Tag: season 1

Posted in Rewatch, Star Trek, Television shows, tv reviews

The Rewatch 229: In the Hands of the Prophets

Posted on by sokorra

Series: Star Trek: DS9
Episode: 1.20 In the Hands of the Prophets (Season 1 Finale; June 21, 1993)
Rating: 5/5
Redshirt Status: 1/3.5

Content/Trigger Warning: Religious violence.

Notable Guest Stars:
Louise Fletcher ( Vedek Winn Adami) – Louise Fletcher plays the rule of Winn for several seasons on this show, and is one of the most rememberable side characters on the show. She is also known for playing the role of Nurse Ratched from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (A movie I dislike, but she did an awesome job) for which she won an award for Best Actress in 1975. Her last role was on the Netflix series Girlboss (which means I need to watch it now). She died late last year at 88 years old.

Philip Anglim (Vedek Bareil Antos) – Anglim is known more for his theater work then his work in television, but he will be a reoccuring actor on this series, playing Bareil. He is also known (television wise) for playing the son of Richard Chamberlain and Rachel Ward in The Thorn Birds

Robin Christopher (Neela) – This is Christopher’s second (and last episode) as Neela.

Rosalind Chao (Keiko O’Brien) – While I usually don’t mention reoccurring characters much, I feel I should bring up Rosalind again. She does such an excellent job in this episode. Some other roles she is known for include Soon-Lee Klinger in M*A*S*H. She is Rose Hsu Jordan in the Joy Luck Club which I have yet to see but seems to be quite popular. More recently she appeared in the 2020 Mulan as Hua Li


Review:

In the Hands of the Prophet is a bit too relatable. It could have been a ripped from the headlines episode. A small (but Vocal) group of radical religious people have decided to commit violence to either get rid of the opposition or to remove what they see as “Unholy”.

Read more: The Rewatch 229: In the Hands of the Prophets

As we know, the Bajoran religion is very much a part of their social and political structure. They have a provisional government but a great amount of power lies in the hand of the Kai, the head of their church. Kai Opaka “died” a few episodes ago, so Bajor is left without a leader, and so the next tier of their religion -the Vedeks – are vying for the position.

One of these Vedeks is Vedek Winn, a woman who belongs to a more conservative and strict order then others. Her main competition is Vedek Boreil, who has been found to be much more charismatic and frankly kinder then she is. So she concocts a plan to get Boreil out of the way.

Onboard DS9 is a school. Keiko O’Brien has become a school teacher and for the most part is loved by her students and their parents. However Winn is not quite a fan. You see, Winn wants schooling that fits the religion of the Bajorans, rather then the science-based and “Leave the religion to the parents” type schooling. She starts convincing Bajoran parents to take their children out of the school if Keiko doesn’t start teaching Bajoran beliefs.

Remind you of current events?

It causes problems in the station as Bajorans are starting to believe, as is Winn’s intent, that the Federation doesn’t respect anyone’s beliefs. This is made worse by the fact that a member of O’Brien’s team has been killed and it seems it might be related to the issues. Then the school is bombed. Thankfully no one is at school as Keiko had dismissed them early that day.

Needless to say everyone is quite concerned. Winn pretends to offer sympathy then claims perhaps it was a result of their blasphemy against the prophets.

Vedek Bareil then comes to visit the station, deciding that staying neutral is no longer an option. He manages to gather the Bajorans and with kind words and good leadership, he tries to heal the wounds from what has happened.

But then Neela shoots at him. And this causes havoc. Everyone is convinced that she was working for Winn, which we know from earlier scenes, but those in the universe didn’t see that conversation. Winn gets to go free despite planning the assassination of her coworker, the bombing of a school and basically causing havoc wherever she goes.

Given our current events this episode was harder to watch because I could see the similarities to reading on the news people restricting books, and changing laws to better fit their religious views vs. the neutral space school was. In Florida, the governor has made it basically so if the school doesn’t fit his agenda he can revoke their ability to be a school.

