Just finished the series - Random thoughts

[defiantfan]

Excellent points made, and welcome to the forum!


As for Sisko, Avery did indeed grow into the role. He gave some amazing performances in the latter half of the series. I can't understand why anybody wouldn't like him.

Nana Visitor is definitely underrated. She gave some phenomenal performances in DS9, and to me was one of the critical parts of the show.

Rene Auberjonois didn't have much claim to fame outside of Benson prior to doing DS9. I thought it an odd choice casting him. But wow... did that actor embrace the role. I also agree he was phenomenal... just as critical as Kira to the success of DS9.

Thank you for the welcome and I am glad you appreciate the performances even if DS9 isn't your fav

 

[defiantfan]

I find it refreshing in this post-9/11 world to see an Arab actor/character just taken for granted.

DITTO!

 

[Rush Limborg]

^Mega dittos!

 

[Tora Ziyal]

^ Off topic, but I love your name, St. William of Levittown.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

What a convenient way to do a post!


Never Say Die: 7

I assume then that "Our Man Bashir" is a holosuite episode you do approve of?

It was good. I'm not down on holosuite episodes as a general thing.

 

[Rush Limborg]

^ Off topic, but I love your name, St. William of Levittown.

Thank you!

 

[TheLobes]

This might also sound odd, but I was very intrigued by Kira's constant use of the word "terrorist" to describe herself. Until my re-watch this last month, I hadn't see DS9 since before 9/11, and the word "terrorist" has come to have such a dramatic connotation in this country since then. If DS9 had been produced in a post-9/11 world, I wonder if they would have thrown that word around as much as they did.

I remember reading an interview with Nana where she talked about this, and wondering how it would change the way people viewed the character.

I think the problem with Worf was that they just tried to make him too many things. I never felt like they really nailed down who he was and what sort of personality he should bring to the show. Martok was an original DS9 character with a very strong personality that the writers knew what to do with.

 

[defiantfan]

I remember reading an interview with Nana where she talked about this, and wondering how it would change the way people viewed the character.

I think the problem with Worf was that they just tried to make him too many things. I never felt like they really nailed down who he was and what sort of personality he should bring to the show. Martok was an original DS9 character with a very strong personality that the writers knew what to do with.

I remember reading something similar and I think one of things I love most about Nana is how much she cares about the character of Kira!

You are probably correct about Worf, I feel like Dorn did his best and is also a great actor. I really enjoyed Martok's dialogue.

 

[Greylock Crescent]

This might also sound odd, but I was very intrigued by Kira's constant use of the word "terrorist" to describe herself. Until my re-watch this last month, I hadn't see DS9 since before 9/11, and the word "terrorist" has come to have such a dramatic connotation in this country since then. If DS9 had been produced in a post-9/11 world, I wonder if they would have thrown that word around as much as they did.

I only watched DS9 a couple of years ago and was struck by how prescient and insightful its explorations of "terrorism" were -- far more honest, multi-layered, and human than anything I've seen in this post 9/11 world (including nuBSG).

 

[defiantfan]

I only watched DS9 a couple of years ago and was struck by how prescient and insightful its explorations of "terrorism" were -- far more honest, multi-layered, and human than anything I've seen in this post 9/11 world (including nuBSG).

As crazy as this sounds I never thought to compare nuBSG as an exploration of "terrorism" comparing to DS9. I'll have to think about that, but I totally agree with your insights.

 

[Rush Limborg]

Well, to be fair, I'd say, if anything, the Bajoran Resistance, the Maquis, and the Cardassan Resistance would be more akin to, say, the IRA--or, heck, the Continental Army/militias during the American Revolution--than Al-Qaeda or Hamas.

The latter would be more like the Kohn-Ma or the Circle, as far as DS9 comparisons are concerned.

 

[Greylock Crescent]

^ I dunno ... you're splitting some mighty-fine hairs there. What is the essential difference between the IRA and Al-Qaeda (and any of the DS9 "terrorist" organizations) when they target civilians? Is it intent? If so, how does one judge a "righteous" intent vs. a "deplorable" intent when innocent lives are targeted?

I think part of what DS9 did so well was to demonstrate how difficult it is label terrorism: Is it a necessary evil? An absolute evil? What if "good" people are doing it for evil ends? What if "evil" people are doing it for noble ends? And what about the other side of the equation? Where do the "oppressors" fit in? Are they, indeed "oppressors"? Or are they trying to sow "enlightened" sensibilities? Those questions were at the core of some of the best DS9 episodes to broach the subject. And more often than not, DS9 was more interested in posing those questions rather than providing definitive commentary. As a result, the multifaceted explorations of "terrorism" from DS9 are deeply meaningful when viewed with the realities of a post-9/11 world.

 

[defiantfan]

. As a result, the multifaceted explorations of "terrorism" from DS9 are deeply meaningful when viewed with the realities of a post-9/11 world.

What's cool about DS9 is that it really does talk about fighting vs. pacifism, especially in the later seasons when Bajor takes a different position than the Federation during the Dominion wars.