Reviews (1)

The start of how "Hot Lips" became Margaret on "M*A*S*H"
The middle third of Season 2 of "M*A*S*H" was the best part of the 1973-74 season, marked by a couple of significant episodes involving "Hot Lips" Houlihan (Loretta Swit) that would turn her from the constant ally of Frank Burns (Larry Linville) harping for military discipline and a true member of the 4077th community:

(33) "Dear Dad...Three" (Writers: Larry Gelbart & Laurence Marks; Aired: November 10, 1973) sees Hawkeye (Alan Alda) relating more of the daily happenings at the 4077th, such as removing a live grenade from the chest of a wounded soldier. Grade A-: This format has worked successfully before, but what elevates this one is the scene in which Henry (McLean Stevenson) shows some home movies.

(34) "The Sniper" (Writer: Richard M. Powell; Aired: November 17, 1973) has everybody ducking for cover when a single sniper starts taking shots at everyone and everything. Grade B-: The idea is still played for laughs. Look quick when the towel Radar (Gary Burghoff) is wearing slips off.

(35) "Carry On, Hawkeye" (Writers: Bernard Dilbert, Larry Gelbart, and Laurence Marks; Aired: November 24, 1973) finds the 4077th devastated by a flu epidemic. The only ones left standing are Hawkeye and Hot Lips, and when he starts coming down with symptoms it is Margaret who has to perform some surgery. Grade A-: An important episode because it establishes a connection between Hawkeye and Margaret that would be built upon quite memorably in the future.

(36) "The Incubator" (Writers: Larry Gelbart & Laurence Marks; Aired: December 1, 1973) is the grail at the end of the quest for Hawkeye and Trapper (Wayne Rogers), who have to get through miles of red tape. Grade B-: A decent military comedy episode, although the idea the military would not want its hospitals equipped properly is not a happy thought.

(37) "Deal Me Out" (Writers: Larry Gelbart & Laurence Marks; Aired: December 8, 1973) centers around the interruptions for the weekly poker game that includes Sidney Freeman (Allan Arbus). Pat Morita is also in on the game and John Ritter is holding a gun on Frank in the shower. Edward Winter shows up, not as Colonel Flagg, but as a sort of ancestor. Grade A-: Despite all the dire happenings in the camp, the game must go on, with the best one-liners coming from the guest stars.

(38) "Hot Lips and Empty Arms" (Writers: Linda Bloodworth & Mary Kay Place; Aired: December 15, 1973) is a pivotal episode where Houlihan demands a transfer to another unit when she starts questioning everything in her life, from her hopeless affair with Frank to the way the army has become her life. Grade A: Bloodworth (who created "Designing Women") and Place (actress on "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman) interviewed Swit for hours to write this superb character study. "Hot Lips" would never be the same.

(39) "Officers Only" (Writer: Ed Jurist; Aired: December 22, 1973) begins with the good news that the 4077th has an Officer's Club. The bad news is that apparently only officers can go in the place, which means Trapper and Hawkeye have to do something about it. Grade C+: Seems a long way to go to have a new set.

(40) "Henry in Love" (Writers: Larry Gelbart & Laurence Marks; Aired: January 5, 1974) has Henry back from Tokyo and head over heels in love with a cheerleader (Katherine Baumann) half his age. Grade C-: Sorry, but this one just always bugged me. I understand the idea of a mid-life crisis and everything, but unlike B.J.'s later fall from grace I just could not buy this one.

So, with two significant episodes focusing on Margaret, they certainly put the wrong major on the cover of this one. Not surprisingly the novice writers Bloodworth and Place would write several more scripts for "M*A*S*H," however, they were not "Margaret" episodes. Go figure. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The most important episode in the history of "M*A*S*H"
Volume 3 of Season 1 of "M*A*S*H" offers the best and worst episode from the debut season. More importantly, it offers the most important episode in the history of the classic television situation comedy because it is the one that established "M*A*S*H" as a true dramedy, able to do both comedy and drama:

(17) "Sometimes You Hear the Bullet" (Writer: Carl Kleinschmitt; Aired: January 28, 1973). Hawkeye gets a visit from Tommy (James Callahan), an old friend who is planning to write a book about the war. Meanwhile, the camp also has an underage Marine (Ronny Howard) with appendicitis. The turning point for "M*A*S*H" comes when suddenly Hawkeye finds Tommy on the O.R. table in front of him and can do nothing to save his friend's life. Grade A+: This was the show that allowed "M*A*S*H" to have it both ways. As Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson) explains it to Hawkeye, "In war Rule #1 is that young men die. And Rule #2 is that doctors cannot change rule #1." A devastatingly emotional episode that redefined the show.

