Star Trek: DS9 (Season 4, Episodes 21-25)

4x21 The Muse April 29,1996

Two stories here and they both work. I am finally coming around to Lwaxana Troi's annual visits, here she is pregnant and the father's home views require male children to be raised by the males,away from the mother. She would have that and ends up marrying Odo. The Title refers to a Muse who appears on the ship and beings to influence Jake Sisko in his writing abilities. This is a really good episode.

4x22 For the Cause May 6,1996

There has been a minor Character Micheal Eddington who has been around since the beginning of season 3. In the brief recap and mostly opinions of the episodes, there has been little reason to talk about him until now. Odo comes to believe Kassidy Yates, Sisko's girlfriend might be a smuggler they set her up. Sisko takes The Defiant to follow and it is a trap, Lt Commander Eddington tries to take over the ship in the name of the Marquis, which the writers seem to have forgotten about this season. Nice episode.

4x23 To the Death May 13,1996

Renegade Jem Hadar attack the station  and the crew of  The Defiant end up teaming up Jem Hadar to stop them. The Jem Hadar leader promises next time we shall meet as enemies. Great Sweeps type episode.

4x24 The Quickening May 20,1996

Alexander Siddig really shines as Bashir in this episode where he,Kira and Dax are attacked by Jem Hadar, glad to see they are backed, I have missed them this season. Bashir ends up trying to cure a plague. It is a really touching episode and easily the best Bashir episode of the series.

4x25 Body Parts June 10,1996 

first plot line is a run about is attacked and Bashir has to move the O'Briens baby from Keiko to Major Kira, so she is now pregnant with a human baby. Nice plot device for Nana Visitors real life pregnancy. The episode is named for Quark fearing is dying and puts is body up on some sort of Ferengi exchange and people bidding on it. The end of the episode is really touching as Quark realized his true self worth to others.


4x26 Broken Link June 17,1996

I was beginning to wonder if this was a 2 part episode or not and if anything truly dramatic was going to happen. Kira/O'Brien's pregnancy was a subplot. The main plot revolved around Odo was not able to maintain solid form so they had to take into Dominion space and find The Founders. This is one of the better Garak episodes to date, first he tries to set Odo up on a date, then he comes along on the journey to keep Odo company. Garak spins yarns of assassination and intrigue as only Garak can. It is a marvelous episode.


Overview of Season 4:

The episodes at the end of the season really saved it, I liked the 2 parter about Changelings on Earth. It was very heavy on stand alone episodes. I have notice any Star Trek season seems to lose it's mojo around episodes 12-15 and the season becomes a grind. The Character development is very good, It took TNG 5 or 6 seasons to reach this point. This was about as strong as a finish as any Star Trek season. You can see I was slow to get through the season.  I will probably wait until August 1 to start in on 5.I really can't wait for the Wars to break out.

Viewed May 30,2014 to July 12,2014

Season 5 and the First Contact movie coming up

Star Trek DS9 : Season 4, Episodes 11-20

4x11 Homefront  January 1,1996

1996 gets off to a great start in the Trek Universe. Sisko,Odo,OBrien and Jake go to Earth where trouble is afoot. We find out before the episode is over that 4 members of The Dominion are on Earth. Threats of Martial Law, extereme measures for testing are imposed. This is a great decent into Martial Law and a little Cold War fear as well. TO BE CONTINUED .....

4x12 Paradise Lost January 8,1996

A nice continuation of the story line.I love everything, framing Sisko, the final showdown. Usually the guest stars are terrible and wooden, Robert Foxworthy is great. Susan Gibney who was the scientist Georgi fell for the holodeck and was married to in the series finale plays a Starfleet officer and is in the episode, she joins a small list of Actors.

4x13 Crossfire January 29,1996

Odo is in love Kira. A Bajorian diplomat arrives on the station and quickly develops a Romantic with Kira,crushing Odo's heart (if he has one). We get to see Odo and Quark interplay for what seems like the first in a while. We find out Odo lives above Quark. Quark files official noise complaints.

4x14 Return to Grace February 5,1996

Going back to the story line with Dukat's not totally Cardassian Daughter earlier in the season. We have Kira and Dukat on a freighter, he has been stripped of his rank. A Good episode, this show has done so good at making three dimensional characters.

4x15 Sons of Mogh February 12,1996

As always, any episode featuring Klingons are good. Honor,Battle everything the Klingons love at work here.

4x16 Bar Association February 19,1996

Quark has to deal with striking employees and fight off Unionization. Fun episode.


4x17 Accession February 26,1996

We find out, I think for the first time that Sisko performs a lot of weddings of Bajorian couples in his role as Emissary. A ship comes through the worm hole with a Bajorian man who claims to have been called as the Emissary, he brings back the long dead Caste System and takes Bajor backwards. Subplot: O'Brien  is about to become a Daddy again. First appearance of his wife in ages.

4x18 Rules of Engagement April 8,1996

This is one of the best of the season. Worf has made the commander of the Defiant and in a fog of war type situation fired on a civilian transport. Worf faces extradition to the Klingon Homeworld, which I don't think has ever been given a name. Anyway this one of the best trail episodes I have seen in the whole series to date. Ron Canada is the Klingon prosecutor a dones an incredible job. If you have read this far, you know I rarely guest stars, so this is a great role. This is a 5 Star episode.

4x19 Hard Time April 15,1996

One of the more touching episodes of the series. Miles O'Brien has been released from servicing a 20 year Prison  Sentence. Oh, wait, it was only 20 years in his mind, in reality it was 3 hours. O'Brien felt every minute of the 20 years, it was  very,very real to him. Just a great science fiction plot. I am not really going to get into the hows and why, other the alien race who sentenced him has an interesting view of justice. Stunningly great episode.

4x20 Shattered Mirror April 22,1996

Mirror universe, yawn

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Season 4 Episode 1-10)

4x1/4x2 The Way of the Warrior October 2,1995

I was so excited that I took a couple of days from and dived right into Season 4 a few days before the start of the month.

The Big Casting News is Worf from The Enterprise joins the cast. Remember is this the post Generations world as Worf has been thinking of resigning from Starfleet.

