engaged with is a woman. On its own, this tells us that the good doctor holds either to the virtue that men should not strike women regardless of any and all situations which might suggest valid reason to, or perhaps more likely, he is young and naive and so he falters upon the shock of the unexpected gender. Regardless, I contend that this is no singular moment unrelated. I contend that this is directly tied with the themes of the episode.

2.) When Commander Sisko grows so frustrated with his old friend and that friend's female host, he decrees while balling his hand into a fist that if he were 'still a man', cuts himself off, and the conversation continues from there. Sisko is a decorated Starfleet officer and probably believes that in desperate enough situations, combat with a female humanoid is to be unavoidable and personal beliefs need to shoved aside for survival. But unlike Bashir, who was in what could have been a life-or-death struggle for all the doctor knew, Sisko is simply conversing heatedly with Dax. He prepares to throw a punch and initiate a man-to-man, Testoste-a-Roni (TM) 'settlement' but flinches and abandons the thought when he faces a young woman who doesn't quite figure into this. (Especially, as long-time viewers will note, because Jadzia is quite that 'young woman' right now; not too long from now, though, she'll be a battle-savvy party girl and if Sisko isn't careful, he could land himself a broken jaw.)

So I've spent an awful long time discussing something that might at first seem irrelevant. But it isn't, of course, because this is an episode not only about whether or not a crime should be passed from one host to another, forcing someone unrelated to endure the burdens, but it's also an episode about appearances. Jadzia is not Curzon. She and Sisko have had this discussion at reasonable length before, in the mediocre "A Man Alone" and its perhaps most delighting scene. But this hasn't been addressed to a terrific extent; not until now. Now, Sisko must really come to grips with the intricacies of Trill proceedings. Now, Jadzia must hold her tongue because she -- and what is of Curzon within her -- does not wish to betray the silence no doubt promised between Curzon and Enina Tandro.

Which brings us to... ah, yes, the plot! So much talk already and so little plot discussion. "New evidence reopens a thirty-year-old murder case, and Dax's previous host Curzon is now the prime suspect." Thanks, Memory Alpha; that sums it up efficiently enough. Of prime relevance, though, is the fact that the man who Dax is accused of murdering -- one General Ardelon Tandro -- is the father of the Ilon Tandro, the man spearheading the extradition request. Ardelon, as we learn, was not in life was the people of Klaestron IV so dearly cling to. His widow, Enina, fell in love with Curzon and the two carried on an affair which is not revealed (though a bit expected based on direction) until near the end, in the Big Shocking Revelation (TM). Actually, that's not fair; there are two of those revelations -- one in the last few lines of dialogue, subtle. That being the fact that Ardelon was the traitor. Indeed, he was by no means the man in life that he became in death.

This is all fascinating enough for a Star Trek courtroom drama story; it won't win any awards with the makers of Law & Order but it's an ample setting for the thematic questions of the premise. And it is those thematic questions that are part of what make Trek so interesting to me. I will say that I am left somewhat disappointed that Curzon was not at least one of the following: the murderer, with a decent enough explanation provided, or the traitor, with expressed reason to do so. Granted, either might strain the credibility of Jadzia being left off the hook, but I can't really say this episode answered thematic questions with tremendous power since neither one of those things were within its resolution. Instead, it was an affair; surely this serves to accentuate all the claims that Curzon was a womanizer and a bit of a troublemaker, so it's character-fitting, but it never begs viewer interpretation like things could have if he'd also been the one to kill the general.

It also needs to be brought up, especially considering I dedicated the quote to it, that Sisko was willing to bend the rules more than a little to ensure that his staff arrive at favorable conclusions to his side of the case. This is the kind of talk that you wouldn't necessarily hear Picard use with as simple a performance. Picard might find himself doing something similar for someone close, but he would do so with great reservation. Sisko might have told Q he isn't Picard in the previous adventure, but he really tells the audience in this one.