(18) "Dear Dad...Again" (Writers: Sheldon Keller & Larry Gelbart; Aired: February 4, 1973) has Hawkeye writing home to his dad again to talk about how he is keeping himself sane amidst the insanity of war. Grade B: Another solid character study on the characters at the 4077th.

(19) "The Long-john Flap (Writer: Alan Alda; Aired: February 18, 1973) has everybody in camp trying to trade or otherwise coerce someone to get Hawkeye's long-johns during a bitter cold snap. Grade B-: Another military comedy situation, but Alda the writer shows a sense of understanding the characters at the 4077th.

(20) "The Army-Navy Game" (Writer: Sid Dorfman, based on a Story by McLean Stevenson; Aired: February 25, 1973) finds the gang's enjoyment of the Army-Navy game on Armed Forces Radio interrupted when an unexploded bomb lands in the middle of the camp. Grade C+: Another average military comedy episode, with an okay punch line.

(21) "Sticky Wicket" (Writers: Laurence Marks & Larry Gelbart; Aired: March 4, 1973) starts with Hawkeye accusing Frank of botching a surgery only to see one of his own patients going sour big time. Grade B: An interesting episode because the pacifist Hawkeye ends up physically assaulting Frank, while the obnoxious Major Burns is the one who has the moment of objectivity in the end.

(22) "Major Fred C. Dobbs" (Writer: Sid Dorfman; Aired: March 11, 1973) reveals that Frank Burns is going home. This would seem like a good thing but Frank will not be replaced so the boys have to figure out a way to trick Frank into staying. So they learn from Radar that thar is gold in them Korean hills. Grade C-: I do not hate this one as much as Gelbart, but it is strange for Hawkeye and Trapper to go out of their way to keep Frank around.

(23) "Ceasefire" (Writers: Laurence Marks & Larry Gelbart; Aired: March 18, 1973) has everyone at the 4077th reading to pack up and go home when there are rumors of a ceasefire. The wars ends and everybody goes in a tearful finale. No, wait, wrong season. Grade B: This episode, which aired the same week the U.S. began bringing troops home from Vietnam, offers another nice little character study of the group.

(24) "Showtime" (Writers: Robert Klane & Larry Gelbart; Aired: March 25, 1973) is more of an epilogue to the season ("Ceasefire" works better as a season finale). The show essentially contrasts a USO comedy show visiting the camp with the drama in the operating room. Grade B-: A subtle episode, but one that reflects the hard lessons learned during Season 1.

This tape is the key one from Season 1 and it rates 5 stars simply because it includes "Sometimes You Hear the Bullet." Very rarely has an episode other than a pilot transformed a television series so much for the better (cliffhangers like "Who Shot J.R.?" do not count). That episode becomes the template for the best episodes of "M*A*S*H" in the season to come. The show was going to be able to make us cry as well as laugh, and in the end it was going to be the poignant moments that mattered more. You watch this episode and you realize that 'M*A*S*H' just became 'M*A*S*H.' ... Read more

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Everybody's favorite Star Trek trickster god, Q (John de Lancie), returns to the Enterprise despite promises never to trouble the shipagain. Q has been kicked out of the Q continuum, he's bored, and he's decided he wants to join the crew of the Enterprise and go exploring with them. When Captain Picard says no, Q gets angry and knocks the ship into a particularly dangerous part of the unexplored universe, just to see how well they can fend for themselves without his help. Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg),the bartender of Ten-Forward, has been to this part of space before, and she recommends leaving as quickly as possible. Needless to say, they don't leave fast enough, and they meet up with the cyborg race called theBorg. After one battle, the Borg prove to be stronger, and Guinan says theirbrief taste of human technology will no doubt spur them on to seek it out again.An auspicious introduction to a brilliant villain: the Borg. --AndySpletzer ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Enter the Borg
In this episode Q has been kicked out of the 'Q Continuum' and attempts to convince Captain Picard to allow him to join the crew. Upon being rejected, Q 'throws' the Enterprise thousands of lightyears away where they encounter the Borg.