Plot: A Klingon task force has arrived at the station to assist in fighting The Dominion. The Klingons are planning to attack Cardassia because they are convinced The Founders have taken over the Cardassia. Sisko arranges for Garak to inform Dukat of the pending invasion. Chancellor Gorwon tries to recruit Worf to the cause, Worf chooses his duty to Starfleet. The episode becomes of the best war/actions episode of the series to date. There is a ton of action.

4x3 The Visitor October 9, 1995

This is an odd episode in a lot of ways.First of all, it is a wonderful, thoughtful,very well written.The episode is just of place. It is set in the future and Jake is a well known writer who is visited by a writing student. The demise of Captain Benjamin Sisko is related by Jake. Benjamin appears to Jake at various points through out his life. It becomes a Doctor Who Timey,Whimey type episode. I won't get into spoilers. I like the episode, It just is a such a departure and I more interested in the adventures of Worf on the Station.


4x4 Hippocratic Oath October 16,1995 

The one where Bashir and O'Brien are in a shuttle and crash on a planet in the Gamma Quadrant. I really had a hard time getting into this one.

4x5 Indiscretion October 23,1995

A Dukat and Kira adventure. It was a good,not great episode.The last two episodes fall into my theory 26 episodes is too many.

4x6 Rejoined October 30,1995

November sweeps gives a break from a string of so-so episode. Jadzia meets the spouse of one of Dax former Hosts, who is also a Host. Okay, got that ? Dax Host at the was male. Love sparks fly between Jadzia and Lenara, two women,on television in 1995, Wow !!!! The rules of Trill society forbid joined individuals rekindling relationships from past lives. They face expulsion and the symbant dying. The episode comes down to is love worth it. A Beautiful episode. The Lesbian relationship is ahead of it's time.

4x7 Starship Down November 6,1995

This episode just did not register with me, I don't think I watched it all in one sitting. Before I write I look up the episode on Wiki or Memory Alpha just to check details or get a line of dialogue correct. I looked for this one and really couldn't remember anything about it, other than I thought James Cromwell's makeup was horrible.

4x8 Little Green Man November 13,1995

This was a good one Quark and Rom are taking Nog to Earth and Starfleet Academy. They end up in 1947. This is a great episode because we see the Universal translator malfunctioning. There was an episode in the first season where the translator had not figured out the language yet. Odo joins them on the trip. An amusing and entertaining episode.

4x9 The Sword of Kahless November 20,1995

I have been waiting a true Worf/Klingon episode all season. I was not disappointed.

4x10 Our Man Bashir November 27,1995

A wonderful not too serious episode. One of the little things I love about the series is the pulp novels that are discussed here and there, I think I mentioned Odo reading I,The Jury. Bashir and Garak discussion murder mysteries. It is not really surprised that Bashir has a 60's Cool,hip man of mystery holo program and suddenly in a tux Garak enters the program.

Meanwhile a transporter accident brings several members of the crew into the simulation and they have to keep them alive or they will die in real life. This is really the first episode where Holodecks have played a big part.They have been mentioned, a minor piece here and there. Our Man Bashir is really the first Holodeck DS9 episode, my reading tells me the writers thought the Holodeck was over used in TNG (I agree).

Star Trek:Deep Space Nine Season 3 Episode 22-26

3x22 Explorers May 8,1995

Sisko now has a beard, usually this stuff only happens at the start of a season. This is a great father/son story as Sisko builds a solar powered Bajorian sail boat and heads out Jake. The subplot involves Dr. Bashir meeting an old rival from school, the girl who got better grades etc. Bashir has had the most secondary plots this season by far.

3x23 Family Business May 15,1995

A bad Quark episode. One of the reasons 26 is too many episodes. I just was fairly about so a good run of compelling episodes.

3x24 Shakaar May 22,1995

Bajor story arc. Louise Fletcher had earlier became the Religious head of Bajor, now she has her eyes set on the political power. Kira hangs out with her freedom fighter friends. This is a really good episode. The season has been so strong that this episode is good, not great and may get lost in the shuffle.

3x25 Facets June 12,1995

Best episode of the series to date, and we have over a hundred more to go. Jadzia goes through a ritual where she meets Dax's other hosts. It is a ritual she has been pulling off.Her friends temporary host the previous host. It is a well done,thoughtful episode with a big twist. Secondary plot involves Nog preparing to join Starfleet Academy.

3x26 The Adversary June 19,1995

Commander Sisko is now Captain Sisko. This is a Dominion story arc. The Dominion has been the big bad of the season going back to Sisko's words at the end of season two. The episode starts slowly and subtly.Halfway through the episode it has turned into Alien, the crew are paired up wondering through hallways looking for a Changeling who be any thing or anyone on board The Defiant. We get Mexican Standoffs, Blood samples, multiple Odo's and the ships self destruct  going on in real time. The Changeling whispers to Odo "You're too late.We are everywhere."

Season 3 Watched from May 1, 2014 to Mat 24, 2014

This was episode 351 of the franchise.covering 29 years at this point.

Overview of Season 3

At the shows worst maybe we have too many arcs going on. Cardassians v. Bajorians, still bitter feelings.
Cardassians seem to be aligning with Romulans. Kai Winn power grab on Bajor, The Obsidian Order v. Cardassians. The Dominion from the Gamma Quardant v. Everyone. Within The Dominion we have The Founders and The Changelings, not to mention The Jem'Hadar part of The Dominion. We have all but forgotten about The Marquis.

The show demands a lot, I think maybe even more than Battlestar Galactica did. It has been a while,maybe even Babylon 5. There is a lot going on and I think the show deals with it very well. We saw the first signs of too many episodes this season. The show always seems to run low after a two parter around episode 17 and 18. Overall, this is superior television.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (Season 3,Episode 11-21)

3x11/3x12 Past Tense January 8 and 15,1995

Bold Move, a two parter not during sweeps, I like the idea. This is one of the better 2 part stories I have seen on any Star Trek Series to date. There is lot going on, Sisko,Bashir and Dax end up in the year 2024, at the moment of great change in the world. Sisko and Bashir are separated from Dax. The episode is smart,emotional,action packed and tells us things about ourselfs only Sci Fi seems to be able to show us. For some reason Clint Howard appears in the episode, writing several days later, I am still not sure why.

3x13 Life Support January 31, 1995

One of the characters that really has never worked for me has been Vedek Bareil. The acting is rather stiff, a minor reoccurring character dies but the episode didn't really grab me.

