Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — 1x01 — Emissary, Part I

Aired 1993-01-03

SpaceOpera.com rating:8

Average reader rating:5.9

Synopsis

On a distant outpost at the edge of the final frontier, an untested crew embarks on an unprecedented journey.

Filler rating: not filler

Not filler by virtue of being the pilot.

Remarkable scenes

Seeing Sisko as first officer of the Saratoga fighting the Borg.
Viewing the destruction of the Saratoga from the escape pod.
The first sight of DS9, orbiting Bajor.
The DS9 intro, my favorite of all the Star Trek intros.
O'Brien and Sisko discussing the poor state of the station.
O'Brien asking Sisko if he had ever served with Bajoran women. O'Brien remembered how feisty Ro Laren could get. ;)
Kira's adversarial first meeting with Sisko.
Odo's first scene; a shape shifter!
Odo's first line to Sisko: "Who the hell are you?"
Picard: "Have we met before?" Sisko: "Yes sir, we've met in battle."
Picard disturbed, trying to ignore Sisko's angry attitude.
Quark complaining that he can't run his establishment under Federation rules, and Sisko telling Quark that he'll bend the rules because the station is owned by Bajor, not the Federation.
Sisko's meeting with the Kai. Opaka: "Ironic. One who does not wish to be among us is to be the Emissary."
Sisko's first orb experience, freaking out about meeting his wife again for the first time.
Jennifer: "Do you use this routine a lot with women?" Sisko: "No. Never before. And never again."
Opaka's confidence in Sisko.
Bashir's first scene... trying to seduce Jadzia.
Sisko's first discussion with Dax.
Bashir's faux pas with Kira.
Sisko's first use of the nickname "old man" for Dax.
Dax having an orb experience, flashbacking to Curzon's death.
Dukat's first scene.
Dax discovering the wormhole.
Odo sneaking aboard the Cardassian shp, as the bag for the Cardassians' game winnings.
The first sighting of a runabout class vessel.
Morn appearances; 1. When Sisko enters Quark's Bar for the first time. 2. gambling with the Cardassians at the Dabo table. 3. In the crowd Odo is moving when the station is attacked.

Review

Probably the most remarkable first episode for a Star Trek series ever. This is a complex episode with oodles of internal continuity and nice small details. It opens with an absolutely stunning flashback scene of Sisko fighting the Borg as first officer of the Saratoga, in which Sisko's wife, Jennifer dies. There are some small things I liked a lot about this scene. The whole scene was perfectly tied into the look and feel of TNG. They could have inserted the whole scene into TNG: The Best of Both Worlds and it would have fit in seamlessly. That said, this episode plays well into modern (season 6) TNG as well, since it picks up on the story displayed in TNG: Chain of Command. Cardassia has withdrawn from Bajor, and they need help from the Federation. So Sisko is assigned to take command of the ore processing slave labor station in orbit of the planet, which they planned to convert to a center of interplanetary operations to oversee the rebuilding of Bajoran society. Since the station is under Federation control, despite now being owned by the Bajorans, it has been designated Federation Deep Space Station 9, or Deep Space 9. This premise is complex, but not overly so. Additionally, the smaller TNG continuity bits are great. O'Brien gets promoted to Chief of Operations of DS9, so both O'Brien and Keiko move the DS9 show on which O'Brien becomes a main character! Also, Sisko's confrontation with Picard adds some flare to the episode. Finally, this episode ends with a marvelous cliffhanger; Sisko trying to investigate the Celestial Temple on behalf of the Bajorans. But to do so he must elude the maliciously close-by Cardassians.

4 reader comments

The one problem I have with this episode is the beginning, very trivial, when the USS Saratoga is hit by the Borg vutting beam, it hits the sensor dome, but when Sisko asks for the damage report, the tactical officer says it hit Decks 1-4, I will be looking forward to any insight into this.
by Captain Keogh | 05/05/2013 at 5:45 pm

A good start. On my first viewing I had hoped that the whole "spiritual / emissary / religious" aspect wouldn't be a pivotal plot point, but I sure was wrong!
As well, I'm not too fond of the whole Bajoran back story ie the Cardassian Rape of Bajor, so one might as "why watch?" Simple.
The stories are excellent. If you can tolerate the religious overtones and perhaps skip over a few of the less important "Oh those poor, unfortunate Bajorans" episodes, this is a great series.
While TNG will always be my favorite ST series, this would a close second, or maybe even first if they had made the Bajorans a stronger species, and not so deluded by the wormhole aliens magical powers. Imagine the series if it wasn't Bajor that was invaded and occupied but a race like the Romulans or the Klingons! Now THAT would be some good, albeit most likely DARKER, Trek.
All in all, a very good addition to the franchise and a must see for any Trekerie!
by James T Quark | 08/16/2015 at 2:28 am

Odd how I found this site. I was looking for the propose of the chest/crest rise on the cardassian uniforms. It lead to here. Very thoughtful comments about DS9. I'm revisiting DS9 shows because I missed some of them on the first broadcast. Due to comments. I might have to re-watch the first.
I was there from the beginning of Star Trek. I was a kid when I watched the first Star Trek show on our B&W TV in the 1960's. Some of them were scary to me, being at that age even though I knew it was just a show.
It was the right time for it. The "space race" was happening then.
I am not a "Treky" I don't go to the conventions. I just like watching most of what has been produced on the original Star Trek story and all of the other SyFy built after it.
Here's a question. Would "Star Wars" have happened had Star Trek not have?
by Allen | 04/17/2021 at 9:50 pm

Glad you found it! I would guess that Star Wars would not have happened without Star Trek becoming such a cult success in the 60s, since pop culture phenomenons tend to build off of each other. I would also guess that Star Trek would not have been revived had Star Wars not been so successful.
Regarding DS9, it remains my favorite Trek show even decades later. Like all Trek shows, the early seasons are rough, but the last few seasons of DS9 are Star Trek at its finest with deep, nuanced writing that remains unrivaled to this day. I recommend to you and anyone else reading to give it a go. It aged well in a way that much of the rest of Trek before and after did not.
by Eric Newport | 04/19/2021 at 3:05 pm

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — 1x02 — Emissary, Part II

Aired 1993-01-03

SpaceOpera.com rating:6

Average reader rating:5.26

Synopsis

On a distant outpost at the edge of the final frontier, an untested crew embarks on an unprecedented journey.

Filler rating: not filler

Not filler by virtue of being the pilot.

Remarkable scenes

Odo crashing the Cardassian ship's computers.
O'Brien getting the Cardassian computer to work by kicking it.
Sisko and Dax' first trip through the wormhole.
Sisko's first meeting with the prophets.
Moving DS9.
O'Brien getting in a fight with the computer.
O'Brien: "Computer, you and I need to have a little talk."
Odo: "Doctor, in my experience, most people wouldn't know reason if it walked up and shook their hand."
O'Brien mentioning his participation in the border wars to Bashir.
Morn appearances; while Odo is evacuating everyone to safer parts of the station.
The special effects used in the battle with the Cardassians were quite good.
The Rio Grande towing Dukat's ship back through the wormhole.
Sisko treating Picard better in his second conversation with him.
Kira to Quark: "If you don't take that hand off my hip, you'll never be able to raise a glass with it again."
Morn appearances; 1. In background when Sisko is reunited with Jake; 2. In the background in the last shot.

Review

This episode is a fine sequel to the first part, but it suffers from the scenes with the prophets being far too lengthy. That, and all the great fun trivia and whatnot was all introduced in the first part. So the second part is merely a conclusion to the plot of the first. In the end, we're left with a nice premise for the show. In particular, the wide cast of characters is exceptional. I'm most fond of Commander Sisko. He's not as cowboyish as Kirk was, but he's not as rigid and stuck up as Picard is. Kind of the best of both worlds. Other notable highlights are Odo and Quark. The interplay between them is fun. Even in the first episode, DS9 is competently able to make use of a vast set of characters and complex plots, setting the stage for a stellar new Star Trek show.

5 reader comments

I really like the scene where the Prophets force Sisko to realize that he's "not acting linear" regarding his wife's death. It's heart breaking watching him break down and Avery does a wonderful job to make us feel his heartbreak. I think this one scene probably shows more raw emotion than all of TOS (except Spock's death in Wrath of Khan) and TNG combined.
by Rob Gnow | 04/18/2008 at 11:16 pm

This is probably the best pilot of all the series. The only flaw is noted in the review; the scenes with the prophets drag on and the scene shuffling through Sisko's memory is well executed but borders on corny at times. Still, a fine maiden voyage, so to speak.
by JRPoole | 11/12/2008 at 5:08 pm

Just started rewatching DS9 back through again on dvd. This two parter/feature length gets better every time I watch it. I would agree with the previous poster that it is most definitely the best pilot episode, setting up the premise of DS9 perfectly. Shame much of the rest of season one does not build on it as well as it could have done. Avery Brooks' performance is nothing short of exceptional considering the range of emotion that he has to convey while coming to grips with his new character. I also like the handling of the introductions of all the main cast as well as our first sitings of Rom, Nog, Gul Dukat and even Morn!
by Bernard | 11/12/2009 at 11:58 pm

I'm confused, maybe somebody can clear this up for me, I thought the aliens in the wormhole stated it disrupts them whenever anyone passes though, how did Sisko manage to convince them to not only re open the wormhole but to allow passage from any ship that desires it?
by Cory | 09/28/2011 at 2:45 am

