I enjoyed meeting Ezri's family. While it was kind of a mess, I appreciated seeing some of her backstory.
Shatnertage's Mostly-1st-Time Watch Thread
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I also think that because the ending of Season 7 is so intense, anything before it just feels like filler to get to the good stuff.
Thanks for chiming in, Qutluch! (I know her IRL.) Welcome to TBBS!
One of the most surprising things about S7 was how quickly I came to like Ezri. I'm much more interested in a Trill who (apparently) was never destined to be joined than in one who is confident right from the beginning? There was, of course, the interesting history between Jadzia and Kurzon, but to me it wasn't very much. A few very strange things about joined Trill were established throughout the series that could have made interesting fodder for later episodes (not only do joined Trill retain the memories of their former hosts, the psyches of the latter seem to be preserved intact and can come out under certain circumstances), but most of it was never pursued (bar an upcoming Ezri episode).
"Prodigal Daughter," similarly, only whetted my appetite for more substantive elaboration on the Trill. Instead we get an atypical Trill family which insists on living outside Federation territory for some reason. The conclusion of the story of Ezri's family also struck me as rather strange; we get the sense that Ezri's mother expects far too much from her children, but nothing so dark as to explain a motive for murder. I like Ezri and O'Brien enough at this point, though, simply to enjoy whatever they're doing on screen.
"Prodigal Daughter," similarly, only whetted my appetite for more substantive elaboration on the Trill. Instead we get an atypical Trill family which insists on living outside Federation territory for some reason. The conclusion of the story of Ezri's family also struck me as rather strange; we get the sense that Ezri's mother expects far too much from her children, but nothing so dark as to explain a motive for murder. I like Ezri and O'Brien enough at this point, though, simply to enjoy whatever they're doing on screen.
I'm going to try to bang out the rest of my backlist before I have to get moving for the day. Lets see how far I get. The next episode should be...
"The Emperor's New Cloak"
...but my wife saw the Netflix blurb and decided she couldn't handle an episode with Zek screeching. Things have been hectic around the house. I saw that it was a Mirror Universe episode and decided I didn't particularly want to watch it either. Which meant that we ended up watching...
"Field of Fire"
Ezri gets in touch with her inner murderer in order to find a murderer. Basically, it's Silence of the Lambs but Hannibal Lecter is a former host who only she can see. You can tell they were really desperate for ideas at this point.
For some reason (if it was explained onscreen I missed it) Odo doesn't investigate these murders on his station; Dax, the counselor, does. That doesn't make a lot of sense to me at all. But we get lots of scenes of Dax not wanting to confront Joran's murderous past. Joran says that in order to find the killer, you must know what it feels like to kill. I'm not so sure about that one. I don't recall Lenny Briscoe flying into a homicidal rage every week, but maybe I don't read the subtext.
Then it turns out the killer is a Vulcan that we've never met, who has nothing to do with the overall storyline, and is just mad because people have pictures of themselves smiling in their quarters. Good thing there isn't a theatrical agent on the station--those headshots would keep him busy for weeks.
It felt a lot like that TNG episode where Troi gets possessed/haunted because there was a murder on the Enterprise when it was under construction. IIRC, another seventh season gem.
"The Emperor's New Cloak"
...but my wife saw the Netflix blurb and decided she couldn't handle an episode with Zek screeching. Things have been hectic around the house. I saw that it was a Mirror Universe episode and decided I didn't particularly want to watch it either. Which meant that we ended up watching...
"Field of Fire"
Ezri gets in touch with her inner murderer in order to find a murderer. Basically, it's Silence of the Lambs but Hannibal Lecter is a former host who only she can see. You can tell they were really desperate for ideas at this point.
For some reason (if it was explained onscreen I missed it) Odo doesn't investigate these murders on his station; Dax, the counselor, does. That doesn't make a lot of sense to me at all. But we get lots of scenes of Dax not wanting to confront Joran's murderous past. Joran says that in order to find the killer, you must know what it feels like to kill. I'm not so sure about that one. I don't recall Lenny Briscoe flying into a homicidal rage every week, but maybe I don't read the subtext.
Then it turns out the killer is a Vulcan that we've never met, who has nothing to do with the overall storyline, and is just mad because people have pictures of themselves smiling in their quarters. Good thing there isn't a theatrical agent on the station--those headshots would keep him busy for weeks.