A few odds and ends before this longest-review-yet gets submitted. First of all, it is interesting to note that Keiko's mother has recently turned one hundred, which is as precisely as old as Els Renora claims to be. This can't be coincidental either; nor is O'Brien's absence from the episode paramount to it in any way, since Dax and Bashir could have just as easily opened the episode with an alternative dialog. This, like the (perhaps too) lengthy analysis I provided concerning Sisko and Bashir holding back on fights with women, must be tied in with the themes provided. Age, of course, is relevant in that Jadzia is a young woman of only 28 while the Dax symbiont is much, much older. How we address this in reference to such a complicated matter as the episode provides is of utmost severity.

And now for some smaller statements. The actress who played Els Renora, the late Anne Haney, did a superb job. She had wit, she conveyed seriousness with every breath and she was a joy to watch. Also, Terry Farrell is starting to get the hang of things to say the least, or at least she did admirably in her first spotlight episode. She didn't do much but stare for much of her time, but she stared very convincingly. I do appreciate the untidy display of mother and son as the surviving Tandros do not seem to make up on-screen. A revelation like the one Enina provides at the end is brutal and will require a lot of healing. Last and likely least, 'Trillian'? What? Get me a line with the afterlife; I need to speak with Douglas Adams about this.

One final, big note. Enina Tandros' request that Jadzia live a long life is, at gut value, a painful stab for those of us who know her fate. But upon closer interpretation, perhaps Dax living on through Ezri and beyond can be seen as fulfilling that request in a powerful way that remains true to this episode's themes. Taken on its own, from a first-run perspective, this is a good final scene. For those of us who have seen the entire series, though, it's a bit of a tearjerker.

In case you couldn't already tell, I liked this episode. I can't give it a perfect score or anything especially close to it because it could have been more than what it was, but I will easily proclaim it the best regular-length episode thus far.

Rating: 8.0

 

[DS9 Gal AZ]

And now we arrive at what many consider the hallmark of this episode: the brief boxing scene between Q and Sisko, instigated of course by Q and leading to the pseudo-omniscient being's surprise upon being hit in the face.

"You hit me! Picard never hit me."
"I'm not Picard."

Q-less had some genuinely funny moments, but it was disappointing overall. However, I have a certain fondness for it, because it spawned perhaps the funniest outtake in all of trekdom.

John de Lancie (as Q): Or what? What? You'll ravish me? *breaks character, mutters, embarrassed* No, it's not ravish, I'm sorry...
Brooks: *put hands on de Lancie's shoulders, leans in an 'intimate' way.* I might.
*both break into laughter, cast/crew breaks into laughter offscreen*

HAH!

 

[DevilEyes]

^ I've seen that outtake
Kind of puts in question all those claims that Brooks was "too serious" on the set, doesn't it?

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

Q-less had some genuinely funny moments, but it was disappointing overall. However, I have a certain fondness for it, because it spawned perhaps the funniest outtake in all of trekdom.

John de Lancie (as Q): Or what? What? You'll ravish me? *breaks character, mutters, embarrassed* No, it's not ravish, I'm sorry...
Brooks: *put hands on de Lancie's shoulders, leans in an 'intimate' way.* I might.
*both break into laughter, cast/crew breaks into laughter offscreen*

HAH!

Wow. I've never seen that before. That's incredible.

^ I've seen that outtake
Kind of puts in question all those claims that Brooks was "too serious" on the set, doesn't it?

Seriously.

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

1x09
"The Passenger"

"You. Have. One... minute... to... decide."
-Bashir, as Vantika

Well, this ought to be a shorter review than the last one, at least.

To begin with, let me express one very basic fact: I didn't hate this episode. I've seen some rather pointedly negative reviews of this one, and between the heavy dosage of technobabble in the last two acts and far more controversially, Siddig El Fadil's... distinctive performance as the body-swapping convict Rao Vantika, I can certainly see why. But like "A Man Alone", the only episode I've given a particularly mediocre score thus far, "The Passenger" has enough charm to get by with scrapes and bruises.