But back to Star Trek based analysis. This is a good Kira episode. Kira has a lot to think about after this episode. She’s not as conservative as Winn by any means but she has a high respect for her as a member of her clergy. After the events of this episode she is forced to reexamine her beliefs and how much power she puts in those who lead her religion in how she believes.

Its also a good Keiko episode. The nice thing about DS9 is that both Keiko and Miles are fleshed out, having been only minor reoccurring characters on TNG.

Interesting notes:

  • Written by Robert Hewitt Wolf
  • Directed David Livingston
  • Some of the outdoor scenes were filmed at Fern Dell, which had also been a location for TNG’s Encounter at Farpoint
  • Originally the plan was for Anara, a character in the episode The Foresaken to be the assasin, but that fell threw, causing them to create Neela. Some elements of the original plan remain in the script.

Pros:

  • Winn is an iconic character for the series, so its good to see her arrive, though in general I would dislike her in real life.
  • This is an excellent episode for Kira Nerys.
  • This episode explores more of the Bajoran culture, in particular their religion.

Cons:

  • Too similar to current events where people are attempting to control schools to promote their religious or intolerant agenda.
Posted in Star Trek, Television shows, tv reviews

The Rewatch 227: Duet

Posted on by sokorra

Series: Star Trek: DS9
Episode: 1.19 Duet (May 31, 1993)
Rating: 4/5
Redshirt Status: 0.5/2.5 (Honorable Mention Death)

Content/Trigger Warning: Discussions about Genocide (in particular the Holocaust). Also I pretty much spoil the episode if you were hoping to watch and get surprised by where it goes.

Notable Guest Stars:
Harris Yulin (Marritza) – Yulin is a popular character actor and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in 1996 for his role as Jerome Belasco on Frasier.

Marc Alaimo (Gul Dukat)- Marc Alaimo hasn’t been around for a few episodes, so I’ll remind you: He’s a regular actor on Star Trek, although he only in DS9 has a regular character (Gul Dukot). He’ll appear many more times as the character.

Ted Sorel (Kaval)– Sorel was an actor who tried a bit of everything, leaving behind a body of work that included film, television and stagework. He died in 2010.

Robin Chistopher (Neela)- Probably best known for her work on ABC soap operas (as Skye Chandler), she appears a few times as “Neela”, a Bajoran officer on the station.


Review:

This an excellent episode, both as a encapsulated story, and for Kira’s development. The actors all do supremely well. Given the nature of the topic of the episode I’ve chosen to write this above the “read more” and leave the actual discussion below it.

Read more: The Rewatch 227: Duet

At the start of the episode, a transport arrives with an ill patient. This patient has Kalla-Nohra Syndrome, an disease that occurs to those who were present at a mining accident at the Cardassian labor camp Gallitep. Gallitep, as you learn in the episode, was a place where many Bajorans were tortured, killed and put into horrible work conditions. Kira can’t even talk about it without getting angry.

She was part of the resistance team that was able to liberate the camp, so she feels a connection to those who were kept there. She goes to greet this newcomer, believing it was a Bajoran POW, only to find a Cardassan sitting on the medbed.

The Cardassian’s name is Aamin Marritza, and Kira believes that he must have been guilty of war crimes if he contracted the disease. We find out he was stationed at the war camp as a file clerk.

Sisko and Odo decide to investigate, not as sure as Kira that this man was a war criminal. Through interviews and research they find out various tidbits about the man they hold in the security cell.

Marritza has changed his appearance to appear like Gul Darhe’el, the Gul in charge of the camp. He pretends to be him, even giving invigorated speeches on his hate crimes. Kira is convinced that he is in fact Gul Darhe’el.

Odo is not convinced. He does more research, even talking to our favorite quasi-villian Gul Dukot, who tells Odo that there are several reasons why this can’t possibly be Gul Darhe’el. The biggest of which is the man himself died six years ago.

