And honestly without that it’s not a very good shiny pew-pew show.
Spoilers Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
- Thread starter jian
- Start date
And now we’re into the 9-part finale, which is when DS9 finally gives up on pretending to be an episodic series and runs one set of continuous episodes until the end. They haven’t done this since the beginning of Season 6 (the first 6 episodes, and even then Sons and Daughters was a bit episodic). There’s not much time to catch your breath - it’s actually a bit claustrophobic. But that’s what we’re here for.
Penumbra, Til Death Do Us Part, Strange Bedfellows, The Changing Face of Evil
These are mostly concerned with the Worf-Ezri arc and the major character developments for Damar and Kai Winn. The first is lacklustre, honestly, but needs doing (yes, Worf, it was always a bad idea to sleep with your dead wife’s kid sister) and the latter two are outstanding. Watching Damar shuck his Alcoholic Nazi Punching Bag Aspect and finally develop his True Cardassian Patriot and Leader Not Follower Aspects is particularly amazing. It probably helps that his role model Dukat has wandered off into the fantasy genre to develop his Apocalyptic Yet Opportunistic Demon Worshipper Aspect.
Meanwhile, Winn is having a hell of a time (literally - by the way, Adami, if you have an evil magical book which turns anyone who reads it but you blind, you probably shouldn’t leave it out open so much) and gives us a true unintended comedy moment when she decides to ask the most devout person she knows what to do. And when Kira Nerys, Paladin of Freedom, tells her that she needs to resign to be forgiven by the Prophets, Winn goes straight to “F*ck that, I’m not losing my papal limo” and goes full Lawful Evil.
Dukat going blind and Winn throwing him out into the street is also a solid Nelson Muntz moment.
When It Rains, Tacking into the Wind, Extreme Measures
Kira and Odo’s tragic romance is outstanding, and Damar continues to develop apace. We all knew Rusot was there for only one thing and he delivers.
“He was my friend. But his Cardassia is dead and it won’t be coming back.”
Gowron finally forgets the one rule of being a Klingon (Worf Will Kill You If You Let Him, He Has a +5 Bonus to Hit and Damage Against His Own Species) and runs right into the consequences.
Julian displays an impressive if late aptitude for being a mad scientist (seriously, Jules, Sloan wouldn’t have been able to trigger his implant if you hadn’t woken him up to monologue at him) and he and Miles finally discuss their relationship (yes, Miles likes Jules more than he likes Keiko). Garak’s going to be upset about this, you know.
By the way, Julian’s attraction to Ezri feels extremely forced. Chase that beard, Julian.
Penumbra, Til Death Do Us Part, Strange Bedfellows, The Changing Face of Evil
These are mostly concerned with the Worf-Ezri arc and the major character developments for Damar and Kai Winn. The first is lacklustre, honestly, but needs doing (yes, Worf, it was always a bad idea to sleep with your dead wife’s kid sister) and the latter two are outstanding. Watching Damar shuck his Alcoholic Nazi Punching Bag Aspect and finally develop his True Cardassian Patriot and Leader Not Follower Aspects is particularly amazing. It probably helps that his role model Dukat has wandered off into the fantasy genre to develop his Apocalyptic Yet Opportunistic Demon Worshipper Aspect.
Meanwhile, Winn is having a hell of a time (literally - by the way, Adami, if you have an evil magical book which turns anyone who reads it but you blind, you probably shouldn’t leave it out open so much) and gives us a true unintended comedy moment when she decides to ask the most devout person she knows what to do. And when Kira Nerys, Paladin of Freedom, tells her that she needs to resign to be forgiven by the Prophets, Winn goes straight to “F*ck that, I’m not losing my papal limo” and goes full Lawful Evil.
Dukat going blind and Winn throwing him out into the street is also a solid Nelson Muntz moment.
When It Rains, Tacking into the Wind, Extreme Measures
Kira and Odo’s tragic romance is outstanding, and Damar continues to develop apace. We all knew Rusot was there for only one thing and he delivers.
“He was my friend. But his Cardassia is dead and it won’t be coming back.”