It felt a lot like that TNG episode where Troi gets possessed/haunted because there was a murder on the Enterprise when it was under construction. IIRC, another seventh season gem.
Now I spot a...
"Chimera"
Amusing interplay between Odo and O'Brien about getting presents for their women, then all of the sudden a changeling shows up. But he calls himself a metamorph, and he's not a Founder.
This episode tries to get at just exactly how weird Odo really is, and we see a bunch of wild things: Laas as fire; Laas as fog.
But the episode's mostly about beating up on monomorphs--how prejudiced we are, how intolerant we are. I don't totally agree with this idea. Yes, we've got a lot to learn, but we've also got a lot of potential. So this was one of those PreachyTrek episodes that fell flat for me.
Quark's speech felt so contrived and out of character, I was convinced that it was really Laas, trying to push Odo into joining him. Yes, Quark has made some philosophical statements about the nature of humanity (the root beer speech and the speech to Nog), but this just didn't sound like him. He's not going to talk about genetics--he's going to talk about the stuff he sees from across his bar.
My biggest surprise was finding out who played Laas. I didn't get to see the opening credits, and throughout the episode I kept saying what a good job the actor was doing. I had absolutely no idea it was J.G. Hertlzer. So I guess he was really good.
Interesting in that we get to learn more about metamorphs. Not so good in that we learn the solids are a bunch of paranoid bigots.
"Chimera"
Amusing interplay between Odo and O'Brien about getting presents for their women, then all of the sudden a changeling shows up. But he calls himself a metamorph, and he's not a Founder.
This episode tries to get at just exactly how weird Odo really is, and we see a bunch of wild things: Laas as fire; Laas as fog.
But the episode's mostly about beating up on monomorphs--how prejudiced we are, how intolerant we are. I don't totally agree with this idea. Yes, we've got a lot to learn, but we've also got a lot of potential. So this was one of those PreachyTrek episodes that fell flat for me.
Quark's speech felt so contrived and out of character, I was convinced that it was really Laas, trying to push Odo into joining him. Yes, Quark has made some philosophical statements about the nature of humanity (the root beer speech and the speech to Nog), but this just didn't sound like him. He's not going to talk about genetics--he's going to talk about the stuff he sees from across his bar.
My biggest surprise was finding out who played Laas. I didn't get to see the opening credits, and throughout the episode I kept saying what a good job the actor was doing. I had absolutely no idea it was J.G. Hertlzer. So I guess he was really good.
Interesting in that we get to learn more about metamorphs. Not so good in that we learn the solids are a bunch of paranoid bigots.
I don't even know how to introduce...
"Badda Bing, Badda Bang"
Hey, someone made a TV episode about Week 7 of my "History of Casinos" class. The one where I deal with the mob, the Rat Pack, and desegregation. Wow.
And they got it wrong. When I watched "Paper Moon," and say Jake walk into the casino, I made the comment to my wife that it must have been after 1960, since before that he wouldn't have been allowed in the lounge as a customer (or as a front-of-the-house employee). Then they said it was 1962, and I thought they really did their homework. The integration of Las Vegas casinos began in 1960 with the "Moulin Rouge Agreement," which followed a threatened picket/demonstration by the Las Vegas NAACP. This stuff isn't legend or myth; the president of the NAACP at the time, Dr. James McMillan, did an oral history interview and he discussed the process in great detail.
But then we get Sisko's speech about how racist Las Vegas was in 1962, and it fell flat for me. Because when the casinos desegregated, they moved pretty quickly to embrace everyone, regardless of skin color. As McMillan himself said (I'm paraphrasing), "they didn't care about black and white. They just cared about green." And there's documentary evidence that casinos like the Sands were hosting events specifically geared towards black guests very soon after the Moulin Rouge Agreement. That's not to say there still wasn't a lot of work to be done, but the change had already begun.
What bothers me is that Las Vegans, both black and white, showed tremendous courage in confronting the status quo and overthrowing the de facto segregation that had settled over the city in the previous 20 years. And the writers give them no credit. Vic Fontaine's a stand-in of sorts for Frank Sinatra, who was himself active in the civil rights movement, and it's unfair of Sisko to paint him with the same brush as those who supported segregation.