Since I keep pointing out scientific issues, I can't resist pointing out the gaping hole in the story with respect to the "wormhole aliens" as they come to be known in DS9. This concerns the temporal nature of these aliens, I.e., that they supposedly exist in a non-linear fashion with respect to time.
Any one remotely familiar with either Einsteinian or Quantum physics knows this is completely nonsense. The existence of a four dimensional universe consisting of three spatial and one temporal dimensions is a basic feature of our physical universe. Only string theory postulates any deviation from this, and that is in a very different form from that shown on DS9. That is, string theory postulates the existence of several temporal dimensions, all of which are linear. (Only one of these has sufficient depth to have any relation to normal matter.) Also, the experimental basis for both Einsteinian and Quantum physics is overwhelming, while the experimental basis for string theory is non-existent, making it a form of intellectual masturbation in my view. But I digress.
Lots of quality scifi concerns the varying rates at which life forms live in linear time. One excellent example is "Dragon's Egg" by Robert L. Forward in which he proposes the possibility of life on the surface of neutron stars. The compounds in these life forms would be nuclear rather than chemical, and thus would be much faster than normal biological processes. Thus, these life forms would live and die very quickly. (Nonetheless, they would be "linear".)
In order for a life form to transcend time it would have to exist outside of the physical universe. The only intelligent being that could exist outside of our physical universe and still relate to creatures within it would be God. (This is the very nature of the definition of God in philosophical terms.) While the writers of DS9 attempt to take on the issues of religion and philosophy in ways that no other series has attempted (in the process going where no other star trek series has gone before), they pull back from making the WHAs truly divine. These creatures are severely limited in their physical locality, for example. They live only in the wormhole. This may be a very strange location in non-Newtonian space. It is nonetheless a single location. A truly divine creature would be capable of co-existing everywhere in the universe simultaneously.
In the end, the WHAs present some difficult scientific and philosophical issues which the writers of DS9 do a pretty poor job of reconciling.
by Jeff Browning | 10/09/2011 at 10:54 pm

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — 1x03 — Past Prologue

Aired 1993-01-10

SpaceOpera.com rating:6

Average reader rating:4.31

Synopsis

A reunion with a member of the Bajoran underground forces Kira to choose between her people and her duty as a Federation officer.

Filler rating: not filler

This episode shouldn't be skipped because it's Garak's introductory episode.

Remarkable scenes

Garak imposing himself on Bashir.
Garak to Bashir: "What a thoughtful young man. How nice that we've met!"
Garak: "Ah, an open mind. The essence of intellect!"
Bashir's reaction to having met Garak, then talking to the senior staff like an excited child.
Sisko to O'Brien: "When Gul Dunar docks, it'd be nice if there were a few docking regulations to keep him outside a while."
Sisko and Kira chewing each other out.
Kira going over Sisko's head, discussing his actions with an admiral.
O'Brien hinting at the Cardassian torture techniques to Sisko... additionally hinting that he wouldn't turn over anyone to the Cardassians, no matter what the crimes.
Dunar complaining about the manufactured docking procedures.
Tahna complaining about the Federation presence in Bajor.
The Duras sisters showing up on the station.
Odo: "We have specific regulations. You can leave your weapons or leave the station. Your choice. Please make it now." B'Etor: "Who are you?" Odo: "I'm the one giving you the choice."
Odo trying to convince Sisko to let him lock up the Duras sisters summarily.
Garak: "Join me doctor. Enhance my evening!"
Garak trying to give Bashir subtle hints regarding the Duras' sisters malicious intents.
Odo spying on the Duras' sisters using his shape shifting abilities.
Sisko to Kira: "Go over my head again and I'll have yours on a platter."
Garak negotiating with the Duras' sisters.
Garak trying to give Bashir more subtle hints.
Bashir to Garak: "I'm a doctor--" then he gets interrupted. Bashir was probably going to say something like, "I'm a doctor, not a spy!" A tribute to McCoy's many famous "I'm a doctor, not a (something)!" lines.
Bashir seeking advice from Sisko regarding Garak.
Bashir eavesdropping on Garak's conversation with the Duras sisters.
Bashir realizing Garak's purpose for the "new suit."
Tahna hitting Kira. Ouch! That looks like it hurt!
Morn appearances; 1. Passes by Kira and Sisko while they argue; 2. Can be seen on the upper level of the Promenade when Odo confronts the Duras Sisters; 3. Quark's bar while the Duras sisters are there "just sitting."

Review

An episode where no one knows who to trust. Kira, Tahna, Sisko, the Duras sisters, Garak, and Bashir all trying to push their own agenda. This makes for an interesting political episode, especially with regards to its placement directly after DS9: Emissary, which hints to this kind of political unrest is inevitable. Garak, however, stole the show. Cardassian spy? Probably, but we don't know. One thing's for sure though. He's highly entertaining!

6 reader comments

This episode contains elements we'll see throughout the series. Kira's past causes her to make tough decisions, Garak is scheming, and runabouts are used for the climax.
Garak and Odo are great in this episode, but I gave it a 4 because it still seems to have that "pilot feeling."
by Orion Pimpdaddy | 08/27/2006 at 2:16 am

I don't remember ever liking this episode, but viewing it now I can see that it is a fairly strong episode. Character development is the order of the day and this has it in spades, even for guest characters (the wonderful Garak in his first appearance).
Bajoran politics are continuing to be featured and that usually makes for decent episodes. I gave it a 6.
by Bernard | 11/15/2009 at 10:54 pm

This episode along with "Progress" in this season, and numerous episodes of other seasons of DS9 exposes one of the annoying aspects to Kira's character: She "goes stupid" whenever she is around a former "hero" of the Bajoran resistance, any Bajoran religious leader, anyone bucking the establishment order or the like.
Admittedly, Nana Visitor is not the greatest actress to start with. (Witness her terrible overacting in "Progress" after Mullibok gets shot.) Whenever Kira gets that starry eyed look, one begins to cringe: You know something embarrassingly lame is coming.
It's like this girl has no common sense whenever she is confronted by one of these guys. She simply cannot accept that they are human beings. Over and over she expects them to behave in a manner which accords with her delusions. And she is constantly and consistently disappointed. Yet she stubbornly refuses to admit defeat: The next time one of these guys comes along: Wham! There she goes again, all strarry eyed and deluded.
The plot device is way, way overused, and it does no credit to Kira's character. It just makes her look stupid.
by Jeff Browning | 10/14/2011 at 4:12 pm

And Jeff has put in a nutshell while talking about Kira exactly why I prefer characterisation in DS9 to that in TNG.
Yes she is stupid. Yes she is stupid often. That is exactly how the character is! She is consistant, although as the seven years go on she does eventually mature somewhat. I prefer watching an imperfect character like this over the perfect people we had in TNG. As for Nana Visitor as an actress I have to disagree with Jeff as I find her to be spot on almost all of the time during the shows run.
But hey, that's the great thing about opinions!
by Bernard | 10/15/2011 at 9:22 pm

Bernard:
I love the dialog! Thanks so much for your response to my post. My issue with Kira is not just that she is stupid: She is stubbornly and aggressively stupid. After a while folks tend to learn. Kira does not seem to do so that much (although I will keep watching and see what she does in later seasons).
But I also agree with you. DS9 characters rock compared to TNG characters whio become cloying and sickeningly sweet at times. (The funeral schene for Tasha Yarr being one glaring example) DS9 characters seem more real, and for that reason more appealing. Bashir is such a blatant man whore (in a way Riker never was). Dax is so much more edgy and ambiguous than Troi. And as I have said in other posts, I absolutely adore the relationship between Quark and Odo.
I still maintain though that Nana Visitor overacts blatantly at times, though. ("Progress" is a good example.)
by Jeff Browning | 10/18/2011 at 8:01 pm

I agree with Bernard. Nana Visitor does a fine job playing Kira. Unfortunately, Kira, as a character, is stubborn, willfully ignorant, and pretty much one-dimensional. It's not entirely her fault though.
In order to like Kira -- to sympathize with her whining about the Cardassians and appreciate her as a loyal Bajoran, you actually have to like the Bajorans. This is nearly impossible, as most Bajorans are depicted as helpless sheep who are WAY too religious, and generally weak. If this was TNG, Picard would find himself disgusted with their blind faith and rigid dogmas. Frankly, I do too.
I admire and respect that Kira is tough, but that's the only thing about her I like at all. Other than that I find her shrill, ignorant, and generally annoying.
by John DC | 03/20/2012 at 4:51 am

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — 1x04 — A Man Alone

Aired 1993-01-17

SpaceOpera.com rating:3

Average reader rating:3.67

Synopsis

Security Chief Odo's character is questioned when he is implicated in the murder of a shady Bajoran.

Filler rating: partial filler

The main plot is filler, but the O'Brien / Keiko subplot sets up a long term arc so the context established in this episode is useful, though not essential.

Remarkable scenes

Bashir trying to seduce Jadzia again.
Keiko appearance.
Odo being a fascist prick.
Jake's first meeting with Nog.
Odo realizing that he'd been set up.
Rom appearance.
Quark and Odo bickering.
Sisko: "Care for lunch?" Bashir, not realizing Sisko wasn't talking to him: "Sure!" Dax: "No, thank you."
Odo: "Killing your own clone is still murder."
Keiko's first day as a teacher.
Morn appearances; 1. On the Promenade while Odo and Quark are talking, before Odo freaks out at the stranger; 2. Can be seen while O'Brien and Keiko attempt to resolve their argument on the Promenade; 3. Can be seen on the Promenade when Odo goes to his office; 4. Odo sits next to him when he sits at the bar. Everyone, including Morn, leaves when he sits down; 5. Morn was also in the mob outside Odo's office.

Review

A man with a grudge against Odo clones himself, then murders his clone so that everyone will draw the conclusion that the only man who could have committed the murder was Odo, because his DNA would be at the scene of the crime due to the fact that he was the first investigator on scene. This is a somewhat overcomplex and slightly weak premise, but it works. The more emphasized plot regarding the Odo angst in this episode is a little more interesting. Unfortunately the mob mentality of this episode is silly and hard to believe.