Gowron finally forgets the one rule of being a Klingon (Worf Will Kill You If You Let Him, He Has a +5 Bonus to Hit and Damage Against His Own Species) and runs right into the consequences.
Julian displays an impressive if late aptitude for being a mad scientist (seriously, Jules, Sloan wouldn’t have been able to trigger his implant if you hadn’t woken him up to monologue at him) and he and Miles finally discuss their relationship (yes, Miles likes Jules more than he likes Keiko). Garak’s going to be upset about this, you know.
By the way, Julian’s attraction to Ezri feels extremely forced. Chase that beard, Julian.
Gradine
🏳️⚧️ (she/her) 🇵🇸
We've made it through a few early season 5 episodes so far; enough for Quark to continue his Wishbone-like pursuit of classic literary/cinematic romance (we've had Quark does Casablanca, now we get Worf does Cyrano d'Bergarac). Gowron continues to be iconic, but not so much iconic as Gowron's eyes.
Favorite underrated aspect of the show: How much Benjamin Sisko very obviously missed his calling as a stage actor. Sure, part of this is Avery Brooks being Avery Brooks, but the added joy and sheer gusto he brings to every scene where he's pretending to someone else is routinely my favorite part of every episode it happens in (whether it's his mirror universe self, a social activist/terrorist*, or some rando klingon) is absolutely a character choice and <chef's kiss>
Best Season 4 episode I'm sure the fandom mostly hates: Little Green Men
I love everything about this; the rogue's gallery of Area 51-themed character actors, including the secretary/scientist who are speed-running their own sci-fi love story, the hardass general talking about Truman: "that little piano-playing democrat isn't as dumb as he looks!" Also the best callback in the series so far and since:
Nog: <looking at an Earth history book> Doesn't this hu-mon from the 21st century look a lot like Captain Sisco*?
Quark: Eh, all hu-mons look the same
Favorite underrated aspect of the show: How much Benjamin Sisko very obviously missed his calling as a stage actor. Sure, part of this is Avery Brooks being Avery Brooks, but the added joy and sheer gusto he brings to every scene where he's pretending to someone else is routinely my favorite part of every episode it happens in (whether it's his mirror universe self, a social activist/terrorist*, or some rando klingon) is absolutely a character choice and <chef's kiss>
Best Season 4 episode I'm sure the fandom mostly hates: Little Green Men
I love everything about this; the rogue's gallery of Area 51-themed character actors, including the secretary/scientist who are speed-running their own sci-fi love story, the hardass general talking about Truman: "that little piano-playing democrat isn't as dumb as he looks!" Also the best callback in the series so far and since:
Nog: <looking at an Earth history book> Doesn't this hu-mon from the 21st century look a lot like Captain Sisco*?
Quark: Eh, all hu-mons look the same
trappedslider
Legend
As some one who lived in Roswell till 2 years ago, I will always have a soft spot for that episode
payn
Glory to Marik
Gradine
🏳️⚧️ (she/her) 🇵🇸
Edit: Just noticed the guy in the back with the gun doing it completely wrong; way to start a massive intergalactic misunderstanding, Pvt. Rickie.
Gradine
🏳️⚧️ (she/her) 🇵🇸
Finished a few more episodes, random thoughts
Two things right away that I love:
(a) Starfleet has Time Cops
(b) They consider Kirk an absolutely historical menace
The lighting, the sets, the color grading, the props, costumes, hair and makeup, everything in that episode in the past was 100% impeccable, literally no notes.
"I'm a doctor, not a historian" rofl no way they didn't just have him say that out loud, shut your face
"He's so handsome in person."
"Yeah, Kirk had a bit of a reputation as a lady's man"
"No, not Kirk... Spock" Perfect in every way
"We do not discuss it with outsiders" is absolutely, 100% top-tier trolling by the writers. Just like.... stopping just shy of Worf turning to the camera and saying "it just is, get over it nerds". Belongs in the Hall of Fame alongside all-timers like Big Trouble in Little China's "How did you get up there?" "Wasn't easy!" exchange.
