I watched this one again. Not sure why it gets such hate when better candidates easily exist. It's more "run of the mill" than "dire" or "****", but different strokes for different folks (YMMV). I also remember a couple articles and YT reviewers discussing budget issues and other things, but if memory serves:
It is part of DS9's first season and, yes, they were finding their footing. In the grand scheme of the show, I can understand and not disagree why it's not revered
Yes, the Wadi feel like filler and a sense of mystery doesn't quite shine through - unlike the costumes, which are as visually sumptuous as everything else on DS9.
Yes, DS9's first season is the strongest of any Trek show, barring arguably TOS's.
Even then, there are worse episodes in the series' run - and worse in season 1. Maybe one day I'll change my tune on "Dramatis Personae". Until then it's a weak redo of TNG's "Sarek", just with bits changed. Or "Q-Less", which feels far more out of place and tacky than "Move Along Home" could ever hope to do. Why the final Vash story was shoved to DS9 when they didn't really need another crossover... I read a few theories and facts and... meh. Even Lwaxana Troi, also shoehorned in and in yet another example of season 1 with what feels at times like "Must be clingy to TNG to keep the viewers even though we established from the start this is anti-TNG", feels more in place and that episode wasn't all that great either. Again, YMMV. Oh well. Anyway, they tried it, Q worked better in VOY, moving on...
Yes, it's clear they cut corners with the budget. OMG, we're doooooooooooooomed! (Or not.) Most of the "run around sets like how they do in any given Doctor Who story" (circa 20th century, like when DS9 was made) bits are entertaining enough that I didn't give a bleep about the cardboard. (e.g. the "Don't drink the water"..."the water is the cure" scene more than makes up for the Wadi folk music extravaganza. Again, IMHO and YMMV. Maybe by this point in television production history, this set back gave too many unsuspecting members in the audience any number of heart attacks, strokes, and fatal conniptions because it isn't as shiny as other episodes... (or because the content, ITHO, YMMV, was something they didn't find compelling.))
I still say the Wadi silly folk music Alamarain song and dance was intended to BE that way. Deliberately. Yes, it's easy to understand why any actor would feel queasy in having to do it, but their professionalism shone through as looking at the perform it and none of them is showing any big sign of "Why am I here?". Maybe one hint of a thought at one moment, but does it matter? The makers might all row, row, row the boat of fan consensus now but what were they really thinking at the time, before it was shown and thus before getting audience feedback where lots of people didn't like it? Or how much does that matter, are viewers allowed to have their own opinions, regardless of the official record as made by the makers prior to any reactionary content due to fan consensus and the kool-aid of the time? There's still a couple great lore-building set-pieces in the story, even if there's much to genuinely dislike or ask questions about.
And it's a great episode for Quark, which is when the Ferengi in the franchise finally get some depth and are not used as cheap comedy fodder. They were pathetic in TNG. There, I said it. And I haven't had my daily shot of Jaegerbomb yet.
I always felt it had a TOS wacky feel to it. Not the best episode ever, but it’s not horrible either.
^^this
Hey now! Enough of this negativity. I have it on good authority that Nana Visitor and Ira Steven Behr...
...well, I won't spoil
What We Left Behind for those who haven't yet seen it.
I saw and adored it back when it came out... Having forgotten it completely since then, I need to see it again as a refresher and it's a great doco. That said, regardless if all the makers, in front of or behind the camera, all feel one way or another or the other, it's still fun and not yet illegal upon pain of execution*, to read the opinions of people who view it - then, as many are wont to do, reply back and forth and doing all but saying "Mew!" over why they adore, like, are indifferent to, dislike, or utterly loathe the presentation. Makes for a nice little microcosm.
* Like how they do on Deneb IV from TOS, where Spock described with an unaware comedic tone: "The guilty party has (their) choice: Death by electrocution, death by gas, death by phaser, death by hanging..."