DS9 Episode 6x07 - "You Are Cordially Invited..."

Note: I am doing this as a separate post rather than a comment on Miramanee's post because, apparently, it's too long to be a comment!

"We are not accorded the luxury of choosing the women we fall in love with. Do you think Sirella is anything like the woman I thought that I'd marry? She is a prideful, arrogant, mercurial woman who shares my bed far too infrequently for my taste. And yet... I love her deeply. We Klingons often tout our prowess in battle, our desire for glory and honor above all else... but how hollow is the sound of victory without someone to share it with? Honor gives little comfort to a man alone in his home... and in his heart."  ~ General Martok

"You Are Cordially Invited..." is, of course, the payoff we've been hearing about since "Call to Arms."  We all knew it was coming; it's mentioned as the pending event in almost every episode of "The Dominion War Arc."  It's nice to see, and very satisfying in some ways... and sorely lacking in others.

There are two small points that I want to disagree with fellow contributor Miramanee on.  First, the jump from Sisko and Dax talking in her quarters to the wedding.  I may be completely wrong in this, but I think we all know what happened.  Jadzia finally gave in, went "crawling on hands and knees" to Sirella, and "begged forgiveness."  I imagine the scene would have gone something along the lines of Jadzia saying she had acted shamefully, and wished to bring no dishonor to the House of Martok, and that if Sirella accepted her she would proudly fight many battles in the name of the House, bring honor, blah blah...  I personally think it's enough that we know she was strong enough to swallow her pride and do this, and we didn't actually need to see it.  If we had, I think it may have had the opposite effect; namely, it would have weakened her character in the eyes of the audience.  Again, just my opinion, so feel free to disagree.

The other is at the very end.  I LOVED the cut to black with the THUMP THUMP sound.  I thought it was a very humorous way to end the episode, and leaves to the imagination of the viewer just what that attack would have looked like.  I can see Bashir and O'Brien pummeling Worf, completely ignoring Jadzia, and both Worf and Jadzia "rolling their eyes" at them.  I think anything they could have shown on screen wouldn't do justice to the look of crazed frenzy on their faces as they lunge past the camera at the happy couple.

One point, however, that has usually been agreed upon by viewers and DS9 staffers alike is the lack of resolution to the Kira/Odo storyline.  Originally, a whole subplot had been written for Odo in which he cuts himself off from the entire rest of the population of Deep Space Nine.  According to episode writer Ronald D. Moore,

"We had originally planned that in this episode we were going to start having Odo lock himself away, refusing to mingle with anyone else on the station. The events of "Behind the Lines" and "Favor the Bold" had really shaken him and made him wonder, 'What am I doing, where do I belong, look at what I almost did.' So he was going to show up at the wedding and make an unexpected announcement. He would say, 'I've decided I can't be friends with any of you anymore, because clearly you can't trust me, so I need to go my own way. I'll do my job but that's it and that's all that's ever going to be.' And then he would walk out again. And the people there were going to go 'Whoa, what does this mean?' Then we were going to play Odo completely different for the rest of the season."  (Memory Alpha: "You Are Cordially Invited...")

However, a few people on staff, most notably Odo actor Rene Auberjonois, were concerned about where the character would be going in the long run.  Moore admitted that he hadn't thought that far ahead yet.  The planned subplot was abandoned, and with very little time left for a rewrite, the writers had to come up with something as they felt to completely ignore it would be a mistake.  Unfortunately, the end result is very disappointing.  It is left to the viewers' imaginations what was said between Kira and Odo.

And now, to end on a humorous note:  the dance that Nog does?  Completely improvised, as is Dax's joining him in his ridiculous dance moves!  The director told Aron Eisenberg to dance "as goofy as you want." 

NEXT EPISODE: "Resurrection," not one of my favorites.

Ripped Off And Happy About It?

You Are Cordially Invited

I think this episode was a much needed humorous break from the serious episodes that came before it.  It was a pleasure to sit through a nice, uplifting episode for a change.  Dax and Worf are finally married!  Woot!

I very much enjoyed this episode.  I was very happy to see the smiles on everyone’s faces, the happiness in their voice and the joy in their laughter.  I hadn’t realized until this episode, just how much Quark cared for Jadzia and I felt kind of bad for him. I just thought he thought of her as just a good friend.   Oh the things one misses when not looking for them.

I would not have used the same words as Martok did to describe his wife.  Magnificent is not the word I would have chosen, not at all.  I thought this might be one of those kinds of situations like they have in many corny love stories.  The mother in-law (even though I know Sirella does not hold that title) hates the future daughter in-law, yet the daughter in-law somehow wins her over and everyone is happy!- happens all the time in the movies.  But we never do get to see what happened between Jadzia and Sirella, we just know they made up and Sirella approved the marriage.  The writers either ran out of time, couldn’t find a good way to write that scene or the producers ran out of time and money to film another scene between Jadzia and Sirella.  That storyline just felt too built up to just skip over and abruptly end.  I was actually disappointed that we didn’t get to see what happened with Jadzia and Sirella.  I was looking forward to the scene where we get to see the exact moment that Jadzia won over Sirella.  But no such scene exists and that makes me sad...single tear.

I was also disappointed that we didn’t get to see any of the conversation that Kira and Odo had!  We just see them the next morning stowed away in Jadzia’s closet, talking away like old friends, looking all happy.  We are just supposed to accept that they are buddy-buddy after everything they went through in the last few months?  Bah!  I feel gipped.  I can get behind Kira and Odo making up but I can’t get behind not knowing what went on between them while that was happening.  There’s a piece missing for me.  What did Odo say to Kira?  How have they worked things out?  Has Kira forgiven him?  Is Odo still in love with Kira?  Arghhhhh.

       

The Kal’Hyah ritual was quite interesting.  I don’t know if I’d be able to go without food for four days.  I had trouble going without it for 24 hours.  But I suppose I might if it was for a good friend and it meant a lot to them.  I very much enjoyed Bashir and O’Brien during the ritual.  “I’m going to kill Worf.”  “Kill Worf, Kill Worf.”  Haha, that was an awesome scene, I laughed so much.

I also found it interesting how much history one has to know to be accepted into a Klingon house.  It made me think- I most certainly do not know that much about my family.  Can you imagine though, if everyone on Earth was required to know that much about their family history?  Wow, that would be amazing. 

    

It’s kind of interesting the relationship that Jake now has with the other characters on DS9.  His main friendship was always with Nog, but now it seems that Kira and the others have come to think of him more as a colleague and friend, rather than just Sisko’s son.

I’m just going to comment on a few random things that caught my attention throughout the episode. 

1.) My goodness, does Terry Farrell have nice arms, or does she have nice arms?!?!  And she looked very sexy in her wedding dress.  I thought she looked just beautiful.

2.) Nog has got to be the best dancer ever!  I can’t tell you how much I laughed watching his little side-twist-jump dance.  It was so awesome.  I loved it!  There are such great actors on this show. 

