That would have been a really good end to the Dukat character. Better yet, they should have killed him off in S6 when his storyline had naturally ended, rather than adding all the crap of S7. The storyline with Winn is just cringeworthy bad.
The Near-Perfect Series Finale
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That would have been a really good end to the Dukat character. Better yet, they should have killed him off in S6 when his storyline had naturally ended, rather than adding all the crap of S7. The storyline with Winn is just cringeworthy bad.
I completely agree. It would have been a rather humiliating end to such a seemingly irredeemable character.
My issues were:
1) Yes, the lack of Jake interaction with Benjamin was a huge misses opportunity given the strength of that relationship- it seemed genuine and real between the actors (not like the forced, scripted friendship of Bashir & O'Brien, for example). It would be a great addendum to "The Visitor".
2) The non use of Jadzia footage for Worfs flashback was a huge mistake. A character featured 8n 6/7 of the series, and no fondness for her in the finale over a few $$$? Will always be an sore thumb oddity in the finale.
3) Flashbacks, at all: yeah, they work to illustrate each characters' reminiscing and give heart, but an argument can be made for wasting the viewer's time since a casual viewer isn't watching and is aware of the histories; that it eats valuable time that could have been used for better final character moments. The use of flashbacks makes for a good debate
A finale with perfect moments, and flawed moments, and loose ends tied that requires previous investment in the show. Whereas "All Good Things" can stand alone as a singular viewing experience and could even have been a feature film
1) Yes, the lack of Jake interaction with Benjamin was a huge misses opportunity given the strength of that relationship- it seemed genuine and real between the actors (not like the forced, scripted friendship of Bashir & O'Brien, for example). It would be a great addendum to "The Visitor".
2) The non use of Jadzia footage for Worfs flashback was a huge mistake. A character featured 8n 6/7 of the series, and no fondness for her in the finale over a few $$$? Will always be an sore thumb oddity in the finale.
3) Flashbacks, at all: yeah, they work to illustrate each characters' reminiscing and give heart, but an argument can be made for wasting the viewer's time since a casual viewer isn't watching and is aware of the histories; that it eats valuable time that could have been used for better final character moments. The use of flashbacks makes for a good debate
A finale with perfect moments, and flawed moments, and loose ends tied that requires previous investment in the show. Whereas "All Good Things" can stand alone as a singular viewing experience and could even have been a feature film
Presumably you mean a mistake on the part of the actress who refused.
I would quarrel with the OP's judgment of DS9's series finale as being nearly perfect. The Odo-Kira ending was horribly rushed and ill-conceived, IMO--wouldn't the two of them have at least discussed the possibility of his return to the Link beforehand rather than having him agree to it unilaterally on the spot? That turn of events treats Kira unfairly, and for me, it compromised the quality of the entire episode.
Odo's strange attraction to the changelings was established as something that goes beyond human understanding. "Love conquers all" is more complicated than we could ever conceive with him. There were other parts that felt more rushed to me, but none that compromised the quality enough to be unforgivable. It would have been much better if they wrote the final episodes a year in advance so they could see what needed more attention. Actually, it would have been nice if they wrote the whole series in advance. But then, it wouldn't be DS9, would it? Part of the magic of this series is it unfolded for everyone, including the writers, episode to episode. Obviously the writers eventually knew where they wanted to land with some of the arcs. But still, a magical ending to a superb series.
I think the finale is not particularly strong.
* The end to the dominion War arc: well, obviously Starfleet had to win, otherwise the viewers wouldn't feel good. But there's really nothing new about the way it is achieved: massive invasion -- even with reused stock shots! But overall there are no new insights, no genuine surprises -- I think I still enjoyed the Kira/Garak/Damar subplot the most as it was at least somewhat original, and they had the guts to let Damar die a senseless death. I also liked that after Odo linked with the female shapeshifter, she could be persuaded to cease her destruction.
But overall, this arc felt very much 'OK guys, let's wrap this thing up!' to me.
* Winn/Dukat/Sisko Fire caves plot: cartoonish Good vs. Evil. Wow, Sisko becomes a (demi-)God, good for him! Yawn. 'nuff said.