3 reader comments

I'm in almost total agreement with the review, so I don't have a whole lot to say here. I do, however, absolutely hate the scene in which Jake and Nog let loose the flea-like insects as a prank. It works until the victims start rapidly changing color. I just don't see how this is possible, and it reeks of bad sci-fi: weird situations and improbable outcomes just for the sake of being strange.
One of DS9's main attractions (and often a thorn in its side as well) is the galactic melting pot that it represents. The strange-looking aliens are almost all exectuted well, but it sometimes borders on the ridiculous, the way the bar scene with the intergalatic lounge band in one of the Star Wars movies does. Here's an example of that kind of visual stimulation getting corny.
Wow. I just spent two whole paragraphs bitching about a throwaway scene.
I do like Keiko's decision to start a school on the station, as it fits with the roll-up-your-sleeves-and-pitch-in aesthetic established by the rest of the crew.
by JRPoole | 11/12/2008 at 7:52 pm

I know that the reaction of the bajorans on the station is overplayed here to create the tension that the episode needs. I forgive this with the view that they are developing Odo's character and background and it would have been very pedestrian without any threat. The interplay between Odo and Quark is marvelous even at this early stage in the series. How well did those two actors nail their characters so quickly?
Again, this episode is only hinting at how good DS9 can be. I gave it a 5.
by Bernard | 11/16/2009 at 12:22 pm

It creates a bit of discontinuity with the later characterization of Odo that the Bajorans were able to so quickly incite a mob against him. Later on it's established that all the Bajorans who ever visited DS9 believed he was a hero who stood for justice within the corrupt Cardassian system.
This was also before they'd established a few facts about shape shifters-Odo wouldn't shed skin cells like a humanoid. It's not to say that shape shifters never leave cells of their DNA behind, we don't actually learn that. But a big plot point of the show is that any part of a shapeshifter that becomes disconnected from their body reverts to a gelatinous state, so it wouldn't remain in the form of hair or skin cells.
Those little continuity gaffes don't bug me because it was very early, and once they'd figured things out, they did stay consistent with them. What does bother me about watching this episode is that Terry Farrell's performance is VERY wooden for most of the first season. Her line reading is bad here, and was just as bad in the pilot. She got better, fortunately, but it's surprising she was ever cast with some of these early performances, especially since the producers made the decision to redesign Trills specifically because she had a pretty face that they didn't want to cover up.
by Bronn | 06/10/2013 at 10:36 pm

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — 1x05 — Babel

Aired 1993-01-24

SpaceOpera.com rating:6

Average reader rating:4.32

Synopsis

A mysterious epidemic sweeps over Deep Space Nine, and Kira must find an antidote.

Filler rating: good filler

There's no essential plot or exposition in this episode that renders it unskippable, but it's a decent episode, even though it could have been better.

Remarkable scenes

The chief's bad day; feeling overwhelmed by people's demands.
Sisko: "Chief! I thought you were going to fix the replicator!" O'Brien: "You're absolutely right sir, I knew I'd forgotten something. Can't have the operations chief sitting around daydreaming when there's work to be done, can we? Hohohoho... I'll get right on it!"
Odo picking on Quark.
O'Brien starting to talk funny.
Dax: "I'd forgotten what it was like." Kira: "What what was like." Dax: "Being female. I haven't been one in over 80 years."
O'Brien speaking jibberish.
Dax talking jibberish.
Random crewmembers speaking jibberish.
Odo discovering Quark was making unauthorized use of crew quarters replicators. Quark: "How did did you figure it out?" Odo: "You claimed Rom fixed your replicator. Rom's an idiot. He couldn't fix a straw if it were bent." Completely untrue, as we later learn Rom is somewhat autistic. But Odo's hunch had merit.
Jake talking jibberish.
Bashir succumbing to the disease.
Kira kidnapping the good doctor and infecting him.
Sisko talking jibberish.
Quark coming to Odo's aid and teasing him.
Sisko's coffee in the end burning him again.
Morn appearances; 1. In Quark's Bar when Quark talks to Dax and Kira; 2. in Quark's Bar when Odo goes in to ask Quark about the the quarantine.

Review

While a fatal-virus-infects-the-crew episode seems a bit abrupt this early in the show, it nevertheless makes for some entertaining viewing. Everybody speaking jibberiish is great. See if you can repeat a few of those lines to some of your friends mid conversation, it will get you some funny looks. Horseback green undertow in the backwater. Sun rising crest between two ducks. Appalling nature exacts vast insurgency. Oh what fun. Who doesn't like a good word salad?

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — 1x06 — Captive Pursuit

Aired 1993-01-31

SpaceOpera.com rating:6

Average reader rating:5.92

Synopsis

Through a new friendship with a bizarre alien, O'Brien and the rest of the officers of Deep Space Nine learn that other beings do not respect life as much as they do.

Filler rating: good filler

There's no essential plot or exposition in this episode that renders it unskippable, but it's a decent episode, even though it could have been better.

Remarkable scenes

Sisko discussing Miss Sadra's grievance with her.
Tosk's funny accent and behavior.
Odo refusing to use a phaser.
Tosk to Quark: "I live the greatest adventure one could ever desire."
The hunter's opening lines belittling Tosk.
Tosk to O'Brien: "I am Tosk. The hunted. I live to outwit the hunters for another day. To survive until I die with honor."
Quark to O'Brien: "More trouble with the little woman?" A reference to DS9: A Man Alone when Quark overheard his conversation with Keiko.
O'Brien regarding the hunter: "Glass jaw. Now I know why you wear a helment."
Sisko "officially" chastising O'Brien for his conduct, but secretly admiring him.
Morn appearances; 1. Quark's Bar as O'Brien and Tosk stop at the entrance; 2. Quark's Bar, can be seen in the background with his back to the camera when Quark tries to cheer up O'Brien.

Review

Our first look at life on the other side of the wormhole depicts a xenophobic and arrogant gamma quadrant. Some highlights: Odo's handling of Tosk's minor crime aboard the station was great. Odo isn't always the "ill tempered old crosspatch" Quark would have us believe. More interesting is O'Brien's role in the story. First O'Brien makes friends with Tosk, then he tries stick up for Tosk to Sisko, then he feels responsible for him, then he helps him escape. Notable as well is Sisko's subtle hint to O'Brien that he completely respects the judgment call he made, even though he officially chewed him out. Finally, Tosk himself was a great character who was played wonderfully by the actor. The accent was especially pleasing.

4 reader comments

While I like the idea of the hunt, I don't like the hunter aliens. I find it hard to believe that Sisko would tolerate them tearing up his station in pursuit of their quarry.
What I do like about this episode is O'brien's growing dislike for Bashir. Notice how he completely cuts off Julian's speech in Ops? DS9 is better at continuing character development and plot threads in filler episodes and alien-of-the-week episodes than TNG ever was, and that's one of it's strengths.
The review above wondered whether these races are part of the Dominion. Tosk certainly is reminiscent of the Jem Hadar to come….
by JRPoole | 11/13/2008 at 5:08 pm

Strongest episode since the pilot. Tosk is magnificently portrayed too aswell as providing a good outing for the Chief.
I love the way Sisko reacts to O'Brien's subterfuge, gives him a blasting but he agrees with him.
Sounds like I'm copying the review above … but I found it to be spot on. Solid 6.
by Bernard | 11/22/2009 at 1:59 am

Additional factoids:
At the time of this episode, about 300 people live on Deep Space 9.
At this point in time, DS9 has traffic of about 5 or 6 ships per week.
by John DC | 09/07/2011 at 11:05 pm

Man, those universal translators are magic! First contact with a brand new species, and they understand and are understood completely!
by Dstyle | 08/25/2013 at 12:57 pm

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — 1x07 — Q-Less

Aired 1993-02-07

SpaceOpera.com rating:6

Average reader rating:4.17

Synopsis

Frequent U.S.S. Enterprise visitors Q and Vash introduce themselves to the crew of Deep Space Nine, while the officers struggle to save the station from imminent destruction.

Filler rating: good filler

There's no essential plot or exposition in this episode that renders it unskippable, but it's a decent episode, even though it could have been better.

Remarkable scenes

Bashir telling the story of his medical finals.
Vash and Q appearing.
O'Brien explaining what he knows of Vash's relationship with Picard.
Vash to Q: "You're arrogant, overbearing, and you think you know everything." Q: "But I do know everything!" Vash: "That makes it even worse!"
Quark ignoring the weirdness of being transported about by Q due to his strong desires to do business with Vash.
Vash sexually arousing Quark.
Q toying with Julian.
O'Brien's reaction to seeing Q: "Bloody hell."
Q to Sisko: "Is Starfleet penalizing you, or did you actually request such a dismal command?"
I like the inside joke about the uniforms. Q: "I like your new tailor." He then magically switches from the TNG uniform to the DS9 uniform. :)
The conversation between Quark and Odo regarding Odo eavesdropping on him. Quark: "What were you this time? The table? One of the chairs? The wine bottle!" Odo: "When are you going to realize that you have no secrets from me?" Quark: "I have nothing to hide. I'm selling quality merchandise to select clientele." Odo: "And what makes them so... select." Quark: "They're all ridiculously wealthy. And not too bright." Odo: "I'll never understand this obsession with accumulating material wealth. You spend your entire life plotting and scheming to acquire more and more possessions until your living areas are bursting with useless junk and then you die. Your relatives sell everything and start the cycle all over again." Quark: "Isn't there anything you desire?" Odo: "I have my work. What more do I need?" Quark: "A suit of the finest Andorian silk. A ring of pure sorax! A complete set of Tenaish pottery. How about a latinum plated bucket to sleep in?" Odo seemed tempted by the last one. ;)
O'Brien to Q: "O'Brien. From the Enterprise." Q: "Oh yes, weren't you one of the little people?"
Q mentioning that the station is "hurtling toward its doom" to the auction crowd.
Julian having slept through the whole episode thanks to Q.
Morn appearances; 1. Can be seen walking behind Vash and Sisko during their first meeting. 2. Behind Quark when he tries to convince Vash to sell him her artifact at an absurdly low price. 3. In the crowd when Q creates a boxing match between himself and Sisko. 4. In Quark's Bar when Vash is leaving in the end of the episode.