3.) I absolutely adored Bashir’s and O’Brien’s impatience at the end of the wedding.  “Now???...Now???”  Haha- I’d want to beat on my friend too if I had been roped into a Kal’Hyah ceremony.  But I felt completely RIPPED OFF that we didn’t get to see them smack Worf around!  We just hear faked noises in the background as the scene cuts away to the end credits.  BAHHH- cheap!  And that’s my rant for the evening.

I will leave you with my favourite quote of the episode:

“But how hollow is the sound of victory without someone to share it with?  Honour gives little comfort to a man alone in his home...and in his heart.”

LLAP

-B

Shock Has Value.

Sacrifice of Angels

Oh wow.  Just when I thought the episodes couldn’t get any better, this one goes and proves me wrong!  I don’t remember feeling so conflicted and confused before! 

Where to start… how about at the beginning?  I enjoyed the poem that Bashir and O’Brien recited.  It made me feel inspired, even if Nog didn’t enjoy it.  Poor kid, he seemed scared out of his wits!   

Dukat really confused me this episode:

“But she is my daughter. That may mean nothing to you, but it means everything to me.”   He so willingly left Ziyal behind and deleted her from his life once before- now she suddenly means everything to him?  What the hell?  I guess one could chalk up his previous actions to pride and maybe he has realized now that she is more important…but I am uncertain.  It’s hard to think that someone who is as cruel as Dukat, could actually be so loving.

And just when you think Dukat has turned a leaf and is quite caring, he goes and shows just how deluded he is.

“Perhaps the biggest disappointment in my life is that the Bajoran people still refuse to appreciate how lucky they were to have me as their liberator.  I protected them in so many ways… cared for them as if they were my own children, but to this day, is there a single… statue of me on Bajor?”  Um, no.  Even Sisko refuses to grant Dukat the respect he deserves.  Dukat asking the Bajorans to appreciate him as their liberator is like Hitler asking the Jews the same thing- not going to happen.  How could the Bajorans respect or appreciate their oppressors?  How could they appreciate being put into labour camps and watching their family and friends being murdered year, after year, after year?    Anyone who expects to be idolized for such acts is simply deluded and should be locked away.

And then we come to the end of the episode and once again Dukat throws you for a loop.

Dukat seems quite broken at the end of the episode.  I was not expecting Ziyal to die- it made me tear up.  Fucking Damar, I want to shoot him.  I also felt bad for Garak, he seemed to love Ziyal in his own way.   I have trouble feeling pity for Dukat.  It’s hard to feel pity for someone who is so deluded and cruel.  But if you can look at a man who has just lost his child, and who is visibly broken and not feel a thing, you are just as broken as he is.  It’s quite heart wrenching to see someone who stood so tall, just fall to pieces like that.  To be crouched in a corner, talking to a child who has just died about plans for the future… it’s very sad.  At this point, I feel the need to set aside what Dukat has done and just look at the man who just lost his child.  I can’t imagine what that must feel like.  I have witnessed other parents fall apart just like Dukat did, right after the death of their child- it’s heart wrenching to watch.  I feel sympathy for Dukat- I never really expected that I would.  Damn the writers for the show- they are too good.  

Dukat giving Sisko his baseball back feels very significant.  Dukat said that Sisko leaving it was a message that Sisko would one day return.  I think it’s a fine piece of writing to take something so small from a previous episode and bring it back and make it so huge.  Dukat says he forgives Sisko.  I’m not entirely sure I am willing to believe Dukat at this point.  He is obviously grieving and may feel differently once the shock has worn off.  If it is true though, it marks a huge character change in Dukat.    One thing does still bother me though- Dukat so willingly offered his forgiveness but I don’t remember him asking for forgiveness himself.   

Again, I reiterate, Dukat has thoroughly confused me this episode.

Something else that kind of confused and unnerved me was the storyline involving the Prophets.  I feel inept to comment on what happened with Sisko and the Prophets in the wormhole.  I’m not sure I completely understand what happened there.  Was he punished?  Did the Prophets mean that Sisko will never find peace within himself?  I am confused.

I am also at odds as to how I feel about the Prophets eradicating an entire Dominion fleet.  I’m also not sure how I feel about Sisko asking for help from the Prophets.  His whole speech to them was built up so that they could not say no to helping him.  He knew what he was asking of the Prophets it seemed, even before he entered the wormhole.  I could be wrong, but the second Sisko ordered the Defiant into the wormhole, I suspected that he was really going there to ask the Prophets for help.  He acted like he had no idea why the Prophets would bring him to speak with them.  Maybe that was to trick the Prophets, I don’t know, but it certainly didn’t feel unplanned.  I am torn between being happy that the Prophets helped to save the Alpha quadrant and the way Sisko went about helping to make sure that happened.  Maybe my sense of what’s right and wrong is skewed but it feels like a cheap move to just eradicate an entire fleet without them knowing what hit them.  It was quite the sight to see just the Defiant come through the wormhole.  A small part of me let out a whoop and another part felt a sadness I couldn’t quite explain.  It was almost like Sisko had stooped to the level of Dukat and I didn’t like it.  Like the good guys had somehow become the bad guys and your sense of what is right and what is wrong had been completely torn apart.

…Or maybe I’m just looking too much into the situation and I should be happy the Federation and Klingons won this battle.  I just don’t know.

Weyoun is still as creepy as ever.  His plan to eradicate Earth to prevent any revolt was just plain scary.  His thought process scares me in a way that Dukats does not.  I have to admit though, that his retort to Dukat ““Perhaps if you didn’t talk so much, your throat wouldn’t get so dry”, was hilarious.  I also enjoyed Damars threat to throw Weyoun out an airlock.  Hahaha, DRINK!

I enjoyed Quark in this episode:

“A bomb?!?!”  What kind of bomb?- Oh Quark, you make me laugh.  He did a complete switch in two sentences, I love it!  I was also really happy to see that he took the initiative to help break Kira, Rom, Leeta and Jake out of jail.  However, he looked more shocked than everyone else when he shot the Jem’Hadar soldiers. 

I was excited when Rom and Kira were free and were headed to shut down the main computer.  I was not expecting they wouldn’t make it in time and that the entire mine field would be destroyed.  My hands actually flew to my mouth in complete surprise.  This episode had nothing if not complete shock value.

And Odo!!!  Who knew he would come to the rescue?!?!  (I sorta did but I wasn’t going to plan on it, not in this season where the unpredictable seems to be the main storyline). 

“I know, but they still mean something to me”.  I’m so happy that Odo finally figure that out.  The only power the female Changeling seems to have over Odo anymore seems to be linking with him.  If she can’t do that, she is powerless.  It almost makes her seem less powerful than she has in the past.  She kind of had this air of authority and grace and power.  Now she seems more like someone who has to resort to trickery in order to get people to do what she wants.  I guess I should have seen that earlier.

