KTR's reflections from another DS9 newbie

[Rigil Kent]

KTR, I am getting great insights from BOTH you and Rigil, so please keep up your commentary.

Heh. have you noticed how eerily similar our opinions seem to be. It's just a little freaky ...

[Linda]

Yeah, cool freaky. But not exactly the same. You two DO have different personalities. And anyone who appreciates Garak...well they can't be ALL bad.

[justTripn]

Jadzia's sort of smug perfection annoyed me at first, but by season 5 or 6, I was cheering her on. Wait till she pairs up with Worf. : D And yes, I agree with Linda that Ezri Dax was better.

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

And when you get time, please continue your reviews of the third season of Enterprise, okay?

I know... I may do North Star soon, but then I'm contemplating taking a summer hiatus. Right now I'm more keen on watching DS9 than re-watching ENT and writing detailed reviews of those episodes. We'll see.

As far as the Daxes go, even if I haven't seen Ezri Dax yet, I have seen the adorable Nicole deBoer in other things and I'm quite sure I'll like her much, much more than Jadzia.

Two more eps...


1-10 Home Along Home

My God, this was truly terrible! What a waste of an hour. It was cringe-worthy on almost every level and I felt sorry for the poor actors who had to go through this. Alamaraine, pfft! The plot makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Exactly how did the senior officers become pawns in a game, and where were they?

Move Along Home moves right along to the bottom of the barrel. An awful episode!

*****

1-11 The Nagus

While I like Quark as a character (especially when sparring with Odo) I generally loathe the Ferengi. Not for the "obvious" reason of them being greedy, selfish pricks, but because of the ridiculous and over-the-top anti-capitalist crap that they are stereotypes of. Gah! We get it, the supposed "evolved" humans of the 24th century have moved past that now… Geez! The thing is that this evolved Federation attitude in the end comes of as not only condescending but also racist, which is quite ironic. But then I've often encountered supposedly enlightened people and they have turned out to be awfully boorish and prejudicial.

So, with the above said, it should come as no surprise that I didn't like The Nagus. The comedy didn't work and I frankly found it offensive. I admit it was slightly amusing to see the shameless rip-of (or homage) to The Godfather.

But I did like when Jake in secret kept teaching Nog, and Sisko's approval.

However, I must rate this one as very much below average.

[justTripn]

That's fair, both reviews. I TOLD you to hurry right along to season 3 . . . .

Makes one appreciation more how Enterprise was great straight out of the gate. With Broken Bow they were off and running and didn't stumble till the second half of season 2. TNG, DS9, and Voyager, each needed 2 years to find themselves.

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

Makes one appreciation more how Enterprise was great straight out of the gate. With Broken Bow they were off and running and didn't stumble till the second half of season 2. TNG, DS9, and Voyager, each needed 2 years to find themselves.

While I generally agree with this assessment (I think that ENT had the strongest first season of all the modern Treks), I do think ENT's season one did have some clunkers, such as Terra Nova and Rogue Planet). ENT started going downhill with ANiS in season two (and that was episode five).

[CoffeeCat]

ha! I just watched those a couple weeks ago. I think I'm really starting to like Jake and Nog the best. I wasn't too excited about watching Trek kids because usually they turn out to be really annoying (Naomi Wildman, Wesley, Icheb...) but I think the writers were really careful with these two.

[Rigil Kent]

Makes one appreciation more how Enterprise was great straight out of the gate. With Broken Bow they were off and running and didn't stumble till the second half of season 2. TNG, DS9, and Voyager, each needed 2 years to find themselves.

While I generally agree with this assessment (I think that ENT had the strongest first season of all the modern Treks), I do think ENT's season one did have some clunkers, such as Terra Nova and Rogue Planet). ENT started going downhill with ANiS in season two (and that was episode five).

And I would argue that the downhill slide began in season 1 starting with absolute crap like Fusion. Look at the episodes that follow the "T'Pol loses 150-200 IQ points to advance the plot" episode (Rogue Planet; Acquisition; Oasis; Detained; Vox Sola; Fallen Hero; Desert Crossing; Two Days, Two Nights and then the very underwhelming season finale Shockwave). None of those were really anything to write home about and most were pretty much paint-by-numbers (if they weren't flat out rip-offs like Oasis). Season 2 started to reverse that collapse with Carbon Creek and Minefield and Dead Stop and then took an even more abrupt nose dive in quality with A Night in Sickbay.