As far as the episode itself goes, it's a decent pastiche/parody of Ocean's Eleven. The mob stuff is funny. Ezri's hair looks way, way better than it usually does--I wish they'd let her keep it this way.
And the duet at the end is good, even though Brooks seems a little...sterile in his delivery. The image of The Sisko singing in a Vegas lounge, though, is one I'll never forget. No wonder why Scott Bakula thought he'd get to sing when he signed on as Archer.
"Badda Bing, Badda Bang"
Hey, someone made a TV episode about Week 7 of my "History of Casinos" class. The one where I deal with the mob, the Rat Pack, and desegregation. Wow.
And they got it wrong. When I watched "Paper Moon," and say Jake walk into the casino, I made the comment to my wife that it must have been after 1960, since before that he wouldn't have been allowed in the lounge as a customer (or as a front-of-the-house employee). Then they said it was 1962, and I thought they really did their homework. The integration of Las Vegas casinos began in 1960 with the "Moulin Rouge Agreement," which followed a threatened picket/demonstration by the Las Vegas NAACP. This stuff isn't legend or myth; the president of the NAACP at the time, Dr. James McMillan, did an oral history interview and he discussed the process in great detail.
But then we get Sisko's speech about how racist Las Vegas was in 1962, and it fell flat for me. Because when the casinos desegregated, they moved pretty quickly to embrace everyone, regardless of skin color. As McMillan himself said (I'm paraphrasing), "they didn't care about black and white. They just cared about green." And there's documentary evidence that casinos like the Sands were hosting events specifically geared towards black guests very soon after the Moulin Rouge Agreement. That's not to say there still wasn't a lot of work to be done, but the change had already begun.
What bothers me is that Las Vegans, both black and white, showed tremendous courage in confronting the status quo and overthrowing the de facto segregation that had settled over the city in the previous 20 years. And the writers give them no credit. Vic Fontaine's a stand-in of sorts for Frank Sinatra, who was himself active in the civil rights movement, and it's unfair of Sisko to paint him with the same brush as those who supported segregation.
As far as the episode itself goes, it's a decent pastiche/parody of Ocean's Eleven. The mob stuff is funny. Ezri's hair looks way, way better than it usually does--I wish they'd let her keep it this way.
And the duet at the end is good, even though Brooks seems a little...sterile in his delivery. The image of The Sisko singing in a Vegas lounge, though, is one I'll never forget. No wonder why Scott Bakula thought he'd get to sing when he signed on as Archer.
Had you seen the opening credits, it might not have registered with you anyways. They kinda hid his name, by droppin the "J", spelling out the name the "G." represents, and then Hertzler. I first, I looked at it, wondering, "Oh, Hertzler, I wonder if he's related to JG Hertzler, and then I realized from Laas' voice, it actually was him"
I actually liked this episode, due to, the interesting spin on Laas' shapeshifting, we hadn't seen the like before (or after), with the Fig, the Fire (including the heat of fire, it seems) and even the space whale creature
The Emporer's new clothes? You didn't miss anything arc related, and it's not the best Mirror Universe nor best Ferengi episode, to be polite
Chimaera is pretty popular, though I never liked it that much when I saw it. Badda-Bing-Badda-Bang, though... Wow, that episode is one of my comedic favourites. I think it's absolutely brilliant. But, as they sing at the end of it, the best is yet to come. (Can it really be a coincidence they sing this at the very end of the episode that was originally going to be the final episode before the final chapter? It's quite clearly forshadowing)
Excellent choice on skipping The Emperor's New Cloak, you're a man of discerning taste. 
I didn't like Badda-Bing Badda-Bang first time around, but when I saw it again I got into it more because I knew it was their big hurrah to fluff episodes. From here on out everything is serious business, so I like that they took the time to have one final light-hearted adventure for the main cast before the end.
I didn't like Badda-Bing Badda-Bang first time around, but when I saw it again I got into it more because I knew it was their big hurrah to fluff episodes. From here on out everything is serious business, so I like that they took the time to have one final light-hearted adventure for the main cast before the end.
^ I follow my wife's lead in that.
Badda-Bing-Badda-Bang, I thought was gonna be awful, and I resigned myself to the fact it was going to be a drudge, but, I knew the final arc, couldn't be far away, because theren't many episodes left, for everything I remembered happening, that has happened yet. So, I went ahead and watched it, and it was fantastic, so, I'm glad I didn't decide to skip it (Though, even when I remember that an episode of a show is less than stellar, I still generally watch the whole series anyway, just to keep everything in context on my rewatches)
Aw, but then you missed Bashir killing Vic Fontaine.