Review

Certainly a bonus to bring back Vash and Q, further tying the series to TNG, yet allowing us to see that it can stand on its own against TNG villains. This episode bears a resemblance to TNG: Encounter at Farpoint. Both episodes featured Q, both episodes featured a trapped alien being exploited, both episodes ended in the release of that alien as a puzzle for the Starfleet crew to solve, and both episodes ended with Q being proven wrong. The repercussions of this episode are of course not as grand as Farpoint's, but it is nevertheless a fun episode, even if it gets annoying waiting for the crew to solve the painfully obvious puzzle at times.

2 reader comments

This is a nice fun episode that ties in nicely with TNG, and provides some light-hearted relief from the relatively heavy mood set by the batch of DS9 episodes (compared to much of TNG anyway). The plot doesn't do much except update us on what Vash has been up to on her travels. The real highlight is, as always, John de Lancie's performance. There doesn't seem to be any real reason for Q being there, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable.
My favourite moment of this episode is Q's little double-edged jibe at O'Brien. "Weren't you one of the little people?". It highlights the fact that O'Brien has moved on from his lesser role in TNG, where he was a minor character who was never far from a transporter console; one of those "little" people who beaver away in the background to keep everything running. It's also a nice reference to his Irish ancestry, "little people" being another name for the leprechauns of Irish legend (as in the hokey Disney movie "Darby O'Gill and the Little People").
by Mark McC | 02/19/2009 at 3:02 am

There is a reason that Q never returned to DS9, he doesn't really work does he?
I'm glad they stopped rehashing TNG villains because there was absolutely no reason for Q to be in this episode just like there was no reason the Duras sisters needed to be in 'Past Prologue'. It's nice when they tie in to TNG, but at least make said tie in relevant to the plot (I know they think Q is behind everything that is going on but we all know he isn't and that's getting very old by now - see TNG's Deja Q for this false blame type of thing).
Vash on the other hand is central to the plot and fits into the underworld of DS9 perfectly. Overall a fairly satisfying episode with a mundane plot, I'd give it a 4.
'Picard and his lackeys would have solved all this technobabble hours ago', love that line.
by Bernard | 11/24/2009 at 1:57 pm

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — 1x08 — Dax

Aired 1993-02-14

SpaceOpera.com rating:3

Average reader rating:5.18

Synopsis

Curzon Dax, Jadzia's former Trill identity, is accused of murder.

Filler rating: bad filler

Unless you're dying to see the first episode to mention Raktajino, there's nothing terribly notable in this one.

Remarkable scenes

Bashir flirting with Dax again.
Kira and Sisko finding a political loophole to keep Dax on board.
Odo blackmailing Quark into cooperation.
The arbiter. She's hilarious.
Sisko making an entirely bias argument in Dax' favor.
Odo interrogating Enina Tandro.
Arbiter: "Lieutenant Dax, you are either 200 years older than I am or you're about the same age as my great granddaughter. At first I wondered which of those you were. But now I am bothered by the likelihood that you may be both."
Enina Tandro showing up and admitting the embarrassing truth at the hearing, proving Dax' innocence.
Morn appearances; 1. When Sisko and Odo are walking on the Promenade, just after Odo blackmails Quark into cooperation; 2. Can be seen behind Quark as the hearing is beginning.

Review

I don't particularly like this one. It seems a failed attempt to reproduce TNG: The Measure of a Man. For one, we don't know Dax well enough yet to care very much. Second, the legal grounds for extradition in this episode are pretty damn solid. Sisko was defending her blindly. He didn't care if Dax was a murderer or not; he was going to save her either way. In that respect, it's good that Dax did end up being innocent for the sake of future stories. That said, I enjoyed hearing details of Curzon and Sisko's history. Really, the whole purpose of this episode was just an excuse to develop Dax' character though. Unfortunately, Dax acted like an idiot the whole time. Her blind sense of honor almost got her killed.

8 reader comments

One of the things that troubled me throughout watching this episode was that even if Ilon is correct in his legal claim that the relevant Federation treaty with Klaestron IV authorizes the unilateral extradition of a federation officer with no notice to her commanding officer--which seems quite odd itself--it still surely does not authorize them to use violence against federation officers (Bashir) in the process, nor does it authorize the sabotage of the station's tractor beam.
Since the manner in which Ilon attempted to execute the warrant surely violated either Federation or Bajoran law (probably both), it seems to me that they could have held him on the charge and delayed extradition proceedings at least until Klaestron IV sent another representative to pursue the matter through the Bajoran government. Not only would it have been sensible to pursue the charge to deter future sabotage, but this would have created a much more effective delay than a mere extradition hearing with the Bajoran arbiter.
Also, Sisko asked Kira to investigate any relevant legal precedent, but we never heard back anything. That seems odd--I can hardly imagine that the issue, or at least highly analogous issues, have not been resolved before on Trill. Perhaps we heard nothing more on the subject because it wasn't useful for Sisko. Furthermore, tThe "expert" on Trills either doesn't know or nobody bothered to ask!
Otherwise, I though the episode was pretty average. Dax's obstinate refusal to cooperate was irritating, even if it was explained at the end. I also thought that Anne Haney did a wonderful job playing the Bajoran arbiter.
by Roth Mantel | 03/16/2009 at 8:37 am

I found the grounds for extradition entirely absent. The question is broached poorly in the episode, but the initial argument was correct: the defendant named on Tandro's warrant was already dead. Jadzia Dax is not liable for any of the actions of her previous hosts (meaning that others may believe she is, and Jadzia Dax may believe herself obligated but she is in fact not obligated).
I cannot believe that no one thought to ask if Trill law covered such a fundamental question. If there was a Trill equivalent to the Bill of Rights, it would surely say that no joined Trill is liable for the actions of a symbiont's previous joinings.
by Sheriff__001 | 08/23/2009 at 7:35 am

An interesting episode that brings up an intriguing question about Trill society. Unfortunately the question is never really answered adequately because it turns out that Dax is innocent anyway. Luckily they return to similar themes later on, but not regarding Curzon but Joran.
On the positive side though we learn loads more about Trill society, Dax and even Sisko.
I find it difficult to accept criticism of the way the Jadzia character is played since she is consistantly played in her serene, relaxed manner upto this point in the series. The writers seemed to make an active decision to write her differently around the season two episode 'Playing God'. But this Jadzia came first! I found her to be within character at this point in the series and that aspect of this episode was believable. Another steady episode.
by Bernard | 11/23/2009 at 12:06 am

Again, speaking as an attorney, the idea of "unilateral extradition" is utterly ridiculous. If we are to accept the Federation as being a more evolved version of our own society, how much sense does it make to sign a treaty that authorizes a foreign law enforcement officer to violate the law? There is absolutely no precedent for this in any international law.
Further, as others have pointed out, since the treaty did not apply anyway (DS9 being Bajoran, not Federation, territory), Sisko could have simply clapped Ilon in handcuffs and thrown him and his goons into the brig. Not doing exactly that is simply spineless, and does not accord with Sisko's character.
by Jeff Browning | 10/11/2011 at 5:50 pm

I guess they didn't have the have the wardroom (or hadn't found it yet) by this point. Thus, they resorted to using Quark's for the trial. This was just a bit annoying, but somewhat understandable. Just interesting that this would have been a great time to introduce the wardroom, but they just didn't think of it. Another trial/hearing took place on DS9, Worf's, and it took place in the wardroom.
by Wes Thompson | 11/20/2012 at 10:20 pm

Just realized. The person turning 100 years old at the beginning of the episode is Keiko's MOTHER. That means she was at least 60, unless you buy Keiko being over 40 at the time of this episode (Rosalind Chao was 35 at the time). Medicine of the future, I guess.
by Bronn | 06/11/2013 at 1:33 am

I can't believe all of the negative reactions to this episode! The purpose of this episode seemed pretty clear to me: a deeper exploration and explanation of what a Trill is, at least in DS9. I found it very useful in that regard, especially since the Trill species we see in DS9 is very different from the species we previously saw in TNG: The Host.
by Dstyle | 09/03/2013 at 5:57 pm

Poor Dax. Swore an oath to secrecy and bound by honor to keep it. (Later season spoiler alert: even though it's pretty annoying, but she definitely proves herself worthy of Worf, honor-wise.)
I agree with the criticisms about the legal issues here. Unilateral extradition does not mean illegal entry/assault/kidnapping. It would mean "hello, I am so-and-so, I have come to claim so-and-so by order of this warrant." Annoying to see Sisko not throw the book at the intruders. And Trill society would have determined guidelines for legal ramifications of previous hosts' crimes long ago. And Quark's being the only appropriate venue for a hearing? Come on! There would have been dozens of conference rooms, not just the single wardroom that somehow hasn't been discovered yet.
And yet, somehow, I still kind of liked this episode.
by Damien Bradley | 10/02/2013 at 7:59 am

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — 1x09 — The Passenger

Aired 1993-02-22

SpaceOpera.com rating:5

Average reader rating:4.34

Synopsis

The crew's efforts to thwart a hijack scheme are complicated when a sinister alien criminal hides his consciousness within the brain of someone aboard the station.

Filler rating: good filler

There's no essential plot or exposition in this episode that renders it unskippable, but it's a decent episode, even though it could have been better.

Remarkable scenes

Kira complimenting Bashir and Bashir being completely immodest about it.
Odo and Quark talking about Dax. Quark: "It's good to want things." Odo: "Even things you can't have?" Quark: "Especially things I can't have."
Odo being grilled by a Starfleet security officer about how he does his job.
Sisko: "Odo was probably making sure Quark knows we know he knows."
Odo's objections to being called "constable."
Odo regarding Quark: "I always keep an eye on him."
Bashir, disoriented when he woke up aboard the freighter.
Kajada murdering her prisoner.
Morn appearances; 1. At the bar in the background as Odo and Quark talk about Dax.

Review

A pleasing mystery episode about a man obsessed with preserving his own life even at the expense of other people's. Some highlights are the contention between Odo and the starfleet security officer and the crazed Kajada character hunting her metaphorical whale all episode. I'm not fond of Star Trek's affinity for alien of the week episodes though and the Vantika-inside-Bashir's-body scenes are painfully poorly acted. However, while this isn't the most spectacular episode of Star Trek, it's most certainly decent ride.