Kira manages to convince Marritza to come clean about the deception, finding herself to having compassion towards the man who is trying to find a way to both pay for not putting an end to the atrocities, as well as make Cardassa realize their sins. However, Kira letting him go makes little difference as a Bajoran on the station kills Marritza in the last moments of the episode with the key set of lines:

Kira: Why? He wasn’t Darhe’el! Why?
Kainon: He’s a Cardassian. That’s reason enough.
Kira: No…it’s not

This episode appears (purposefully so) to be a metaphor for the Holocaust and the soldiers involved. According to references on Memory Alpha, this was based off both real events and older works done on the subject. Genocide is a hard topic to discuss. I know in high school we often would take a yearly lesson on an element on the Holocaust, but never really talked about the bulk of it. I’m still learning aspects to WW2 and the Holocaust today. In fact, not too long before I watched this episode I was watching a documentary about the Ahnenerbe, a section of the SS I had never heard of before. It started off sounding like an episode of Captain America from The Red Skull’s side, but ultimately ended with cruelty, and inhumanity by the leadership.

Science Fiction has often been used as a way to discussing hard subjects indirectly. This episode does a good job at not coming off as a lecture, as some episodes (and yes, Star Trek is guilty of this) can. The actors do such an excellant job. You can believe Marritza (as Gul Darhe’el)’s conviction that he was doing something great, and you could believe that absolute horror that Kira felt hearing it. In fact you might even feel a bit of horror hearing it.

But sadly while there were people who dragged into things they didn’t believe in but had little power to stop, there were also people who believed wholeheartedly that committing these atrocities were absolutely the way to go. People like Heinrich Himmler (in real life) and Gul Darhe’el (in Star Trek’s universe).

The Holocaust is probably the genocide that the general public is most aware of. It is horrifying that there are more out there less recognized.

Interesting notes:

  • Written by Peter Allan Fields with story inspiration by Lisa Rich and Jeane Carrigan-Fauci
  • Directed James L. Conway
  • This episode was partially inspired by real life events, in particular the Nuremberg trails after WW2. Memory Alpha pointed out the story of Adolf Eichmann, who escaped at first but was later caught and tried in Israel on war crimes. He was convicted and executed in 1962. His story is more like that of Dar’heel then Maritzza.
  • They wanted to establish the metaphor of the Cardassian occupation for Imperialism shown by the British, Japanese and Germans. (and I’m just going to add the US to that list because…yeah, we did some messed up stuff too, my friends).

Pros:

  • This episode manages to bring up a difficult subject, without sounding like a lecture which, even I have to admit, sometimes Star Trek does.
  • This is an excellent episode for Kira Nerys.

Cons:

That genocides exist. I wish this was just something that happened in fictional worlds and not in real life.

Posted in Rewatch, Star Trek, Television shows, tv reviews

The Rewatch 226: Dramatis Personae

Posted on by sokorra

Series: Star Trek: DS9
Episode: 1.18 Dramatis Personae (May 31, 1993)
Rating: 3/5
Redshirt Status: 0/2

Notable Guest Stars:

Tom Towles (Hon’Tihl) – Tom Towles was a popular character actor, and he worked on both DS9, Voyager and Firefly.

Randy Pflug( Guard) – Pflug, who goes by Randy James, is a continuing background actor on Star Trek. He also worked as a stand-in for several actors including Colm Meaney.

Jeff Pruitt (Ensign) – like Pflug, he is a continuing background actor on Star Trek.

Review:

I’m not a big fan of civil War/Mutiny story lines because I like watching the crew act like a team. In this episode, Some outside force (Telepathic vortex?) causes everyone to act out of character – or are they? I feel in reality it makes a little character quark of each of the characters to go into overdrive and become their driving characteristic.

Read more: The Rewatch 226: Dramatis Personae

Let’s start with Sisko. In this episode he is almost preoccupied with his clock to the point he doesn’t really concern himself with what is going on with the station. Sisko loves his history and he also likes to tinker with things, building things. In this episode its like he is stuck in a hyper-focus on that clock. Of course that clock is a piece of the society the telepathic energy is trying to remind people of, so it has significance on its own. He also is unusually violent with his reactions.

