LibriumArcana.Games

Having never really watched more than an episode here or there of this show, I began over from s01e01, and moved from there. I am now on s03e22, and growing even more interested.

The parallels between DS9 and B5 are there, this is true. However, they are different enough for me to enjoy DS9 on its own merits.

There were many moments of awesome already, but I was struck by the good characterization of the show already, of all the characters. I have not noted a single prominent character that's even just mediocre. Some of the per-episode secondary characters can be a bit weak at times (Garak's old boss Tain, for one - he just didn't sell the character well to me), though there are recurring characters that are very memorable (Gul Dukat, The Grand Nagus).

I have not yet reached the true Episodes of Awesome that many have mentioned to me (In the Pale Moonlight for one, which apparently takes place during season 6), but the episodes thus far already have been impressive.

Another recurring memorable character - Wynn.

Just finished s03e24, and seeing Kai Wynn's naked attempt at a powergrab was just ugly. What happened to her couldn't have possibly happened to a nicer Kai, and I mean that.

EDIT: In s03e25, I know Quark got blackmailed into helping Dax with her previous hosts' memories, but wow. Just wow. Hearing him talking effeminately about what its like to be a mother made me laugh uncontrollably.

Just got to s04e01 - The Way Of The Warrior.

Finally - Sisko has his head shaved. He just looked weird with hair.

And Major Kira's hair looks like she's been electrocuted.

I've been trying to re-watch DS9 as well, but have only gotten through the first season so far.

What I really like about it early on is that they were trying something new - it isn't an advanced starship with the Federation's best people. It is a piece of junk with all kinds of random riffraff aboard. The Bajorans are in no way perfect, and the Cardassians are just really outstanding in just about every way (television wise).

Good show.

Also, I have to give Cynical Cat credit - when Worf arrives at DS9 in s04e01, he does indeed bring Awesome with him.

I'm on s04e06, and I have to say the writing has been consistently solid - Worf is only making it more Awesome.

...Ah, here we are. A true facepalm-worthy episode of DS9, at last. I have to give the show credit - a stinker like this didn't surface until season 4.

Specifically, s04e08 - Little Green Men.

Just... *sigh*

It's a Ferengi episode. Virtually all of them are either Bad, Horrible, or Worse. A couple might manage to be "So Bad It's Good" if the humor works.

And just wait until "Profit and Lace".

The "Ferengi 12" or whatever it was called during the Dominion War arc was actually in that category Steve....

Dark Silver wrote:The "Ferengi 12" or whatever it was called during the Dominion War arc was actually in that category Steve....

You mean "The Magnificent Ferengi"? The prisoner swap episode? Yeah, that falls into "So Bad It's Good" territory.

on s04e14 (Return to Grace)

I am struck by how many people appear interested in Major Kira's heart and panties. Barial, Odo, Shakhaar, and now Dukat.

Less facetiously, I think this episode was an excellent amount of character development for Dukat. The look in his eyes as he saw his chance to regain his former post, turning into the greed for power, turning from there... to the urge for revenge.

His daughter added a large amount of drama as well, especially with her earnestness at wanting to be near her father, and help him. Major Kira's decision to take his daughter with her back to DS9 was... a very nice touch.

In watching s04e15, and seeing Worf's brother Kurn suddenly struck me - I recognized the actor immediately, since he's the same one who played an old Jake Sisko earlier this season.

Works for me - he has the skills to do it.

Quark's Quote for this episode: "That does it! I just won't talk to the customers anymore."

rhoenix wrote:In watching s04e15, and seeing Worf's brother Kurn suddenly struck me - I recognized the actor immediately, since he's the same one who played an old Jake Sisko earlier this season.

Works for me - he has the skills to do it.

Quark's Quote for this episode: "That does it! I just won't talk to the customers anymore."

Yeah, the excellent Tony Todd. He does a rather good job when he appears on stuff.

You've reached the show's peak seasons, though there are some stinkers coming.

There's quite a few actors in Star Trek who play many roles. In DS9, watch for all the roles of Jeffrey Combs. He does just about everything!

To say nothing of J. G. Hertzler.

Season 7 is more or less unwatchable. You have been warned...

Huh? There were some poorer episodes early on, but Season 7 had some good episodes too, especially in the final ten episodes that resolved the whole Dominion War arc.

s04e20, Shattered Mirror.

The plot, characters and all the rest were good, but the special comment I want to make is about the Defiant.

I get it now.

What everyone else was telling me about what the Defiant's strengths are - I didn't really get it until seeing it here. Watching Sisko take the helm, and use the Defiant to close to knife-fighting range, and rip, claw, shred, maul, and tear apart the battlecruiser really brought it home.

Heh, seeing this universe's Worf so angry at the outcome that he seriously said "I have been betrayed! It is the only solution for my defeat!" was just awesome.

Yeah pal, your bigass battlecruiser and a small fleet just got their asses handed to them by a single combat shuttle and a single tactical escort. Go home and cry, bitch.

Steve wrote:Huh? There were some poorer episodes early on, but Season 7 had some good episodes too, especially in the final ten episodes that resolved the whole Dominion War arc.

If you disagree that's your prerogative. I did like 'Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges' though.

rhoenix wrote:What everyone else was telling me about what the Defiant's strengths are - I didn't really get it until seeing it here. Watching Sisko take the helm, and use the Defiant to close to knife-fighting range, and rip, claw, shred, maul, and tear apart the battlecruiser really brought it home.

Lesson learned: Never enter a knife fight with Starfleet's tactical escorts?

I should point out Sisko was part of the design team for the Defiant. He captained the lead ship of the class. He built this thing, he flew it first and understands it like no one else can. The Defiant is built to close up to the enemy grab him by the belt and do it's level best to beat him to death.

frigidmagi wrote:I should point out Sisko was part of the design team for the Defiant. He captained the lead ship of the class. He built this thing, he flew it first and understands it like no one else can. The Defiant is built to close up to the enemy grab him by the belt and do it's level best to beat him to death.

That's a couple of good points actually. It did get bonus points for having Sisko fly it.

Good grief, and Havoc wanted to give it more phasers to make it scarier at knife-fighting range.

Well, this will change how I fly the Gilgamesh in the Trek game, but not too much.

Also - s04e25... After that long conversation with Garak about how he wanted to die, they never showed Quark going back and giving the "yeah...never mind" speech. Otherwise, a good episode - despite having a Ferengi sub-plot.

Havoc actually DID change the design, add more phasers, and used it purely as a knife fighter.

He Trafalgar-class Defiant Variant loved to gt in close, slice and dice with the best of them. He used it not a few times on various ST games I ran.

It was that very episode that convinced me to give Trafalgar a shot, but a standard Defiant is (obviously), perfectly capable of handling itself at knife-range.

Chuck Sonnenburg's take on the origin and purpose of the Defiant, in a review for Season 7's Siege of AR-558.

I love it.

Steve wrote:Chuck Sonnenburg's take on the origin and purpose of the Defiant, in a review for Season 7's Siege of AR-558.

I love it.

I stopped it when it got into spoilers, but yes - that was indeed awesome.