This episode is a high-point of TNG's 2nd season. Not only do we see a vendictive Q, but are introduced to one of the most powerful races the Federation will have to fight.

A well-deserved kick in their complacency
This episode has it all: great action sequences, nail-biting tension, and intriguing characters.
The omnipotent and omniscient Q pays a visit to the Enterprise, ostensibly to ask Picard if he can join the crew. When Picard smugly refuses the request, claiming that he and his crew can manage whatever is out there without Q's help, Q flings the Enterprise into a distant, uncharted region of the galaxy. Once there, Picard and his crew encouter a terrifying new enemy: the Borg. Are they really as ready for anything as they claim to be?
The Borg were a brilliant notion, and in this episode, as in The Best of Both Worlds, they are terrifying, both in concept and execution. There is a nicely spooky feel to the appearance of the first Borg, and in the scenes on the Borg ship. The episode is paced very well, the action sequences broken up by reflective moments.
Yet despite all the drama and the importance this episode has in the TNG universe, this is also a story about people. There are fresh insights into three of the characters. Picard has to face up to what his pride and ignorance have cost. We learn something of the past of the enigmatic Guinan, who has met the Borg before. And we learn that Q is far more than just a capricious meddler - if it hadn't been clear enough already. He seems genuinely to despise the Borg, and despite the harsh lesson he teaches Picard and his crew, I at least got the feeling that, ultimately, he was trying to do them a favour.
One of the great episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Q and the Borg
While on a routine mission in deep space, captain Picard and crew encounter the powerful super-entity Q.This time around Q wants to join the Enterprise crew.After having his request denied,Q decides to teach the crew a lesson: he sends the Enterprise hundreds of light-years across the galaxy to the uncharted sector J-25. It is not long before the crew encounters a powerful race of machines known as the Borg. The Enterprise is nearly destroyed but Q intervenes in the nick of time. However the lesson is plainly obvious:there are some things in outer space humanity is not prepared for,but Picard knows the Borg will return. This is one of the better episodes of the second season and serves as a prequel to season three's THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS.This episode has everything:Action, humor,drama and serious discussion on the human condition.I heartily recommend that everyone interested in good science fiction buy this video.

Q as a teacher of the Enterprise crew
After viewing and re-viewing episodes of STTNG involving the entity known as Q, I have formulated a theory as to his popularity. So well played by John de Lancie, he also has some of the best dialog to deliver in all of the Star Trek episodes. There is also a deeper undercurrent in the relationship between Picard and Q, something along the lines of a great and eccentric teacher and a student. Q is so powerful that he could be considered the equivalent of a god, and some of his actions with Picard are those of a god with far greater knowledge than his pupil.
This episode, which also introduces the Borg, is an example of a powerful lesson to Picard and all beings of the Federation. Picard and Riker are both brimming with confidence that they can handle anything the universe can throw at them. Q then sends them packing across the galaxy, to a location where they encounter the Borg, an enemy that they are nearly powerless against. Picard is finally forced to ask for Q's assistance in order to avoid being assimilated into the Borg collective.
After the encounter, Picard and Riker complain to Q about the loss of life aboard the Enterprise. He is quite correct in his response in telling them that if that is their position, they should run back to their cribs. It is quite likely that the lesson would not have been so deeply learned if their "nose had not been bloodied."
This is one of the best episodes in the STTNG series in two ways. It is a hard lesson for the Enterprise crew and it introduces one of the best collection of characters to ever appear in Star Trek, the enigmatic, deadly, efficient and unemotional Borg.