"He had the hands of a surgeon" they are really letting Terry Farrell get feral this season and I for one am here for it.
Bajorans are freaking weird, I guess "open relationship" was a bridge too far in the 90's but at least they have some healthy breakup rituals.
"Rom?"
"...Rom!?" lol yes, get it you king, you absolute mad lad of a Ferengi
Nothing good ever happens on Risa unless it happens off-screen. Do we actually see the vacation? Time for disaster.
Part of what helps Star Trek really stand the test of time is how on point and current their social and political commentary was, and coming home last night and watching a Star Trek episode where a self-righteous moralizer starts scolding the socially (and sexually) liberal vacation goers to the point of actually threatening violence hit different, as the youths would say.
That said, the bad in this episode in particular:
Wow, these are two people who absolutely do not belong together, like obviously the attraction is there but he takes his tantrum that far and you think you can reconcile? You think that it's worth it? Don't get me wrong, the bit of backstory about why Worf is such a humorless stick in the mud compared to... literally every other Klingon was excellent, like it always felt weird about how he always considered himself to be an expert on all things Klingon when he genuinely seems like a terrible Klingon has always been an odd part of his character, and it's nice to see them exploring that more deeply here. But girl. You could do so much better. You don't need to fix him.
But seriously, Worf was so terrible for so long in that episode that we, as an audience, were owed getting to see him in the gold spandex bathing suit. You can't just hang that gun on the wall earlier in the episode and then fail to fire it. For this reason alone 1/10, many notes.
Two things right away that I love:
(a) Starfleet has Time Cops
(b) They consider Kirk an absolutely historical menace
The lighting, the sets, the color grading, the props, costumes, hair and makeup, everything in that episode in the past was 100% impeccable, literally no notes.
"I'm a doctor, not a historian" rofl no way they didn't just have him say that out loud, shut your face
"He's so handsome in person."
"Yeah, Kirk had a bit of a reputation as a lady's man"
"No, not Kirk... Spock" Perfect in every way
"We do not discuss it with outsiders" is absolutely, 100% top-tier trolling by the writers. Just like.... stopping just shy of Worf turning to the camera and saying "it just is, get over it nerds". Belongs in the Hall of Fame alongside all-timers like Big Trouble in Little China's "How did you get up there?" "Wasn't easy!" exchange.
"He had the hands of a surgeon" they are really letting Terry Farrell get feral this season and I for one am here for it.
Bajorans are freaking weird, I guess "open relationship" was a bridge too far in the 90's but at least they have some healthy breakup rituals.
"Rom?"
"...Rom!?" lol yes, get it you king, you absolute mad lad of a Ferengi
Nothing good ever happens on Risa unless it happens off-screen. Do we actually see the vacation? Time for disaster.
Part of what helps Star Trek really stand the test of time is how on point and current their social and political commentary was, and coming home last night and watching a Star Trek episode where a self-righteous moralizer starts scolding the socially (and sexually) liberal vacation goers to the point of actually threatening violence hit different, as the youths would say.
That said, the bad in this episode in particular:
Wow, these are two people who absolutely do not belong together, like obviously the attraction is there but he takes his tantrum that far and you think you can reconcile? You think that it's worth it? Don't get me wrong, the bit of backstory about why Worf is such a humorless stick in the mud compared to... literally every other Klingon was excellent, like it always felt weird about how he always considered himself to be an expert on all things Klingon when he genuinely seems like a terrible Klingon has always been an odd part of his character, and it's nice to see them exploring that more deeply here. But girl. You could do so much better. You don't need to fix him.
But seriously, Worf was so terrible for so long in that episode that we, as an audience, were owed getting to see him in the gold spandex bathing suit. You can't just hang that gun on the wall earlier in the episode and then fail to fire it. For this reason alone 1/10, many notes.
Ryujin
Legend
Worf is Klingon in the way that someone Greek, who was raised solely on stories of Spartan conquests, is Greek.
Paul Farquhar
Legend
I don't think they are allowed to show the good stuff!
