A Collection of Episode Reviews Originally Posted on the MI6 Forums Between September 20 and November 11, 2010
"The Homecoming"/"The Circle"/"The Siege"
BAM! Now THAT'S how you open a season! DS9 season 1 was enjoyable and going along great, with two great final episodes, but THIS arc has been the first time I really sat up and paid attention. I mean for Star Trek, at this point, this is really bold stuff.
And the casting coups?! Richard Beymer? Stephen Macht? Mother frakkin' FRANK LANGELLA? It just brings an excellent gravitas to the whole situation.
I wish we'd seen General Krim again after this. He was a fine character.
Everyone on the show gets great moments. Quark and his latinum, slowly having to become one of the people fighting for the station. Bashir, stepping up into a combat role and becoming comfortable with that. That scene with Dax and Kira in the fighter is definitely the first time I've felt connected with Dax as a character. And Sisko here is just great. All of the characters, regular and recurring, get their moments. Really the only one missing is Garak, otherwise the entire gang established to this point is here.
It's really just powerful, edge of your seat stuff.
I enjoyed it, is what I'm getting at, and it certainly kicked the ass off the first three episodes of TNG Season 7, even if "Descent Part 2" was pretty good.
"Invasive Procedures"
I like Lionel Luthor's performance in this and I think it's really interesting the way the show plays with the idea of where Dax ends and Varad begins, and how that joined personality works. Avery Brooks is terrific especially.
I like how Quark redeems himself, but I still think he got off too light -- I mean Kira's ready to take him down once and for all and then all is forgiven?
Still, and interesting episode all around.
"Cardassians"
But this one was way better. Garak, Gul Dukat, Bashir, The O'Briens, racism, oh man this whole episode was just fantastically done. I mean, every scene just played to the hilt. I mean, wow, DS9 just hitting them out of the park and we're only just starting season two! But yes, this is a fantastic episode about racial prejudice but backed up with great plotting and firm character interaction. Too well.
"Melora"
And then there's this episode. "We should do a show about handicapped people!" said the PC brigade. Actually to be fair it turned out a pretty good episode. Not great, but not terrible either. I do think it's a little annoying to spend an entire episode devoted to a character who we'll never see again though.
"Rules of Acquisition"
The second of the annual Zek visits, this episode is multi-layered and fun, having elements of comedy and drama to it. It's very enjoyable, and sets up many soon-to-be important plot threads, both with the Ferengi... and elsewhere.
One thing that bothered me is that right when the Gamma Quadrant part of the storyline was getting interesting, it's dropped. I wanted to see if Zek ever made contact with the Karemma!"Necesary Evil"
Another DS9 classic. Great film noir flashback structure, great performances, just great all around. Sometimes I wish we'd gotten more of these "back in the Terok Nor days" stories, they're really quite riveting. Really anything to see more Marc Alaimo. Like maybe an episode where we flash back to Kira's past and actually SEE her doing all this resistence fighting we keep hearing about. But nevertheless, this is an excellent episode that reveals much to Quark/Odo/Kira's past, but also provides excellent character development to their present, including hints that Rom might not be as dumb as we thought.
"Second Sight"
And just when I was thinking "y'know, it's been a while since we had a Sisko episode" BLAM! Sisko episode. Pretty good one too. Also, Gideon Seyetik is officially the "Most Interesting Man in the Universe".
"Sanctuary"
As much as I liked the idea they were trying to get at with the Skreeaa (space gypsies), and the episode was interesting, and I liked the downer ending -- it was the ordinary day on the station type scenes that I enjoyed the most. The flustered day Kira is having before the Skreeaa arrive. The conversation between Jake and Nog about Jake scoring a date with a dabo girl is top notch. I like Jake and Nog. I really do. I like the entire cast. They really sell this episode. This would be a monstrously dull episode on TNG, but the cast and characters of DS9 make it work -- Quark's intolerances, Odo's suspicions, all the little touches. It makes a mediocre episode worth sitting through. Also -- more DOMINION references!
"Rivals"
Apparently no one really likes this episode. I don't see why! I love it! It's fun, funny, and just plain works. Quark vs. Martus, and more importantly Bashir vs. O'Brien! It's just great. I love these characters, I love this show, this episode was gangbusters.
"The Alternate"
Odo as the Id Monster from "Forbidden Planet". Essentially. Mora Pol is interesting, but ultimately too much time is spent on the monster and not enough on really delving into what went on all those years ago between them and what the ultimate source of the pain in that relationship is. The best scene is probably the one in Odo's office where Mora confronts Odo and Odo loses it and becomes the monster. It's a good episode with some good material, but it just misses its own potential.
"Armageddon Game"
The first "O'Brien Must Suffer" episode. Everything about it is great. From the character interaction between O'Brien and Bashir, to Sisko's hunt for the truth, heck even Keiko gets great scenes in this episode. A stand out second season installment.
To think where TNG was at this point. This show just rocks!
"Whispers"
A fantastic episode and exploration of the nature of paranoia -- no, the entire world is NOT engaged in a conspiracy against you, YOU'RE the one who's off. And it works all the better because it's O'Brien, the character who is our "rock". Which is why the "Let's Torture O'Brien" episodes work, really.
Everything about it is brilliant, except maybe the very ending, which is a little rushed. Replicant O'Brien should've fought that revelation more, instead of just quietly accepting it and dying. Otherwise good.