3x14 Heart of Stone February 6,1995

The Second story really is the best Quark's nephew wants to join Starfleet, Sisko is skeptical. Nog's speech about how much he doesn't The Ferengi way really works for me.It is a great moment. The main plot with Kira,Odo, really did not work very well. A fine example of even with the series so good, in a season so good, the biggest problem is way too many episodes.

3x15 Destiny February 13,1995

Quark and Sisko discuss the Rules of Acquisition. The 34th RoA is War is good for business , The 35th RoA is Peace is good for business. Quark says "It is easy to confuse the two". This is an interesting episode that deals with Bajorian prophecies. We met a couple of Cardassian scientists who may change the way we think of Cardassians. They view science with the same intensity as other Cardassians view war,occupation and deceit. I mean that in a good way. I would to see these characters again, I honestly don't recall if we do.

3x16 Prophet Motive  February 20,1995

Has the Grand Nagus of The Ferengis suddenly had a change of heart. Charity and Benevolence have replaced Profit. Wow. Wallace Shawn has done a great job with this character. This episode did not really register with me very much.

3x17 Visionary February 27,1995

O'Brien keeps jumping 5 hours into the future.The episode involves Klingons and Romulan,

Odo: But Don't worry -I plan to investigate the Klingons.The Bajorians,Quark and the visiting Terrelians
Sisko: You think Quark had something to do with this ?
Odo: I always investigate Quark

later:

Sisko: I think we have evidence to at least question the Klingon's don't you ?
Odo: Absolutely
Sisko: Just be careful
Odo: Commander, there is no careful way to question a Klingon

Bashir to OBrien " If all you can hallucinate about is Quark's maintenance problems, you do have a sadly deficient fantasy life."

the writing is getting very good,

3x18 Distant Voices April 10,1995

One of the better Garak lines "To Think,After all this time,all our lunches together...you still don't trust me. There is hope for you yet."

Bashir is zapped and ages rapidly.

3x19 Through the looking glass April 17,1995

Return to the mirror universe as O'Brien kidnaps our universe Sisko. Great episode.

3x20 Improbable Cause April 24,1995
3x21 The Die is Cast May 1,1995

Just a minor note but I love the fact this isn't named  Part 1 and Part 2.
My Notes as I took them watching the episode.
Assassination attempt on Garak leads to a witty,well written investigation. At times this episode (Improbable Cause) is heavy into Odo and Garak. This is a good thing.
It is great to watch/listen to the writing. They really know how to write Garak, Romulans called him a Cobbler.  Is this is the first time I noticed he has been exiled from Cardassia ?

3x21

Wow, the torture scene where Garak tortures Odo is intense. This is so well written and acted. The series is at the top of it's game right now.

Star Trek:Deep Space Nine Season 3,Episodes 1-10 plus STAR TREK:Generations

Welcome to May 2014 ....

3x1/3x2  The Search  September 26/October 3,1994

Deep Space Nine is now the only Star Trek show on the air with TNG gone off the air in June. It seems like a long time ago because I have not seen a TNG show since late January. The Station is preparing for war with The Dominion and whatever is in the Gamma Quadrant. We are introduced to The Defiant, a battleship The Federation with a cloaking devise. It is at DS9.  We find out Odo is a Changeling , he and Kira go to his home planet. Mystery solved, he would rather be with humans. This is a really good political episode,lots of intrigue. You get the feeling the series has really taken a new turn.

3x3 The House of Quark October 10,1994

Wow, Quark kills a Klingon before the Credits. Of any of episodes of any series that I have watched so far, this is the best open ever. Quark ends up marrying the widow. As with TNG, any Klingon episode is good,so with DS9 any Quark episode is good. Mixing Klingons and Quark is magical.

3x4 Equilibrium October 17,1994

A great Jadzia Dax episode

3x5 Second Skin October 24,1994

One of those episodes when I realize what a great character Garak the Tailor is. Is Kira a double agent ?Is Kira really a Cardassian spy who had surgery to look like a Bajorian ? This season has been epic so far.

3x6 The Abandoned October 31,1994

A story about an abandoned baby who grows up really quick. The best part of the episode is Jake,Sisko's son is dating a Dabo Girl (a Gambling game played at Quarks).Think Black Jack girl or worse.I am think Jake has really been underdone in the series.

3x7 Civil Defense November 7,1994

This seasons candidate for best episode of the season one of the best of the series. Remember that The Federation took over the station from The Cardassians. An old security program is tripped and the whole station might self destruct.

3x8 Meridian November 14,1994

One of the best romantic episodes of the series,any series. A Planet suddenly appears out of nowhere.It exists in 2 Dimensions. As the crew work to try to figure a way for the planet to stay in this dimension Jadzia falls in love with one of the scientists.


Star Trek:Generations
Release Date:November 18,1994

This is probably the second true epic in the Star Trek movie franchise. You have Khan and now you have the two captains.I liked the movie then and I liked it now. An Enterprise crashes which seems to be a standard in the movies.

The film opens with Kirk,Scotty and Chekov attending the launch of The USS Enterprise-B. This allows for one of the best title sequences of a champagne bottle floating through space. It really is a cool scene, a sign of a budget in 1994, today a commercial could product such a cool scene.

The ship isn't fully staffed and is missing a lot "That is due Tuesday" Captain Harriman keeps saying as their is a distress call that only one who can respond.And Captain James T Kirk dies trying to save the ship. Refugees come on board Whoopie Goldberg and a sinister looking Malcolm McDowell.


The First appearance of The Next Generation crew is on board an old time sailing holodeck ship.Worf is getting promoted, in the course of events Data throws Dr. Crusher overboard and doesn't understand why no one found it funny and decides it is time to put in the emotion chip, for Your Moment of Data Movie Edition. Spiner goes through every emotion in the book Pain,Fear,Humor, some of it interesting and some of it is not.

The movie has appearances by the Crazy Klingon Sisters from TNG and DS9. McDowell makes a great Star Trek villain. The reason why Picard enlists Kirk's help is some what contrived. The scenes are really good and this is the last we see of William Shatner as Captain James T Kirk, I will suspend objections and just enjoy the almost 30 ride with the character.Again this movie works for the most part.