Kira, likewise, has a tendency to be more militant, having just served a war for her basic survival. She usually also has compassion though, but in this episode she also has a hyperfocus – Control of station and vengeance against the Valerians. She lets this taint her view of Sisko and O’Brien.

Jadzia is the opposite, more lethargic and prone to drifting off into her memories. Julian too is not agreesive, but he does show his innate curiosity and strategic mind. Miles is super in security mode – but then again, he has the history to be extra cautious. He, like Kira, has fought in wars and also has a history of being protective of his commanding officers.

There wasn’t much follow through at the end of the episode. Julian creates a force field interrupter to help disperse the telepathic energy (Again – for someone who only dabbled in engineering he does alot of it. This is pretty much why I give the Augment storyline a ok) and everyone is back to normal. Other then an apology by Kira we really don’t see anyone’s reactions. Did Miles O’Brien have a reaction? What about the Bajoran who tried to kill Sisko? I don’t see how that wasn’t traumatizing for him.

But alas, this is a Television show and not a book, and is therefore limited by its media type. They only have 42 minutes.

Interesting notes:

  • Written by Joe Menosky
  • Directed Cliff Bole
  • The name of this episode is in latin, and translates as “The Persons of the drama” It has become a phrase used to notate the characters in a work.

Pros:

  • This episode gave some change of pace for the actors.

Cons:

  • There really isn’t any follow through. We do get Kira’s apology, but never see how the others react to their actions.
Posted in Rewatch, Star Trek, Television shows, tv reviews

Rewatch 224: Forsaken

Posted on by sokorra

Series: Star Trek: DS9
Episode: 1.17 Forsaken (May 24, 1993)
Rating:4/5
Red Shirt Status: 0/2

Notable Guests:

Jack Shearer (Vadosia)- This is Shearer’s first appearance in Trek, but he would appear in several more episodes and a film. His most notable character being Admiral Hayes as seen in Voyager and First Contact.

Constance Towers (Taxco)- Towers is a Julliard Graduate, as well as the Academy of Dramatic Arts. She appeared in several of John Ford & John Wayne’s westerns in the late 1950s. She appeared on various television shows, including Soap Operas and of course Star Trek. She continues to be active with a recent role on 911: Lone Star.

Michael Ensign (Lojal) – Ensign is a character actor who has appeared in many many things, including Titanic.

Benita Andre (Anara) – Like Ensign, she is a character actor who has appeared in several well known television shows. This was her only appearance on Star Trek.

Review:

Continue reading “Rewatch 224: Forsaken” →
Posted in Rewatch, Star Trek, Television shows, tv reviews

The Rewatch 222: If Wishes Were Horses

Posted on by sokorra

Pausing a Moment to Remember Louise Fletcher, who was a remarkable actress and DS9 would not be the same without her.

Series: Star Trek: DS9
Episode: 1.16 If Wishes Were Horses (May 17, 1993)
Rating: 3/5
Red Shirt Status: 0/2

Notable Guest Stars:
Keone Young (Buck Bokai)- Young is known for both his live-action and voice work. I can’t say I’ve seen any of his scenes in the live action credits to his name, but he did voices for Mulan II and Sofia the First.

Michael J. Anderson (Rumpelstiltskin) – Anderson has appeared on shows such as Twin Peaks and Carnivale. But as an more important factor, he was a NASA tech operator before he went into acting. Which makes the scene where Rumpelstiltskin asks to help O’Brien amusing as the actor probably could have helped.

Review:

I can’t say this is one of my favorite episodes, and to be honest it has all to do with the Alternative Dax. To be honest DS9 in general has a history (or will as we are in season 1) of turning sexual elements into the creepy realm (see: All Mirror Universe Episodes).