Good, but a little boring at times...
This is one of the few good episodes of TNG season 2. Q returns and takes the Enterprise-D on a journey to a faraway place and introduces them to the Borg. This was obviously a platform for the writers to introduce a new threat to the Federation and for the most part, it works. But it lacks in some places, such as the scenes with Riker and his away team aboard the Borg ship. Overall, it's the perfect supplement for Trekkies, but those "outside" of the realm might be a little put off by the now-hokey set designs and subpar costumes. The best Borg episode is "The Best of Both Worlds." ... Read more

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Majel Barrett, who played nurse Christine Chapel in the original Star Trek series, returned to the screen in "Haven" as Lwaxana Troi, mother of Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) and (as someone once put it) the "Auntie Mame of the galaxy." The story concerns Deanna's reluctant agreement to participate in a marriage arranged by her late father. She dutifully meets her betrothed, a doctor named Wyatt (Rob Knepper), who turns out to be a good person baffled as to why Deanna doesn't look like the blonde he has seen in visions since childhood. An obligatory action subplot finds the Enterprise imperiled by the last survivors of a biological war. But the real entertainment here comes from the brassy Lwaxana's huge personality, her endless flirtations with a flustered Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart), and her in-fighting with Wyatt's family. Barrett (Mrs. Roddenberry in real life) subsequently made annual visits to TNG as Lwaxana, but this episode almost didn't happen until writer Tracy Tormé (son of Mel) rescued and fixed an all-but-abandoned story treatment. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (8)

The introduction to Lwaxana Troi
When the Enterprise arrives at the idyllic planet of Haven, where the legend is that your mere presence on the surface can cure illness, a package is beamed up. (This idea would be revisited in the movie "Insurrection.") It contains a message for Deanna Troi and betrothal gifts. Many years earlier, Deanna's late father had arranged for Deanna to be betrothed to Wyatt, who is now a physician. Even though she is happy on the Enterprise, Deanna agrees to honor the Betazoid custom and marry Wyatt. This will require her to leave the Enterprise, which hits Will Riker hard.
Shortly after the gifts arrive, so do the parents. We are introduced to Lwaxana Troi, mother of Deanna and one of the most obnoxious characters ever to appear in television. Extremely opinionated, vain and honest to the point of social ineptness, she manages to embarrass and offend everyone she comes in contact with. The primary explosion occurs at a reception, where Deanna finally explodes in frustration at the bickering between the parents.
Even though they have had no contact for many years, Wyatt and Deanna get along rather well, although Wyatt is surprised at her appearance. For many years, he has had a vision of a beautiful woman, and he has made several drawings based on that vision. He had expected Deanna to be that woman, but there is no resemblance between them.
Circumstances become very serious when a Tarellian ship arrives at Haven. The Tarellian civilization is one that self-destructed due to the release of an extremely virulent virus for which no vaccine could be created. Since the virus was so deadly, all Tarellian ships had been systematically hunted down and destroyed. At first, there is no evidence that the ship is inhabited, but eventually it responds to the Enterprise hails and one of the members of the crew turns out to be the woman in Wyatt's visions.
Wyatt then takes a small amount of medical equipment and beams over to the Tarellian ship to spend the rest of his life trying to cure the Tarellians.
This is an episode that deals solely with feelings. Those of Deanna for her mother, her feelings of duty as a Betazoid, her feelings for Will Riker and those for Wyatt. There are also the secondary feelings of Will for Deanna, Lwaxana's for Deanna and Wyatt's for Deanna. However, it all comes down to Wyatt's love for the woman of his vision, so much so that he abandons his previous life to be with her, knowing that he could shortly die for it. I generally find such romantic stories too sappy for my tastes, but this one was enjoyable.

"Could you please continue the petty bickering?"
Star Trek: The Next Generation's effort to give their primary characters more detailed back stories began with "Haven" as Lwaxana Troi (Majel Barrett-Roddenberry) boards the Enterprise-D and promptly makes life difficult for her daughter Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis).

Deanna Troi receives a gift from the planet Haven after the Enterprise arrives there. The gift is a talking jewel chest that announces Troi's upcoming marriage to Wyatt Miller (Rob Knepper). However, all plans for the wedding are put on hold when a Tarellian vessel enters the area and Wyatt must confront his true destiny.

Lwaxana Troi's first appearance in the series was rather grating as she came across as that one member in every family whose special talent was to annoy people. The character would evolve as the years went by into a more complex and caring woman but her debut gets her off on the wrong foot. Lwaxana was inserted into this episode only to serve as the catalyst for some comical in-law sparring and did not really contribute anything meaningful to the events at-hand. The entire subplot involving Wyatt's dream woman also comes across as mostly silly. Yet, credit must be given to the series' writers as they started to flesh out their characters by introducing the first of a long line of family members who would greatly enhance the dynamics of the series in following seasons.