Seriously tho', who let you in on the "Get Out Of Watching One Crappy Episode Free" Cards for these watch threads?
I want to say something in Latin to sound profound so here goes...
"Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges"
Well, that's a mouthful.
And we've got a serious episode all of the sudden. One that combines a standard Trek cliche--travel to a conference--with the gloomy worldview of a lot of DS9.
I'll say this for the episode: at least Bashir gets to the conference and delivers his paper without being stranded or running into an anomaly. From that perspective, this episode has the greatest plot twist in Trek history. But the center is the bluff, double-bluff, and triple-bluff intrigue that we've seen a little of before.
John Fleck, who played Silik on ENT, plays the head of the Tal Shiar, Koval. It's funny because there's a street in Vegas named Koval Road. And, watching him in Romulan make-up, I realize that he would make a phenomenal Barnabas Collins, if you wanted to do a semi-serious remake of Dark Shadows. I saw the trailer for the Tim Burton/Johnny Depp version that'll be out soon...let's just say I might be watching it on Netflix. But wouldn't Fleck make a great Barnabas Collins? He's got the right look, the right voice, and the right air of distant melancholy. I can definitely see it.
Back to the episode. It doesn't really work for me. It all rests on Bashir, and he just doesn't pull it off. In place of Sisko's almost manic soul-searching in ItPM, we get a whiny moral indignation that's directed at Sloan and, eventually, Ross. I could debate who's in the right, philosophically here: Sloan, who willingly defies Federation principals to save the Federation; Ross, who thinks Sloan is in the wrong but goes along with him because the alternative is worse; or Bashir, who looks down his nose at both of them, but doesn't have the responsibility they have. But Alexander's Siddig performance, which has no inner tension whatsoever, just some dismay at having been outsmarted, is completely flat. He really looks like he's going through the motions here.
With him not knocking it out of the park, the guest stars can only do so much to redeem the episode.
I went back and read the MA article, and I'm still a little baffled by Section 31's Rube Goldbergian intervention here. Either Koval or Cretak might or might not be joining the Continuing Committee. Cretak is currently favorable to the Federation. Koval is a hardliner who is currently against the Federation, but he's secretly working for them. So instead of rolling the dice on Cretak, they engineer her downfall and get Koval into her (possible) spot.
This makes no sense to me. First of all, Koval's the head of the Tal Shiar. You think he got there by keeping his promises and acting predictably? Second, there's no way that Cretak would legitimately believe that a separate piece with the Dominion would favor the Romulan Empire, which has already had its military capability degraded. If the Dominion rolls up the feds and the Klingons and controls the wormhole, the Romulans are sitting ducks. Third, if Koval wants someone out of the way, he's more than capable of getting them out himself--and making it look like an accident. Cretak's been on DS9 for a few months now--I'm sure that she's done or said something that he could make look suspect.
So this seems like an extremely over-complicated way of disgracing a senator that it really isn't in the Federation's best interest to disgrace. And you've now confirmed the existence of Section 31.
Yes, this one was far from straightforward.
And to quibble, Cicero, the author of the quote, hardly would have said that it's OK to support Caesar no matter what. After all, he was a staunch defender of the republic who was executed by the Second Triumvirate.
"Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges"
Well, that's a mouthful.
And we've got a serious episode all of the sudden. One that combines a standard Trek cliche--travel to a conference--with the gloomy worldview of a lot of DS9.
I'll say this for the episode: at least Bashir gets to the conference and delivers his paper without being stranded or running into an anomaly. From that perspective, this episode has the greatest plot twist in Trek history. But the center is the bluff, double-bluff, and triple-bluff intrigue that we've seen a little of before.
John Fleck, who played Silik on ENT, plays the head of the Tal Shiar, Koval. It's funny because there's a street in Vegas named Koval Road. And, watching him in Romulan make-up, I realize that he would make a phenomenal Barnabas Collins, if you wanted to do a semi-serious remake of Dark Shadows. I saw the trailer for the Tim Burton/Johnny Depp version that'll be out soon...let's just say I might be watching it on Netflix. But wouldn't Fleck make a great Barnabas Collins? He's got the right look, the right voice, and the right air of distant melancholy. I can definitely see it.
