Beautiful picture 
Kevin the Wimp - the kid's name... according to my mum anyway 
star's Journey into the World of DS9...
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Ah, family memories. Those are the precious times, they don't come back. 
@star, you better write some new review, or your thread is going to be ruined 
Here I come to save the day!
I sneaked in an episode tonight before bed. Can't say that I was happy I did.
Second Sight
♥♥♥♥------ (3/10)
The good: Ben & Jake. I really love it whenever they interact with each other. It's a very authentic father/son relationship.
The bad: Just really a "bleh" episode.
The zany: The professor. He was a riot... but kinda got annoying by the end.
Summary: Honestly, the episode seemed a bit ridiculous. What's the point of having the ability to make psychic projections if you don't remember a single thing. While it was nice that Sisko was moving on after losing his wife finally... this episode was not the way to do it. And I was particularly disturbed how easily everyone let the professor kill himself. An okay premise with poor execution. I could have lived without seeing this one.
I sneaked in an episode tonight before bed. Can't say that I was happy I did.
Second Sight
♥♥♥♥------ (3/10)
The good: Ben & Jake. I really love it whenever they interact with each other. It's a very authentic father/son relationship.
The bad: Just really a "bleh" episode.
The zany: The professor. He was a riot... but kinda got annoying by the end.
Summary: Honestly, the episode seemed a bit ridiculous. What's the point of having the ability to make psychic projections if you don't remember a single thing. While it was nice that Sisko was moving on after losing his wife finally... this episode was not the way to do it. And I was particularly disturbed how easily everyone let the professor kill himself. An okay premise with poor execution. I could have lived without seeing this one.
Two things really drag this episode down for me.
First, they finally decide to define the character of Sisko - who is he, what makes him tick? And what do they do? They throw him into a meaningless romance of the week - and a pretty ridiculous one at that.
The intention was to show us how Sisko is not like Picard. They wanted Sisko to be a builder, someone who was willing to stay with and work on a project until the end. Picard, however, is an explorer, someone who just pops into a situation and then leaves so he can pop into another one. How does this episode show any of that?Second, Richard Kiley. What a waste of such an amazing actor.
One of my lowest reviews to-date. I can't say I liked that episode much at all.
Yeah, that kills this episode for me. Sisko hasn't had an episode centred around him since Emissary, and when they finally focus an episode on him, all we learn is that he's horny. I can understand why Avery Brooks wanted to leave the show at this point, because on the rare occasion that the writers decided to do something with him, he was given an episode like this. It's possibly my least favourite episode of the season.First, they finally decide to define the character of Sisko - who is he, what makes him tick? And what do they do? They throw him into a meaningless romance of the week - and a pretty ridiculous one at that.
It's one of two for me. I can't remember which I voted lower and my thread is too far away for me to check.
^ 
Yeah, clicking a mouse button a couple of times is a bit of a stretch, isn't it?
Alright, I had to wait for the dryer to finish despite wanting to go to bed, so I've watched another episode.
Sanctuary
♥♥♥♥♥----- (5/10)
The good: I rather liked that the UT wasn't able to automatically translate a new alien's language immediately.
The bad: How many times can Quark say that he's going out of business in one episode? Too many.
The zany: Turns out Haneek was saying that dress was hideous... which it is.
Summary: It took me a while to decide how I would rate this episode. There is social commentary here on immigration (as well as placement for refugees). The concept was a good one... but at the same time, I was a little put off that Haneek adamently believed that the Skrreeans ought to be allowed to live on Bajor. While I realize that she's a reluctant leader of her people, not to mention inexperienced, it quelled any sympathy I had for their plight when her attitude became, "We want to live on Bajor, so you have to let us. We don't want the uninhabited planet that man, Commander Sisko, found for us." Seemed a little too petulant and entitled for my liking. In fact I found it rather offensive.
It got 5 hearts because it wasn't a complete waste of my time (absolutely love the Bajoran musician)... but it fell flat for the most part.
Dryer's done and I'm off to bed. Yay!
Yeah, clicking a mouse button a couple of times is a bit of a stretch, isn't it? Alright, I had to wait for the dryer to finish despite wanting to go to bed, so I've watched another episode.
Sanctuary
♥♥♥♥♥----- (5/10)
The good: I rather liked that the UT wasn't able to automatically translate a new alien's language immediately.
The bad: How many times can Quark say that he's going out of business in one episode? Too many.
The zany: Turns out Haneek was saying that dress was hideous... which it is.