Once again, the differences between TNG and DS9 are apparent; even with a rather Next Generation premise, "The Passenger" is chock full of conflict we wouldn't see on the clean and quiet Enterprise-D. Odo and Quark, Odo and Primmin, Odo and Sisko briefly (easy there, Odo) and the intentional camera pans to Kira on a few occasions as she reacts silently to the station's effective, unofficial 'head of security' having to deal with the invasive procedures of others.

This is a subplot, plain and simple; it's not the big storyline, but it does blend directly into it, and it's the part I found the most redeeming about the episode. Primmin's discovery of a device essential to the get-away of the antagonist and Odo's subsequent appreciation of that is a nice moment, and beyond that, Odo and Quark once again manage to steal the show with their wonderful banter as the latter expresses his Jadzia-related desires for the first time. And one last note regarding Primmin: I almost wonder if the writers saw him as a 'passenger' as well; he's not normally on the station, after all. My tendency to read too much between the lines may be getting the better of me, though.

Of course, that's all just peanuts compared to the A-plot... or so I'd imagine that's what the production staff wanted us to feel. Unfortunately, it's not so much the case. I liked seeing Quark scheming with the unsavory guests after-hours and I felt like Caitlin Brown's portrayal of Ty Kajada was serviceable. I also felt like the resolution lacked substance, what with all the science talk and not a whole lot of character. It's not that the technobabble wasn't necessary, but it could have been worked into things a bit better. Bashir is being possessed by a first-class criminal who falls for Sisko's ploy long enough to get owned by a something-or-other pulse trailing a tractor beam, and then that's the end of that. There wasn't much tension involved; we as the viewers are already fairly confident the bad guy isn't going to get away with one of the lead characters' bodies, but it would have been nice to see something more... fulfilling come out of all this.

Not that the finale is the only thing to be judged in an episode, but when much of the rest of said episode is either dedicated to the B-plot or fumbling along relatively powerlessly, the finale becomes the make-or-break factor.

And now we've come to what everyone talks about in regard to "The Passenger"... Siddig El Fadil's probable weakest moment as an actor in the long-running series. Hey, at least it comes early. I wouldn't say his performance as Vantika was so jarring I wanted to turn the episode off, but after the first few sentences I'd really had it with the slow... faux-methodical... villainous... tendencies... he was... demonstrating... because he was... evil. Why, I even dedicated the quote to him, and that means something, dammit. I couldn't take it seriously and it was fairly laughable; the girlfriend and I paused it a few times to comment. It definitely knocks off a couple of points for pure silliness.

Pausing, however, led me to an astonishing explanation for the gimmicky, hammy acting that Fadil showed tonight. It's really quite simple: Vantika must have enjoyed Bashir's British accent so much, he decided to accentuate every single word to bask in its delicious flavor. You see, we Americans over here in America Land have a thing for swooning over what you Brits and Irish folk and Scottish folk all consider perfectly normal speaking patterns. Perhaps our good serial killer Vantika suffered a similar fate? If so, then the only thing unbelievable about Vantika's Bashir is the fact that Sisko didn't laugh not once during the proceedings.

That's about all there is to say about "The Passenger"; I don't tend to speak much about scientific matters, and I've said all I can about the characterization and execution of this one. It's a passable show that I wouldn't recommend anyone rush to record if they see it coming up in the reruns.

Next up, it's one of the series' most reviled episodes! I can't wait to get my hands on this one.

Rating: 5.5/10

 

[Nightdiamond]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tev8Lnu3jPI&feature=related

 

[Nightdiamond]

^ I've seen that outtake
Kind of puts in question all those claims that Brooks was "too serious" on the set, doesn't it?

I watched it too, along with several other outtakes, and in each one he seems to have a cool sense of humor-and all of this was during the first season of shooting.

