Yet another re-watch - and what strikes me...

I think you're all wrong about Nog on Voyager.

No way he would have been in more than two epsidoes.

 

Nog would have come up a 57-way trade that would end up getting Janeway a large supply of coffee beans. Janeway would promote him to Lt. Cdr. and 3rd in command.

 

That or it would all be forgotten when the Big Red Reset Button got hit again.

 

I'm up to 'The Way of the Warrior' now.

Man this episode is so familiar to me.

When it was originally broadcast in the UK I wasn't able to see the episodes that often, as I was young, and it was a different time (pre-internet)…

I purchased this double episode on VHS tape, and watched it over and over.

It was only years later I was able to properly catch up on all of the episodes.

What a wonderful time we live in today where we can just watch any episode we want, at any time, on multiple devices.

Remarkable really.

 

I remember the days when if you missed a holiday special on TV, you didn't get to see it until next year.

I like this better.

 

It strikes me that Avery Brooks is missed on the screen. For whatever reason he doesnt act these days, its wonderful his performance as Sisko is forever with us.

Whilst at times I think he is a bit over the top, for the vast majority of the time I find him to be the most emotionally effecting captain of the all the shows, and one of the best characters overall.

 

2nd episode I've skipped on the rewatch now...
who
4x21 'The Muse...'

Is this the worst episode of DS9? Lwaxana has always been an acquired taste, but the whole vampire story with Jake is just absurd.

 

^ not sure it's the very worst, DS9 also has its share of silly episodes (e.g. If Wishes were Horses, The Reckoning). But it's definitely no favourite of mine.

 

I am not a fan of The Muse either. A definite skip for me most of the time. Though I have come to appreciate the Odo/Lwaxana story, the Jake story is a big fat nothing for me.

 

"THE MUSE" is definitely the weakest episode of season 4 (an otherwise flawless season, it's the most perfect season the franchise ever got), and really it's only the creativity vampire part of the episode that hurts it. A good concept, and I love Meg Foster, but it just didn't work for some reason. I can't put my finger on why. The Lwaxana story was really great and sweet.

While "IF WISHES WERE HORSES" does feel like a dusted off TNG script and is fairly weak, I thought it was a cool concept and not a terrible episode.

But "THE RECKONING"... I absolutely despise that episode because it damages Ben's character so badly. One of THE cornerstones of DS9 was his relationship with Jake and how great a dad he was. In here, he's ready to sacrifice his son's life for the Prophets and their fight with the Pah-Wraiths. It completely derails everything we have seen of his fatherhood in the 6 seasons up to this point. For me, it holds the place of 4th worst episode of DS9. (5th worst is "LET HE WHO IS WITHOUT SIN...", 3rd worst is "PRODIGAL DAUGHTER", 2nd worst is "THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOAK", and worst is "PROFIT AND LACE".)

Something is seriously wrong with an episode when Kai Winn is the one who does a level headed, right thing over what our heroes do.

 

In his defense, Ben is not himself in that episode.

 

Up to one of my favourite episodes now, 5eps25, In the Cards.

I don't always like the comedy episodes but this one works on every level.

 

"IN THE CARDS" has always been a favorite of mine. It's also Michael Dorn's first time directing.

 

"If you don't need money, then you certainly don't need mine."

 

Weyoun - who dies several times during the series - is quite interested in achieving immortality in this episode. Is that a form of subtle black humor?
Regardless, it's nice to see him pursue some private interest for once, usually we only see him 'in service of the Dominion'.

 

Paradise is very annoying and the conclusion wasn't well thought out; I felt that woman should've had a well deserved outcome than being arrested. Wasn't good enough!

Its a phenomenal episode where Gul Dukat shines and presented another layer of this extraordinary villain; even when he has doubt and proven wrong he showed some integrity on an incredible achievement by Sisko and Jake. Villains don't have to be like Ricardo Montalban's great character, they can be composed and arrogant and enjoy being the bad guy when he has to be. Sad Ira and the gang went the stupid, predictable route with Dukat in Seasons 4,5,6, & 7, what a f^cking waste of a character.

 

Alixus just didn't seem charismatic enough for the whole colony to drink her proverbial koolaid.

 

I've thought the same thing about real-life cult leaders. "Why the hell does anyone follow this nut?!"

 

Because a lot of people are easily duped idiots.

 

Or the threats of harm are scarier than opposition?
JB