7 reader comments

This is another solid outing. A couple of red herrings thrown in for good measure to keep you guessing.
Worth watching back to see how Vantika is acted by his 'host' as you don't really watch for it first time around. Speaking of which, isn't this another review where you give away what has happened to Vantika? After all, we don't find out until very near to the end of the episode who is carrying Vantika's mind.
by Bernard | 11/23/2009 at 3:44 pm

'Vantika did the exact same thing on Rigel VII' - isn't that where kang and kodos from The Simpsons are from?
Also Bashir states that humanoids use very little of their brains - this is untrue. All of the brain is used by humans, but not all of it at any one time. Different parts are used at different times. He has been reading too many urban legends and not enough Starfleet Medical textbooks
by Paul | 08/31/2010 at 11:04 pm

I have to confess that this episode is painful for me to watch. I find Siddig's performance as the posessed Bashir to be extremely wooden, forced, and silly. It ruined a good episode.
by Bryan | 03/29/2011 at 12:10 am

This was a painful one, the first painful one in the series. I'm not sure if I can really explain why. Pretty much everything seemed unbelievable, not well-explained, and too convenient for the sake of moving along the plot…
Somehow it had a weird kind of fairy tale quality to it (maybe some of the usual production staff were sick?)
The red herrings and Bashir being the host was a good twist, but then the possessed acting - and here I agree with another commentator, and disagree with the reviewer - was unexceptional… at best.
I give it a 3.
by greeh | 08/11/2011 at 11:30 pm

Pretty obvious problem: If Bashir is possessed by Vantika, why does he continue to talk in the phones British accent? Wouldn't he talk like Vantika did at the beginning of the episode. I also agree Bashir's acting was pretty bad.
by Jeff Browning | 10/16/2011 at 6:12 am

I'm not really a fan of Siddig at all at this point. He's performance here was terrible. TNG had much better actors. DS9 characterisation is better (the characters actually have flaws) but that doesn't make up for the difference in acting ability.
by Shani | 01/09/2014 at 1:01 pm

When Vantika/Bashir first makes contact with Quark on the upper level of his bar, there is a part where he hurls Quark forward. You can just barely catch a glimpse of Bashir's face as the camera pans up. It's so fast and the angle makes it hard to tell it's Bashir unless you freeze frame at just the right second.
I agree the Vantika-possessed Bashir isn't well acted, though. Siddig's improvement as an actor seems to have happened throughout this series :)
by Axel | 05/10/2015 at 6:39 pm

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — 1x10 — Move Along Home

Aired 1993-03-14

SpaceOpera.com rating:1

Average reader rating:4.1

Synopsis

Quark's attempt at deception toward a newly-encountered alien race places the space station's senior officers in a labyrinth of danger.

Filler rating: bad filler

Nothing to see here. Move along...

Remarkable scenes

Sisko laying into Bashir for not packing his dress uniform.
Quark after his decidedly negative reaction to the nectar: "One man's priceless is another man's useless!"
Kira: "I'm a Bajoran administrator. This is not what I signed up for!"
Odo laying into Primmin for letting all the senior staff disappear without noticing.
Odo: "And don't call me constable, I'm chief of security!"
The hopscotch game with the little girl. Hilarious!
Morn appearances; 1. Seen just after the credits rolls walking by the camera. 2. Seen behind Quark and Sisko when they talk just after the credits.

Review

This episode has almost no substance and decidedly manufactured danger. It's completely incredible that there was no real danger; the aliens of the week should have seen that our heroes all thought it was real and pulled the plug, or at least told them they were safe. Instead they just egged on the hysteria. There's no evidence that they somehow needed unwilling participants to enjoy their time in Quark's bar, so the whole story is one giant contrived plot device.

8 reader comments

I'd give it a 2 instead of a 1 because it does have some fairly comical moments
by Pete Miller | 04/15/2006 at 4:36 am

My (admittedly now vague) memory of DS9 is that it was the high point of the Trek franchise, so it's been a bit surprising to me in my current run through the series to find that, after the promising pilot, the early part of the first season flounders with some truly unremarkable episodes.
"Dax" is a bad episode and doesn't really even get to accomplish the character development it shoots for because the episode is handled so badly. "The Passenger" is lackluster because we pretty much know that Julian is the one carrying Vantika's consciousess from the very beginning.
Then we get this mess: Annoying, ridiculously over-the-top alien-of-the-week. What amounts to a recylced holodeck-malfunction-puts-crew-in-danger plot, and then there turns out to be no real danger at all. On top of that, none of this really makes any sense. At least there are some comical moments.
Also, what's with Primmin? I have no recollection of him, and I can only assume that he goes away quietly after a few episodes. Was he simply a replacement for O'brien during his short stay away from the station?
by JRPoole | 11/17/2008 at 3:40 pm

Couldn't bring myself to watch this one again in my current 'revisiting' of the series. So it must be bad.
by Bernard | 12/02/2009 at 7:03 pm

It cannot be overstated how much I completely hate, Hate, HATE this episode.
The worst show of the entire series. The only good thing you can say about it is that they got it out of the way early.
by John DC | 01/06/2011 at 12:58 am

This story is similar to "The Celestial Toymaker" from early black & white Doctor Who, and believe it or not, the hoary 60s show did it far better. In the Whovian story, there was a real threat that the characters would be trapped forever as toys of the game-playing Toymaker. The games were equally silly and easy to overcome, but the dialogue and the villain were more convincing.
by Tallifer | 03/08/2011 at 6:22 am

I really enjoyed watching the first season of DS9 so far, much better storytelling than any other Star Trek series and more interesting characters than the one dimensional ones TNG had … except for Ro Laren, love her, a real shame that she didnt want to play the Kira character (but Nana Visitor is awesome too).
And because DS9 was really great to this point I am very offended by this terrible episode. I think the biggest problem is that Odos reaction to the game didnt make any sense. If he really feared that these aliens would play with the lives of Sisko and the others why didnt he force them to end this immediately? But no, they played along and gambled for their lives! That's just bloody stupid and even vicious. I cant find words for how much I hate this lazy written bullshit episode!
by Zaphod | 04/16/2011 at 10:18 am

I watched every episode of ds9 when I was a child. For some reason this is the only episode I can remember clearly. Now that I'm re-watching this episode it does seem a little ridiculous. But I still like it for some reason (probably nostalgia more than anything else).
by Shani | 01/12/2014 at 12:50 pm

Glad to see I am not alone in being appalled by this episode
by BV | 10/28/2015 at 5:35 pm

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — 1x11 — The Nagus

Aired 1993-03-21

SpaceOpera.com rating:6

Average reader rating:5.5

Synopsis

Quark is suddenly named leader of the Ferengi financial empire, and discovers that he's not only popular, he's now a target for death.

Filler rating: not filler

This episode is a must watch largely for the pivotal character development for Jake, Nog, and Rom. It's also the episode which introduces Grand Nagus Zek and sets up Ferengi interest in doing business with the Gamma quadrant which will be significant later.

Remarkable scenes

Zek's "death."
Quark's reaction to Rom wanting to take over the bar.
Sisko: "Going through my own adolescence was difficult enough. Surviving my son's is going to take a miracle."
Dax taking generous helpings of Sisko's dinner.
Jake teaching Nog to read.
Rom and Grax attempting to execute Quark.
Rules of Acquisition; 1. Once you have their money, you never give it back. 6. Never allow family to stand in the way of opportunity.
Morn appearances; 1. Quark tells him a joke about Andorians at the bar. We hear Morn laugh! 2. Quark shoes him away when he tries to come in during the Ferengi conference. 3. Can be seen on the bottom level during Nog and Jake's argument. 4. Can be seen walking by after Gral threatens Quark. 5. Can be seen in Quark's through the window during the discussion about whether or not to take a Dabo girl. 6. Passes by during Quark and Nog's final conversation regarding the airlock execution stunt.

Review

Introducing the Pope of the Ferengi. The Grand Nagus. This character cements the status of the Ferengi as a wonderfully overly exaggerated representation of American capitalism. You've got to root for Quark for once in his struggle against the greater greed he faces here. And he achieves honest success at that! I also like how Quark held no grudges against Rom for his actions. Indeed, he congratulated him! The most touching detail though is the reaffirming of Jake's and Nog's friendship and seeing it withstand the prejudices of their fathers. All things considered, a fine episode.

3 reader comments

I cringed at the thought of this episode because I'm generally anti-Ferengi. At their best, they're little more than comic relief. At their worst, they're silly and borderline offensive.
This, however, is pretty solid. Yes, it's mostly aimed at laughs. Yes, the Ferengi are what they are. But this is done pretty well, and we get good character development of Rom, Quark, and the Ferengi at large. On top of that, it's entertaining from top to bottom, so it all falls together well.
by JRPoole | 11/17/2008 at 5:11 pm

Excellent episode! One of the strongest of season one, though that really isn't saying much.
Ferengi lore is started in earnest during this episode and remains throughout the seven seasons. I for one enjoy what you might call the 'Ferengi story arc'.
Two important recurring characters get a good grounding here. One is the Nagus, delightfully played by Wallace Shawn. The other is Rom, who despite earlier appearances gets more to do here.
Surprised to see the fan average below your score here, but many do not like the ferengi storylines. I'd give it a solid 7.
by Bernard | 11/25/2009 at 11:17 pm

I thoroughly enjoyed this one, not the least because of the great contribution of Wallace Shawn, the exceptional character actor who plays the Grand Nagus. (Shawn is possibly best known for his role as Vizzini in the Rob Reiner film "Princess Bride", but he has a long list of credits to his name. See the IMDB database for more information.)
One comment on the idea that the Ferengi represent American capitalism. Having traveled extensively, I find the Ferengi more like the capitalism in places like Hong Kong or Singapore than the US. The fact that the Ferengi despise trade unions for example, and their extremely repressive attitude towards women are certainly not typical of the US. However, I see the point. I think Star Trek in general tries to portray the Federation as a more evolved version of the USA, absent the drive for wealth and status (although this analogy breaks down at times). Thus, the Federation is a symbol of our aspirations, while the Ferengi are perhaps symbolic of our dark side.
At any rate, I generally enjoy episodes where the Ferengi's are heavily involved. (I find the relationship between Quark and Odo as rich and fulfilling as any in Star Trek, including that between Bones and Spock, or between Geordi and Data.)
by Jeff Browning | 10/18/2011 at 1:39 pm

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — 1x12 — Vortex

Aired 1993-04-18

SpaceOpera.com rating:6

Average reader rating:5.21

Synopsis

An alien criminal from the other side of the wormhole tempts Odo by telling the shape-shifter he can put the changeling in contact with others like himself.