Continue reading “The Rewatch 222: If Wishes Were Horses” →
Posted in Politics, Rewatch, Star Trek, Television shows, tv reviews

The Rewatch 220: Progress

Posted on by sokorra

Series: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9)
Episode: 1:15 Progress (0215/1993)
Rating: 4/5
Redshirt Status: 0/2

Notable Guest Stars:

Brian Keith (Mullibok) – Brian Keith is a classic film actor most known for being the father in The Parent Trap (1961) and Family Affair. He has a long list of credits and there is probably a film for all tastes. He died in 1997.

Terrence Evans (Baltrim) – This is Evans first time on Star Trek, but far from his last. He also worked on Gunsmoke, one of the longest running TV series from the 60s. He died in 2015.

Annie O’Donnell (Keena) – More recently she’s been seen in Fresh off The Boat and The Big Bang Theory, but I know her best for a small role she had on Nightcourt along side Brent Spiner as the Wheelers.

Daniel Riordan (Guard) – Riordan is a Star Trek Alum, having played the character Rondon in an early episode of TNG,and will eventually play Duras (Another member of the Trouble House). He also has provided voices for many animated features.

Michael Bofshever (Toran) – Recently he has been seen on The Young and the Restless. He has also been on The Shield, Breaking Bed, The West Wing, CSI (the original), 24, and a future episode of TNG. His first role on Star Trek was in The Undiscovered Country.

Review:

This has Brian Freaking Keith, guys. Not only is this a Kira heavy episode, but we have an actual classic film star on set.

This episode has the traditional 2 story plot, with plot A being Kira’s adventures with the most stubborn Bajoran on the planet. Plot B is another adventure of Jake & Nog take on DS9: Profit edition.

Continue reading “The Rewatch 220: Progress” →
Posted in Rewatch, Star Trek, Television shows, tv reviews

Rewatch 219: Storyteller

Posted on by sokorra

Series: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9)
Episode: 1:14 Storyteller (05/03/1993)
Rating: 4/5
Redshirt Status: 0/2

Notable Guest Stars:

Gina Phillips (Varis Sul) – Phillips is a child actress who grow up on screen. She later became known for her roles in Jeepers Creepers and Ally McBeal. She also appeared on ER (I feel a theme today).

Jordan Lund (Woban) – Lund has appeared on Star Trek: TNG before as Kluge in 1991 and he shall appear on Enterprise in 2003. He appeared on both Chicago 90s Medical dramas Chicago Hope and ER.

Kay E. Kuter (Sirah)- When I was a kid, I watched alot of old programs because that was what my dad liked to watch. Its how I got into Star Trek for one thing. I also watched shows like Petticoat Junction and Green Acres both which had Kuter in them. He was also in the 1954 version of Sabrina (I much prefer the 90s version, but its still a good movie) He also appeared in ER (I told you, there is a theme today) Kuter died in 2003.

Jim Janson (Faren) – He appeared familiar to me but I couldn’t tell just where I saw him till I looked up his filmography. One of my favorite shows was Gilmore Girls and he appeared occasionally as Reverend Skinner. He also guest starred on Veronica Mars, The Mentalist, West Wing, and yes, ER.

Lawrence Monoson (Hovath) – He appeared in a 1994 Television series And the Band Played On, which was a docudrama based on the early years of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. It starred Alan Alada, Matthew Modine, Ian McKellen, Lily Tomlin and Richard Gere. You know he was among good company. I do recall watching this during school but I’m sure if it was a history class or a health class.

Review:

In this episode we have the first episode of “The Continuing Adventures of Julian & Miles” as well as Nog & Jake being children. Its not really the best of episodes, but its also not a bad episode.

Continue reading “Rewatch 219: Storyteller” →
Posted in Rewatch, Star Trek, Television shows, tv reviews

The Rewatch 218: Battle Lines.