First Appearance Of Lwaxana Troi!
It's okay but not one of my favorite episodes, though it did introduce one of my favorite recurring characters Lwaxanna Troi, Deanna's eccentric mother, but Haven is just not my favorite Lwaxanna Troi episode but I do think it's worth watching just to see the first appearence of Lwaxana and see how the Lwaxana Troi episodes improved over the years!

Good but not Great!
I like Star Trek The Next Generation and I like Troi's mother Lwaxana but despite some funny Lwaxana scenes it is probably one of the weakest of the episodes with Lwaxana but it definitely is worth more than 1 or 2 stars and 3 stars is a good rating for this episode which for me 3 stars means I liked the episode but didn't love it.

Three and a half stars really...
When Deanna Troi receives a message from her home planet of Betazoid, she announces to her shocked crewmates that she is to be married by arrangement to a man she was betrothed to as a child. Haven provides the first appearance of the formidable Lwaxana Troi and her silent manservant Mr Homn as they arrive on the Enterprise with Troi's fiance and prospective in-laws. Wyatt Miller, although content at the idea of the marriage, expresses his surprise on meeting his bride: he has been dreaming of a woman he assumed to be Deanna for years. Preparations for the wedding ceremony (which will be performed with all guests totally nude) are under way, when an unknown ship approaches the Enterprise. By a strange twist of fate and very lucky coincidence, the vessel is carrying Ariana, the woman from Wyatt's visions, who has been experiencing similar dreams herself. But Ariana is Tarellian: one of the last survivors of a race thought to have wiped themselves out through biological warfare. These same survivors are now dying yet the planet of Haven refuses them sanctuary, fearing that the plague may spread. Wyatt is know torn between his reluctant fiance and the women of his dreams.

I would rank 'Haven' as a three and a half star episode - a little above average, with some humorous moments courtesy of Lwaxana and the bickering between the in-laws. To be honest, I think this episode would have been better received had it aired a lot later on in TNG's run. At this point in the series, we still didn't know or care much about any of the characters and the whole Riker-Troi Imzadi thing hadn't really been explained. Of course, the relationship did take all of seven seasons and three movies to actually to become official, but it built up a huge following of Imzadi-obsessed relationshippers and became probably the most popular of all the Trek romances. 'Haven' is the first episode that focuses mainly on Troi and if you can ignore the unbelievable-to-the-point-of-stupidity coincidence (destiny maybe?), it's pretty good. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Sisko discovers a wormhole and that his life is not linear
The two-hour pilot of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" starts with a flashback to the Federation's battle with the Borg as Wolf 359, when Jean-Luc Picard was Locutus. The Borg destroy the USS Saratoga, killing the wife of Commander Benjamin Sisko, who escapes with his son, Jake. It is now three years later and Sisko is placed in command of Deep Space Nine, a space station built by the Cardassians around the planet Bajor. The occupation over, Sisko is charged with helping Bajor prepare for membership in the Federation. But the planet is on the brink of civil war and Kai Opaka, the spiritual leader of Bajor, declares Sisko to be "the emissary." The Cardassians have stolen eight of the nine crystal orbs that can lead to the Celestial Temple, where dwell the Prophets, the deities of Bajor. Sisko and his science officer, the Trill Jadzia Dax, discover a wormhole and Sisko encounters the Prophets, who turn out to be non-corporeal aliens who live there. Then things get really interesting.

Now that DS9 is long gone, I think we are in a much better position to evaluate the pilot episode, especially in terms of how the series was able to develop and expand upon the various premises established here at the start. Sisko as the Emissary and his love of baseball, the wormhole and Bajor's religion, the Cardassian occupation and their continuing involvement in the quadrant, Dax and the Trills, Odo and the Founders, Quark and the Ferengi, are all still important at the end of the series, which would seem to speak to how successful DS9's creators were in establishing the series. So if you have asked me way back when what I thought about these first two episodes I would have rated them a 4; but in retrospect I have to bump it up one more star. Of course, there are so many characters and so much exposition being established that there are lots of gaps to be filled in later--and Sisko does lay it a bit heavy on poor Picard--but that is why DS9 is best considered as a series and not some sort of episodic sitcom.