Filler rating: good filler

This is the first episode to mention that Odo's people likely originate from the Gamma Quadrant. It also establishes the character of his people as being distrustful of other species and that their colony is difficult to locate. However while some of this information could be taken as foreshadowing, strictly speaking none of it is essential exposition for proceeding with the story.

Remarkable scenes

Quark: "You think the whole galaxy's plotting around you, don't you? Paranoia must run in your species, Odo. Maybe that's why no one has ever seen another shape shifter! They're all hiding!"
Odo: "There's no profit in kindness. Your favorite charity is your own profit."
Odo luring his pursuer into a trap.
Odo releasing his prisoner to the custody of the Vulcans.
Morn appearances; 1. Can be seen as the Miradorns walk by in the teaser, back to camera. 2. Odo takes the honor of being the first to refer to Morn by name by pointing him out to Quark.

Review

This is the first episode in which Odo's past is examined. We learn Odo is one of a kind and that he has possible ties to the Gamma quadrant. We also hear the name of his species for the first time: Changeling. While the plot is somewhat meager and strung together from seemingly random elements, the effect is still nicely profound for Odo's character. It's nice to see Odo so curious about his origins and it's nice to see Odo so compassionate to one of his prisoners. All very nice changes of pace for the character.

2 reader comments

Come on! Don't you thionk it's a "problem" that Odo's knocked unconscious by a blow to his "head" ? :)
by Jens-Ivar Seland | 07/18/2009 at 5:41 pm

Okay, this episode has quite a few flaws such as Odo being knocked unconscious and Odo piloting the prisoner back into the gamma quadrant alone!
It does provide a different angle with which to view Odo though. It also seems to have an emotional impact through the storytelling. I love the final line of the episode. I also love that the writers obviously thought their casual made up name for Odo's 'people', changeling (first heard in this episode) was really quite good so continued to use it as seasons two and the rest continued.
I gave this a 5… unfortunately we now head into a run of mediocrity with the next few episodes…
by Bernard | 12/01/2009 at 10:22 pm

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — 1x13 — Battle Lines

Aired 1993-04-25

SpaceOpera.com rating:1

Average reader rating:4.03

Synopsis

Sisko, Kira, and Bashir are stranded on a war-torn world where it is impossible for the combatants to die.

Filler rating: partial filler

As much as I hate to recommend such a terrible episode, if you don't watch this episode, you may find yourself wondering where the hell Kai Opaka went at the end of the season when they're holding elections for the next Kai.

Remarkable scenes

Kira's reaction to her "disappointing" file and feeling "under-appreciated."
Sisko taking the Kai through the wormhole simply to indulge her.
Bashir: "I've discovered we can't afford to die here. Not even once."
Morn appearances; 1. Walks by with a bag on his shoulder when Sisko and Bashir are discussing the Kai in the teaser.

Review

I don't like this one. This episode is a complete waste of a great character, Kai Opaka. A completely unfitting end for a character who was never given a chance to develop. The implications of the nanites which can apparently end permanent death are never sufficiently explored, nor is it ever explained how the nanites are supposed to resurrect someone who is vaporized by a phaser or something. And worse yet, the people of the planet are shown as nothing but mindless savages who Opaka is supposed to begin life anew with and somehow bring together these bitter enemies. Most of these concepts have been explored better elsewhere, and nothing particularly remarkable happens in this episode.

5 reader comments

Interesting premise done badly, and I agree that the Kai is just thrown in there as a convenient way of setting up the ongoing bajoran story arc. I'd hardly say misuse of a great character though, she was only in the pilot for about five minutes!
The three regulars are all well within character though and I liked Kira's reaction to Opaka's death, unfortunately because the viewer has not grown to know the Opaka character well enough any emotional impact is lost for me so you cannot share in her grief. It smacked much more of a TNG plot however with the convenient escape at the end. I gave it a 4, mainly for all the interesting moments and good characterisation throughout.
by Bernard | 12/03/2009 at 10:29 am

This episode is pretty bad. Not nearly as bad as 'Move Along Home', but still pretty bad. It has the additional distinction of being the episode which open the doors for Winn's rise to power. This is also a bummer.
However, it does have one redeeming moment: when Kira reads her Cardassian intelligence file and discovers they didn't consider her much of a threat, she flips out, and I laugh every time. Yet another example of Kira taking things way too seriously.
by John DC | 03/24/2012 at 8:06 pm

This was a filler episode, and it was pretty awful. I think it might be my least favorite in this season (possibly even worse than move along home).
About the only redeeming quality this episode had was setting up the Kai election at the end with Opaka's demise. Additionally, her end was thankfully brief- I hated every scene with her in it. She was a one dimensional character that spouted meaningless mumbo jumbo. People say she was a character that didn't get the chance to be developed. I say I am glad she didn't get more time and that they got rid of her when they did.
by Nathan | 10/12/2013 at 9:42 am

Mike Ehrmantraut!
I also thought I saw Hack Scudder (John Savage) in there as leader of the Nol-Ennis, but maybe it wasn't him.
Anyway, did they ever follow up on the microbes that keep people from dying? You'd think that would be a major discovery.
by tigertooth | 08/08/2016 at 3:03 am

I just rewatched this episode. I didn't hate it as much as anyone else. Sure, it was a rather unfitting end for the Kai, but it's not like she was a hugely developed character prior to the episode. The main thing that bugged me is the way they didn't explore this new nanite technology at all. You'd think they'd be staying there to study it, doing anything they could to recreate it so the people could leave that world. It was weird how they discovered how the people returned to life, realized they'd die if they left the surface, and then were just like, "Oh, well. We'll leave the Kai here and never think about it again!"
by Abigail Chappell | 08/29/2019 at 9:52 pm

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — 1x14 — The Storyteller

Aired 1993-05-02

SpaceOpera.com rating:2

Average reader rating:3.92

Synopsis

Against his will, O'Brien becomes spiritual leader of a Bajoran village and the only one who can save them from a destructive energy force.

Filler rating: bad filler

There's no essential plot or exposition in this episode that renders it unskippable and while the story has a few charming moments, it's mostly terrible.

Remarkable scenes

O'Brien trying to avoid Bashir in the teaser.
Bashir trying to be friendly with O'Brien.
Quark offending yet another woman.
Odo taking pleasure in ordering the kids to stop dangling over the Promenade.
Rules of Acquisition; 9. Opportunity + Instinct = Profit!
Morn Appearances; 1. Quark is talking to him as Kira enters his bar. 2. Crosses the Promenade with a jumja stick, as Jake and Nog walk by.

Review

Another weak DS9 episode. The only thing I like about it is the interplay between Bashir and O'Brien. The major problem with this episode is the sheer ridiculousness of a single village of Bajorans who must fight off a monster every so often. The idea that it was needed to create unity at one time is convincing, but the idea that it must be done routinely to maintain unity is just lunacy.

3 reader comments

Two moments of sheer genius in this episode, otherwise it is atrocious.
The first is Nog's practical joke involving the bucket…
The second is the knife fight involving Bashir, O'Brien and the bajoran! Watch it again, it's like something from Naked Gun!
What I love about the relationship between Bashir and O'Brien at this point in the series is that they are written to be idiots. O'Brien is outrageously rude to Bashir in this episode whilst Bashir is so self important up to this point. That's where DS9 is such an improvement on TNG, the characters are flawed and therefore seem more real and you can relate to them.
by Bernard | 12/03/2009 at 10:28 pm

One question kept nagging at me the whole time I was watching this episode: How can the Bajorans possibly have a 10,000-year-old, warp-capable civilization when their people are this stupid?
Sadly, we will see numerous other instances of stupid, easily-led Bajorans throughout the series, so this aspect of the show never really improves.
by John DC | 12/06/2011 at 2:26 pm

This one was pretty absurd. The idea of inventing a monster to fight every so often - which only one person knows is not actually a real monster - in order to bring people together is …. questionable. If nothing else, surely the townspeople would figure out it was all a hoax at some point??
by Abigail Chappell | 08/29/2019 at 10:27 pm

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — 1x15 — Progress

Aired 1993-05-09

SpaceOpera.com rating:3

Average reader rating:5.35

Synopsis

A stubborn old Bajoran farmer forces Kira to take a good look at how much she has changed since her alliance with the Federation.

Filler rating: bad filler

Unless you're dying to see the first episode to mention self-sealing stem bolts and Cardassian Yamok Sauce, there's nothing terribly notable in this one.

Remarkable scenes

Jadzia discussing Morn asking her out with Kira. Jadzia thinks Morn's few wiry hairs make him look cute.
Jake and Nog bartering for profit.
Mullibok's insistence on calling Kira a girl, getting her all mad.
Mulibok's exaggerated stories about how he colonized the moon.
Mullibok: "The Cardassians probably told you you didn't stand a chance either. Did you surrender?" Kira: "No." Mullibok: "Why do you expect me to act any different than you?"
Jake and Nog trying to figure out what self-sealing stem bolts are.
Bashir "requesting" Kira stay on the planet.
Kira's nasty old tree analogy.
Kira destroying Mullibok's home.
Morn appearances; 1. Seen talking to someone as Jake and Nog talk to the Lissepian captain on the Promenade. 2. Sitting on a barstool when Nog walks into Quark's. 3. Sitting at bar while Odo and Quark talk about Nog and Jake's land.