So far - and I hate to say it - but I've been more impressed with the first three seasons of DS9 than I have been with the first three of ENT.

[CX]

I was just going to say myself that ENT's first season had quite a few stinkers too. Yeah, DS9 has some stinkers in the mix, even a couple right next to each other eer now and again, but for the most part they're pretty good.

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

Well, comparing the first seasons of ENT and DS9 I must say that I like ENT more. We'll see when I've finished rating it and then I can compare my grades.

And now for a whooping four more episodes...


1-12 Vortex

I really liked Vortex. We get a glimpse into Odo's origins and we're as curious about them as Odo is himself. It's very intriguing and quite poignant. For the first time I could really feel the terrible loneliness that Odo must feel being the only shapeshifter he knows, and now he learns that there are others somewhere in the Gamma quadrant.

It was also rather moving to see him display a compassionate side when he learned the true story behind the fugitive Crodon. He even smiled at the little girl. The performance by Crodon was a little so-so, at least at first. And I recognized Randy Oglesby (ENT's Degra) as the Miradorn twins (a neat concept by the way).

The episode did raise some odd questions about shapeshifter/changeling physiology. How much does Odo really weigh? As a glass Rom had no problem carrying him on a tray, but as a humanoid Crodon thought he was heavy. And how could he get knocked out like that, just like a real humanoid. Wouldn't he be protected by the fact that he's just a big blob of dough? For that matter, when he's unconscious wouldn't he return to his "blobby" self?

My rate for Vortex has to be above average.

*****

1-13 Battle Lines

For some reason this episode didn't really grab me. I felt that the death of Kai Opaka was rushed and frankly not "worthy" enough. One would think that she'd want to accomplish more on Bajor, but it seemed from the start that now all of a sudden she thought her time was up. I realize this opens up tons of new Bajoran story lines, but the new cause for resurrected Opaka seemed a bit trivial in comparison. In short, I thought that Opaka was wasted in Battle Lines.

That said, I really liked the Opaka and Kira scenes. You could really feel the loss and grief of Kira - both when Opaka had "died" and then when she was counselled by the resurrected Opaka.

And please, stop this annoying spouting of technobabble! Here the major culprits were Dax and O'Brien. I cannot for the life figure out why they writers insist on all this gibberish!

I'd rate Battle Lines as slightly below average.

*****

1-14 The Storyteller

The Storyteller wasn't very good. I understand that Bashir and O'Brien will become quite the comedic pair on DS9, and I could see the beginnings of it here. But the surrounding plot (with some energy cloud being summoned by the negative feelings of some Bajoran villagers) was so silly and unbelievable that I couldn't really care.

Surprisingly I liked the subplot on DS9 better, with Jake and Nog befriending a young (and cute) Bajoran ruler. I actually thought the prank with Odo's bucket was rather funny.

I'll rate this episode as below average.

*****

1-15 Progress

I enjoyed Progress a lot more. It featured a no-win situation for Kira when she must decide where her loyalties are, with Bajor and Sisko or with a lonely farmer that refuses to leave his homestead so that the moon can become a vital energy source for Bajor. The old scoundrel was likable enough and he had good chemistry with Kira. I'm progressively (if you pardon the pun) finding that I like the Kira character, her struggles and conflicts. Contrast her with the all too bland Jadzia Dax. Hell, I even think Kira is more attractive than Dax, and it's not just about her tighter uniform!

Again there is a subplot featuring Jake and Nog - this time with self-sealing stem bolts (so this is where this running gag on Trek comes from). To my eternal surprise I find myself actually liking this pair. Considering how I normally feel about kids on Trek, this is a great compliment to the writers and actors. But I wish they'd ditch Jake's embarrassing civilian attire. Poor Cirroc Lofton!

Still, in the end I rate this episode as average, but a strong average.

[Rigil Kent]

Well, comparing the first seasons of ENT and DS9 I must say that I like ENT more. We'll see when I've finished rating it and then I can compare my grades.