Summary: It took me a while to decide how I would rate this episode. There is social commentary here on immigration (as well as placement for refugees). The concept was a good one... but at the same time, I was a little put off that Haneek adamently believed that the Skrreeans ought to be allowed to live on Bajor. While I realize that she's a reluctant leader of her people, not to mention inexperienced, it quelled any sympathy I had for their plight when her attitude became, "We want to live on Bajor, so you have to let us. We don't want the uninhabited planet that man, Commander Sisko, found for us." Seemed a little too petulant and entitled for my liking. In fact I found it rather offensive.
It got 5 hearts because it wasn't a complete waste of my time (absolutely love the Bajoran musician)... but it fell flat for the most part.
Dryer's done and I'm off to bed. Yay!
You pretty much hit the nail right on the head here. While I do have sympahty for her people - especially since it seems like her whole species, or at least a sizeable percentage of it, are refugees - I'm still rather off-put by her whole sense of entitlement, as well as her vaguely sexist attitude.
In the end, I think the Bajoran government made the right choice. It might not have been the compassionate thing to do, but it was the reasonable thing to do.
star scream said:^
Oh, the horrors of your just mentioning the notion!
Your "Sanctuary" review not only states the same basic evaluation as mine, it also gives it the exact same score, albeit for somewhat different reasons. I found the Skkreean leader, Haneek, interesting for the first half of the hour... then when the 'uber self-entitled' bit happened, it plunged the episode's big message down the drain for me because it was just too pretentious and without enough (any?) explanation as to why it was so pretentious. The climax, with Haneek's son (played by the late Andrew Koenig) going off and getting himself killed, had little emotional impact. It was all a mess.
I gave it a 5 because, in addition to that Bajoran musician and some nice bits like the dress segment, which
I probably would have wound up giving "Sanctuary" a 2.5 for (seriously, I really didn't like how royally they messed up the attempted message), it had some nice Kira characterization. Some really good scenes for the major stem from this otherwise badly-assembled episode, and I can't ignore that.
I did not dawn upon me until I read your review, but Sanctuary seems to be the DS9 writer's take on Jerusalem.
Yeah, but without any stated motivation.
Well, the Skrreeans are a persecuted people (recently liberated) in search of their legendary homeland that their holy text prophesies they will return to. The similarities to post WW2 Jews is probably somewhat intentional.
Anyway, nothing important is mentioned in this episode. There's no references to races, empires or political structures that are in any way important in the future. It's best just to forget everything about this episode too, just like Rules of Acquisition.
^^ I probably would have accepted Haneek's claim to Bajor had there been a history of the Skrreeans living there before they were enslaved, regardless whether or not I agreed that they still had rights to the planet. I would have actually cared.
Alright next:
Rivals
♥♥♥♥------ (4/10)
The good: PRINCE HUMPERDINK!!! There, I had to say it.
The bad: Predictable and boring.
The zany: Bashir's stretching technique before his and O'Brien's first game. Nuts!
Summary: While I don't want to claw the inside of my skull like I did watching "Move Along Home"... this one still was pretty crappy. Here, let's play with a lighted, plastic ball... no wait -- let's make bigger ones! And then neutrinos will spin the wrong way and everyone will either have exceptional good luck or frightenly bad luck. And once we figure out that it's the lighted, plastic balls that are the problem, let's not bother to find out exactly what kind of technology can affect luck on such a grand scale (and those spinning neutrinos)... Let's just shoot them! Woohoo!! Oh, and let's throw in the cliche of the con man getting conned. The audience won't be guessing that, despite the fact that Mr. Humperdink -- er, I mean, Mr. Con man was already having a streak of bad luck.
Pffft.
Yeah, not the most well thought out episode. It survived for me because I kinda like Bashir/O'Brien (not slash, you dirty-minded feinds! The friendship).
Next:
The Alternate
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥--- (7/10)
The good: Meeting the scientist that worked with Odo.
The bad: This show could use some Vulcans. This is how logic works: If after you beam a strange pillar off the planet and the ground starts shaking and breaking up, exuding noxious gases, then you beam the friggin' pillar back down to the planet! What, no one else saw the correlation between the pillar being beamed up and the planet erupting?
The zany: "She enjoys it. She actually gets some kind of perverse pleasure out of it. One of these days I'm going to stop chasing her, and then we'll see." Oh Bashir. You are just so sadly pathetic at times like these.