"Paradise"
Another great episode and along with "A Taste of Armageddon" and "The Measure of a Man", this is a "THIS is what Star Trek is about" episode. Yes, living the simple life is great -- but so is technology. Technology is not evil, it has not stolen man's ingenuity, it IS man's ingenuity. I love Sisko in this, he is the best. Ever.
"Shadowplay"
A good episode that is essentially an underdeveloped but interesting A-story with two good character B and C stories. They should've explored the old man in the A-story more, and exactly what the Dominion did to him, but oh well. The B-story is good Kira/Bareil/Quark moments and the C-story brings us the great moment of "Not everyone wants to be in Starfleet, guys".
"Playing God"
The Jadzia stuff is the best, obviously. The ethics of the protouniverse could've been gone into in better depth, but honestly we've heard this argument before on Trek. Then there are the voles. I was honestly annoyed we didn't actually get an end to that plot -- they just existed to get the protouniverse loose and then not actually dealt with. However, I do like that it was used to innocuously introduce Gul Evek. The way the Maquis storyline was built up and cross connected between TNG and DS9 was actually quite well done, and better executed that the series it was designed to build up towards.
"Profit and Loss"
Some parts of this episode work, some don't. It ends up averaging out as a pretty good episode. I buy that Quark would have a love for this woman, the part where if fell apart was when the woman finally admitted she loved him back. And some of the romantic dialogue was pretty bad. But Garak? Garak is always welcome/awesome.
"Blood Oath"
The best Klingon episode since "Rightful Heir" [TNG] and probably better than it. It really is the fact that its three TOS Klingons that makes it work. It helps connect the TOS portrayal of Klingons to the more congenial TNG versions in a very satisfying way. I'm not talking the make-up difference, but the actual difference in portrayal between "evil, scheming villains" and "honourable warriors". The fact that they got the original actors was such a bonus, and each of them still felt true to their original TOS character while still incorporating all the new jazz about honour and glory. Finally, this is a great episode for the development of Jadzia, really pushing her far beyond the sort've meek, sedate character she was in Season 1.
"The Maquis, Parts 1 & 2"
When the cliffhanger hit, I was almost surprised there were more episodes in the season set. It felt like the season finale, like the kind of thing TNG does (but that DS9 is so wonderfully above). There are so many cool elements in this episode that work. Sisko and Hudson, Sisko and Dukat, Kira being used to comment on the Maquis -- heck, even the moral questions the Maquis raise about Federation policy are great. The two-parter works the intrigue in part one, and has some great slam bang action sequences in part two, which includes I think the first time Trek ever did anything like a "space fighter dogfight" type scene. It's too bad all this fantastic, great set-up goes utterly to waste on the series it was designed for.
"The Wire"
This episode is to Season 2 as "Duet" was to Season 1 -- two interesting characters, in a room, with great dialogue and development for both. Another episode where everything works -- it helps that Bashir and Garak are pretty much my favourite characters. And this episode opens so many great doors: The Obsidian Order, Enabran Tain, etc. To utilize a metaphor Sisko would appreciate: they hit this one out of the park. I especially appreciate that there's no attempt at a comedic B-plot to dilute the central drama.
A greating showing of four superb hours of DS9. How bizarre that the quality can be so high here, and yet be dropping so fast on its parent show TNG.
"Crossover"
TNG always avoided referencing TOS. They copied one episode in their first season, got slammed for it, and thereafter only ever pulled out cameo appearances in time for sweeps week. But DS9 references TOS twice in one season, just a few episodes apart! As cool as TOS Klingons were, this - the second trip to the mirror universe after the classic "Mirror, Mirror" [TOS] - is among the most fun I've had all season. And it's clear the actors are having a ton of fun as well. Bashir blows up Odo! All around it's a great time -- and for a parallel universe episode, it's got a refreshing lack of technobabble, which always helps.
"The Collaborator"
And we turn our eyes to Bajor for the first time since it seems the opening trilogy of the season. The episode isn't as riveting as some others this season, but it does move forward the Bajoran intrigue in new and interesting directions. Namely, our favourite love-to-hate character Winn becomes the Kai. Which is great because frankly Bareil is boring. It would've at least added some dimension to him if he HAD been the collaborator, but I still enjoy the twist that it was Kai Opaka.
"Tribunal"
DS9 as written by Franz Kafka, I suppose. An entire episode spun from Dukat's single line in "The Maquis" about the Cardassian legal system. If it wasn't so horrifying, it'd be funny. Another entry in the "O'Brien Must Suffer" genre as well. Good stuff.
"The Jem'Hadar"
Oh, sh*t. Hey, guys, how're we gonna defend the entire Alpha Quadrant against an overpowered enemy race who can shoot and transport through our shields, turn invisible, and don't give a damn about their own lives? Especially when all we got is a 20 year old Cardassian space station and 3 runabouts? Fuuuuu--
Great episode. Really raises the bar and suddenly makes Deep Space Nine THE Star Trek show to watch. No longer TNG's little sibling, it had to step on its own. Yes we've been building up VOY's Maquis like they're gonna be the big thing, but Voyager gets lost in the Delta Quadrant so nothing that happens there really matters. Meanwhile, DS9 has stepped up to the plate by suddenly expanding itself beyond mere Bajoran/Cardassian intrigue. So excited for season 3.
Favourite episode of Season 2: "The Wire"
Least favourite episode of Season 2: "Playing God"
Favourite character of Season 2: Garak/Dukat/Sisko
Most improved character of Season 2: Jadzia
Least favourite character of Season 2: Nog
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