Back to the episode. It doesn't really work for me. It all rests on Bashir, and he just doesn't pull it off. In place of Sisko's almost manic soul-searching in ItPM, we get a whiny moral indignation that's directed at Sloan and, eventually, Ross. I could debate who's in the right, philosophically here: Sloan, who willingly defies Federation principals to save the Federation; Ross, who thinks Sloan is in the wrong but goes along with him because the alternative is worse; or Bashir, who looks down his nose at both of them, but doesn't have the responsibility they have. But Alexander's Siddig performance, which has no inner tension whatsoever, just some dismay at having been outsmarted, is completely flat. He really looks like he's going through the motions here.
With him not knocking it out of the park, the guest stars can only do so much to redeem the episode.
I went back and read the MA article, and I'm still a little baffled by Section 31's Rube Goldbergian intervention here. Either Koval or Cretak might or might not be joining the Continuing Committee. Cretak is currently favorable to the Federation. Koval is a hardliner who is currently against the Federation, but he's secretly working for them. So instead of rolling the dice on Cretak, they engineer her downfall and get Koval into her (possible) spot.
This makes no sense to me. First of all, Koval's the head of the Tal Shiar. You think he got there by keeping his promises and acting predictably? Second, there's no way that Cretak would legitimately believe that a separate piece with the Dominion would favor the Romulan Empire, which has already had its military capability degraded. If the Dominion rolls up the feds and the Klingons and controls the wormhole, the Romulans are sitting ducks. Third, if Koval wants someone out of the way, he's more than capable of getting them out himself--and making it look like an accident. Cretak's been on DS9 for a few months now--I'm sure that she's done or said something that he could make look suspect.
So this seems like an extremely over-complicated way of disgracing a senator that it really isn't in the Federation's best interest to disgrace. And you've now confirmed the existence of Section 31.
Yes, this one was far from straightforward.
And to quibble, Cicero, the author of the quote, hardly would have said that it's OK to support Caesar no matter what. After all, he was a staunch defender of the republic who was executed by the Second Triumvirate.
It's the weakest Mirror episode but ST has already watched far worse.Aw, but then you missed Bashir killing Vic Fontaine.
Seriously tho', who let you in on the "Get Out Of Watching One Crappy Episode Free" Cards for these watch threads?
I'm afraid I may have to leak a tinsy little bit of spoiler to explain Section 31's motives in Inter Arma, so here's your warning. Read at your own discretion.
Section 31 tends to take a long term view on things and are very willing to give up short term advantages for huge long term rewards. For various reasons that will come to light soon, Section 31 knows the Dominion will lose the war soon. Being conservative fighters and the last to join the war, the Romulans have suffered the least casualties and have not exhausted their war chest like the Klingons and Federation.
Thus the Romulans comes out of the war in a very strong position of power and Section 31 is already seeking to counter the Romulan's post-war power. A post-war Cretak, being loyal to Romulus, would most certainly turn against the Federation and push for every Romulan advantage. Koval on the other hand may not seem much better but as the head of the Tal'Shiar Koval would at least be willing to negotiate some concession to the S31 in return for a better advantage, be it intel, tech or whatever.
Thus the Romulans comes out of the war in a very strong position of power and Section 31 is already seeking to counter the Romulan's post-war power. A post-war Cretak, being loyal to Romulus, would most certainly turn against the Federation and push for every Romulan advantage. Koval on the other hand may not seem much better but as the head of the Tal'Shiar Koval would at least be willing to negotiate some concession to the S31 in return for a better advantage, be it intel, tech or whatever.
Absolutely. And I will add, with out trying to spoil anything, that the Federation and Klingons have been at war with the Dominion longer than the Romulans have been. The Romulans are currently more powerful. Not unlike America during and after World War Two.
Cretak is a patriot and will always do what she feels is right for the Romulan Empire. I think it is Sloan in this episode that explicitly says that the Romulans are not nice people. Even someone as friendly as Cretak will betray the Federation if she feels it will benefit the Romulans. Section 31 already has dirt on Koval and probably feels that they can control him, unlike Cretak.
If I recall correctly, we're coming up on the final arc now. It seems season seven's been a bit shaky from Shatnertage's perspective, so I'm hoping the final string of episodes will prove rewarding. 
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