 It seems the only real way that the Founders gained control of the Gamma quadrant was to genetically engineer the Vorta and the Jem’Hadar.  They could not exert power or have people follow them like the Federation does, they have to use fear, “the white” and guns.  The Founders seem to have trouble understanding why the Federation and Klingons fight against them.  And why shouldn’t they?  How can a race that has seen the benefits of using power, fear and dependence to rule over others, understand how people who use the exact opposite tactics, obtain a ruling power and hold on to it?  Furthermore, how can people, who use power, fear and dependence and who have created loyal followers using those tactics, completely understand why people would follow a ruling body without those same tactics?  It couldn’t possibly make any sense to them!   …Just a few thoughts I’m throwing out there.  I hope they make sense.

“The Link… was paradise.  But it appears I’m not ready for paradise.”  I felt sympathy for Odo.  He wanted the link so bad and yet, he could not have it and his relationships with the solids at the same time.  I can’t imagine how difficult a decision that was for him.

Well I think I’m done with all the heavy thinking.  Now onto some fun notes from the episode!

First, I would like to point out that I thought the music in this episode was so mood fitting!  It was just great!  I loved it.

Second- the battle scenes.  They were awesome!!  It’s always fun to watch the bad guys get blown up.  Wait… does that make me a bad person…or an action junkie…  hmmm…

Third- once again the Klingons enter the mix and save the day!  Woot!!  They always seem to come in the nick of time (haha- that’s what she said…).

I was also thought it was pretty neat that Sisko referred to the station as Deep Space Nine.  They have not only taken back the station but the name.  It is no longer Terok Nor.

And to top off the episode, I found it humorous that O’Brien was already asking about the holosuites.  I guess everyone is anxious to have things return to normal.

LLAP

-B

Kirkaturk Reviews TNG: The Nth Degree (4x19)

The bridge crew of the Enterprise seems be a great group. They have a sort of working relationship that blossomed into genuine friendship - the kind of friendship that can withstand requests for rides to the airport and, apparently, showing up for really fucking awful plays. It's also very exclusionary and hostile towards science major league nerds, as we'll see later.

Dr. Beverly Crusher moonlights as an acting coach and has spent the past six weeks working with Lieutenant Reginald Barclay to present the play Cyrano de Bergerac. I'm sure that in the intervening years between the late 19th and late 24th centuries there have been plenty of really great, original plays, but we never see or hear from them. The same goes for music - everyone just listens to jazz or plays trombone in the future. I guess that it's somewhat realistic - people today only ever listen to Gregorian chants and 17th century waltzes.

The play is terrible because Barclay is visibly autistic and Crusher is a terrible acting coach. These two elements combine to form a perfect storm of awkwardness and poor delivery on both of their parts. Barclay, however, is so comically inept that he actually loses his hat and his hair falls into his face while he makes a huffing and puffing motion. He's like an impossible caricature of a real person - but this is intentional: Barclay is the entirely socially inept nerd that the writers trot out for special episodes where Geordi and/or Data wouldn't be believable when they can't figure out how not to shit all over a girl when asking her for a drink. Barclay is the secret weapon that makes that sort of writing work.

Anyway, the play is such utter shit that Data makes his "Beep Boop, This Is Too Stupid To Comprehend" face, and Riker has to tell him to shut up. Everyone congratulates Barclay and Crusher, with Geordi delivering a wicked passive aggressive burn, and Deanna Troi sticks around to coddle Barclay a little bit.

Barclay has been undergoing therapy for his holodeck addiction and Troi attempts to illustrate how far he's come. I'm not going to go into the ridiculousness of a guy who has trouble talking to girls getting therapy from the resident "Relaxation Girl" on the ship, or the fact that Troi wore the lowest cut dress this side of a Betazoid wedding... but I could. I could also delve into the fact that it's perfectly okay for Geordi and Data to dress in create sentient villains and for Data to hook his nerdlinger brain to the computer to create holodeck entities that try to shoot children, but if Barclay wants to run a few simulations of to try and up his nightclub game there's a big shitfit... but I won't.

So everyone gets back to work fucking finally and they arrive at the Argus Array, a big ol' installation floating around in space that takes pictures of things from far away. Think the Hubble telescope, but really big and stupid as hell. A little alien probe that looks like a duffelbag is spotted and Riker is like "HEY THAT THING, THATS WHAT BROKE THE ARRAY, SIR, LOOK, IT BROKE IT, ITS A PROBE.". Nevermind that it's of an entirely unknown origin and is unresponsive to any and all scans, Riker just fucking knows, okay?

When you encounter an alien probe of unknown design, intent and purpose, you typically want to send your chief engineer over in a poorly armored shuttle so that, when it invariably shoots at and vaporizes the craft along with everyone inside, you're left without a senior engineer. This is the tried and true Starfleet way.

So that's what they do!

Geordi and Barclay head over on Shuttle 5 (also referred to by the shuttle hangar staff as The Party Shuttle, Hotbox 5, and 69 Forward) and start throwing some beeps at the probe. Geordi is extraordinarily creepy in this scene, he derives an almost sexual thrill from bathing this little pill shaped probe in scans and whatnot. Or maybe I'm misreading it - maybe the sexual thrill comes from ordering Barclay around. Nerds do enjoy power.

Shit goes down and the probe flashes the shuttle, knocking Barclay out. Geordi is protected because of his Ray-Bans. "Geordi to Entperise! The snipe hunt is over, mission accomplished. We got him. We... We got him good.".

A short while later Barclay is all fixed up and ready to roll, but he exhibits some strange behavior. For example, he knows more about the computers in the medical bay than the medical staff! A feat rivaled only by modern day hospital IT workers. Honestly, I'd be surprised if Crusher can go two weeks without delivering a nearly fatal dose of radiation to her patients after she infects half the medical equipment with a virus she picked up from a FWD: FWD: RE: fwd: RE: CUTE CARDASSIAN PUPPY FALLS INTO WELL ;) email.

Anyway, the Enterprise is still hanging around with the probe, and then the lil' duffelbag or pill lookin' thing FREAKS OUT and starts starts moving towards the ship. They attempt to flee the probe because they're giant pussies, and it matches their speed and course. As the chase goes on, Picard grows increasingly uncomfortable and simply repeats whatever suggestions presented to him by his staff. This is actually pretty shocking - the captain of the Federation flagship is fucking clean out of ideas when it comes to a strange probe followingthem around. He literally asks people what to do, because he has no clue. He just gets a stern look on his face and adjusts his tunic - aka The Picard Maneuver.

Maybe he has diarrhea, maybe he poked Crusher on Facebook and she hasn't poked back, or maybe he just didn't have his shit together that day.The bottom line is that Picard displayed some shockingly poor behavior there.

