My Trek through The Dominion War

[Sisko4Life]

"Rapture" - This was a great foreshadowing episode. It was interesting because Sisko was kind of telling the future in his visions. "The Locusts... they are surrounding Bajor! Wait.. the Locusts past Bajor! They went to Cardassia!!!!" Biggest giveaway in the world. Hmm.. wonder why they chose this episode to change uniforms?

"The Darkness and The Light" - This was one of those cooky episodes... Just wierd wierd wierd. It was pretty suspenseful but I was disappointed to see some old loser Cardassian behind all of it.

 

[Sisko4Life]

"The Begotten" - Ahhh... another Odo episode. It was pretty average, but it was nice to see Odo get his abilities back. I was kind of sick of him whining about being a frail "solid" in every episode. Hmmm, next up... a showdown between Eddington and Sisko! This one will be good.

 

[Sisko4Life]

"For the Uniform" - Wow, this was one spectacular episode... FANTASTIC. Everything was great about this episode. The hero / villain analogy and the fact that it really does live up to Dukat's quote "One man's villain is another man's hero." I enjoyed the Maquis in this episode particularly (I didn't care for them in TNG and VOY) because they were really aggressive and clever. Eddington had some brilliant tactics but how long did he think he could keep the Defiant disabled? Long enough to conquer the DMZ??? I think this may have been one of the best hour long action episodes I've seen in all three seasons!


"In Purgatory's Shadow / By Inferno's Light" - I have to review these at the same time, because I watched them together. This was one of the standout episodes I remember seeing way back in DS9s first re-run on TV. This and Improbable Cause / Die is Cast were the only things I can really remember, but it was still vague.

Anyway, In my opinion, this is the best "feature long" episode of DS9 so far. So much of what has been building up for nearly three seasons finally comes true in this episode.

In Purgatory's Shadow is a little weaker because it is the set-up, but the climax just brings the whole thing together. I wish we were given more insight as to how Dukat negotiated the alliance and got himself as the supreme dictator of his people seemingly overnight. What happened to the original government? The looks on everyone on DS9's faces when Dukat escorted the Dominion fleet to Cardassia is priceless... Just priceless. Though this all happens at the beginning of the next episode, the cliffhanger was unbelievable!

By Infernos Light was very fast paced but I think they drew in too much attention to the Bashir changeling (like we couldn't figure it out ourselves). I think what made this episode so fantastic was the fact that we are given no solid picture of what happens after the Dominion head to Cardassia. The retreating Klingon fleet left me yearning to know the details. The presumed slaughtering of the Maquis, the fortification of Cardassia, and Dukat working with Weyoun are all seeds that you just want to see grow in this episode but are left to think for yourself. I was pretty skeptical of the Romulan help so that didn't do much for me.

For the internment camp scenes, I enjoyed the Jem'Hadar soldier that showed honor (can't pronouce his name) but Deyos was a deliciously evil Vorta. "Shoot em both." The ties between Garak, Tain, and Battle of the Omarion Nebula was a brilliant idea to continue. I can just go on and on about these episodes, but you guys get the idea. Definately voting for this for all time best of DS9 (should be paired together though!!!).

 

[Temis the Vorta]

The looks on everyone on DS9's faces when Dukat escorted the Dominion fleet to Cardassia is priceless... Just priceless. Though this all happens at the beginning of the next episode, the cliffhanger was unbelievable!

That was one of the great Dukat moments. And it connects to Return to Grace from the previous season - presumably Dukat finagled his way back into power on Cardassia via making an agreement with the Dominion (probably with Weyoun). It was either that or stick to his hopeless quest to fight Klingons on his own. That's just not Dukat's style. Much more in-character to roll the dice with a questionable alliance that he egotistically thinks he can control. And his new position of power is what allowed him to fulfill his dream of having Ziyal be an accepted member of Cardie society...if that's a key motivating factor here, it's very important to future events...

I would love to read a book or fanfic that fills in the blanks for Dukat's story between Return to Grace and Purgatory/Inferno. Suggestions?

 

[Sisko4Life]

presumably Dukat finagled his way back into power on Cardassia via making an agreement with the Dominion (probably with Weyoun).

Yeah, I understand that but how did Dukat get the existing Cardassian government to agree to this? It seems like he just invited the Dominion in and they said "hey Cardassia, were here to help! Detapa Council, your all fired..." Maybe the Dominion seized control of the government violently when they reached Cardassia (and Dukat "convinced" the government to surrender). But yeah a novel on that would be so cool.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

presumably Dukat finagled his way back into power on Cardassia via making an agreement with the Dominion (probably with Weyoun).