Summary: I think, honestly, what saved this episode for me was this line: "I've done it to you again, haven't I, Odo? Made you a prisoner? Dear God, what have I done?" I liked watching Mora come to terms with the fact that not only is Odo sentient, but an individual who deserves to have a life of his own. It was a good journey. But I'm annoyed that the pillar thing wasn't resolved (will it be? I wouldn't be surprised if it's not) and...
I'm learning that every series has its own special brand of angst. Usually it's romantic between a couple of characters -- but despite the Bashir/Dax stuff the writers keep trying to shove down the viewers' throats, that is not the angst of DS9. It is Odo and his mysterious origins. Why do I call it angst? Because they handle it the same way that writers handle the annoying "will they, won't they" of potential pairings. They seem like they are going to give us something and then it's all "just kidding!" At least with Kira's journey, there is a journey. With Odo there is absolutely no progress, only getting up our hopes just to obliterate them.
I do know that eventually we will learn what Odo is (I haven't been living in a bubble after all), but these episodes where I think we might learn a tiny bit more about Odo's origins and we don't are getting bothersome. Throw me a bone, man!
Armaggedon Game
♥♥♥♥♥♥---- (6/10)
The good:] Bashir & O'Brien. I'm really starting to enjoy the friendship between these two.
The bad: The ending. The episode had more hearts until the ending.
The zany: Can't decide between Quark's toast or T'Lani/Kellerun hairdo's.
Summary: I really enjoyed seeing Bashir and O'Brien bonding (sorta). The episode was pretty good up until the ending. The "Captain Obvious" conversation between E'Tyshra & Sharat was off-putting. It's a moment when the writers are saying "You viewers are too stupid to put two & two together to realize that the runabout that was destroyed was empty and the crew got away in the other one. So, we'll have the characters spell it out for you." And the sickbay scene was okay but the little "Of course I drink coffee in the afternoons" humor felt out of place with the rest of the episode.
Whispers
♥♥♥------- (3/10)
The good: Interesting premise up until the end.
The bad: I know I whined about the end of the last episode, but this one takes the cake in suckitude.
The zany: Coffee. Jamaican blend. Double strong, double sweet.
Summary: So there is this incredibly mysterious build-up. It's not brilliant, but it's interesting. And it's slooooooooow. But I can live with that. Sadly, though... NO FREAKIN' PAYOFF! Well, there is one, but it's horrible. H.O.R.R.I.B.L.E. A "replicant"? Seriously? And let's just shoot him and watch him die. It's enough that someone thinks the replicant might have killed the delegation... but honestly, he didn't do anything suspicious, so I find myself feeling incredibly screwed over with the lack of authentic closure. "Tell Keiko I love her"
Really? OMG. Just ridiculous.
Alright next:
Rivals
♥♥♥♥------ (4/10)
The good: PRINCE HUMPERDINK!!! There, I had to say it.
The bad: Predictable and boring.
The zany: Bashir's stretching technique before his and O'Brien's first game. Nuts!
Summary: While I don't want to claw the inside of my skull like I did watching "Move Along Home"... this one still was pretty crappy. Here, let's play with a lighted, plastic ball... no wait -- let's make bigger ones! And then neutrinos will spin the wrong way and everyone will either have exceptional good luck or frightenly bad luck. And once we figure out that it's the lighted, plastic balls that are the problem, let's not bother to find out exactly what kind of technology can affect luck on such a grand scale (and those spinning neutrinos)... Let's just shoot them! Woohoo!! Oh, and let's throw in the cliche of the con man getting conned. The audience won't be guessing that, despite the fact that Mr. Humperdink -- er, I mean, Mr. Con man was already having a streak of bad luck.
Pffft.
Yeah, not the most well thought out episode. It survived for me because I kinda like Bashir/O'Brien (not slash, you dirty-minded feinds! The friendship).
Next:
The Alternate
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥--- (7/10)
The good: Meeting the scientist that worked with Odo.
The bad: This show could use some Vulcans. This is how logic works: If after you beam a strange pillar off the planet and the ground starts shaking and breaking up, exuding noxious gases, then you beam the friggin' pillar back down to the planet! What, no one else saw the correlation between the pillar being beamed up and the planet erupting?
The zany: "She enjoys it. She actually gets some kind of perverse pleasure out of it. One of these days I'm going to stop chasing her, and then we'll see."