3x9 Defiant November 21,1994

Will Riker shows up at the Station. This is a very good episode, anything else would spoilers.

3x10 Fascination November 28,1994

It is The Bajorian Gratitude Festival and everyone seems to be having a little fun

This series has dealt with conspiracies and bad guys like The Dominion,The Marquis, The Obsidian Order and the unresolved issues of the Cardassian occupation of Bajor and The Space Station it's self. There have not been a lot of fun episodes. This one borrows a little bit from A Midsummers Night Dream.It is a lot of fun.





Nice to see Jadzia Dax out of uniform

Star Trek:Deep Space Nine Season 2,Episode 22-26

2x22 The Wire  May 8,1994

Background on Cardassians and the mysterious figure of Garek, not a tailor. This is an episode that is heavily into the over all plot of Cardassians,spies,Bajorian and The Federation.

2x23 Crossover May 15,1994

Remember the mirror universe mentioned in the original series ? Spock with the beard ? Well so do the writers.This episode is a lot of fun as can Kira and Bashir escape. The events in TOS had a major impact in that universe. This is a clever,superior episode.

2x24 The Collaborator May 22,1994

Louise Fletcher as Vedek Winn is creepy and villainous. She is really fun to watch. This is a heavily political episode.One of my favorite political ploys in the series is the stalling tactics Sisko used to keep ships in the dock. Inspections could take "Days or weeks" Kira tells a smiling Vedek Winn.

2x25 Tribunal June 5,1994

The O'Briens take a vacation,Miles ends up being arrested,convicted,sentenced and tried (in that order) by the Cardassians. It is another really strong episode as the season winds down.

2x26 The Jem'Hadar June 12,1994

So their are two species of The Dominion, Jem'Hadar and Vorta. The episodes starts out pretty lame, Sisko and Jake go camping in the Gamma Quadrant, Nog gets invited so Quark comes along as well. By the end of the episode The Dominion seems to have declared war on The Federation. The Episode ends with Sisko saying "If The Dominion come through the worm hole,the first battle will be fought here.I intend to be ready for them."

Overview of the season:

There is a lot of over all arc stories in the season. Writing is the key as war with The Dominion looms,Cardassians playing games with The Federation and Bajor's internal struggles as we wonder if they are able to govern themselves. I will always say 26 episodes is too many.There is less fluff and pointless episodes here. This is not as good as the first season, but that is not a bad thing

I watched this season from March 1 to April 15,2014.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 2 Episode 11-21

2x11 Rivals January 2,1994

A Quark heavy episode as he deals with the new hip trendy bar in town.

2x12 The Alternate January 9,1994

The Origins of Odo have got to be one of the most interesting questions in the Star Trek Universe. He was discovered,no one knows his race, is he the only one ,nothing. This is the second episode that has dealt with his origins and both have been a bit unsatisfying.Here we meet Dr. Mora, who was one of the first people to study Odo. The actor really underplays the part, who is both a proud parent and a jilted one. An Empty nester who really misses when he and Odo worked together. We are early in the series, but I hope Odo Origin episodes get better.

2x13 Armageddon Game January 30,1994

I have noticed if the make up department for TNG was fun with Exo Skeletons, for DS9 is it funky hair styles. I am not sure if this a Gamma Quadrant problem or not. The writers tried to work a relationship between Bashir and O'Brien that just didn't work for me.








2x14 Whispers February 6,1994

I again can complain about the length of the seasons. Nothing I can do to about it. But we are in the middle of the season and the writing just isn't there. Colm Meaney gets a lot of facetime in a story where everyone seems to be against O"Brien. The episode has a twist ending which really doesn't save it. In truth O'Brien is a good character in an ensemble episode,but two episode in a row as a lead just isn't working.

2x15 Paradise February 13,1994

Sisko and O'Brien (Surprising) are exploring planets in the Gamma Quadrant,they find castaways.It ends up being an effective episode about cult leadership, and technology vs. Agriculture based society.

2x16 Shadowplay February 20,1994

The second appearance of the Dominion, the superpower in the Gamma Quadrant. A good episode as Dax and Odo investigate the disappearance of villagers. well written,well acted Kenneth Mars has a part.This is such a smart show.

2x17 Playing God February 27,1994

A great Dax, or really Jadzia episode, she liked hanging out with Ferengi, has a girly type relationship with Kira and judges the suitably of a host candidate.

2x18 Profit and Loss March 20,1994

Mary Crosby is almost unidentifiable behind makeup as she plays Quark's true love. A minor Cardassian character Garak the Tailor may not be a Tailor. This is another strong episode. There is an interesting detail

2x19 Blood Oath March 27,1994

A Dax episode with Klingons? Yes,Please. Corzon had  a blood oath for vengeance with 3 Klingons , played by TOS veterans of John Colicos,William Campbell and Micheal Ansara. Jadzia must decide whether to honor the oath that her previous host made. The episode has good hand to hand combat,my favorite characters and I am coming to the conclusion Avery Brooks is really getting into the role.An engaging episode.

2x20 The Maquis,Part 1 April 24,1994
2x21 The Maquis,Part 2 May 1,1994

A Personal Note, the second part aired on my 29th birthday. This is a 2 part episode that seems significant in the history of the series. The Maquis don't like the federation, we meet a renegade Vulcan, a friend of Sisko. Sisko works with Gul Dukat, his Cardassian counterpart. The writing is first rate.The show is really on a roll of good episodes.Dukat gets a lot of character development. Through out the series, we wonder if Cardassians want work with the Federation, the answer may be no.

Star Trek:Deep Space Nine Season 2, Episode 1-10

2x1 The Homecoming September 26,1993

Frank Langella is uncredited as a Minster of the Provisional Government.The plot of this 3 part story begins when Quark gets a piece of Bajorian Jewelry,shows it to Kira and next thing we know she is leading an escape attempt of Cardassia IV. She gets Li Nalas,a Bajorian war hero,long thought dead. Under orders of the Minster Kira returns to Bajor and Li Nalas is the new liaison.

To Be Continued  

2x2 The Circle October 3,1993

Without checking I thought this was a 2 hour season premier cut into 2 episodes for syndication. It is not, it is a stand alone episode that continues the story from last week, a first for the Star Trek franchise. The Show is growing up in terms of what they expect the audience to be able to handle. Well done.