* flashback sequences -- ugh. I just don't like that stuff in my Trek. If you want to reminisce about the character's past, I think All Good Things did it subtler and better, by contrasting the S1 characters to the S7 characters and even into their 'future'. (e.g. how Data is played more human in S7 than in S1, and more human still in the future)
Then there's the minor stuff, like Dax and Bashir finally getting one another, the characters' sendoffs (o'Brien going to the academy, Worf becoming a diplomat, and such). I suppose that while not spectacular, it's generally OK.
But I actually like the final scene, where Jake and Kira look out through one of the promenade windows, and the camera gradually pans out to show the station from further and further away.
* The end to the dominion War arc: well, obviously Starfleet had to win, otherwise the viewers wouldn't feel good. But there's really nothing new about the way it is achieved: massive invasion -- even with reused stock shots! But overall there are no new insights, no genuine surprises -- I think I still enjoyed the Kira/Garak/Damar subplot the most as it was at least somewhat original, and they had the guts to let Damar die a senseless death. I also liked that after Odo linked with the female shapeshifter, she could be persuaded to cease her destruction.
But overall, this arc felt very much 'OK guys, let's wrap this thing up!' to me.
* Winn/Dukat/Sisko Fire caves plot: cartoonish Good vs. Evil. Wow, Sisko becomes a (demi-)God, good for him! Yawn. 'nuff said.
* flashback sequences -- ugh. I just don't like that stuff in my Trek. If you want to reminisce about the character's past, I think All Good Things did it subtler and better, by contrasting the S1 characters to the S7 characters and even into their 'future'. (e.g. how Data is played more human in S7 than in S1, and more human still in the future)
Then there's the minor stuff, like Dax and Bashir finally getting one another, the characters' sendoffs (o'Brien going to the academy, Worf becoming a diplomat, and such). I suppose that while not spectacular, it's generally OK.
But I actually like the final scene, where Jake and Kira look out through one of the promenade windows, and the camera gradually pans out to show the station from further and further away.
The Kai-Winn, Dukat, Pah'Wraiths subplot should've been dropped or curtailed. The Dominion War had become the focus of the show and things not connected to that arc felt out of place.
WYLB has too much epilogue I feel. They should've given some of it to VOY and Endgame. Haha
Sisko's ultimate destiny could've used work. Him falling into a cavern seems lame. It's a sacrifice, but it's a sacrifice that nobody sees. I would've been content with Sisko withdrawing from Starfleet after the ceasefire with the Dominion was signed, and riding off into the sunset, on some unknown mission by the Prophets.
Everything else was gravy though.
WYLB has too much epilogue I feel. They should've given some of it to VOY and Endgame. Haha
Sisko's ultimate destiny could've used work. Him falling into a cavern seems lame. It's a sacrifice, but it's a sacrifice that nobody sees. I would've been content with Sisko withdrawing from Starfleet after the ceasefire with the Dominion was signed, and riding off into the sunset, on some unknown mission by the Prophets.
Everything else was gravy though.
If the Dominion War had been wrapped up in a previous episode, the last episode would of had more time for other matters.
Like what?
Perfect? Nope. I felt it dragged a bit, and some of it felt forced in places, too.
A damn sight better than any other Trek series finale? Yer darned tootin'!
If anyone cares - and I doubt you do but I'm indulging my narcissism
- I'll offer four examples of what I would regard as perfect series finales: Frasier. Wonderfalls. (And Wonderfalls is of particular note, because they didn't entirely mean for it to be a series finale, just a season finale, but they nailed it.) And Parks and Recreation - both times. (They nailed an ending, and then demand for an additional season was so strong that they did one - and nailed the series finale AGAIN. 
)
A damn sight better than any other Trek series finale? Yer darned tootin'!
If anyone cares - and I doubt you do but I'm indulging my narcissism
- I'll offer four examples of what I would regard as perfect series finales: Frasier. Wonderfalls. (And Wonderfalls is of particular note, because they didn't entirely mean for it to be a series finale, just a season finale, but they nailed it.) And Parks and Recreation - both times. (They nailed an ending, and then demand for an additional season was so strong that they did one - and nailed the series finale AGAIN. )Similar threads