Review

For once, Jake and Nog's childish exploits are entertaining; I particularly enjoyed the "self sealing stem bolts" gag. The "stem bolts" are basically one big joke about Star Trek technobabble. Everyone insists on using the term so accurately ("they're not just stem bolts, they're self sealing stem bolts!") but you never find out exactly what they do. None of the characters even know! Unfortunately the main plot of the episode is less well made. A story about a luddite is a good premise and Mullibok's dynamic with Kira is good fun and all, but the whole premise of the episode suffers from a number of problems. First of all the idea that Bajor could have a habitable moon as depicted isn't realistic. Second of all, even assuming that hard to rationalize premise, it's profoundly irresponsible for Bajor's government to ruin such a rare freak of nature by destroying it just to extract some energy to heat some homes. Finally, it's mentioned that there is a slower energy extraction method that wouldn't destroy the moon's environment. Seriously, why not use that instead? Can't they find another energy source in the mean time to heat some homes with? The whole plot just defies common sense.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — 1x16 — If Wishes Were Horses

Aired 1993-05-16

SpaceOpera.com rating:1

Average reader rating:4.01

Synopsis

When members of the station find their fantasies coming to life, it becomes the prelude to a very real danger which threatens everyone.

Filler rating: bad filler

There's no essential plot or exposition in this episode that renders it unskippable and while the story has a few charming moments, it's mostly terrible.

Remarkable scenes

Julian trying to seduce Jadzia again.
Keiko appearance.
Molly professing that Rumplestiltskin is in her room and the look on O'Brien's face when he actually sees him there.
Julian's first meeting with fake Jadzia.
Odo animal herding.
Jadzia arguing with herself.
Morn appearances; 1. Sitting at a table in the very first scene in the background in Quarks. 2. In the same scene, he seems to have moved to the bar. 3. Walks in front of Odo when Odo tries to get the attention of the people in Quark's.

Review

Another lame filler episode. Some of the Julian and Jadzia scenes are endearing and aliens turning out to be non-hostile is a nice change of pace, but the insufferable goofiness of the story overrides what few charming moments there are.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — 1x17 — The Forsaken

Aired 1993-05-23

SpaceOpera.com rating:7

Average reader rating:5.33

Synopsis

While an alien entity wreaks havoc with the station's computer, the irrepressible Lwaxana Troi sets her sights for romance with Odo!

Filler rating: partial filler

This is the first episode in which Lwaxana and Odo meet. She only appears in two more episodes, but if you watch any of those two episodes, make sure you see this one first. We get tidbits about Odo's past in this episode. He was discovered and "raised" by a Bajoran scientist. Odo's appearance is designed to mimic that scientist.

Remarkable scenes

Sisko handing off the duty of "handling" the ambassadors to Bashir.
Lwaxana's appearance. I love how she calls Quark a troll. Good continuity with her previous Ferengi encounters.
O'Brien having another fight with the computer. Reminds me a lot of Scotty. :)
Bashir: "The 'young woman' over there has over 300 years experience."
Lwaxana trying to seduce Odo.
Lwaxana's thin beige line line.
Odo discussing his "problem" with Sisko.
Odo trying to avoid Lwaxana.
Kira: "Great. Everything's in working order, but nothing's working!"
Lwaxana telling Odo the story of her experiences in TNG: Menage a Troi.
Bashir: "Nothing makes them happy. They are dedicated to being unhappy and to spreading that unhappiness wherever they go. They are ambassadors of unhappy!"
Sisko taking "perverse pleasure" in giving Bashir this assignment.
O'Brien trying to point out the subtle differences in the computer. "A different attitude."
O'Brien: "Working with the Enterprise computer was like dancing a waltz. With this computer it's always been like a wrestling match."
Odo describing his past.
The main cast overloading the computer with commands. O'Brien "building a dog house."
Bashir saving the ambassadors.
Morn appearances; 1. Can be seen in the background when Bashir is talking to the ambassadors.

Review

This the best episode since the pilot, simply because of the sheer wonderful humor. The alien probe plot thread isn't particularly interesting, but it is original and the way the crew deals with it is greatly entertaining. I most enjoyed the dialog between Lwaxana and Odo toward the end, where they finally begin to connect with one another. Lwaxana then protects Odo from leaking into the active current. Odo rarely places his life in someone else's hands and it's done well here. The thing that makes this episode both nice and unusual compared to other episodes aired so far is its wide use of characters and its number of plot threads. First there's the plot thread about Bashir and his ambassadorial duties. Then there's the plot thread about Lwaxana and Odo. Then there's the plot thread about O'Brien and the computer. Arguably another albeit short plot thread occurs when Sisko splits away from O'Brien to save Bashir from the fire. There's four separate stories going on simultaneously by the end of the episode. A nicely complex story compared to what else has aired so far.

3 reader comments

Quite a sweet episode, everything seems to tuck into place neatly by the end. Marvelous performances by both Rene Auberjonois and Majel Barrett Roddenberry ultimately carry this episode to it's decent score from me, a 7.
by Bernard | 12/31/2009 at 4:07 pm

I was going to whine a little about how Odo being contained in the folds of Lwaxana's dress was unrealistic, but I figured it out - her dress would just have to be made out of some kind of non-porous or micro-porous material, and the whole matter would've had to have been kind of sloppy (which would actually add to the story some, because it works even better as a kind of double entendre for something else that's messy and private and involves trust and vulnerability, and also makes the whole event even more significant for Odo, with Lwaxana's active efforts saving his life).
Maybe some of this should've been hinted at in the actual episode instead of just having that shot of Odo melting into the folds of her dress?
Anyway, this episode was quite good. There was a lot of good humor, as the review suggests. Odo's facial expressions and body language in the elevator is priceless. O'Brian's plan to adopt the non-biological lifeform by creating a stimulating "doghouse" program - that was pretty great too. Oh yah, Bashir getting the commendations at the end from the "Ambassadors of Unhappiness" - also good
by Fan | 08/12/2011 at 6:38 am

I actually thought this episode was really boring. The Lwaxana/Odo interaction was somewhat entertaining, and we got some good backstory about Odo, but that was about 5 worthwhile minutes out of a 45-minute, generally dull and pointless, episode.
I do seem to be in the minority with this opinion, though, it appears!
by Abigail Chappell | 08/30/2019 at 10:19 pm

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — 1x18 — Dramatis Personae

Aired 1993-05-30

SpaceOpera.com rating:3

Average reader rating:4.61

Synopsis

Odo is caught in the middle when an alien influence pits Kira against Sisko in a deadly struggle for control of the station.

Filler rating: bad filler

Unless you're dying to see where the hell that clock on Sisko's desk came from, there's nothing terribly notable in this one.

Remarkable scenes

Odo: "How am I?" Bashir: "How do you feel?" Odo: "Fine." Bashir: "Good. Because I have no way to know. Your body chemestry defies analysis."
The crew starting to act... weird.
Kira attacking Quark.
Odo manipulating Bashir.
Morn appearances; 1. Behind Quark when he serves Jadzia her drink.

Review

This episode is largely pointless. It may have been more interesting if it had aired earlier in the season; Kira's loyalties are hardly in question anymore. What's more, the whole episode is an excuse to get the characters acting completely out of character without much of a reason. The only redeeming quality of this episode is how Odo saves the day, by manipulating both sides. He was the perfect man for that job and he did the job well. It was certainly entertaining to watch Odo bring the station back to order, but unfortunately the episode comes off as being little more than another hour of filler.

3 reader comments

I wouldn't call this episode filler, at least not as much as "Move Along Home" or "If Wishes Were Horses." It definitely had some redeeming qualities.
First, I liked how people started to just act slightly out of character at first, gradually growing into their alternate characters. I also liked how these characters they were playing out weren't complete departures from the original people; you could still sense some of their original personalities present. I liked how I couldn't really tell where in the episode the characters became not-themselves. For example, Kira's increasing frustration with Sisko about the Dolamide on the Valerian ship seems in character, until before you know it she's openly plotting against him. Well done.
Odo saving the day is definitely fun to watch.
The whole "telepathic sphere" thing was slightly farfetched, granted, but that's par for the course in Star Trek. I kind of like the loose end of what the Klingons had been talking about before they entered the wormhole -- what was that all about?
One nice touch worth mentioning is the title: Dramatis Personae. It's a Latin term meaning "cast of characters," and the main place I've seen the term is at the beginning of Shakespeare plays, where the list of characters is given at the very beginning. The crew, over the course of the episode, begins to act out characters as if they are in a play. Very clever.
I'd give the episode a 5.
by DJB | 12/04/2008 at 6:44 am

How strange that you seem to have adopted the term 'filler' when describing episodes that are not particularly good. DS9 never was an ongoing story, even later on in the series when they adopt longer story arcs most episodes can stand on their own. Certainly at this point in the series we have barely any ongoing arcs, so what exactly are these episodes supposed to be filling? Food for thought there.
Anyway, This episode is no worse than some of the earlier outings of the season. I agree that it is out of place and so I docked it a point for that. But no more than that since it is still not a bad effort in it's own right. Just because it would have been more appropriate earlier in the season doesn't mean that it can't happen later in the season. There are characters that are fascinating whilst under the influence of the telepathic sphere such as Kira, Bashir, O'Brien. Unfortunately and ultimately what spoils the episode for me is Sisko and Dax. The latter stages of this episode could have been a real power struggle between Kira and Sisko and some real tension should have been built. Instead we see him making a clock… gripping stuff.
Another average 5 for me, good elements, good idea and good moments but lacking overall.
by Bernard | 01/03/2010 at 11:56 am

Another "the whole crew goes crazy" episode -- Every Star Trek series had at least a couple of these, and they all kind of drive me nuts. I don't need to see the whole crew acting nutty for 45 minutes and then see it cleared up as being a (fairly pointless) "telepathic sphere".
by Abigail Chappell | 08/31/2019 at 11:29 pm

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — 1x19 — Duet

Aired 1993-06-13

SpaceOpera.com rating:10

Average reader rating:8.07

Synopsis

Kira discovers that a Cardassian visiting the station could actually be a notorious war criminal.