To Be Continued 

2x3 The Siege October 10,1993

I am impressed a 3 part story line. Someone complex,especially for 1993. The story line works and leaves a lot the writers can play around with in terms of Bajorians relationship with Cardassians and The Federation.Louise Fletcher has been in all episodes, as was a nice Guest Star with Steven Weber and Richard Beymer.

2x4 Invasive Procedures October 17,1993

I am becoming convinced Jadzia Dax is the most interesting character in the Star Trek Universe. The Symbiant is 800 years old and has been in 8 different persons (Host). I love that Sisko best friend is the previous host, a male and he calls Jadzia "Old Man".The relationship is touching, as touching as any other in the series. In this episode someone takes the station hostage and the symbiant is transferred in him and will Jadzia die or can Sisko convince Dax to go back, this is really an absorbing episode.

2x5 Cardassians October 24,1993

This was an episode that drug for some reason. I am not sure why.A Cardassian boy seems to be rejecting his Cardassian heritage.

2x6 Melora October 31,1993

Another episode that really works, Melora Pazlar is from a planet that has light gravity,they send few to Star fleet academy. She is wheel chair and wears heavy braces and moves around with great difficulty. Melora asks for little special consideration.

Melora and Dr. Bashir seem to get along really well, which is great, It is about he got a girlfriend. Can it work out, he can spend little time in her gravity. He works out treatment that allows her to adapt for brief periods of time. There is also a story about a high jacked shuttle craft. The heart of the story is well acted and written. The zero g kiss is wonderful.







2x7 Rules of Acquisition November 7,1993

The Rule with TNG was any Klingon episode was going to be good. With Deep Space Nine, if it centers around Ferengis, it will be highly entertaining. We find out Dax's favorite race are Ferengi's, her playing cards with them is a lot of fun.

2x8 Necessary Evil November 14,1993

Flashback : Kira (with long hair) and Odo aboard the station during the Cardassian occupation. The main plot is Odo is investigating a murder. Fun stuff, done without the help of Sherlock Holmes.

2x9 Second Sight November 21,1993

Remember that Sisko is a widower.He begins to fall for a woman who is mysterious and not at all what she seems by the end of the story.

2x10 Sanctuary November 28,1993

This is an episode with a lot of good moments. Aliens come through the worm hole and no one can understand them. I have wondered about this, the ship uses a Universal Translator. The Crew can only guess at the odd behavior of the Skerreans. Once they can understand each other, they request asylum for the race of 3 Million. This is well written,always interesting, the episode is played at a high emotional level. I would like to meet Skerreans again.

I have been a little slow on getting through the season. That is not a reflection on my opinion of the season so far.

Star Trek:Deep Space Nine Season 1,Episode 11-20

The Nagus (1x11) March 21,1993

A really good Ferengi episode.Quark becomes head of the family, The Grand Nagus, The Godfather is parodied in one particular scene to great effect.

Vortex (1x12) April 18,1993

Cliff DeYoung was in a lot of TV episodes in the 80's and 90's. This was one of those episodes. There is a vague promise of Odo's origins.









Battle Lines (1x13) April 25,1993

Remember the Opaka, the religious leader of Bajor, she returns and the senior officers take her on a trip through the wormhole. The group encounters a civil war.

The Storyteller (1x14) May 2,1993

It is interesting, the question at the beginning was is Sisko going to be a Kirk or a Picard, how about both, his diplomatic skills are featured here.

Progress (1x15) May 9,1993

This is one of those episodes that border on brilliant. The core of moon is going to be tapped and 1 family has refused to leave. Kira beams down and finds Brian Keith as the lone farmer who escaped from a Cardassian camp and has lived there for 40 years. He challenges Kira in her beliefs and refuses to leave. The finale is breath taking at times as she makes a decision the could jeopardize her career.It is a great Kira episode and a great Sisko episode as well.

If Wishes Were Horses (1x16) May 16,1993

Another superior episode. Humor, Character development, interesting plot , philosophical and hopefully seeing Aliens that will return. All the  main cast members had pretty big parts, so it was really ensemble acting. I am trying to recall a TNG episode that had every character play a part as in this episode. This really is a different show.

The Foresaken (1x17) May 23,1993

Lwaxana Troi ... oh no we left that behind didn't we ? I liked the episode, a lot. She has set her sites on Odo. We learn a lot about Odo, He doesn't eat, has no stomach or digestive system. It has been mentioned previously he has to turn to a liquid every 16 hours. As Lwaxana and Odo are stuck on an elavator, It is the 15th hour.







Dramatis Personae (1x18) May 30,1993

Dolomite.Klingons and something is leading the crew to turn on each other,suspect conspiracies.

Duets (1x19) June 13,1993

Does the station have a Cardassian War Criminal on board ? Another superlative episode. The writing and the acting are first rate. I love that the Cardassian occupation matters in the mythos of the series. The Series starts when The Federation takes over,but the past is key to the understanding of the series.

In The Hands of the Prophet (1x20) June 20,1993

This the 276th episode of the series. In the last episode we were briefly introduced to Neela,a Bajorian, who is an engineer. This is a wonderful story dealing with Terrorism, political intrigue about who the next Kai will be (Bajorian Religious Leader). A great guest turn by Louise Fletcher.

Overview of Season One:

This show is everything TNG was not, a smart show that was not afraid to have character development. The Past of these characters are important. If you found the little used Ensign Ro intriguing, Major Kira goes far beyond Ro. Bajorian are so interesting, Spiritual, battle tested, one of the best drawn alien races the series created. Odo and Quark must have been a blast to write for, the actors play off each other so well.

Dax,Sisko and Dr Bashir in some ways are characters that the writers haven't really found yet. They have moments, the could be interesting but I just don't know yet.


The writing is through the roof. Smart,adult and very little throw away episodes. It is hard to pick the highlight of the season. They created a series that so far is watchable today. I am excited to remember and experience Season 2. It was a pure pleasure of a TV season.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 1, Episodes 1-10

Emissary (1x1,1x2)  January 3,1993

Star Trek:The Next Generation was mid way through season 6, the season where I think the show finally began to show its self. For a season and a half, two Star Trek shows aired in syndication. Deep Space Nine premiered with a two hour episode called Emissary. There is a lot going on here. We have to introduce 8 new major characters. We have an opening story to consider and a new set,new looks at Bajorians,Ferengis and Cardassians.

