"The Sword of Kahless"
Long before Picard mashed up several different series together, weaving together and building on top of them, DS9 did it first with "The Sword of Kahless", which combines elements from TOS, TNG, and DS9 all into one. And as you probably know, I love it when Star Trek is able to combine different plot threads to build on top of itself.
Representing TOS are Kor and the concept Kahless himself. Representing TNG are Worf, Toral, and who we really think of as Kahless. And representing DS9 is Dax and the current sociopolitical climate (relative to the series) with strained relations between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. Gowron, even though he's not in the episode, represents TNG and DS9, and is an example of someone who Kor views as a politician and not a true Klingon Warrior. Kor views himself as a true Klingon Warrior, a Dahar Master. For a little while during the episode, Kor views Worf as not a true Klingon at all. And he views Dax as a true ally to the Klingons.
John Colicos steals the show as Kor. Seeking glory and telling tall tales. As great as Michael Ansara was as Kang, I'm glad that Kor was the one who wasn't killed off in "Blood Oath" because Kor was the best type of Klingon to have as a guest-character in the quest to search for The Sword of Kahless. David Bell also does great work giving a musical score that fits the quest they were on.
Just like when Worf was hesitant to interact with other Klingons during his Discommendation during mid-TNG, he's hesitant to interact with other Klingons after "The Way of the Warrior". Dax, being as extroverted as she is, has none of that and introduces Worf to Kor right away. Love it when Kor is like, "Worf, the pariah, the traitor, the lowest of the low... " leaving Worf (and the audience) in suspense before saying, "A pleasure to meet you. Any enemy of Gowron is a friend of mine." Just like in "Blood Oath", when he instantly accepted Dax as someone to come on his journey, he accepts Worf just as easily to go on the journey he has this time.
Once they journey to where the Hirq hid the Sword of Kahless and discover it, it feels like a truly epic moment. To quote Kor, "Glorious!" Watching him hold the sword and hold it high looked and felt as grand as was intended.
Everyone wants The Sword. Kor thinks he was meant to have it, Worf thinks he was meant to have it and that his recent ordeals have been a test, and Toral wants to have it to take over the Klingon Empire. First his father Duras wanted to rule the Empire, then Lursa & B'Etor wanted to rule the Empire by using Toral as a puppet, and now Toral wants to rule the Empire as his own man. The only one who doesn't want The Sword is Dax. Which makes her the perfect person to carry it.
One of the episode's strengths is that it allows everyone to have their own point-of-view and they get to present their side of the argument. Kor has his point-of-view, Worf has his, and Dax has hers. I think the key difference between Worf and Kor is that Worf wants to do what he thinks is honorable while Kor wants to do what he thinks is glorious. Even though honor and glory can overlap, they're not the same thing. I think it's also why Kor likes to exaggerate so much. "You better hope I exaggerate when it comes to your part, or it'll be: and Worf came along!"
It's one thing to have Toral be power hungry. That's what we expect from the House of Duras. The Sword, unfortunately, also brings out the ugliness in Worf and Kor. All of them eventually become delusional. Dax is the only one who can stay clear-headed, not being a Klingon and being far older and wiser than any of them. I think they made the right call to leave The Sword floating in space, though I hope they left it in a spot that Toral wasn't tracking, so he wouldn't find it again.
The set-designers put a lot of work into this episode. Having so many large and varied caves gave a sense of how much of a journey Kor, Worf, and Dax were on. The Sword itself looks appropriately intricate and Medieval. The only issue I have on the technical end is something most people wouldn't have to deal with. The sets are dark and murky, and it would still work if someone's watching on a TV in a properly lit room. I was watching in a darkened room on my projector, so sometimes the murkiness made it hard to see. I think there should've been more lighting on the actors. But that's probably something only someone like me would pick up on.
Overall, this was the best an episode of its type can be, and I really enjoyed it. I give it a 10.
Long before Picard mashed up several different series together, weaving together and building on top of them, DS9 did it first with "The Sword of Kahless", which combines elements from TOS, TNG, and DS9 all into one. And as you probably know, I love it when Star Trek is able to combine different plot threads to build on top of itself.
Representing TOS are Kor and the concept Kahless himself. Representing TNG are Worf, Toral, and who we really think of as Kahless. And representing DS9 is Dax and the current sociopolitical climate (relative to the series) with strained relations between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. Gowron, even though he's not in the episode, represents TNG and DS9, and is an example of someone who Kor views as a politician and not a true Klingon Warrior. Kor views himself as a true Klingon Warrior, a Dahar Master. For a little while during the episode, Kor views Worf as not a true Klingon at all. And he views Dax as a true ally to the Klingons.
John Colicos steals the show as Kor. Seeking glory and telling tall tales. As great as Michael Ansara was as Kang, I'm glad that Kor was the one who wasn't killed off in "Blood Oath" because Kor was the best type of Klingon to have as a guest-character in the quest to search for The Sword of Kahless. David Bell also does great work giving a musical score that fits the quest they were on.
Just like when Worf was hesitant to interact with other Klingons during his Discommendation during mid-TNG, he's hesitant to interact with other Klingons after "The Way of the Warrior". Dax, being as extroverted as she is, has none of that and introduces Worf to Kor right away. Love it when Kor is like, "Worf, the pariah, the traitor, the lowest of the low... " leaving Worf (and the audience) in suspense before saying, "A pleasure to meet you. Any enemy of Gowron is a friend of mine." Just like in "Blood Oath", when he instantly accepted Dax as someone to come on his journey, he accepts Worf just as easily to go on the journey he has this time.
Once they journey to where the Hirq hid the Sword of Kahless and discover it, it feels like a truly epic moment. To quote Kor, "Glorious!" Watching him hold the sword and hold it high looked and felt as grand as was intended.
Everyone wants The Sword. Kor thinks he was meant to have it, Worf thinks he was meant to have it and that his recent ordeals have been a test, and Toral wants to have it to take over the Klingon Empire. First his father Duras wanted to rule the Empire, then Lursa & B'Etor wanted to rule the Empire by using Toral as a puppet, and now Toral wants to rule the Empire as his own man. The only one who doesn't want The Sword is Dax. Which makes her the perfect person to carry it.
One of the episode's strengths is that it allows everyone to have their own point-of-view and they get to present their side of the argument. Kor has his point-of-view, Worf has his, and Dax has hers. I think the key difference between Worf and Kor is that Worf wants to do what he thinks is honorable while Kor wants to do what he thinks is glorious. Even though honor and glory can overlap, they're not the same thing. I think it's also why Kor likes to exaggerate so much. "You better hope I exaggerate when it comes to your part, or it'll be: and Worf came along!"
It's one thing to have Toral be power hungry. That's what we expect from the House of Duras. The Sword, unfortunately, also brings out the ugliness in Worf and Kor. All of them eventually become delusional. Dax is the only one who can stay clear-headed, not being a Klingon and being far older and wiser than any of them. I think they made the right call to leave The Sword floating in space, though I hope they left it in a spot that Toral wasn't tracking, so he wouldn't find it again.
The set-designers put a lot of work into this episode. Having so many large and varied caves gave a sense of how much of a journey Kor, Worf, and Dax were on. The Sword itself looks appropriately intricate and Medieval. The only issue I have on the technical end is something most people wouldn't have to deal with. The sets are dark and murky, and it would still work if someone's watching on a TV in a properly lit room. I was watching in a darkened room on my projector, so sometimes the murkiness made it hard to see. I think there should've been more lighting on the actors. But that's probably something only someone like me would pick up on.
Overall, this was the best an episode of its type can be, and I really enjoyed it. I give it a 10.
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