Posted on by sokorra

Series: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9)
Episode: 1:13 Battle Lines (04/26/1993)
Rating: 4/5
Redshirt Status: 1/2

Notable Guest Stars:

Jonathan Banks (Shel-la) – He is better known for his roles on Breaking Bad and Better call Saul, both of which earned him Emmy nominations. He was also in the 1995 film Flipper, which was one of my first films to see at an actual theater (other than the little mermaid).

Paul Collins (Zlangco) – He is best known as the original voice of John Darling from the 1953 film Peter Pan.  He would later appear on JAG, West Wing, and Guiding Light.

Camille Saviola (Kai Opaka) – Saviola worked in a variety of mediums, including having a record contract to sing Disco. She appeared in the 1993 Adams Family film, Addams Family Values. She appeared in 2004 on ER, another show I like to binge watch, as one of the temporary Desk Clerks.  Sadly, she died in 2021 of heart failure.

Review:

This is one of my favorite episodes of season one.  I love Kai Opaka and I really wish they had her come back for scenes later on.  Its also a very good episode for characterization for the three main characters: Kira, Sisko and Bashir.

Continue reading “The Rewatch 218: Battle Lines.” →
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The Rewatch 216: Vortex

Posted on by sokorra

Series: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9)
Episode: 1:12 Vortex (04/19/1993)
Rating: 3/5
Redshirt Status: 0/1

Notable Guest Stars:

Cliff DeYoung (Croden) – He has appeared on West Wing and JAG.  He also appeared in one of my favorite war movies, Glory (1989)

Randy Oglesby (Ah-Kel/Ro-Kel) –Ogleby will be reappearing in many Star Trek episodes, including a recurring role in Enterprise as Degra.

Gordon Clapp (Hadran)– His most well known role is Det. Greg Medavoy on NYPD Blue.

Kathleen Garrett (Vulcan Captain) – Garrett has appeared on several TV shows, including Law and Order SVU.

Review:

This is one of those episodes where Its very important to the overall arc of the series, but otherwise is largely forgettable. This episode delves into Odo’s sense of self, and his desire to learn more about the people that he belongs to. 

Continue reading “The Rewatch 216: Vortex” →
Posted in Rewatch, Star Trek, Television shows, tv reviews

The Rewatch 214: The Nagus

Posted on by sokorra

Series: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9)
Episode: 1:11 The Nagus (0215/1993)
Rating: 3/5
Redshirt Status: 0/1

Notable Guest Stars:
Max Grodenchik (Rom) – Grodenchik has played several Ferengi characters over the years, but his most lasting and most known role is that of Rom, Quark’s brother.

Aron Eisenberg (Nog) – Aron Eisenberg makes his first appearance as Rom’s son Nog in this episode.  Nog has one of the best storylines in the series, so pay attention to this character (and actor)

Wallace Shawn (Grand Nagus Zek) – Wallace Shawn of “Never fight with a Sicilian When Death is on the line!” fame has been one of my favorite guest actors.  I love him as Zek, and I also loved his roles in the aforementioned Princess Bride,  as well as Clueless and Crossing Jordan where he plays the titular character’s therapist for a few seasons.

Lee Arenberg (Gral) – Lee Arenberg more recently might recongised as Grumpy, from Once Upon a Time and as a member of Black Pearl’s crew in Pirates of the Caribbean.

Lou Wagner (Krax) – Lou Wagner has already graced our screen as Daimon Solok.

Barry Gordon (Nava)- Gordon was a actor, Talk show host, and SAG president from 1988-1995 (which would mean as this episode was made and aired).  He also did voice acting, and therefore part of my first fandom obsession:  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  He did the voice of Donatello.  He has been acting since he was three years old and continues to be active in the field.

Tiny Ron Taylor (Maihar’du) – Taylor will also appear on Star Trek Voyager.  He tends to be typecast due to his very tall height of 7 feet.  He was also a professional basketball player, even playing on the rarely known Pittsburgh Condors.  Well, that may be because they only lasted about five years.  Unfortunately, he died in 2019.

Review:

Continue reading “The Rewatch 214: The Nagus” →