So what is Deep Space Nine, It is a space station in orbit around Bajor, once under the hamds of the Cardassians now under Federation control. Bajor has asked to join The Federation. The Station is fixer upper as Captain Benjamin Sisko arrives.

Captain Sisko has a widowed single parent, he and his son are one of the few survivors of an attack by The Borg led by Locutus, he does like Picard one bit. One of the better scenes is the frosty meeting between the two,where Sisko makes it clear he will do his duty but is thinking about transferring to Earth.

He specifically requested a Bajorian first officer and gets one in Major Kira who was a resistance fighter and not trustful of anyone really. We learn the Bajorians are a spiritual people, we meet I think the spiritual leader Kai Opaka and the story begins about Orbs.

Other crew members, a young Doctor, Chief O'Brien from The Enterprise, Odo, a shape shifter whose origins are unknown. An old friend of Sisko's is Dax, a Trill who know has the appearance of a Woman, Sisko knew him as something else, he calls her Old Man. Quark is a Ferengi barkeeper whom Sisko convinces to stay and not give up on the station.

The Plot: 2 parts, one part orientation to the station,introduction of the character, this was done very well. The second plot dealt with the orbs, it was very good, it was spiritual at times. I really enjoyed, it was a great start for the series.

Past Prologue (1x3) January 10,1993

Netflix,Wiki and Memory alpha disagree on the order of the episodes. Netflix which is how I am watching seems to think: Emissary:Parts 1 & 2,A Man Alone and Past Prologue.

If this is an example of where the series might be going, I like it. Dr. Bashir meets a Cardassian suit maker and believes him to be a spy. A Bajorian member of a terrorist group seeks asylum on the station,Kira's loyalities are tested and two Klingon sisters arrive on board. This show is going to get wild, a change from the last series.

A Man Alone (1x4) January 17,1993

Murder and it appears Odo is the only one who could have possibly done it. Miles O'Briens wife Keiko decides she wants to start a school, Sisko's son Jake and Quark's son Nog will be the first students. Interesting episode.I am loving the dynamic of the series so far that the main characters don't always like each other, trust each other maybe but are working together for the same goals.

Babel (1x5) January 24,1993

One of the more eneteraining relationships is Quark and Odo are Rick and Louis in Casablanca, I am really enjoying the conversations. Somehow when everyone of the station has a mysterious virus, it is no surprise Quark and Odo end up running the station. Another very good episode.

Captive Pursuit (1x6) January 31,1993

We will get to how Daft Punk ends up in the episode in a bit. The Wormhole, It was discovered in the first episode and the whole premise of the series is what could come out of the wormhole and DS9 is the first thing they encounter from the Gamma Quadrant. It is why Dr. Bashir wants to be there and the general state of the frontier outpost.

Is the first ship that comes through friendly ?

For me Quark is really becoming the star of the show, which is as I remember it. O'Brien says "Hey Barkeep" . Quark angrily replys " I am not a barkeep, I am a host, a proprietor, a friendly ear.."

Daft Punk: the first person through the wormhole is Tosk who is being hunted by The Hunters, so the Prime Directive plays a part in the story.

Q-Less (1x7) February 7,1993

The third and last appearance of  Jennifer Hatrick as Vash, the Archaeologist who met Picard on holiday (Captain's Holiday) then left to explore the universe with Q (Qpid), she returns and Q is not far behind. The episode works on a lot of levels, Q has someone new to harass, he soon finds out he is not Picard, Sisko hits Q "Picard never hit me", Sisko replies "I'm not Picard".

The writers are clearly having as much fun writing Quark and Odo as I am watching them
Quark: "You were eavesdropping on me. What were you this time ? The Chair ? The Table ? Ahh, The Wine bottle." A Shapeshifter must be great to write for.

On a negative note, I am thinking Station at peril because of (blank) is the standard plot line of the show. So far we have had a virus and a power drain that could cause the station to enter the wormhole.

Dax (1x8) February 14,1993

Is Jadzia Dax responsible for the crimes of Curzon Dax ?enough thought they happened two years before Jadzia was born ?

The writing was strong, the acting was strong. I was about to causally mention Avery Brooks as Sisko seems a bit wooden at times, but the scene with him showing his frustration with Dax for not helping her(him)self was very strong.

The Passenger (1x9) February 22,1993

The first episode of the series that really did not make much of an impression on me.

Move Along Home (1x10) March 14,1993

I really,really like this episode. It begins with the Senior Staff in dress uniforms awaiting The Wadi, the aliens to receive the full diplomatic treatment. They want to visit the Casino. Sisko,Dr Bashir,Kira and Dax soon find themselves in a game, and Quark is rolling the dice. When Odo notices the senior officers are missing he ends up at Quark.Great acting by Armin Shimerman (Quark) as he realizes what is going on and what the stakes of the game really are. This episode is a prime example of how gritty this series is compared to The Next Generation.

Star Trek:The Next Generation: Season 7, Episodes 11-20

Parallels (7x11) November 29,1993

Worf is caught in a timey/sciency/ type thing and traveling through several different realities. In a couple of them Picard has died in the encounter with the Borg. In a couple Worf is married to Troi , the episode where Worf had spinal surgery is mentioned. This is about the only episode of this series where I thought this could have been on the original series.This is a real stand out episode.

So there are different time lines out there,interesting....

The Pegasus (7x12) January 10,1994

The episode where everything worked .....
The Opening scene is one of the best in the series to date. Picard is judging pictures for "Captain Picard Day".Riker picks up a doll and does an imitation of Picard. Picard takes an emergency transmission, the Admiral asks about the banner reading "Captain Picard Day" , he smiles and says "It's seems I am a Role Model."

The Series is one of best constructed episodes of the series. Guest Star Terry Quinn is Riker's first Captain  on board The Pegasus, the ship is believed to lost, but isn't. Mystery surrounds the episode, secret cargo,Mutiny and the fact the Romulans are very interested in the area. The Cat and Mouse game that ensues is one of the best,no surprise Ronald D. Moore is the writer of the episode.

