Why do first seasons always have to be so bad? That's when they should try to grab the audience with new ideas and original plots and that's when they fail so miserably. There's only one exception and it's TOS otherwise TNG, DS9, Voyager, Ent, their first seasons sucked.
My DS9 Rewatch Odyssey
- Thread starter ananta
- Start date
Why do first seasons always have to be so bad? That's when they should try to grab the audience with new ideas and original plots and that's when they fail so miserably. There's only one exception and it's TOS otherwise TNG, DS9, Voyager, Ent, their first seasons sucked.
I think it's more accurate to say the first seasons are bad compared to their later seasons. If their first seasons were truly that bad, they would be the only season for that show.
Plus, each one does offer more good than bad in their first seasons, though I will concede the best first season of the franchise is TOS.
Plus, each one does offer more good than bad in their first seasons, though I will concede the best first season of the franchise is TOS.
I genuinely feel the first seasons of the Berman era spinoffs are better than they get credit for.
TNG - perhaps I am a bit biased as this was the reason I became a scifi fan, since I was 8 when this premiered. Nostalgia can definitely alter perceptions, especially with how much I loved the character of Data... my personal scifi hero. But upon further reflection, there's a feel of exploration here that hasn't been matched until ENTERPRISE season 1. And while the low points are really low, the high points were really great... "Where No One Has Gone Before", "The Big Goodbye", "Home Soil", "Heart of Glory", "The Arsenal of Freedom", "Conspiracy". And they experimented more than the other spinoffs, which despite it appearing like throwing something against the wall to see what sticks, I respect the balls it took to go with that mentality. The franchise rarely took chances with the first season of a show like this again... DS9 would likely be the only one that can be even considered as taking chances, mainly for veering so far off the main format of STAR TREK.
DS9 - more than any other show, even TOS, the characters felt real right from the jump. They were clearly well designed and layered, and honestly I feel it was the best cast of actors, overall. Some of the episodes may not hold up, but the essence of the show and characters are absolute standouts. And it's honestly a joy to see an episode from here and one from season 7, and you can truly feel growth from all the characters.
VGR - they used some really great scifi concepts and ideas. While the execution might have lacked in some of them, they were really cool and wondrous. And let's not forget, it was cut in total by 4 episodes because of UPN. I always encompass those 4 when talking about the season, airdate order or not. I feel that decision hurt it more than helped, despite it including "ELOGIUM" and "TWISTED". The sum is greater than the parts, in those cases.
ENT - they brought back a sense of wonder and excitement of space travel. Plus, it felt real. The use of shuttlepods, the design of the ship, the utility-based style of uniforms... everything about the look of the show was fantastic. The only standing set I liked more than the NX-01 was DS9, particularly the Promenade.
Maybe I am being 'glass half-full', but honestly... they brought me a lot of joy over the years, and even more so while I was rewatching with my wife. How can I be anything but grateful for what they produced?
TNG - perhaps I am a bit biased as this was the reason I became a scifi fan, since I was 8 when this premiered. Nostalgia can definitely alter perceptions, especially with how much I loved the character of Data... my personal scifi hero. But upon further reflection, there's a feel of exploration here that hasn't been matched until ENTERPRISE season 1. And while the low points are really low, the high points were really great... "Where No One Has Gone Before", "The Big Goodbye", "Home Soil", "Heart of Glory", "The Arsenal of Freedom", "Conspiracy". And they experimented more than the other spinoffs, which despite it appearing like throwing something against the wall to see what sticks, I respect the balls it took to go with that mentality. The franchise rarely took chances with the first season of a show like this again... DS9 would likely be the only one that can be even considered as taking chances, mainly for veering so far off the main format of STAR TREK.
DS9 - more than any other show, even TOS, the characters felt real right from the jump. They were clearly well designed and layered, and honestly I feel it was the best cast of actors, overall. Some of the episodes may not hold up, but the essence of the show and characters are absolute standouts. And it's honestly a joy to see an episode from here and one from season 7, and you can truly feel growth from all the characters.
VGR - they used some really great scifi concepts and ideas. While the execution might have lacked in some of them, they were really cool and wondrous. And let's not forget, it was cut in total by 4 episodes because of UPN. I always encompass those 4 when talking about the season, airdate order or not. I feel that decision hurt it more than helped, despite it including "ELOGIUM" and "TWISTED". The sum is greater than the parts, in those cases.
ENT - they brought back a sense of wonder and excitement of space travel. Plus, it felt real. The use of shuttlepods, the design of the ship, the utility-based style of uniforms... everything about the look of the show was fantastic. The only standing set I liked more than the NX-01 was DS9, particularly the Promenade.