Of course, this is all just an opportunity for Barclay to leap into action, perform some techno-wizardry and blow the shit out of the probe. Hooray Barclay! Everyone is impressed but puzzled by this sudden exhibition of professionalism by Barclay. This is just the start of his new and strange behavior. Barclay claims he can fix the Argus Array in two days rather than the projected 2-3 weeks. He does it in a really assholeish sort of way and makes every member of the bridge staff want to insert their fist into his jugular, but they accept his claim and they get crackin'. Deanna Troi is especially concerned about his capable and confident maner, because she knows quite well how ineffectual her psychoanalysis is and cannot comprehend Barclay actually benefitting from it. It must be... something else.

For some baffling reason, Crusher is still holding rehearsals for her awful plays. Barclay brings the house down, which is to be expected when a mousey, balding, wisp of a man raises his voice, pauses a lot, and gestures towards the ceiling. Troi is fucking drenched by his performance, and follows him to Ten Forward. Barclay overplays his hand with Troi and ends up overplaying it some more later that night. Tough break, Reg. It would have never worked out anyway, she's a Betazoid and would have quickly discovered your various sexual inclinations regarding cats.

The next morning, Geordi discovers Barclay hanging around the holodeck playing peek and poke with the holographic representation of Einstein. Geordi huffs and puffs and whines that Barclay is smarter than him now, which is just impossible god dammit. There's only room for ONE mentally broken manchild on THIS ship, you mealy mouthed motherfucker! Geordi drags Barclay to sick bay and it's discovered that his brain is now highly advanced, with both hemispheres working as one!

So during the testing, Crusher is able to detect that his imagination is enhanced. Just from some scans. How the fuck do you measure that shit? Density of Where The Wild Things Are-esque fantasies within the frontal cortex? Some manner of Lego-bin simulator? Who knows. The scene ends with Barclay nodding along like a boss when Crusher claims he may be the smartest man alive. Yeah, I knew that already bitch. No bigs.

The bridge staff meets to discuss the Barclay problem. While they admit that his vastly superior brainpower could be an issue for them in the future, they decide that it's okay to exploit him until they feel personally threatened. A very straightforward Federation-style meeting. There's also some really evident jealousy on the part of Riker when Troi brings up the fact that she almost hopped on Barclay's pop. Those writers really know how to cast some awful character depth. Or, alternatively, the writers are really good at writing for the characters they've devised and Riker is just a childish man-ape. I actually think that's more likely.

Emergency! The Automatic Plot Advancer, aka the Argus Array, is about to explode! The engineering staff can't contain that shit because their computers are all ghetto and shit, so Barclay is like "Enough o' THIS!" and rushes off to the holodeck to build his own computer using his ridiculous brain power. This results in him actually taking over control of the ship from the Enterprise computer, by means of a few laser tag guns aimed directly at his head combined with a few electrostatic balls.

Picard is clearly pissed, in his own listless way, and demands that Barclay remove himself from the computer. Barclay claims that he can't because his mind is basically within the computer now, so fuck off you bald asshole.

The bridge staff immediately begins to move against Barclay, crawling around the ship in some really hilarious looking overalls trying to cut off Barclay from the ship. Barclay engages Geordi in some banter, and despite his massively increased intelligence, Reg betrays the fact that he still has basically no social skills or comprehension. For example, he earnestly asks Geordi if people perceive him differently now that he's a fucking cyborg with half of his brain merged into a ship computer. Barclay, you are the worst.

Barclay tries to create a tear in subspace that will let the Enterprise travel distances that far exceed anything they could have conceived of before. All attempts to foil him fail, mainly because out of the entire engineering staff, they only assigned Geordi with the task of bypassing his control over the ship. Picard sends Worf down to the holodeck to motherfuckin' kill Barclay, which demonstrates just how pissed he is. This, of course, fails due to a force field and the fact that the holodeck set is being shaken by some teamsters backstage, knocking everyone over.

Barclay takes the ship into the subspace tear, and shit gets wild. Everything is in slow motion and every shot is blurred, like some awful throwback to The Motion Picture. During all of this, Worf stumbles up to the bridge in order to inform everyone that Barclay is protected by a force field. Thanks, Worf. See that little badge on your chest? Yeah? Ever try thumping that with your fist? Maybe some voices appeared from nowhere? Fuck you.

So the ship goes through the tear, and they arrive at the center of the galaxy. Turns out some super powerful race of floating heads re-programmed Barclay to bring the Enterprise to their planet so they could swap information. Their plan worked, and Barclay has been returned to normal. The Enterprise gets to spend 10 days with these ridiculously advanced beings, exchanging information and learning all about the galaxy.

Since all this knowledge had no effect on the balance of power in the Alpha Quadrant, I assume that it was all locked away in the 24th century version of a giant warehouse full of wooden crates. This sort of shit happens, like, every other week to these guys.

Barclay is back to normal again and both Geordi and Troi are tickled pink that they're back to alpha status and can continue to mock and order him about. It's like the Chess Club had briefly overtaken the Football team in popularity - some terrible imbalance that they were glad to see corrected.

Also, Deanna decides to keep up her vague promise of letting Barclay take her out on a date and offhandedly delivers a sick burn when Barclay tells her she doesn't really have to follow through with it: "I know.". Fucking ouch.

There's also some hinting that Barclay has kept a small portion of his increased intelligence when he gives someone some bad chess advice. Could this be a set up for a sequel episode? Perhaps one where the Cytherians are not, in fact, the benevolent scholars that they present themselves to be? Maybe the data the Cytherians delivered to the Federation was actually sinister in nature, dark whisperings and madness inducing blasphemy leaking under, over, and between the very carefully structured phrasings in all of their texts. To read the Cytherian texts would be to unknowingly expose your fertile, impressionable, human mind to these hidden and unspeakable seeds of insanity. Once it takes hold, man would be driven to turn upon man in the most brutal and violent of fashions. Those that could not physically reached would have the dark message broadcast at them in every possible fashion, unceasing and omnipresent. Their minds would be wracked with a different sort of madness - the madness of a man trapped in a closet with an enemy forever clawing at the door, whispering quiet and terrible lies. Once the dark message had been spread to every possible corner of the galaxy it could reach, the billions of twisted and warped acolytes for the Cytherians would begin to alter their worlds for the arrival of their horrible and incomprehensible masters.

That would have been a good season 5 episode.

Anyway, I give this episode a 7.65/10.

Final Verdict: This Episode Rules Because I'm An Introverted Nerd And Identify With Barclay And Can See These Events Happening To Me.

Woot Worthy

Favor the Bold

So much was going on this episode, it’s hard to decide what to write about!  But man, this is some of the best television I have ever watched- it’s so entertaining!

So many story lines...where to start...

I’ll begin with Odo.  You can see in this episode that he is struggling with his loyalties to the Federation and Bajor and with his newfound sense of self, that the female Changeling has brought him.  You can see it in his face. He does realize what he has done and he tries to apologize for it.  I loved Kira’s response to his apology “We are way, way past sorry.”  It was a very powerful line and you understand just how hurt Kira is.  Odo knows what freedom means to the solids and he knows how they respond when it is taken away.  You can see he is torn between what the female Changeling thinks is best for the solids, and what he knows they feel is best for them.  You can see that he wants the solids to be free; he just doesn’t know how to make that happen. 