Oh Bashir. You are just so sadly pathetic at times like these.Summary: I think, honestly, what saved this episode for me was this line: "I've done it to you again, haven't I, Odo? Made you a prisoner? Dear God, what have I done?" I liked watching Mora come to terms with the fact that not only is Odo sentient, but an individual who deserves to have a life of his own. It was a good journey. But I'm annoyed that the pillar thing wasn't resolved (will it be? I wouldn't be surprised if it's not) and...
I'm learning that every series has its own special brand of angst. Usually it's romantic between a couple of characters -- but despite the Bashir/Dax stuff the writers keep trying to shove down the viewers' throats, that is not the angst of DS9. It is Odo and his mysterious origins. Why do I call it angst? Because they handle it the same way that writers handle the annoying "will they, won't they" of potential pairings. They seem like they are going to give us something and then it's all "just kidding!" At least with Kira's journey, there is a journey. With Odo there is absolutely no progress, only getting up our hopes just to obliterate them.
I do know that eventually we will learn what Odo is (I haven't been living in a bubble after all), but these episodes where I think we might learn a tiny bit more about Odo's origins and we don't are getting bothersome. Throw me a bone, man!
Armaggedon Game
♥♥♥♥♥♥---- (6/10)
The good:] Bashir & O'Brien. I'm really starting to enjoy the friendship between these two.
The bad: The ending. The episode had more hearts until the ending.
The zany: Can't decide between Quark's toast or T'Lani/Kellerun hairdo's.
Summary: I really enjoyed seeing Bashir and O'Brien bonding (sorta). The episode was pretty good up until the ending. The "Captain Obvious" conversation between E'Tyshra & Sharat was off-putting. It's a moment when the writers are saying "You viewers are too stupid to put two & two together to realize that the runabout that was destroyed was empty and the crew got away in the other one. So, we'll have the characters spell it out for you."
And the sickbay scene was okay but the little "Of course I drink coffee in the afternoons" humor felt out of place with the rest of the episode.Whispers
♥♥♥------- (3/10)
The good: Interesting premise up until the end.
The bad: I know I whined about the end of the last episode, but this one takes the cake in suckitude.
The zany: Coffee. Jamaican blend. Double strong, double sweet.
Summary: So there is this incredibly mysterious build-up. It's not brilliant, but it's interesting. And it's slooooooooow. But I can live with that. Sadly, though... NO FREAKIN' PAYOFF! Well, there is one, but it's horrible. H.O.R.R.I.B.L.E. A "replicant"? Seriously? And let's just shoot him and watch him die. It's enough that someone thinks the replicant might have killed the delegation... but honestly, he didn't do anything suspicious, so I find myself feeling incredibly screwed over with the lack of authentic closure. "Tell Keiko I love her"
Really? OMG. Just ridiculous.
Well, that's a fairly uncommon analysis...
Which episode? All of them? Am I rocking the boat somehow?
Just imagine if Martus and Zek ever crossed paths. INCONCEIVABLE!
I think he's pretty on the ball in this case.
I doubt this will spoil anything, but remember that pillar. It doesn't become a major plot point, but there is some follow up.
We do learn small tidbits in each episode that focuses on Odo's origins. They might not seem very important during the first viewing. But, they all later get woven into the greater whole.
And, unlike most angst in shows - Trip/T'Pol really comes to mind here - there is actual payoff. Hang in there.
Agreed. It was rather unnecessary.
Count me in the group that doesn't think highly of Whispers. Though I probably wouldn't rate it that low.
A lot of people hate this episode and consider it the worst of the season, but the Bashir/O'Brien stuff saves it somewhat for me.
It is and it isn't. This particular plot is over, nobody will mention Odo turning into a giant jelly monster again, although Dr Mora will return in the future. You will see similar pillars in the future, but they wont really play a part in the plot.
I don't think it's a spoiler to say that at this point, the writers not only had no idea about Odo's origins, they had no intention of ever resolving it. They felt that angst is interesting, and removing that angst would be detrimental to Odo's character, so they wanted to do episodes on the subject without providing any answers.
I used to find this episode a little dull, but it works in retrospect as the point where Bashir and O'Brien's antagonism turns into something a little more romantic.
You dishonour this episode! Prepare to die!Seriously, Whispers is considered a classic and one of the best episodes of the first two seasons. It has a brilliant tone throughout, you have no clue what's really happening, things continually escalate to the point where it seems like all of Starfleet is involved in some conspiracy, and I think the final twist is brilliant. But the best thing about this episode is that it revolves around a mystery, but still manages to be entertaining even when you know the answer, and that can be tricky to manage. It's certainly my favourite episode of the mid-season slump.
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