Maybe I am being 'glass half-full', but honestly... they brought me a lot of joy over the years, and even more so while I was rewatching with my wife. How can I be anything but grateful for what they produced?
My attitude is simple: I like episodes over seasons and characters over shows.
Thank you, @ananta, for your wonderful rewatch reviews and observations. More often than not, I've found myself agreeing with your points and musings, and I've learned a few things from them too! I've loved reading your thoughts on DS9 (one of my favourite Star Treks) - and laughing at the hilarious captions you put to the accompanying images 
I hope your health improves - you definitely deserve a rest after taking us through seven seasons of DS9 - and that we hear from you again soon.
I hope your health improves - you definitely deserve a rest after taking us through seven seasons of DS9 - and that we hear from you again soon.
I just started a rewatch today (after a rewatch of something else fell apart due to technical issues), and Emissary is still one of the best Series/Season Premieres in Star Trek history and a fantastic setup for things to come.
Regarding the notion that 'first seasons are bad,, I can honestly say that, of the Star Trek series I've seen, TNG is the only one with a rocky Season 1.
Regarding the notion that 'first seasons are bad,, I can honestly say that, of the Star Trek series I've seen, TNG is the only one with a rocky Season 1.
To be honest DS9's season one has quite a few clunkers, fortunately it did improve in seasons 2 and 3 and reached its peak in season 4.
I disagree, but to each their own.
I honestly cannot think of a single episode of DS9 Season 1 that I don't enjoy or that doesn't work for me.
Which, incidentally, is not something I can say about the first season of the series (which will remain unnamed but to which DS9 is often compared in both favorable and non-favorable ways) that I was trying to rewatch but was, as mentioned, forced to abandon.
I agree that even the bad episodes are fun to watch. Hell, I even like to rewatch "Move Along Home"... for some reason. It's sort of a guilty pleasure because I think it's kinda stupid.
I'm four episodes into my rewatch, and I've realized that the early episodes of the series echo the approach to serialization that would later be brought to the table with Voyager.
Not surprising since the show wasn't being run yet by Ira Behr who pushed the serialization more.
I love Voyager's approach to serialization, so the fact that I can see echoes of that in the early part of DS9 isn't a criticism, although, like with Voyager, it means that you have to watch the early episodes in a very specific order and it's pretty easy to unintentionally get said order wrong.
I know, I know -- way behind here. But we just watched got to these last night and oof. Regarding "Valiant," 100% agreed on all your points. Just painful. One other thing that I wondered about to my partner -- why did the Vulcans in Red Squad go along with this? Isn't this cult of personality thing illogical? Isn't a bunch of cadets commandeering a state-of-the-art warship during a war and maintaining radio silence illogical? Isn't a bunch of people chanting their squad name illogical? Or did it seem most logical to protect themselves by fitting in? And why does this elite squad comprise only humans and Vulcans?
Also agreed on Profit and Lace, but as with the missed connection between episode plots in season 2 -- the station is evacuated, people come back, and then in the next episode they evacuate the station again -- there feels like an overlooked connection here. In "Valiant" they're on a mission to deliver a message to Zek. Does that ever end up happening, or does it just get scrubbed due to intervening events? Who knows? Very next episode Ferenginar is in chaos and Zek is deposed. Why not just link the two. Have a throwaway line at the end of Valiant about "just as well you didn't make it -- we can't reach Ferenginar anymore" or something. Or a line in "Profit" to follow up on Ferenginar allying with the Federation, and maybe whether it does so depends on the outcome of the FCA's decision. Or something. But as is it just feels like a weird discontinuity.
Popping back in to talk about Move Along Home, an episode that I've always enjoyed. I've rewatched it before, but this time around I had a realization that made me appreciate it even more: MAH is the Star Trek equivalent of a Doctor Who story where the characters are presented with something that they perceive to be a threat but that is actually harmless and that ends up teaching them something.
The episode is also just a lot of fun, with great performances from the entire cast, and we get some important character insight into almost every character who is featured in the story.
People can claim that MAH is a bad episode all they want, but the reality doesn't conform to the perception here.
The episode is also just a lot of fun, with great performances from the entire cast, and we get some important character insight into almost every character who is featured in the story.
People can claim that MAH is a bad episode all they want, but the reality doesn't conform to the perception here.
The Wadi could program Starfleet Academy tests. "Let's stress people out and call it a game/test!"
By implanting the Alemarane ear worm? (Seriously, how many people have been able to sing it after only one viewing?)
Me. I did it when it first aired, because I thought it was catchy.
I still feel that way.
I still feel that way.