Quick question- did I misunderstand or did Odo get it on with the female Changeling?

Oh and Dan, after watching this episode and reading your last comment, I have one thing to say to you:  Hey!  “You are a Changeling.  You are timeless”.  You line stealer!  ;)

I will now move on to Kira and what it must be like for her to live on that station, surrounded by Cardassians and Dominion soldiers every day.  I mean, to be wrapped up in a world where you fight your own beliefs, your own values on a day to day basis.  What kind of strength does it take to keep quiet and not say anything?  To have to silence yourself for fear of execution.  To go through that struggle every day and still get up in the morning- now that takes one strong person.   Also, to feel so betrayed by your best friend, I just can’t imagine.  This episode really showcased just how far her limits are being stretched.  She did stand up to Damar (at great risk to herself), not only beating the crap out of him but with one of the best lines of the episode:   “You don’t like my attitude Damar?  You’re welcome to try and change it.”  I let out a “fuck yeah”- I couldn’t restrain myself.

I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again- there seems to be a small but noticeable dissidence between the Founders and their Dominion soldiers.  There is noticeable dissension between the ranks.  I could see an uprising or a movement to overthrow the Founders in the future. 

I am including the Vorta in with the soldiers because, while they may not fight, they are the ones behind the scenes pulling the strings.  Even as Weyoun states, “Gods don’t make mistakes”, he also doesn’t fully believe it.  That is evident in his next line “Though ...sometimes... I think it would be nice to be able to carry a tune.”  If he truly believed they made no mistakes, he would not think it might be nice to be able to carry a tune, he would just accept it-he would not question the Founders.  When he talks about being genetically engineered, it is not with reverence and awe but with a slight resentment.  He tends to point out where the Founders have failed- the Vorta have no sense of aesthetics, they have poor eye sight.  Weyoun does not keep it a secret that he wishes there were parts of him that were better.  If you take into account the questioning on behalf of both the Vorta and the Jem’Hadar, you begin to see a different side of the Dominion.  I see them less as evil servants but more as victims of cruel genetic engineering.  It’s hard to pity the enemy... but sometimes I do. 

While I’m on the subject of dissidence, I noticed in this episode, more than previous ones, how much resentment the Cardassians have for the Dominion.  I have a feeling that we could see a huge struggle for power between the two.  The Cardassians want to rule the Alpha Quadrant and the Dominion wants to rule the whole galaxy (or so it seems).  I can see some issues there.  I’m not sure who would win that fight but I have a sneaking suspicion that it wouldn’t be the Cardassians. 

There are a few relationships that I would like to comment on, Quark and Rom and Dukat and Ziyal.  I have always loved Quark and Rom’s relationship.  They genuinely love each other and it’s just so cool and humorous when the writers focus on their relationship.  The way in which those two actors respond to one another, is just great.  Their timing is just so dead on and hilarious.  The scene in the holding cell is funny and moving.   “Isn’t your life worth two years?”- HA!  Quarks insistence that he will get Rom out, no matter what it takes, is just so telling of his feelings for Rom.  I’d do the same for any one of my siblings.

Dukat and Ziyal on the other hand have a rather tumultuous relationship. “I love you.  No wait...I hate you.”  I’m not sure how this relationship will turn out but I fear it won’t end well.  I like Ziyal and I was kind of happy that she walked away from her father in this episode, but I have a feeling that it won’t last.  And even if it does, Ziyal is still going to be extremely hurt by it all.

And now I will just comment on a few of the smaller parts of the episode that I noticed.

 

I see Garak is getting a taste of his own medicine.  Apparently, it isn’t so much fun being interrogated.   Hmm...I wonder if he will be influenced by this turn of events or not...?   

Here are a few of the “woot” worthy things I noticed.  Nog is an ensign now- woot!  I’m so happy for him!  Way to go Nog!  Sisko's back on the Defiant- woot!  I’m happy to see our captain back on his ship, he looks good there. 

I love the screen shots of all the ships- they never cease to amaze and enthral me.  There is something about seeing that many ships, that just gets the heart pounding and your pulse racing.  Does it to me every time.   Love it.

Also- who knew Morn would become so vital without ever muttering a word?!?!  Pretty cool.

I thought it was an interesting plot point to fit in just how much Sisko loves Bajor.  It really becomes clear that he isn’t just fighting for the Federation, or for Earth, or for Jake, but for something that also means so much to him- Bajor.  With all that to fight for, he won’t stand to lose.  Really gives the viewer a sense of renewed confidence that Sisko will win this war.  

I do have one question at the end of all this:  Why don’t we see much of Julian?  He’s had what, three or four lines the entire episode?  He also hasn’t had much in the way of lines or screen time in the last three episodes.  Was anything going on at the time that prevented Alexander from acting?

And to cap off this ridiculously long review, I’d like to leave you with my reaction to the opening scene where the Klingons destroy the Jem’Hadar:

Fist pump, little dance.. . “Ooooo, go Klingons, it’s your birthday- save the Defiant, destroy the Jem’Hadar.”  It’s not exactly in tune but I like it.

Oh and Dan, I’m sure you can just imagine my reaction to seeing this at the end of the episode.  BAH!

LLAP

-B

Kanar with Damar... Hey that rhymes!

Behind the Lines

Oooo Rom, you sneaky devil you.  Stealing Damars padd, tsk, tsk.  I love it!  And then leaving it for the Jem’Hadar to find, absolutely brilliant!   It would appear that Rom has successfully driven a rift between the Cardassians and the Jem’Hadar.  My fondness for that Ferengi grows all the time.

Weyouns one line reminds me of that song Dori sings on Finding Nemo- “Just keep smiling, just keep smiling”...  I pictured him breaking out into that song and bobbing around.  It was a welcome sight in my mind, I laughed. 

I was a little shocked to see the female changeling.  It must be really hard for Odo to have to choose between who he really is and who he has become.  To have that constant need for something that the solids can’t offer him.  To have such a strong experience through the link and not have anyone understand.  “A drop becomes the ocean.  The ocean becomes a drop.”  It must be so powerful for him.  I can somewhat understand why he'd long to be a part of the link and why it is so attractive to him.

Odo’s words hit a little close to home. 

Female changeling: “You love her.”

Odo: “I wish I didn’t.  I’m so vulnerable to her.  All she has to do is smile at me and I’m happy beyond reason.  A minor disagreement between us and I’m devastated.  It’s absurd.  Sometimes, I wish I could reach inside myself and tear out my feelings for her.  But I can’t. ”

I’ve been there.  I've experienced those feelings and it’s horrible.  I really feel for Odo.

I wish Sisko was going with the rest of the crew on the Defiant- I like it when they’re all together.  I'm a little sad that he was reassigned.  He looks almost sad when he says goodbye to the crew and he stays behind.  He looked a little more content at the end of the episode when Dax carried out the same ritual he had been performing.  I think that’s an awesome ritual, it helps to keep the crew morale up.