Which is why I said that I hated to say it. For me, the first season of ENT ends with a monumental whimper, whereas the first season of DS9 ends very strongly. Compare 2D2N & Shockwave with Duet and In the Hands of the Prophets. DS9 wins hands down - Duet is quite possibly one of the best episodes of the series (so far, any way) and it doesn't rely on inane humor that isn't funny (i.e. 2D2N). And how can you compare the grades, KTR? DS9 isn't being judged by the same scale.

And, as I've learned with Odo, it's best to completely ignore the scientific impossibilities of the character. There are so many instances where the law of conservation of mass go right out the window that I have to shake my head. It's become a recurring joke for me & my roommate every time Odo turns into something that should weigh a lot but doesn't...

The technobabble continues well into the second season, although I haven't heard quite as much in the third. According to a lot of people, it's due to the idiots in charge wanting to make the show more like TNG with their made up nonsense that saves the day.

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

Well, comparing the first seasons of ENT and DS9 I must say that I like ENT more. We'll see when I've finished rating it and then I can compare my grades.

Which is why I said that I hated to say it. For me, the first season of ENT ends with a monumental whimper, whereas the first season of DS9 ends very strongly. Compare 2D2N & Shockwave with Duet and In the Hands of the Prophets. DS9 wins hands down - Duet is quite possibly one of the best episodes of the series (so far, any way) and it doesn't rely on inane humor that isn't funny (i.e. 2D2N). And how can you compare the grades, KTR? DS9 isn't being judged by the same scale.

I'm not talking about how the respective seasons ends, but about how many episodes that I liked.

And of course I can make rough estimates comparing grades - how many are average and above or below average.

[Rigil Kent]

I'm not talking about how the respective seasons ends, but about how many episodes that I liked.

So am I. As it stands, I've enjoyed more DS9 season 1 episodes than ENT season 1 episodes. Due in no small part, I'm sure, to me actually liking the commanding officer of DS9...

And so far, I've not seen a single episode where the characters acted OOC to advance the plot of the current episode (ala T'Pol in Fusion). Factor in that it's actually an ensemble show instead of a "The Captain can do everything! He just needs the other members of the crew around him to fail so he looks good" show, and it already appeals to me more.

[CX]

Odo is magic.

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

Three more:


1-16 If Wishes Were Horses

This episode was rather forgettable. The weirdness and supposed danger coming from the make believe fantasies fell flat. There was no sense of urgency. And Fantasy Dax was actually a bit offensive. Had I been the real Dax I would've been really pissed of at Bashir. The Buck Bokai guy was nice, I guess, and the most interesting of the fantasies.

But I seriously rolled my eyes at the staggering amount of technobabble. Even Kira said something about "what the hell does that mean" after she was forced to spout some of it. I'd like to think that was something Nana Visitor ad-libbed as a mild protest.

So If Wishes Were Horses rates as below average too.

*****

1-17 The Forsaken

The plot of The Forsaken was nothing much to speak of, very uninspiring and the resolution of course came from another bath of annoying technobabble. The obnoxious VIP guests terrorizing poor Dr. Bashir was clichéd. How can the Federation even function if its representatives are such jerks?

I absolutely hate the character of Lwaxana Troi and have ever since she made her first appearance on TNG. So imagine my horror when she showed up here on DS9. However, as loathsome as she was at first, I was surprised at how she changed after getting stuck in the turbo lift with Odo. For once she felt tolerable and it was almost endearing to see her when she helped Odo out as he was turning into goo. That said, please tell me that this was her first and last appearance on DS9!

Another below average rating.

*****

1-18 Dramatis Personae

Well, this was a rather pointless exercise. I'm monumentally uninterested in Alien Possession™ stories, and this telepathic virus thing is no different. Ultimately it doesn't matter since it isn't about the DS9 characters at all. They're just play-acting some ancient drama, and that's not a substitute for real drama. It was cool to see Odo, who conveniently retained his own persona, playing both "sides" to eventually solve the problem, thanks to some technobabbly effort he conned Bashir into doing.

I cannot fault the acting, since the cast did a good job with playing something besides their usual selves. But in the end it didn't matter.

There are a lot of below average grades and this episode gets one too.