Amph "You are of Bajor" A 'Trek' to 'Deep Space Nine'

I agree, from what I recall at least. That's been one of te episodes I've been most looking forward to seeing again in this project as I remember digging it alot when it first aired. Of fcourse it's not till the last season or so.

 

It wasn't that the suits wouldn't get back to him- they flat out told him "Wrap it up- the PTEN network is disbanding.". It wasn't until TNT played around with the TV movies that they finally gave the go-ahead for picking up Season 5. Season 5's failings come only in it's first half though, where he had to stretch the discarded C-Plot form Season 4 about the telepaths into an A-plot. The second half with Londo was more or less as it was intended, which is why it shines so much better than the first half.

Additionally, JMS kept his outline notes on notecards in a stack on his desk (and eventually in a binder). When Season 5 got the go ahead, he was at a convention in the UK and had intended to use his free time there to get started on Season 5. However, he got distracted by the Claudia fiasco and, then found that the hotel he was at had moved his stuff to a different room partway through his stay, and had thrown out the notecards in the process. Despite dumpster diving, JMS was unable to recover them, and had even less to go on when writing Season 5.

Crusade was mucked up by TNT Atlanta and never had a chance to show it's true nature. It's like B5 if B5 never got to introduce the Shadows...and was shown out of order...with episodes directly interred with by the network...then intentionally killed in a way that no other channel could pick it up and make TNT look made for dropping a show made successful elsewhere. It's a miracle Crusade ended up (when viewed in a proper order) as good as it did, given the circumstances.

 

[image=http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/memoryalpha/en/images/e/e7/Duras_sisters_b-o-p_and_Yangtzee_Kiang%2C_Past_Prologue.jpg] [image=http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/memoryalpha/en/images/5/51/Danar.jpg] [image=http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/memoryalpha/en/images/7/70/Tahna_and_the_twins.jpg]
DS9 103: Past Prologue
-Premise: A Bajoran terrorist tests Kira's loyalties to the Federation when he attempts to rid Bajor of the Federation for good.

-T2Q Comments: Garek is rather unsettling, and Bashir's jumpiness is understandable but kinda annoying. First appearance of the wormhole in opening credits.

Nightwatch Guy as Cardassian. Kinda funny how the Bajoran clothes and uniforms evoke the TOS uniforms to a degree.

Klingon sisters return- I find it almost off balance to find them here, halfway through an episode that's not Klingon-centric, with little fanfare at that. "I'm the one giving you the choice." Odo doesn't really maintain any mass ratios in his shape shifting, does he?

The jazz hands on "haggle" cracks me up- I love this Garek fellow- I hope he's recurring. I like the detail that they explain Odo's appearance by him having trouble replicating humanoid noses. This whole scene with Odo and Kira is great too.

Dead quiet...except for all the computer noise left in the audio track.

For the introduction of Garek (he's recurring! hurrah!) and the minor progression of the Duras sisters and Klingon plotline, I'll say this one is Definitely Essential.

Trivia: This is the first episode ever of Star Trek to not have a ship named Enterprise in it.



[image=http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/memoryalpha/en/images/c/c8/Bashir-ibudan-ama-dsn.jpg]
DS9 104: A Man Alone
-Premise: After a man is murdered behind locked doors, investigation reveals that the only person who could have committed the crime is Odo, station Chief of Security.

-T2Q Comments: Bashir slightly annoys me for the second episode intro in a row. I wonder how many episodes it'll take for me to start fast forwarding through the opening titles, as I do love this theme, very serene.

Keiko's first appearance on the show- nice that they're exploring the difficulties in assignment transition.

This one scene about halfway through pretty much telegraphs the real killer, I think- but also does an excellent job of characterizing Quark in regards to Odo...and maybe I spoke too soon, it may have given us more options as to who the killer is than I originally surmissed.

"Killing your own clone is still murder." Not sure if that's corny or badass, but I like it.

This seems somewhat relevant viewing in terms of seeing aspects of the station still being established (which makes sense, given that this was the first regular episode shot, even if second aired) and introducing some character relationships (Jake and the Ferengi kid..which after I tpe that sounds like a western TV show), as well as some other minor themes that would be explored down the road.

I actually remember facets of this episode too, and still wouldn't mind rewatching it down the road. But, it could still be skipped with little lost so I'm hesitant to say it's Definitely Essential, so I'll go and say "Potentially Essential, But Not Necessarily Good", even if the latter part of that description doesn't apply in this case.

Trivia: when Odo is reviewing the murder victim's schedule, one of the entries states he departed from Alderaan Spaceport.


[image=http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/memoryalpha/en/images/f/fc/Babel_virus.jpg]
DS9 105: Babel
-Premise: A virus infects the station's residents, making everyone unable to speak coherently.

-T2Q Comments: I like the idea of all the repairs needed to get things running piling up on Miles. You know, the design flourishes above and under catwalks on this station, at least the underside ones, that mimic the docking pylons of the station design, would seem to be a major hazard for people bumping their heads into them.

"Rom's an idiot- he couldn't fix a straw if it was bent."

Not sure why they're making

 

[image=http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/memoryalpha/en/images/1/1e/Tosk.jpg] [image=http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/memoryalpha/en/images/0/01/Quark_Obrien_Tosk.jpg] [image=http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/memoryalpha/en/images/0/0c/Hunters_uniform.jpg]
DS9 106: Captive Pursuit
-Premise: O'Brien helps an alien from the Gamma Quadrant as hunters descend on the station searching for their humanoid prey.