Ha! I like drunk Quark.  Kanar with Damar- that rhymes!  I love it!

I’m really looking forward to the whole crew being all together again.  This going back and forth between Starfleet and DS9 is starting to bug me.  However, I do remember Dan telling it wouldn't happen right away, so I guess I'll just have to wait.

  

I have a hard time believing that Odo has just quit caring all together.  I have a sneaking suspicion that the female changeling has done something to him.  The Odo I know would never let Rom get caught.

I could almost feel Kira’s rage.  I’ve been angry at characters before, but I’m not sure I’ve ever been this angry.  I wanted to scream at Odo.  Nana Visitor is such an amazing actress!  And Rene Auberjonois is also amazing.  The two of them together in that last scene is just wonderful.  

Directed by LeVar Burton- I had a feeling from the moment I saw that credit, that this was going to be a good episode.  And it was!

So far, I’ve really been enjoying season 6.  I may only be four episodes in but if it keeps going like this, I can tell I’m really going to love this season.  I even sit through all the opening credits just to get a longer experience.  I was trying to explain DS9 to a TNG fan the other day.  I found myself getting all worked up and I had to apologize.  She laughed at me and said it was cool, she could tell I was passionate about it.  Who knew that would happen?!?!  I blame Dan. 


LLAP
-B

Kirkaturk Reviews TNG: The Mind's Eye (4x24) (2/2)

The crew brings back one of the Federation phasers that were employed by the Klingon rebels to test its authenticity. Seems like a pretty good idea, you want to make sure these guns aren't just forgeries, right?

Geordi LaForge, chief engineer of the Federation flagship and Data, lieutenant commander with an IQ of, like, a hojillion, are obviously the resident weapons experts and therefore the best choice to dick around with a space gun. The Hardy Boys shit out a bunch of technobabble about phase variances and efficiency ratings, and eventually realize that the weapon was built by the Romulans. Totally out of left field!

They present their claims to the skeptical Klingon governor and Geordi creepily leers at everyone. Picard seems to be in this scene, and every other in this particular episode, because they didn't have anything else for him to do and it would seem strange if he just spent the episode jerking off in his office. My favorite instance of this is during the climax of this episode where he just drones on in the background while the plot races to its conclusion.

Oh also there's a minor plot thread about some E-band transmissions or something, obviously commands being sent to Geordi's VISOR. Data can't seem to figure out where they're coming from and presents a possible fix. Riker, feeling like he hasn't really done anything over the past few days, aggressively tells data to "Do it." and then thumps off to go shove his sexual predator hands down some shirts in Ten Forward.

We now finally get to see the results of the mental conditioning the Romulans forced Geordi through as he shoves a bunch of Bic lighters into a hockey card tray. Apparently that's how you delete computer logs. Then he transports some phasers down to the Klingon colony to further disrupt relations between the Empire and the Federation, and then strolls up to the bridge as if nothing happened. The Klingon governor is pissed, and the vagina on his forehead is just throbbing when he calls up the Enterprise on his electric picture phone. A few Klingon ships show up and menacingly sit in a row. Tension!

The bridge crew figures out that someone did, in fact, transport some shit from the Enterprise and attempts to track it. They finally get some use out of that big ass display of the Enterprise layout in engineering by showing the power distribution across the ship. If you look closely, you can spot the only toilet on the ship. Blind Sherlock and White Sherlock race down to Cargo Bay 4 to run a level motherfuckin' 1 diagnostic on some computer panels and see who perpetrated this nefarious crime. Turns out hiding a transport is some pretty hard shit and only four people know how to do it. Everyone capable lays down a pretty solid alibi except Geordi, but he's not questioned further because Worf is fucking stupid along with everyone else involved in that conversation. Geordi and Data poke their noses back into the isolinear chip closet and murmur about how they're gonna get out of this pickle!

Wait, hold up a second.

You've got like fifty gold shirts in Cargo Bay 4 climbing over everything and stumbling around like toddlers, waving around little magic wands and hootin' about a bunch of chips getting fucked with. I realize this show isn't exactly CSI but it's called motherfucking finger prints, you assholes. And what the hell kind of ship is this that it doesn't have video camera logs that can be deleted ONLY by command staff? Go fuck yourself, Enterprise. You were designed by morons, for morons and this is exemplified by your lack of a decent pub that isn't full people wearing dinner plates on their heads as hats.

Anyway, guys can't figure shit out cause they suck and the situation worsens. Then we're treated to the plot twist:

Geordi shows up at Ambassador Kell's quarters where Kell commands him to assassinate the Klingon Governor when he comes to visit the ship in a short while. Kell is working for the Romulans! Crazy, I pegged him as a guy that would be staunchly against enormous shoulder pads. Geordi understands, leaves, and Kell settles into his delicious looking meal of spiders and the grease generated by two hogs fucking or whatever it is that Klingons eat. I loved whenever the Star Trek writers tried to throw down a little more flavor about Klingon culture because it seemed like they just prefixed 'Blood' to a word and called it a day. Wanna get drunk with some Klingons? Order up some bloodwine. Want to relax with some Klingons? Head to the holodeck and shout "Computer, Blood Tennis. Four players. Final Destination.".

Next up, Geordi is in bed, looking all frail and curled up like some sort of fetal leaf. He calls up Chief O'Brien upon waking up and then realizes he can't quite enunciate the deep, throbbing attraction he has for the man. It seems the Romulans loaded him down with more than just Assassinry 101...

Geordi heads to sickbay and Crusher runs her little flashlight over him and then tells him to chew some valerian root and get some rest. Go fuck yourself, Beverly. I realize that doctors in the 21st Century can only prescribe some aspirin and rest when they don't know what the hell is wrong with someone, but I'd like to think that in the 24th century the medicine of insomnia has progressed a bit little beyond "Deal with it you whiny piece of shit.". Beverly: Your mincing son can model a fucking brain becoming addicted to a shitty ultimate frisbee game inside of the computer, and you can't figure out why this guy is broken? You are a bad doctor and you should feel bad about your shortcomings. I guess she didn't have Ashley Judd to help out but that's still pretty weak, Crusher.

The Klingon governor shows up and they head over to Cargo Bay 4. Meanwhile, Data tells Riker that the E-Band emissions are coming from onboard the shiiiiip. Data adorably doesn't put all of the ongoing current events together and has to have Commander Beard put two and two together for him. Data realizes the emissions are brain wave patterns that could be picked up by Geordi's VISOR and, of course, heads to see Geordi in order to confr- wait, no, he goes to the shuttle bay and starts tearing apart the shuttle Geordi used to go to Risa. Stupid, but I guess it was necessary to cause some tension in the next scene: We see Geordi menacingly walking to Cargo Bay 4 through a fisheye lens (The official lens of insanity), ready to pop a cap into the Klingon governor.