Homeward (7x13) January 17,1994

Worf's human brother played by Paul Sorvino. It has been a while since there was a Prime Directive/First Contact episode, these have been some of the most thoughful/interesting episodes of the series. The way of getting around the Directive is unique as a camp is taken to the holodeck as their planet dies and they are moved to a similar planet. I think the concept, credit to William N. Stape,Spike Steingasser and Naren Shanker as the writers. As the series is coming to an end, I realize this might be the last Prime Directive episode, I can not help but wonder why it was not used more often.

Sub Rosa (7x14) January 31,1994

The Writers have never really tried to scare us. Dr. Crusher goes home for her Grandmother's funeral. She lived on a terraformed planet that was modeled on Scotland. The head of the village tells Picard that the cornerstone of every building came from Edinburgh. Beverly ends up being haunted by an 800 year ghost that also haunted her Grandmother. This is a really enjoyable episode.

Lower Decks (7x15) February 7,1994 

167 episodes in. I feel safe in saying with 11 episodes to go in the series that this is my favorite. It would fit in well in today's golden age of drama. It was sited as an influence by Russell T Davies who brought back Doctor Who about 10 years later.It has everything I am looking for, references to an earlier episode (The First Duty 5x19), it is an original concept, and leaves you with a lasting impression. In order to write about the episode and why it works, I will have give spoilers.

The Earlier episode, disciplinary action was taken against a group of cadets in the death of another cadet. Sito Jaxa,a Bajorian was one those involved, she was later assigned to The Enterprise.

The Original concept, the entire episode really takes place from the POV of these Junior Officers hoping for promotion. These are the people walking the hallways and occupying ten forward when the main characters come in.

It fits into the golden age of drama because of the plotting, everything seems to be a test for Sito, something is going on but the Junior officers don't have enough information to know the whole picture. The attempts of the officers to stick out for promotion are awkward,funny and endearing.


There is a wonderful middle section of the episode where The officers are playing poker and gossiping about the Junior Officers,meanwhile the Junior Officers are playing poker and gossiping. One of the Junior Officers shows up at the Officers game , ready to clean them out he says. I love the poker games, I wish the series had done more of them.

We get to the meat of the episode, a Cardassian has turned traitor and given the federation information, the plan is to return him to Cardassian space with a Bajorian prisoner in a beat up shuttle that Geordi and a Vulcan Jr. Officer ( yes this episode is so good, I forgot to mention we see a Vulcan!) have been making look beat up. Plotting, as I was watching it, I was wondering what they were doing. Sito Jaxa, the daring pilot from the academy will play the prisoner and afterward be sent back into federation space in an escape pod.

The Enterprise waits and searches for the pod for 30 hours, they break a treaty with the Cardassians by sending out a probe. Finally Picard makes a general announcement she is dead.The final scene has Worf who had recommended her for promotion sitting in ten forward at one end and the Junior Officers at the other end. Worf walks over. This is the only episode I have shed a tear over. It was beautifully written, the plotting was first rate, the acting by the Junior Officers was great. The Main cast at times stood aside and let the new officers act their part.

I want to credit the writers of this gem René Echevarria who wrote the teleplay of the story by Ron Wilkerson & Jean Louise Matthias. Last,but not least, the actress Shannon Fill, I was interested to find out what else she had done. Her IMDB page is small, a few TV roles between 1992-95. I did see a signed card of hers from a star trek convention, so I know she has attended a few of those. I hope her life as she passed out of acting has been a good one. She enchanted for two episodes.

Thine Own Self (7x16) February 14,1994

2 plot lines here. One is Troi has decided she wants to become a Bridge Officer. The other Data appears in a village with a briefcase of Radioactive material. He has no memory and the villagers get sick. Interesting episode. It keeps up a really good stream of high quality work.


Masks (7x17) February 21,1994

This is a really strange interesting episode. Picard gets to be an archaeologist of a sort. The Enterprise is slowly taken over by what look like Aztec symbols.I really don't want to write that much about it as it complex, and it is hard to talk about without going into the spoiler zone. I am really becoming disappointed the series is widing down. They just now are figuring out how to write. Yes, a massive Brent Spiner overacting performance once Data begins to experience multiple personalities.

Eye of the Beholder (7x18) February 28,1994

The episode begins with a suicide and somewhere in the middle Troi and Worf spend the night together. It is a psychological episode. The suicide is handled well by the writers. This is maybe the most adult episode of the series. Again the show is going out on a high note. This season is making me miss the series, which even with last season being as good as it was I did not think it was possible.

Genesis (7x19) March 19,1994

The episode is not as epic as previous episodes, but interesting none the less as the crew is returning to primate stages. This is a heavy make up episode.


Journey's End (7x20) March 28,1994

Another very strong episode. There is so much going on here. Wesley Crusher returns and is disillusioned with Star Fleet Academy. Much of the plot involves a new treaty with the Cardassians involved Native Americans being relocated by the Federation.Also The Traveler reappears. The Title I think deals with the end of Wesley on the show. He doesn't died, but spoilers are involved.

Star Trek: The Next Generation: Season 7 Episodes 21-26

Firstborn (7x21) April 25,1994

Klingon episode, as I have said if it involves Klingons it is worth watching.

Bloodlines (7x22) May 2,1994

Interesting episode, Bok, a Ferengi has sworn vengeance on Picard and will kill Picard's son. You know, the one we have  never heard about from a fling 20 some years ago. They track down the son and the fun ensues. This is one of the best Ferengi episodes of the series because in a mild spoiler, Bok's crew abandon him when they realize there is no profit in vengeance.

Emergence (7x23) May 22,1994

A holodeck extravaganza with the Orient Express, The Tempest, a Knight and all sorts of stuff, I would have hated this episode in Seasons 1-4, but it was nice episode.

Preemptive Strike (7x24) May 16,1994

Ensign,now Lt. Ro, spy games with the Cardassians. Fun episode

"All Good Things ..." (7x25/26) May 25,1994

I began watching TNG Early May of 2013, I watched this on January 21,2014. Episode 177 and 178 of the series and the Finale.