Yeah, I understand that but how did Dukat get the existing Cardassian government to agree to this? It seems like he just invited the Dominion in and they said "hey Cardassia, were here to help! Detapa Council, your all fired..." Maybe the Dominion seized control of the government violently when they reached Cardassia (and Dukat "convinced" the government to surrender). But yeah a novel on that would be so cool.

That's the scenario I envision; a cut line in "Ties of Blood and Water" says that the Chief Archon (might've still been Makbar, but we don't know) tried to resist the takeover.

 

[Sisko4Life]

Yeah, but then again I think I remember Dukat telling Sisko at the end that statues were already erected of him, meaning that a lot of Cardassians must have agreed with it. Damar mentioned in his rebellion "declaration," "like most Cardassians, I rejoiced when we joined the Dominion."

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Yeah, but then again I think I remember Dukat telling Sisko at the end that statues were already erected of him, meaning that a lot of Cardassians must have agreed with it. Damar mentioned in his rebellion "declaration," "like most Cardassians, I rejoiced when we joined the Dominion."

Hard to tell what was true and what wasn't. I've always liked this Cold War story:

----

While denouncing Joseph Stalin in a speech one day, Khrushchev was interrupted by a voice from the audience: "You were one of Stalin's colleagues," the man declared. "Why didn't you stop him?"

"Who said that!?" Khrushchev roared. This was followed by a terrified silence - only broken at last by Khrushchev himself.

"Now..." he said in a quiet voice, "Now you know why."

----

Point being, you never know who's on board, and who's just putting on a front so they don't get singled out and hauled off to the gulag.

As for Damar, I imagine HE meant it. But every one of those others celebrating? I imagine some of them did it so their neighbors--and the successor to the Obsidian Order--didn't figure out they were dissidents.

 

[Sisko4Life]

"Doctor Bashir, I Presume?" - Interesting. So this is where his secret finally comes out. There were hundereds of references to this in the later seasons so it was good to see the backstory behind it. However, the episode was extremely mediocre.

 

[Sisko4Life]

"A Simple Investigation" - Have the feeling that I saw this episode before... it was super mediocre, but I do enjoy watching Odo develop as a character. I root for him to get a lady someday.

 

[Sisko4Life]

I've been skimping on DS9 a bit. I really should get back into the late night routine but I had so many exams. I got a good chuck in this weekend:

"Business as Usual / Ferengi Love Songs" - grouped these together because I hated them... Both of them. They were poor Ferengi episodes and they couldn't keep my interest.

"The Ties of Blood and Water" - This episode was pretty decent. I liked it mainly because we finally see Dukat at his lofty position as the head of the Cardassian government. I chuckled at Sisko cutting him off, "The Federation doesn't recognize Cardassia's government... (later on). I wouldn't hold my breath Dukat!" Ha, made me laugh. Weyoun was comical too playing Dabo and acting like a child. The story was interesting with Kira and the Cardassian but I liked the Dukat / Weyoun interaction the most.

"Soldiers of the Empire" - This was a good episode to really introduce Martok. It reminded me of the later seasons' voyages aboard the Rotarran. I was a little shocked at how much of a coward Martok was, but it was understandable seeing as how the Jem'Hadar tortured him for so long.

"Blaze of Glory" - This...episode...is.... great!!!!!!! Season five had a bit of a lull since Purgatory / Inferno but this really stepped it up. I think in my re-watches I will separate the "story" episodes from the "interlude" episodes. This gave us the much needed insight on what became of the Maquis as we were only given assumed information. I liked Eddington once again in this episode but I was disappointed that the missles never really existed. I spent some time contemplating Eddington's motives which really kept me interested. It was hard to believe that he REALLY didn't care about the complete death of the Federation by starting the war.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

"The Ties of Blood and Water" - This episode was pretty decent. I liked it mainly because we finally see Dukat at his lofty position as the head of the Cardassian government. I chuckled at Sisko cutting him off, "The Federation doesn't recognize Cardassia's government... (later on). I wouldn't hold my breath Dukat!" Ha, made me laugh. Weyoun was comical too playing Dabo and acting like a child. The story was interesting with Kira and the Cardassian but I liked the Dukat / Weyoun interaction the most.

Yeah, the Dukat/Weyoun interactions were always interesting.

But for me, it was the main story that was the best. Maybe I'm a sap--or maybe it was just how well-acted the interaction between them was. I have a feeling Lawrence Pressman was taking that role very seriously and putting a lot of personal experience into it (read his bio on Memory Alpha and you'll see what I mean), and Nana Visitor played off of it very well.

I got misty-eyed several times as it progressed. And I just BAWLED at the end, and I am not ashamed to admit it.

I'll be interested, whenever you work your way back to the third season, to see what you think of the two episodes taken together.