Filler rating: not filler

Aside from being one of the best episodes of DS9 in general, this episode is also foreshadowing for the future nuanced, morally ambiguous texture of DS9's overarching story and the ending is a profound moment in the life of Kira's character; beginning her true in-earnest transition from partisan freedom fighter to her eventual significant role in healing the wounds between her people and Cardassia.

Remarkable scenes

Kira: "If your lies are going to be this transparent, it's going to be a very short interrogation." Marritza: "Well in that case I'll try to make my lies more opaque."
Marritza: "Gul Darhe'el himself called my computer filing system a masterpiece of meticulous exactitude."
Dukat: "This Bajoran obsession with alleged Cardassian improprieties during the occupation is really quite distasteful." Sisko: "I suppose if you're Bajoran, so is the occupation."
Kira wanting Marritza to be something worse so the punishment can mean more to her.
"Gul Darhe'el" reminiscing fondly about his accomplishments. Gloating about the horrors he inflicted.
Odo breaking into Quark's private stock to give Kira a free drink!
Kira: "Nothing justifies genocide." Gul Darhe'el: "What you call genocide I call a day's work."
Marritza's breakdown in the end.
Marritza murdered.

Review

This is the best episode so far, superbly acted all across. A truly deeply affected Cardassian, Marritza, feels a profound sadness for what his people did to the Bajorans during the occupation. He served in the Cardassian military, and therefore feels responsible. He never played a major role in the atrocities though, so he pretends to be Gul Darhe'el, the butcher of Gallitep, so that he can let the Bajorans exact satisfying revenge on him. That way he gets personal redemption and in his mind an honorable death and the Bajorans get the satisfaction of putting to death one of their greatest enemies. He's not Darhe'el though, and Kira is forced to toss aside her personal hate and her racism to stop this man from committing suicide for something that really isn't his fault. In the end, the profoundly tragic character is killed by a Bajoran man who represents the person Kira used to be only the day before. There are elements of this story that are contrived, most especially the lack of security at the end setting up Marritza for an easy ambush, but the episode is still a fantastic example of this show at its best.

8 reader comments

"But why?"
"He was cardassian. That's reason enough."
A line that certainly is a microcosm of the current conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Eventually the killing goes on for so long that both sides don't even know why they do it, except that the other side is their adversary.
by Pete Miller | 07/22/2006 at 5:12 am

A supremely touching episode; when Marritza breaks down at the end there I don't think I've ever felt such sympathy for a character in a television series. The only reason I wouldn't normally give this episode a 10 is because Marritza's death is (while perhaps necessary) very rushed and, as you said, too easy. However this was much too moving as to not get a 10.
by JTL | 08/03/2008 at 11:35 pm

What struck me while watching the first season a second time in this episode and episode "Dax" is the fact that obviously there is still the death penalty imposed on Worlds belonging to or becoming a member of the Federation. I for one thought that this punishment has been abolished at least in the future UFP.
Cheers Thorsten
by Thorsten Wieking | 09/02/2008 at 12:54 pm

Beautifully constructed episode, brilliantly performed.
Enough said!
Seriously though, it seems like they saved the best stuff for the last two episodes. You have to wonder what was going on for most of the season when they can produce this standard of episode that rivals anything TNG could do for emotional impact and profound messages.
by Bernard | 01/12/2010 at 12:16 am

This ranks as one of my favorite DS9 episodes of all time.
It's brilliance has already been pointed out by the other reviews here. My only other thought is that I can't think of a single other TV series in science-fiction or elsewhere that produced such a stunningly and powerfully dramatic episode in its first season. I must admit, when I first watched DS9, I was not prepared for this episode based on what I'd seen. And Moritza's breakdown loses absolutely none of its power with repeated viewing, the sign of a truly great episode.
Even TNG, which I still tend to like better, did not produce such a moving episode until its second season (Measure of a Man). Pure brilliance…
by MJ | 02/09/2011 at 9:39 pm

While the rest of the characters are well utilized, particularly the brilliantly-written Marritza, the weak link (as usual) is Kira. No surprise there, as she is one of the most irritating and one-dimensional characters in the entire Star Trek canon. Her constantly over-dramatic indignation gets very tired very quickly, and detracts from an otherwise gripping episode.
by John DC | 12/07/2011 at 3:49 am

For me simply the best Star Trek episode ever written! Excellent acting all around. Captivating and riveting dialogue. Not one punch thrown, not one phaser fired, not one explosion. The current people working on Star Trek could learn a lot from this episode.
by Jimmy | 08/22/2019 at 1:32 am

Great episode!
Kira was super annoying in this episode.
But still, it was great!
by Abigail Chappell | 09/01/2019 at 6:02 pm

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine — 1x20 — In The Hands of the Prophets

Aired 1993-06-20

SpaceOpera.com rating:7

Average reader rating:6.37

Synopsis

A Bajoran spiritual leader threatens to destroy the alliance between Bajor and the Federation.

Filler rating: not filler

This is the first episode to feature Winn, a character who will become increasingly important throughout the series.

Remarkable scenes

Keiko appearance.
Keiko defending herself against Vedek Winn's religious zealotry.
Vedek Winn stating that she told Kai Opaka that she would do anything to look into the eyes of her gods.
Jake talking to his father about the parallels between Galileo and the current situation.
Vedek Bareil: "I'm sorry commander. The Vedek assembly will not see you." Sisko: "Why not?" Vedek Bareil: "Some fear you as the symbol of the Federation they view as godless. Some fear you as the emissary who walked with the prophets. And some fear you because Vedek Winn told them to."
Sisko's speech about DS9 as a symbol of successful cooperation between the Federation and Bajor.
Kira: "I envy Vedek Winn because she's a true believer."
Rules of Acquisition; 7. Keep your ears open.
Morn appearances; 1. Passes by Keiko and Miles in the first Jumja scene. 2. Passes by Keiko and Miles in the second Jumja scene when the vendor refuses to sell to them. 3. Keiko and Miles walk by him as they leave the uncooperative vendor. 4. In the crowd when the school explodes. 5. In the crowd when Vedek Bareil arrives on the station.

Review

This is the expected outcome of the premise of this show. The Bajorans are a spiritual people, deeply held in their beliefs. The old Kai was essentially killed earlier in the season, and a replacement is now necessary. Finally, an episode that outlines the political structure of Bajoran society was definitely something that needed to happen. Expectations are of couse satisfied, but as a season finale it leaves much to be desired. DS9 has gotten off to a very slow start. But what this episode lacks in excitement it makes up for in its message. I'm very fond of the religious issue and how it's handled. I like Sisko's conversation with his son about how since the wormhole aliens are indeed powerful supernatural aliens with technology and abilities far beyond the understanding of either the Federation or Bajor that they could easily be interpreted as gods. Or that their abilities to see beyond linear time could easily make them prophets. I like the look on Winn's face when Kira accuses her of attempted murder. The look screams of "damn, my plan failed." She then just walks off in disgust. A fine episode, if not a particularly good season finale. I feel like we should have gotten more stuff like this throughout the first season.

5 reader comments

I give this one a 10 because it exemplifies everything that Trek is about. I love the paralells between Winn's scheming and the intelligent design debate, I love Sisko's calm mediation, and I love Keiko's resolve. Vedik Winn's character is great, and the actress (I can't remember her name to save my life) is perfect for the role.
I like to contrast this one with the TNG episode "The Devil's Due." You see that DS9 is not only grittier than TNG, but it's also a little more nuanced in its approach to science vs. religion. Sisko, while uncomfortable with his role as the Emissary, at least understands the importance of the Bajorans' religion.
In the end, I think this one actually works pretty well as a season finale. The Winn/Bareil feud, which heats up as the series progresses if memory serves, gets introduced here, and this one sort of functions as a capstone episode for Kira and sets the stage for the political tensions to come. Nice work.
by JRPoole | 12/01/2008 at 4:09 pm

I was very surprised to see the fan average below 8 for this one.
Perhaps like the reviewer they were rating it against what they expect of a season finale? I don't find that a particularly balanced way of looking at what is a stand alone episode whether it comes in the middle or at the end of the season.
I really like this one, Louise Fletcher is brilliant as the scheming Vedek Winn. The main theme, science vs. religion is nicely highlighted and the tension is built nicely throughout. I really like the way they had Major Kira finally 'adjust' to her new life and accept Sisko. That seemed a fitting way to wrap up the season. Now I've come to the end of my revisit of season one I feel great optimism based on the content of the final two episodes, without which Season one comes dangerously close to being average.
by Bernard | 01/19/2010 at 12:08 pm

To answer the question posed by JRPoole, the actress is Louise Fletcher, best known (aside from her role as Vedic Winn) as Nurse Ratched from "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" with Jack Nicholson.
by Jeff Browning | 10/18/2011 at 4:42 pm

I was so dissatisfied with the end of the episode as it relates to Winn. Who cares if girl won't admit to being in league with Winn! That has never stopped Odo before. He would be able to get to the bottom of this. It would just take some time. It makes me think to the end of the series and Winn's involvement; it's quite frustrating. If they had stopped Winn now, the series would have ended quite differently. I just hate how evil Winn is. I guess that means she is an excellent villain.
by Wes Thompson | 11/30/2012 at 10:21 pm

Additional Morn sightings; in the middle of the episode during first Odo's/Quark's conversation and then Odo's/O'brien's conversation, Morn can be seen walking by in the background twice, counterclockwise, the 2nd time with what looks like a Jumja stick. Guess he's just out for a snack and a walk around the promenade!
by Spline | 07/10/2013 at 10:30 am