It seemed like Doctor Who with 3 ships,from 3 different time periods of Picard's life, just before Encounter at Farpoint, the present and 25 years into the future. Q returns and we are at the Trial from Encounter at Farpoint, Picard on trial for the sins of humanity. I wish the episode had ended with Q saying " See you out there" and fading away,but we got our epilogue with a poker game and that was fine way to end the series.I thought it was a nice way to bow out

The series in summation :

Where to begin. Overall my reaction to the series as a whole is mixed. We do what I believe to be the best Captain in Picard. The writing and acting for the most part, until the 5th and even 6th season is horrible. I am not even going to compare the show to Sci Fi standard barriers like Battlestar Galactica. Doctor Who (the two defining shows of today's generation),Babylon 5 (the competition during of the run) or even the original series. Television today is so different with most shows having the villain of the half season, or in short runs the villain of the season. The seasons here at long, too long at 26 episodes, the stories don't link. Romulans and The Borg are rarely used,so much potential. I can't help think (salivate) over the thought of the Picard/Locutus plot line lasting half the season. It was common at the time have self contained episodes with no continuity. Past events are rarely mentioned, present events rarely have consequences. It just was the way TV was written in the late 80's and early 90's.

The Good:
-The Acting: By the time you get to the 5th Season the actors are all very comfortable with their roles,You can argue Micheal Dorn and Marina Sirtis were not the best actors in the world, they did grow into their roles and played them very well. Patrick Stewart was wonderful from the start,he only gets better. Jonathan Frakes,LaVar Burton,Gates McFadden all by the end know there characters so well. If you have been reading this blog from the beginning, you know I can't stand Data, much of it has to do with the actor and the writing.  It was a good,functional, if not occasionally interesting character, that the writers,producers just went overboard with.

-Klingons, Any episodes that featured Klingon culture was going to be a high point. The writers found something they did well and did it just enough to not let it get old.

The Good/Bad:

- The writing. Early episodes with Sherlock Holmes,Data wanting to get a cold. The first 3 seasons seemed cookie cutter plot lines, Ambassador from planet X arrives, The Enterprise is testing some new prototype something, crew member X parent is on board. The first two seasons were horrible, the 3rd,4th and 5th showed promise,but failed more than it succeeded. One of the things I blame the most was the number of episodes,  the seasons are endless and the cookie cutter plots were just redundant at times. The 6th and 7th season, the series really seemed to find it's legs. The Cardassians proved to be an interesting foe, episodes began to deal with adult topics like Suicide,the death of a crew member and the swerve writing of Worf/Troi hooking up.

-Data. This is all my personal opinion. I see what they wanted to with him, I think they over did, If you love Data, I don't. Agree to disagree.

Because of the quality of the final two seasons, I found myself missing the show. It does not have the iconic status of the original. I am looking forward to seeing the movies again. So we are on to Deep Space Nine, I am looking forward to a new cast,new settings and new everything.

See you when I write the first DS9 in early February I hope.

Please let me know who if anyone is reading this....

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 7, Episodes 1-10

Descent,Part 2 (7x1) September 20,1993

It is January 1,2014. One year ago I watched the classic Amok Time episode. I came a long way during the year. With the same enthusiasm that I greet the new year I greet starting the last season of The Next Generation. The Date of the episode means in real time 2 shows were on the air in September of 1993. Deep Space Nine had been on the air since January. I decided to finish TNG before starting DS9.

The episode: where were we in mid December, Data had gone nuts, we was experiencing emotions and had teamed with Lore and Hugh the Borg and thinks did not look good. Data and his brother Lore had appeared twice in the series DataLore (1x13) and Brothers (4x3). Even though I hated the idea of Brent Spiner playing more than one character much Data, this a good example of my complaint about the writers forgetting about villainous characters or races. They didn't want to overuse anything. The episode is fine expect for two things,two important plot devices take place off screen, one is Lore activating the emotion chip in Data and the other is Hugh after returning to the collective injects personally into the Borg, some break away from the collective ideal. I think if you writing this today, It would be the the start of a season or half season plot line. What we get is a nice 2 parter.

Liaisons (7x2) September 27,1993

Nothing in this episode really grabbed me. The Enterprise is hosting diplomats and each of them is interested in learning a human traits and takes the trait they are studying too far.

Interface (7x3) October 17,1993

I wish had known about Geordi's parents before,both are high up in starfleet. We have been subjected to yearly visits from Troi's mother and this has been kept from us. I really enjoyed this episode.

Gambit:Parts 1,2 (7x4,5) October 11,18, 1993

Guest starring Robin Curtis who played Savik in Star Trek III:The Search for Spock and she appeared briefly in Star Trek IV:The Voyage Home.

This 2 part episode is so good. Adult story telling with twists and turns. You are not always sure what is going on. Give credit to the story developed by Naren Shankar and Christopher Hatten. Teleaplay by Shankar and Ronald D. Moore.

The Dialogue is witty,the story engrossing. It is too bad the show had an aversion to Vulcans, I would love to have seen Robin Curtis in more stuff. This is wonderfully crafted, a high point for the series




Phantasms (7x6) October 25,1993

Wow, someone thought it would a fun idea to see what would happen if Data dreamed ? Yeah.... not really that interesting. He had a phone in his stomach. There is more going on that is mildly entertaining.Is this something that was left over from season 2. Not an electric sheep in sight.

Dark Page (7x7) October 30,1993

The annual ritual visit of Lwaxana Troi . She has been working a race of Mitt Romney's on something, once it was established she in the episode, I kinda tuned it out. Guest starting Kirsten Dunst.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Attached (7x8) November 8,1993

Smart,Engaging and fun. The Enterprise goes to a world where 3/4 of the population wants to join the Federation and 1/4 does not. Picard and Dr. Crusher are taken prisoner. Picard and Crusher share a psychic link for much of the episode.

Force Of Nature (7x9) November 15,1993

A Scincey episode.

Inheritance (7x10) November 22,1993

All Data, All the Data. Every other cast member is moved to the background for this one. Was Picard even in it. A couple of days later, as I write this I think I remember Riker in the episode. Worf, no. Anyway a White haired,middle aged woman arrived on the Enterprise saying she was married to Dr. Soong and is in a sense Data's Mother. I am somewhat surprised  given that Brent Spiner played Lore(The Brother) and Dr. Soong (The Father) that he didn't play Juliana as well.

The last 5 or 6 minutes where Data is talking to a hologram of his father is interesting. I could not help but draw lines from Data to the Siri on my phone. It has been a wild 25 years tech way from when the show started to today.