I have to admit, going from TNG to DS9, I wanted to watch "Q less", however it was something of a let down- Q was not as menacing as he was before, and he never made another appearence on the show again (though he made several on Voyager).

Around this time, you'll notice DS9 is rather deep in TNGism, (lol) as far as style and tone, but the episodes start getting deeper-maybe much deeper than TNG would go as far as controversial content.

 

[Quinton O'Connor]

Well, tonight we have a triple whammy; I made the unwise decision to go ahead and watch three episodes in a row without posting a review, so pity me, because this is going to be a challenge. Thankfully for the collective sake of all involved, I have astonishingly little to say about the first two I'm going to review.

Oh, and I'm separating them into their own posts for... pseudo-brevity's sake, if you will.

1x10
"Move Along Home"

"Crack cocaine. It explains everything."
-Jeff O'Connor

Alright, look. All throughout my twenty-three years, I've had a thing for the underdogs in life. In kindergarten, I got into a fight because the token reserved, antisocial child was being threatened by the token bully and me being the token gets-into-trouble-often-for-standing-up-for-everything I was, well... you get the idea.

So naturally, I went into this episode with the best of intentions, despite its reputation. When I said I couldn't wait the other night, I meant I wanted to be this hour's hero. I wanted to defend it from decades of persecution (okay, almost decades) and bring forth irrefutable proof that it deserves to be remembered not as a mistake, but as a unique, beautiful tale.

Well, it was unique.

So Sisko's little talk with Jake about girls was... I don't know, not worth commenting on? But here I am doing so anyway, so I guess I'll mention that I found it amusing to imagine that everything Jake knows at this point, he knows from Nog. That... can't be good. And then Sisko goes and he greets the extraterrestrials, who have arrived from the set of That 70's Show and yet claim to be visitors from the Gamma Quadrant, and Bashir forgot his dress uniform, d'oh, that Bashir, and then... they go run off and play games.

Okay, fair enough. Interesting teaser, I... guess. So the games are being played, and Quark has some typical Quark banter, and it's about as funny as usual, which is to say, it's funny. And things happen, largely irrelevant, and then we get to the meat of the episode: Sisko, Kira, Dax and Bashir are now prisoners within the rather unexplained game (literally and figuratively) that the mullet aliens have made appear out of nowhere in Quark's.

I'll be brief; this episode offered several instances in which I decided the writers were under the influence of street drugs while writing it. The acting on the part of the four 'players' was below-par compared to what I'm accustomed to; Siddig El Fadil's bulging eyes and bad line delivery came close to Nana Visitor's hackneyed little breakdowns for top billing in the worst ways. These are not bad actors by any stretch of the imagination, and nine times out of ten they impress me quite well by the end of the hour. The only possible explanation is that the actors all sighed profusely upon reading the script and in a rare moment of professional resignation, unanimously decided they weren't even going to bother.

Then there was the hopscotch bit, with a rhyme I won't dare recite here, for it might fuel the fires of hell itself, or worse yet, signal the return of that little girl. I watched a YouTube video the other day which had a clip from this scene in it, and the general consensus from people who watched it was predictable enough. In short, their conclusion regarding the birth of this script was close to mine.

And who can forget the absolutely classic stint with the drinking of the beverage to stop the characters from coughing, or the entirely-too-long cave scenes with the complete lack of genuine dramatic impact. Oh, oh, this was truly a unique episode.

That's not to say it wasn't completely without redemption. Indeed, it seems the worst of DS9 isn't a complete failure; Odo and Primmin had a nice exchange and I'm sad to know he's never seen again after this. In fact, here's a real quote:

"Well, I'm not Starfleet."

That's what I was going to put at the top, but I decided my own thoughts were the best choice.

And then there was Odo and Quark... which is as good as is expected, but I have serious, serious issues with the idea that Odo drops everything and goes along with this little game. What the hell? That just struck me to the core.

And then it's all a game. Move along home. Yadda, yadda... I'm glad that was over.

Rating: 2/10