Sorry about the delay. Away on business most of July but i plan to keep this up two episodes a week.
1x06: "Q-less"
Story by: Hannah Louise Shearer
Teleplay by: Robert Hewitt Wolfe
Directed by: Paul Lynch
Synopsis:
When Q and Vash appear on DS9, the superbeing’s familiar antics are overshadowed by those of Jean-Luc Picard’s old flame, when one of her belongings threatens to destroy the station.
Review:
No thanks! If I seemed a little too happy about ”Captive Pursuit” then I may come off as a grumpy old man reviewing this episode.
Firstly I have to comment on the character of Vash. I do not like her one bit. She is annoying and self-centered. I always felt that the writers are going for some kind of Indiana Jones-type lovable rogue with her. It just does not work for me. She is not one bit lovable and I never bought Picard having a romantic interest in her (“Captains Holiday” (TNG) and I certainly do not believe that Q would have one either.
Secondly some words about Q. I like Q! He is a well conceived character and has always been excellently portrayed by John DeLancie in my humble opinion. Usually I will find any Q-centered story to be at least enjoyable but this episode is the worst of the lot I think. This has to do with how the character is used here. Running around stalking Vash takes some of my respect for the ‘omnipotent being’ away. It is simply not plausible to me that Q would see anything in this annoying woman. I guess Q sums the scene up best of all: “How perfectly vile!” – right you are Q!
Considering my reservations about Vash it does not help one bit that we are treated to her manipulating Quark by grabbing his ears and performing oo-mox on him. We know that oo-mox is somehow sexually related. Would it not be comparable to have Vash stroke Sisko’s penis in order to get what she wants? I am not sure, but it amplifies my dislike of her character and hurts the Q-Vash affair even more.
I guess one thing the episode has going for it is the way in which Q realizes that Sisko is not like Picard in any way. This is done in one of the few enjoyable scenes in the episode that ends with Sisko punching Q on the nose. Q’s reaction is priceless and DeLancie plays the scene brilliantly (as usual).
When you combine these point with a throwaway b-plot concerning an artifact from the Gamma Quadrant which is in fact a sentient being trying to get home you get what is - for me - one of the worst DS9 episodes of season one. I understand that the writers needed to present us with familiar faces early on, but the plotting here is just not up to the task.
Some notes:
- The episode's teaser makes for one of the episodes few good scenes. The look on O’Brien’s face as Bashir is bragging is priceless.
- Q on O’Brien: “Oh yes! Weren’t you one of the little people?” – makes me chuckle every time.
Summary:
Q on Deep Space Nine was a failure. And Vash needs to go away! I wish that sentient being would have eaten her before it left. 0.5/4
1x06: "Q-less"
Story by: Hannah Louise Shearer
Teleplay by: Robert Hewitt Wolfe
Directed by: Paul Lynch
Synopsis:
When Q and Vash appear on DS9, the superbeing’s familiar antics are overshadowed by those of Jean-Luc Picard’s old flame, when one of her belongings threatens to destroy the station.
Review:
No thanks! If I seemed a little too happy about ”Captive Pursuit” then I may come off as a grumpy old man reviewing this episode.
Firstly I have to comment on the character of Vash. I do not like her one bit. She is annoying and self-centered. I always felt that the writers are going for some kind of Indiana Jones-type lovable rogue with her. It just does not work for me. She is not one bit lovable and I never bought Picard having a romantic interest in her (“Captains Holiday” (TNG) and I certainly do not believe that Q would have one either.
Secondly some words about Q. I like Q! He is a well conceived character and has always been excellently portrayed by John DeLancie in my humble opinion. Usually I will find any Q-centered story to be at least enjoyable but this episode is the worst of the lot I think. This has to do with how the character is used here. Running around stalking Vash takes some of my respect for the ‘omnipotent being’ away. It is simply not plausible to me that Q would see anything in this annoying woman. I guess Q sums the scene up best of all: “How perfectly vile!” – right you are Q!
Considering my reservations about Vash it does not help one bit that we are treated to her manipulating Quark by grabbing his ears and performing oo-mox on him. We know that oo-mox is somehow sexually related. Would it not be comparable to have Vash stroke Sisko’s penis in order to get what she wants? I am not sure, but it amplifies my dislike of her character and hurts the Q-Vash affair even more.
I guess one thing the episode has going for it is the way in which Q realizes that Sisko is not like Picard in any way. This is done in one of the few enjoyable scenes in the episode that ends with Sisko punching Q on the nose. Q’s reaction is priceless and DeLancie plays the scene brilliantly (as usual).
When you combine these point with a throwaway b-plot concerning an artifact from the Gamma Quadrant which is in fact a sentient being trying to get home you get what is - for me - one of the worst DS9 episodes of season one. I understand that the writers needed to present us with familiar faces early on, but the plotting here is just not up to the task.
Some notes:
- The episode's teaser makes for one of the episodes few good scenes. The look on O’Brien’s face as Bashir is bragging is priceless.
- Q on O’Brien: “Oh yes! Weren’t you one of the little people?” – makes me chuckle every time.
Summary:
Q on Deep Space Nine was a failure. And Vash needs to go away! I wish that sentient being would have eaten her before it left. 0.5/4
