Quick Review:
There is a LOT of WOW moments in this episode. As you watch it, you a re going to no doubt agree with me. Another reviewer said this is a good episode for non Star Trek fans to watch to get a feel for the Star Trek vibe (my paraphrase) - and to this, I completely disagree. There is too much back-story and understanding of how the Federation deals with rival and enemy organizations.
Almost all reviewers are at least disappointed by the ending - some reviewers are infuriated. I feel like it left a lot on the table of unknowns and a writers potential paradise of loose ends to tie up. The episode leaves a lot of questions unanswered and in need of sequels of sorts. Writers hate to paint themselves in corners and creating dead-end characters and situations. With this episode they have opened up - not a single can of worms but a whole pantry full of cans of worms. Wow! "sequels of sorts" and "whole pantry full of cans of worms". I'm so clever at turning a phrase! LOL.
Star Trek The Next Generation fans will tend to LOVE this episode with Riker appearing. They will go all a-goo-goo when he appears on the screen in the opening. Who cares if it's only his transporter created evil/searching/not-sure-of-himself-living-in-William Riker's-shadow twin Riker?
I noticed Nana Visitor (Major Kira) with her flaming white hair, being overly vocal and giddy on the set of the recently released movie "What We Left Behind - Looking Back At Star Trek Deep Space Nine" (2019). The kind of confidence she exhibited, surrounded by all of the other DS9 cast members trying to find some light in her shadow, was obvious and not contrived as some do to hide insecurities. She had every reason to be the center of attention in the documentary. I noticed watching this episode of season 3 DS9 the entire series seems to revolve around her emotions, her character, her love interests, her weaknesses, her passions and goals. The writers of DS9 - at least up to this part of the 3rd season - made it VERY clear they had found a gold mine in the character of Major Kira, former Bajoran terrorist and type-A sensual personality. The directors and producers must've wholeheartedly agreed with the intentions of the writers because there is NO ONE else on the series they tended to focus the camera on more than her when she's facing it and especially lingering on her when she walks away from it. I'm surprised they didn't rename the series, "Star Trek Deep Space 9, The Life And Times and Sexy Hind End of Major Kira", sometime after the first season.
This production values of this episode are well done. Every Star Trek fan loves getting on those cool space ships and trekking. All the buttons and lights and beeps and "on the screen" stuff. The ending is not infuriating - it is simply a can of worms (or a pantry full of them). The crew that Riker assembles, of Maquis, definitely do NOT act in character at the end of this one and the whole premise is a lot of cheating on the part of the writers to gain story material for future episodes. Come on guys! Be true to the audience and the fans of the whole Star Trek franchise! Your decision to bring in Riker was a good one but how you used him to give yourselves material for future scripts instead of an honest telling of a story was cheating and you guys KNEW it! This is how those people in charge of a franchise take advantage of a group of people (Trekkers) they feel are gullible enough to go along with it. And guess what? They were mostly right. Thus the next full 4 seasons of salaries and posturing and politics to live (and profit) off an entire population of people who are committed to the original passion of Gene Roddenberry. The passion and premise of a hopeful place in the future called the United Federation of Planets where they and their leaders have ended disease, don't take advantage of people who are gullible, don't cheat and are honest in their dealings with the population. Ironic isn't it? And THAT, to me is the essence, epitome and ultimate revelation of this episode of DS9.
There is a LOT of WOW moments in this episode. As you watch it, you a re going to no doubt agree with me. Another reviewer said this is a good episode for non Star Trek fans to watch to get a feel for the Star Trek vibe (my paraphrase) - and to this, I completely disagree. There is too much back-story and understanding of how the Federation deals with rival and enemy organizations.
Almost all reviewers are at least disappointed by the ending - some reviewers are infuriated. I feel like it left a lot on the table of unknowns and a writers potential paradise of loose ends to tie up. The episode leaves a lot of questions unanswered and in need of sequels of sorts. Writers hate to paint themselves in corners and creating dead-end characters and situations. With this episode they have opened up - not a single can of worms but a whole pantry full of cans of worms. Wow! "sequels of sorts" and "whole pantry full of cans of worms". I'm so clever at turning a phrase! LOL.
Star Trek The Next Generation fans will tend to LOVE this episode with Riker appearing. They will go all a-goo-goo when he appears on the screen in the opening. Who cares if it's only his transporter created evil/searching/not-sure-of-himself-living-in-William Riker's-shadow twin Riker?
I noticed Nana Visitor (Major Kira) with her flaming white hair, being overly vocal and giddy on the set of the recently released movie "What We Left Behind - Looking Back At Star Trek Deep Space Nine" (2019). The kind of confidence she exhibited, surrounded by all of the other DS9 cast members trying to find some light in her shadow, was obvious and not contrived as some do to hide insecurities. She had every reason to be the center of attention in the documentary. I noticed watching this episode of season 3 DS9 the entire series seems to revolve around her emotions, her character, her love interests, her weaknesses, her passions and goals. The writers of DS9 - at least up to this part of the 3rd season - made it VERY clear they had found a gold mine in the character of Major Kira, former Bajoran terrorist and type-A sensual personality. The directors and producers must've wholeheartedly agreed with the intentions of the writers because there is NO ONE else on the series they tended to focus the camera on more than her when she's facing it and especially lingering on her when she walks away from it. I'm surprised they didn't rename the series, "Star Trek Deep Space 9, The Life And Times and Sexy Hind End of Major Kira", sometime after the first season.
This production values of this episode are well done. Every Star Trek fan loves getting on those cool space ships and trekking. All the buttons and lights and beeps and "on the screen" stuff. The ending is not infuriating - it is simply a can of worms (or a pantry full of them). The crew that Riker assembles, of Maquis, definitely do NOT act in character at the end of this one and the whole premise is a lot of cheating on the part of the writers to gain story material for future episodes. Come on guys! Be true to the audience and the fans of the whole Star Trek franchise! Your decision to bring in Riker was a good one but how you used him to give yourselves material for future scripts instead of an honest telling of a story was cheating and you guys KNEW it! This is how those people in charge of a franchise take advantage of a group of people (Trekkers) they feel are gullible enough to go along with it. And guess what? They were mostly right. Thus the next full 4 seasons of salaries and posturing and politics to live (and profit) off an entire population of people who are committed to the original passion of Gene Roddenberry. The passion and premise of a hopeful place in the future called the United Federation of Planets where they and their leaders have ended disease, don't take advantage of people who are gullible, don't cheat and are honest in their dealings with the population. Ironic isn't it? And THAT, to me is the essence, epitome and ultimate revelation of this episode of DS9.