"Soldiers of the Empire" - This was a good episode to really introduce Martok. It reminded me of the later seasons' voyages aboard the Rotarran. I was a little shocked at how much of a coward Martok was, but it was understandable seeing as how the Jem'Hadar tortured him for so long.

I've never been as much of a fan of the Klingon episodes--probably for the lack of the exact things that make me love Cardassian episodes so much. There just isn't any subtlety, intrigue, or emotional pull about them; everything's so cut and dry, and you can pretty much always predict the plot: somebody is going to do something dishonorable (or be tempted to do so), and Worf steps in to point out the honorable thing. And lots of killing and bloodwine.

 

[Sisko4Life]

Can never get enough killing and bloodwine!

But I think what made the Klingon episodes great was the alliance. The Klingon-Federation alliance was very enjoyable because the cultures were so different, yet both sides shared a mutual respect (most of the time).

 

[Marie1]

Season 6 arrived this morning before expecting it, but I popped it in immediately!

"Rocks and Shoals" - Nice continuation on the first episode. Really learned a lot about Jem'Hadar soldiers in this episode. I liked the Jem'Hadar leader a hell of a lot more than Keevan. Keevan seems like the Weyoun that you just want to kill; hes not as warm and sinister... more like the punk from grade school. But anyway, the Jem'Hadar are honorable soliders, and I really like that about them as "villains." Its the fact that they really aren't villains, more like "tools" of war. Biological obedience aside, I respected them holding up their end of the deal as a Romulan or Cardassian in that situation would try to find a way out of a tough situation. I think Sisko will agree with me on this one, because he showed some concern and respect for the soldier, and just wanted to kill Keevan (I don't blame him).

Yes!!! Yes!!! I think thats why they chose a "cuter" actor- I just want to toss him out an airlock!! Jem'Hadar are easily my fav. species, which as I post more will become pathetically apparent. And I concur with an above post- the Vorta only seem naive sometimes to be disarming- they're quite smart, adept liars, and actually very cruel- and murderous. :O

 

[Marie1]

Ties of blood and water... yes- well done- but you know why the humour is there... I actually cried during that ep- and I *never* do that.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Ties of blood and water... yes- well done- but you know why the humour is there... I actually cried during that ep- and I *never* do that.

Yeah, as much as I am in awe of the emotional gut-punch of that episode...I do think the humor had to be there to at least temporarily defuse it so that the viewer can handle the final part. It's kinda weird when you're laughing, though--you kinda get that same "guilty" feeling that you do in real life when you catch yourself cutting up when you know something very tragic is going on in the next room.

 

[Sisko4Life]

"Empok Nor" - This was a very good episode with a nice dark theme. Garak turning bad wasn't cool, but it does kind of excuse Cardassians' killer instincts. This is the last episode before the Dominion War, so tomorrow I'll watch the final disk.

 

[Sisko4Life]

"In the Cards" - this was an alright episode. It was a little relief from the hell that is about to happen which you can kind of sense while watching it. I thought the story Jake made up for Weyoun was kind of funny. That guy that bought the card was really creepy though... yikes!

"Call to Arms" - A lot of stuff happens in this episode to the point where it kind of feels like a two parter. The first 20 minutes are spent preparing for the inevitable conflict, but it doesn't really get excellent until the Sisko / Weyoun exchange.

Sisko: I will not allow ANY more Dominion ships to enter the Alpha Quadrant!

Weyoun: You! Will not allow?!!!!!!!! [glares at Sisko]

wonderful scene! The only thing that bothered me about the episode really was the time they had to make a speech between the Dominion fleet regrouping, and then the fact that the Defiant and Rotarran escape when they specifically state "cloaks don't always work against the Dominion." As much as I hate to admit it, I was happy for Dukat when he finally took back Terok Nor. I kind of wanted the "bad" guys to win this war... (I felt sorry for the Cardassians all series).

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

"In the Cards" - this was an alright episode. It was a little relief from the hell that is about to happen which you can kind of sense while watching it. I thought the story Jake made up for Weyoun was kind of funny. That guy that bought the card was really creepy though... yikes!

I got a laugh out of that, too!

You know, though--I always wondered if Weyoun bailed Jake out of the trouble he was in with his dad! You know, the whole "drunk" story and all...

 

[Sisko4Life]

My opinion of Season 5 is kind of mixed. It has less watchable episodes IMO then the other two, but in a sense the watchable episodes are more compelling. I think my favorites are "For the Uniform" and "Purgatory / Inferno." The first disc of the season was also stellar, as was Rapture. Also, "Blaze of Glory" was INCREDIBLE... almost like a sequel to For the Uniform. I did feel like Season 5 had an uncomfortable amount of "fat" though. There are a few discs that I don't even plan to re-watch....