But he's interrupted by Chief O'Brien, that lovable Irish scamp! This buys Data the agonizingly long time he needs to figure out that yes, god damnit, you need to call up security and have them lock up Geordi. Oh wait, that's not what he does - he tries calling up Geordi for like five fucking minutes. Geordi doesn't respond! Oh shit! Data then gets Worf, who tries to stop Geordi. All this time Geordi has been slowly shuffling his feet toward the governor like the expert assassins of Geriatrica II, preparing to strike. At the last moment, Picard swoops in and stops the phaser blast. Suspicion is cast upon Ambassador Kell and, like a Scooby Doo villain, he's seized by a couple Klingon cops and goes "Wuh Woh!" while looking at the camera.

Picard delivers an awesome line at this point and basically condemns Ambassador Kell to be tortured for the rest of his life. Stone cold, Picard. Stone cold.

Finally, Counsellor "Tube Top" Troi sits down with Geordi and tries to help him reconstruct his memories of being abducted and reconditioned. They make a little progress and Geordi cries a little bit under his VISOR because it strikes him that his little nerd dick did not, in fact, get sucked.

In the end, Geordi has to deal with this terrible burden of not being able to trust his own memories and the Enterprise cruises on through space. Geordi, a command officer aboard the flagship, can no longer be trusted and is taken off active duty, transferred to Starbase 364, and undergoes intensive therapy. His future career in Starfleet is left in doubt.

Haha, just kidding. Two weeks later he's still in charge of engineering and has access to all sorts of sensitive information. Starfleet is the fucking worst and this episode is a 7.65/10.

Final Verdict: Pretty Good, I Guess, If You're Into That Sort Of Thing, You Know, Science Fiction.

Kirkaturk Reviews TNG: The Mind's Eye (4x24) (1/2)

"The Mind's Eye" is one of those episodes that, at first glance, seems like a complex mystery plot with a dash or two of political intrigue. When we examine it a bit more closely, however, it's pretty damn simplistic and practically yells the plot out to the viewer. There is one plot twist, but it's not that big of a deal. That's not to say it isn't a good episode - how could an episode about a blind guy with Asperger's Syndrome not be great?

So check it - Picard has sent Geordi LaForge, chief engineer of the Enterprise, to an artificial intelligence seminar on Risa. Why he's sending the chief engineer and not, for example, the artificial intelligence acting as Lieutenant Commander on his ship is a mystery to me. Picard told Geordi to get there a few days early in order to enjoy himself and maybe stop obsessing about warp engines for a little while.

We join Geordi as he relaxes onboard a shuttle and slams back a few drinks, listening to some totally boss spanish guitar. Geordi calls up Majel Barrett on the computer and asks what the weather is like on Risa, and is informed that the weather there is climate controlled and quite awesome.

Risa is the number one tourist and shore leave destination in the entire Federation. Everybody busts ass all year onboard their respective ship just so they can get a couple of free lovin' days on what they may as call Eroticon VI. It's pretty telling of Geordi's nerd-dom if he knows absolutely nothing about it. Geordi is the sort of guy that, if he were alive today, would Google "what is a cover charge?".

Anyway, a Romulan warbird shows up and Geordi clumsily pounds on his control panel in an attempt to escape. His shields fail (No, they aren't shot at, they just... fail.) and he's whisked aboard the IRW Fuckboat. Roll opening credits.

Meanwhile, in the sub-plot...

So the Enterprise is giving a ride to a Klingon Ambassador Kell over to the Kriosian system, which is right on the border between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. They're trying to gain independence because blah blah oh my god who cares. The long and short of it is that the governor of the colony thinks the Federation is feeding the rebels weapons and whatnot, and Kell is heading over to ease some tensions. As a side note, Kell has the body of the Michelin Man.

Back to Geordi. As a trained military man, Geordi knows what to do when captured by enemy forces - writhe around like a child and crack really awful jokes when you're trapped into a torture chair. They jack his VISOR and plug him into their little neural viewfinder. Geordi says "Oh my god everything is pictures of C-Sections why are you doing this to me?", while the Romulan officer strokes his Fu Manchu and cackles about Flash Gordon. Oh and they send a duplicate Geordi to Risa to get laid in his stead. I hope this doppleganger has an equally extensive knowledge of Warhammer figurines!

As he's torturing Geordi, the Romulan officer kindly explains to the viewer at home (Represented here by Tasha Y- Uh, I mean Sela.) that he's going to use Geordi as an untraceable assassin through the use of his neural implants. Okay, so hold up here... is this the Romulan dude's first pitch to his superior officer? Was he like "Hey, I have a great idea on how to assassinate someone, but you gotta capture this blind guy first."? It seems like this is his first time explaining the plan to Sela... the IRW Fuckboat must be a pretty lax ship. And Sela is a bit overly critical about the whole thing, as if she's expecting him to trip and fall over his shoelaces at any moment. This is not a good military operation.

Anyway, the scene ends with Geordi being shown more scat porn.

Back on the Enterprise, Kell and Worf butt heads about the Federation possibly supplying the rebels in the Kriosian system. They also make some references to other episodes about Worf and his dealings with the high council. Alright whatever.

Next up, Geordi gets back from his vacation! Wait a minute, what are Romulans doing in Ten Forward? Oh, I see - it's a simulation! Oh ho ho, you Star Trek writers know how to fake a guy out. The Romulan dudes command Geordi to shoot Chief O'Brien and, after some hesitation, totally blows his phaser-wad all over Colm Meaney's chest. And then he sits down with the two men O'Brien had been enjoying a drink with, who don't seem phased at all by what just happened. I like to imagine that's how they would actually react in real life, since the bridge crew on the Enterprise seems to get away with all sorts of awful shit.

So Geordi gets back to the Enterprise with no idea that he's been tortured for the past few days. We're treated to a hilaaaarious scene between Geordi and Data where Data doesn't get a joke and awkwardly reiterates how it could be construed as funny. Really, Star Trek writers? Still pulling out that chestnut in Season 4? Alright whatever. Geordi hits up the bridge, meets up with the A-Team and Ambassador Kell, and then totally brags to Counsellor Troi that he got his geeky dick sucked on Risa. And that's how you know his story was a fabrication!

During this whole scene Geordi is carrying his little duffelbag and I really wish the producers had been brave enough to go with their original plan of him wearing a Hawaiian shirt the whole time. Instead, we're stuck with boring ol' gold.

So now Picard and Riker are down on the Klingon colony and the governor is losing his shit about finding Federation weapons on some rebels. Picard plays it off cool and says "Hey, listen, we ain't involved in this shit. I don't hang out with those dudes.", but the Klingon governor says he lies like a Tah-Keck, which is the Klingon word for 'woman'. Picard spits that shit back in his face and cusses him out like a Klingon-Italian and things settle down a bit. Sure whatever.