-T2Q Comments: I think this chick hopped over from Farscape.. "I'm not what a lot of people think." Sorry, my mistake, miss.

With Tosk's chameleon/cloak abilities, I gotta wonder if the ability is related or sourced from Tosk's race by Future Guy and given to the Suliban.

Speaking of Farscape- Quark is kicking Zhaan out of his casino. Love the Odo scene and you know what just hit me? Rene Auberjonois as Odo is very much reminiscent of Liam Neeson...I really want to see them in a movie together now.

These Reverse-Cylon lookin dudes...it's like they spent their costuming and makeup budget on the helmet and just gave up on the rest...so in 30 years we've one from TOS villains with cheap-looking sashes across their chests...to DS9 (potential) villains with cheap-looking sashes featuring blinking lights across their chest. Gotta wonder why they could punch Odo without him doing his T-1000 trick. Their attack somewhat reminds me of the Atlantis anti-gard troopers in Season 5 of SGA.

Quark certainly didn't take long in this series to be interesting and amusing. So the hunters just let the prey fly right over them without even a shot?

I really liked this episode...I'd like to see the Tosk again, there seems like there could be a Gladiator/war smuggler type angle that could be well utilzied, maybe even have the Klingons, being so honor-centric, interact with them and guide them to an honorable freedom.

Notable for featuring the first Gamma Quadrant contacts- there's apparently also a direct link between the cloaking effect of Tosk and the later cloaking of the Jem'Hadar (it being said the same people bred both the Tosks and Jem'Hadar). Also establishing Odo not using phasers/weapons.

I'm torn about how to classify this one- the Tosk sadly do not show up again, yet this episode establishes a few important smaller moments, and indirectly foreshadows coming enemy abilities, and I also like the episode quite a bit.

I guess I'll go with Good Episode, But Not Necessarily Essential- though I'd still likely include it in a reccomended episode viewing list.



Up next: DS9 107: Q-Less

 

I'm posting the DS9 episodes in this thread, and the TNG episodes in the TNG thread.

 

Ah, yes- I do cross-post these episode reviews in both the Amp and SFAF forums. Different people post in the two forums, which provides the most variety in discussion- not too many users post in both.

There's just the one thread in Amp, though- whereas SFAF as individual threads for each series, so I break them up accordingly, as I have since I started this project with TOS.

 

[image=http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/memoryalpha/en/images/b/b2/Q_and_Vash_DS9.jpg] [image=http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/memoryalpha/en/images/9/9c/Embryonic_lifeform_crystal.jpg] [image=http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/memoryalpha/en/images/f/fc/Embryonic_lifeform.jpg]
DS9 107: Q-Less
-Premise: Archaeologist Vash arrives from the Gamma Quadrant as Q plagues the station and an unknown force threatens to destroy it.

-T2Q Comments: Bashir hitting on this unibrow chick, yeesh...

I'm wondering if Miles ever actually saw Vash in the last episode she appeared in?

Q mentioning the Delta quadrant left to explore- wonder if Voyager was in the works at this point?.

"What did they call you? The God of Lies?", "...they meant it affectionately."

"22 percent and don't stop!"

As much as I'm enjoying it, I think this is the point where they really start to play Q for comedic relief a bit too much.

...Ok, so I'm at the "fisticuffs" scene, and I retract the "I think" portion of my previous statement. Still

"Picard and his lackies would have solved this technobabble hours ago!"

If the episode hadn't made the source of the drains and gravitons so obvious as early as it did, it might have been much-improved, but, still- it's quite enjoyable and the conclusion of the Vash episodes, as well as Q's only appearance on DS9 (even if his pupose here is a bit out of character compared to his other appearaces). Definitely Essential.

Trivia: the third Ren & Stimpy reference here with Hoek IV.



[image=http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/memoryalpha/en/images/c/c1/Ilon_Tandro.jpg] [image=http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/memoryalpha/en/images/e/e2/Dax_on_trial.jpg]
DS9 108: Dax
-Premise: New evidence reopens a thirty-year-old murder case, and Dax's previous host Curzon is now the prime suspect.

-T2Q Comments: You know, there's an awful lot of metal grating walls for people to watch others through in shadowy corridors and coves on this station. Now if only Brashir had enough smarts to take 2 seconds to call for security before yelling out in attention of himself and joining the fray.

holy crap, is that President Logan as bad guy numero uno? Tight little SR-71 looking ship.

"what's the matter with you?" I'm guessing she's annoyed that you'll only talk to her through her bookcase.

I think this is the first scene where I've really liked Kira- "but also...ANNOYS us."

The Trill rep in the hearing is a bit underwhelming in performance. Somthing I'm just realizing- this is another rare Trek Trial episode that isn't noticably awful at all. Mama Logan is played by Eloise Hawkings/Cindel's Mother (hmm, she plays the mother of a lot of characters.. ).

Good Episode, But Not Necessarily Essential. Still, I'd watch it again.

Trivia: The stardate of this episode is inconsistent with the rest of the season, placing the episode after most of Season 1. This was the only DS9 credit and last Trek script written by DC Fontana, who wrote several TOS (half of them good, half of them awful) and TNG Season 1 (mostly just awful) episodes.



Up next: DS9 109: The Passenger, DS9 110: Move Along Home & DS9 111: The Nagus.