Star Trek

[Buster's Uncle]

 

[Geo]

Somebody had way too much fun making this...

 

[Buster's Uncle]

I wish I knew who...

[Ordnael]

It's mesmerizing!

[Buster's Uncle]

This is:

[Ordnael]

I started last night my second run of DS9. And while watching the opening https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Emissary_(episode) I feel a reinvigorating appreciation for this show, DS9 was kindda in the bottom of my personal Star Trek ranking, and it's not lost on me how Avery Brooks overtheatrical flavour of acting really brings what the scene demands of Benjamin specially while being probed by the alien "prophets" as he goes through various ranges of emotions like from an enthusiastic baseball fan to a grieving widow.

Quark makes is mark quickly as a cynical observant of mankind and Starfleet's bendable virtues and it's remarkable how Armin Shimerman leaves such a strong imprint on the character with so little screen time while Nana going through the Major's various motions of that episode cannot. Not that I dislike Nana's acting but I feel Kyra was the weakest character on the show...I am looking forward to feel renewed appreciation for her as well.

Marc Alaimo's Gul Dukat almost steals the show with way he plays with the character and the situations and he really shines opposed to Sisko in the prefect’s office scene.
Colm Meaney kindda starts the show with a O'brien must suffer staple with all the station in disarray and his pissed off attitude at problems he must solve.

The other's are there mostly for decor I guess, Jadzia Dax is just a science officer for most of the show, Bashir is a lovable smartass, Odo does have a presence right out of the bat though.

It's funny watching old tropes and lines being played out from the perspective of a grow man that has already consumed lots of media, so I kinda roll my eyes internally at the "frontier doc dialogue" and Miles's percussive maintenance.

[Geo]

... and Miles's percussive maintenance.

  ?

[Ordnael]

2nd episode (https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Past_Prologue_(episode) might look like a Kyra show and it is but for me it's all about Garak. He's my wife's favourite for a reason and the way we works and makes Dr. Bashir all worked up is just spectacular. Nice to see Sisko putting Kyra in her place with a playful and firm deliver of "Go over my head again, and I'll have yours on a platter." Odo pulling Kyra down to earth was also a nice touch. I like Odo more before the whole Dominion stuff, more of a Walker Texas Ranger and less of a sad estranged orphan alien.

3rd episode (https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/A_Man_Alone_(episode) is an Odo show and a good one at that even if all the Space CSI stuff is wonky and the "Killing your own clone is still murder." makes me think the whole clone theme deserved more exploration but I don't remember memorable ST episodes delving in that. Quark shines with his bro love/hate relationship/antagonism with Odo dialogues. We get a bit more of Jadzia but it's nothing too meaningful.

Loving my second run of Deep Space Nine!

[Ordnael]

I liked the 4th episode https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Babel_(episode) the first time I saw and I enjoyed it even more the second time around. What starts as a plain "O’Brien must suffer" (he does suffer...a lot ) spirals into a quarantined Deep Space Nine whose crew are being lost to the first humorous, then deadly dubbed "aphasia" virus. Quark Odo interplay shines again as we find out the virus was not planted by the usual suspects.

[Ordnael]

"I am Tosk" is the prominent quote I take from episode 5 https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Captive_Pursuit_(episode). It's centred on the relationship between O’Brien and the titular alien that arrives on DS9. And it's also an endearing story about camaraderie, the bones of command, the hardships of the Prime Directive. It's a great episode all around proving that Season 1 DS9 is worth an attentive view.

And then we have https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Q-Less_(episode). Yes the 6th episode has Jonh de Lancie stealing the stage with a brilliant Q episode where for, once, he's not at fault. Vash and Quark's interplay and dialogue is very enjoying. After dealing with Picard this Q is more "humane" and although his usual fun shenanigans are still on display the episode wraps up in an anticlimactic way as no serious explanation is given or consequence is taken from the whole experience. I don't know if I should commend Sisko for the way he handled Q or call him out on his reaction that could have jeopardised the whole station. They are incompatible right out of the bat, if there were more Q episodes in DS9 they would be a very difficult write after this. Fortunately for us trekkers Janeway proves to a proper adversary/partner for Q and this way we weren't robbed of Jonh de Lancie's memorable character.

[Ordnael]

I find episode 7 "Dax"https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Dax_(episode) the weakest so far in my 2nd run through DS9. I also find it one of the weakest Star Trek courtroom drama shows. The way Jadzia immediately throws herself into a corner to preserve something, however "noble", Curzon did makes little sense to me, as it, fortunately, makes little sense to Sisko who stubbornly fights her apathy and refuses to throw down the towel in a fight to save the memory of his mentor and now new friend. I still enjoyed the show though:)

[Ordnael]

The Passenger https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/The_Passenger_(episode) is another weak episode in my view. Star Trek likes to use a flavour of thriller on some episodes and they have successfully left me for guessing who was the "bad guy" till the last minute...The Passenger drops the ball on that, and you might say "But Ordnael you have already seen this episode, you are not being fair!" and I would retort "Get out of my head other imaginary voices!"...but no, the mystery is lost before the always beautiful opening sequence. There are still some highlights here and there, Quark gives yet another reason why the law must remain always watchful of his dealings and Siddig's performance is interesting. I still enjoyed the episode despite it's flaws.

[Ordnael]

Well at the weekend I saw 4 more episodes, Move Along Home https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Move_Along_Home_(episode) is easily the weakest of this bunch, still the silliness is entertaining. Sisko, Dax, Bashir and Kyra playing a childish game with a little girl while chanting a childish rhyme is a little highlight that, again, pales in comparison to Armin's consistently credible Quark.

Then I saw the Nagus, https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/The_Nagus_(episode), another Quark focused episode...it's interesting that he actually keeps getting more and more airtime, way more than Kyra or any of the other people that populate ops. This episode marks the beginning of DS9 trend of Ferengi focused episodes just for the lulz and lulz it has. This one also has a nice piece about Jake and Nog.

The following Vortex https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Vortex_(episode) is Odo focused and it delivers. We get to see the man of law in action and his fragile side of the lone wolf looking for answers about his species. I am not particularly fond of this dimension of Odo but there wouldn't be enough drama about the character to make a show on about him I guess. Again points for Quark for keeping to stir up trouble!

Battle Lines https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Battle_Lines_(episode) is a good episode, its gives Kyra much needed air time as she was just going through the motions on previous episodes. The interaction between her and Opaka is like that of a lost child and a caring mother and it's almost tearful. It further advances the whole prophets/religion plot a little more and in the end O'Brien saves the day making the science officer look bad in comparison!

[Ordnael]

Ah The Storyteller https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/The_Storyteller_(episode) an A and B story show leaning on some comedy. Bashir has fun on O'Brien woes and the dialogue between them is mostly hilarious. The other story as a sterner side but Jake and Nog make some light comedy relief. Both stories are good although I am not a big fan of the A and B story output as I thinks it risks taking air time to properly exploit and finish each one.


The Progress https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Progress_(episode) another A and B story show. The A story is a Kyra episode, very serious tone exploring her past and her future as she's forced to deal with her new role of a senior officer instead of a loose canon rebel. Her counterpart to that story played by the late Bryan Keith is a great character. The B story from this show shouldn't have been used on pair with this A story...it's just too comedic against the more dramatic A story. Still its a great comedy that gives us the beginning of the self sealing stem bolts joke from Jake and Nog. Great fun!