Back on the Enterprise, Geordi is back in the saddle and annoying the shit out of his engineering by constantly cracking jokes about how he was JUST ON RISA, GUYS! OH MAN I SHOULD GO BACK AND LIVE THERE, HAHA. Anyone who has ever had a friend go on vacation has experienced this, and it's infuriating to listen to. Yeah, you got your chest licked by some Risian ladyboy, we get it, sir. If Geordi ever becomes cool enough to smoke weed or, heaven forbid, sip some of his dads beer, he's going to call up everyone he knows to let them know just how high and/or drunk he is right now, man.

He then heads over to Ten Forward and, in some sort of Freudian drink-slip, spills his booze all over... Chief O'Brien! There's some weirdness going on here! What's gonna happen next? A staff briefing? Perhaps... a level 3 diagnostic?

Continued in Part 2

Understanding and Predictability.

Sons and Daughters

Aww, I love Jadzia and Worf!!  They are so good together!

It took me a minute to realize they’d be rescued.  I totally forgot that the last time I saw the DS9 crew they were stranded on a remote planet.  It’s been a few days since I watched that episode and I am tired.

Alexander is back!  It’s too bad he doesn’t look the same.  I have a question; did the timeline jump ahead a lot?  Alexander just seems too old already. 

There was a moment when Kira, Odo, Jake and Quark are all gathered around the table at Quarks, when I felt like there was a deep understanding of the situation between all four characters.  Now I know that they all understand what is going on but it just felt different this time.  When Quark tells Kira that Dukat will be arriving soon and there is look on everyone’s face of dread, stress and a tiredness that I can’t quite explain.  I don’t know, maybe I’m way out to lunch but it just felt good to see them all together and kind of having sympathy and understanding for each other.   You also get to see just how much Dukat is wearing on Kira and I can’t help but feel sorry for her.  I can’t imagine being in that situation.

Ziyal reminds me of an abuse victim who keeps going back to her abuser because she believes he has changed.  I realize that it must be hard to believe that your father could be a horrible person (or in this case, a Cardassian) but she seems to be setting herself up to be hurt all over again. 

That was quite the look of horror on Kira’s face when she realized she actually liked Dukats dress.  I think she handled the situation quite well.  Oh what a creep Dukat is.

I enjoyed the story with Worf and Alexander, although I felt it was quite predictable.  I was hoping it wouldn’t be and that something totally unexpected would happen, but no.  It was still interesting to watch them reunite after so much time apart.  I am looking forward to seeing how their relationship will develop over the course of the rest of the season.  That is of course, assuming that this won’t be another Star Trek introduction to a storyline only to never be mentioned again.  This episode reminded me of the episode where Alexander returns to the past to try to make sure that Alexander becomes a warrior.  I think he might be pleased with how things appear to have turned out.

Over-all an okay episode.    

LLAP

-B

Anger and Sadness

Rocks and Shoals

The poor Defiant crew, they just can’t seem to catch a break!  I was not expecting any of the main characters to get hurt during the encounter with the Jem'Hadar, so I was a bit shocked when Dax was hurt.  I'm glad she wasn't hurt too bad.

I felt kinda sorry for Aron Eisenberg.  It must have been so hard to swim with all that make-up on.

This may sound really bad, but I thought the scene where they show the ship sinking looked pretty damn cool. I also really enjoyed how, in such a trying situation, they were able to laugh over something as simple as pants being ripped.

I like Garak and Nog's scene.  I laughed just watching Garak freak out a little while Nog purposely stayed behind him.

You get to really see the slight breaks within the Jem‘Hadar in this episode.  They are beginning to question more and more.  They are breaking more orders and it feels like the Vorta and the Founders are losing control over them.  I’m hoping the reliance on the white will help to cause a bigger rift between the Founders and the Jem‘Hadar.  Especially since their main supply was just blown up.  Obedience brings victory. Or not. 

I love how Sisko handles situations.  Sometimes I find myself holding my breath when he talks.  I just get so caught up.  The way he handled the Third Jem’Hadar was just awesome.

I feel sorry for Kira.  This must seem very similar to the Cardassian occupation and she feels so helpless.  I can’t imagine how she must feel...especially after what the Vedek did.  My mouth fell open and I had to pause the episode.  I'm not very good with suicide scenes.

   

The damn Vorta are evil.  Keevan knew exactly what he was doing- asking Sisko to set aside his morals in order to protect his men.  That must be so hard.  Kind of creeps me out how Garak was so willing to do what he was told without a second thought.  I wish the Jem‘Hadar weren’t bred to be so loyal.  There was no need for them all to die.  It makes me so sad and damn angry.  Sisko showed such restraint not killing Keevan, and true character when he ordered a burial for all the Jem’Hadar soldiers.  Good man.  This may make me a bad person, but I kinda hoped that Sisko would shoot Keevan.  I actually wanted him to but at the same time knew that he wouldn't.  I was so angry at that point though, I just wanted to punch Keevan in the face. More than once.  

I really liked this episode.  No, actually, I loved it.     

LLAP

-B  

We're not on DS9 anymore!

A Time to Stand

I'm just going to take a minute, before I begin, to point out one important fact.  Today was the first time I watched an episode of DS9 without Dan and it just isn't the same.  There was no one to pause the episode and give me little bits of extra information.  I miss that!!  I'll take Dan stopping to tell me something and then apologizing for it, any day over no Dan at all!  Anyways, on to A Time to Stand!  

They may not be on DS9 anymore, but I'm happy to see that the Starfleet crew are all still together!!  I got a little giddy when Sisko announced they would all still be together.  Well, with the exception of Worf of course, but he's still kind of part of the crew.  I'm also happy to see that Kira and Odo are speaking and laughing together again!  And who knew Quark would be the one making sense of the Cardassian occupation of DS9?!?!  That guy surprises me all the time, I love him!  I will admit to having a little crush on that Ferengi.  I'm also happy to see that Jake is still alive and not imprisoned. 

Gul Dukat has reached new levels of creepiness.  I actually felt nauseous watching his scenes with Kira.  I can't wait for his downfall.  Creep.  I did laugh when Kira insulted his breath- go Kira!  Did anyone else notice his apparent obsession with Sisko's ball?  

I'm not really fond of what they've done with Bashir's character in this episode.  He appears cold and unfeeling.  I hope the writers fix this.  He did, however, look rather delicious in this scene! 

I really like the conversation that Sisko had with his father.  Sometimes this show makes so much sense and I wish everyone would watch it.  Why the Dominion feels the need to exert its power throughout the Alpha quadrant has always confused me.  What exactly do they want there?  

Anyways, I enjoyed this episode and look forward to watching the rest of season.  I'm excited for Worf and Dax's wedding!  And to see just how everything will turn out.  I have all the faith in the world that O'Brien will fix the warp drive or that someone will rescue the somewhat stranded crew.  I would have gone straight on to the next episode but Dan made me promise to only watch one episode at a time.  I would like to point out Dan, that I'm showing great restraint in keeping this promise.  It's not easy just watching one episode at a time!  You owe me when you get back.  This has been my first reviewing attempt, so if it sucks, just let me know.

LLAP

-B