Where it all began...
The first episode(s) of Deep Space Nine provided us all with an insight into a new, darker, more violent Star Trek, Deep Space Nine. The characters are all fully fleshed out by the end of this brilliant episode which concentrates on the newly acquired freedom the Bajoran's now enjoy, the Enterprise is in orbit of Bajor and protecting the planet, but when Picard and crew are called away on an urgent mission it is left to a skeleton crew headed by Commander Benjamin Sisko who must defend the former-Cardassian space station, Terok Nor, from the old landloards who are on their way back to retake what they believe to be there's...

Sisko discovers a wormhole and the strange beings that live in it, with his untested crew on DS9 they are the only ones who can stop the Cardassian invasion ship! Explosive!

If at first you don't succeed, kick the console
EMISSARY suffers from a lot of the flaws that have plagued Star Trek spin-off pilots, although I think it has so far been the most successful. This, however, isn't saying much; I've found most of those pilots to be dull, boring, and/or incoherent. The Deep Space Nine pilot wasn't as bad as all that, though I hated it when I watched the initial airing. Re-watching it again recently with the benefit of hindsight, I found I appreciated it much more. It's still not exactly terrific, but it does do everything that one expects from a first episode while still managing to tell a story.

The problems that face Star Trek pilots are usually the same ones that crop up every five years or so (whenever Paramount decides to launch another moneymaker). "We need to introduce the characters," I imagine the suits saying, "We need to introduce the setting; we need to introduce the political undertones; we'd like to give the major characters a backstory; we'd like to drop some hints about storylines that we'll be following up on in the future; we'll need to populate the immediate area with some convincing bad guys; we'll want to explore the religious aspects of the indigenous people; we'll want to introduce some amazingly advanced alien creatures that humans are encountering for the first time; and we'll want an extended cameo from a star of the previous series. Oh, and yeah, we'll want some kind of a story in there too, okay?"

For everything that it's trying to do, I think EMISSARY mostly succeeds. The story itself is relatively simple, and revolves around introducing Ben Sisko (and the audience) to his new setting, his new command, and the various plot strands that will be cropping up in the future. The introduction of the characters is mostly handled well, although there are a few clumsy moments, and a lot of the people and their makeup don't appear to be quite in their regular form yet. I like the fact that the episode neatly subverts itself. The set up begins with this station being the backwater of the universe (influencing the decisions of more than one character), but by the end this has been completely reversed.

The pilot also contains a few examples of the sort of thing that I really dislike about Star Trek Series That Do Not Star William Shatner. I am talking about, of course, the reliance on technobabble and the ability of the crew to come up with miraculous solutions to problems in no time at all. Fortunately, there aren't too many examples of this on display here. Unfortunately, the two that spring to mind are particularly poor. The first is that Dax is able to totally redesign the way the laws of physics work, and throws out this observation as if she's giving advice about which wine goes with a particular kind of fish. In order to make the station's thrusters move the ship faster, she figures a way of lowering the mass of the object, therefore requiring less energy to push it. The question that immediately comes to mind is: if lowering the mass of something is so easy, why on Earth isn't this standard operating procedure for all forms of transportation? Do Starfleet care as little for fuel efficiency standards as the U.S. government does?

The other piece of "instant brilliance" is the fact that O'Brien manages to boost the power of the station's phasers with almost no effort on his part at all. Truly amazing. I can just imagine thousands of Federation scientists working around the clock, trying to think of a way to increase the efficiency of their government's phasers, only to be beaten to the punch by Miles O'Brien after two whole seconds of thought.

There are some nice touches that rescue this episode from being a plodding introduction that one must get through in order to understand the series. Sisko's discussion and explanations concerning "linear time" are quite interesting, although the first time I saw this, I thought that the story violated its own internal logic, and nothing that I saw on my second viewing convinced me that I was wrong (how could he teach the concept of linear time to beings that exist outside of it, when surely they would be stateless creatures and could only either already know of linear time, or could never know of linear time?). I liked the aliens living in the wormhole, even if they fall prey to many Star Trek stereotypes (alien beings that are so highly advanced that they act and talk like complete idiots). The characters only have one episode to establish themselves, but in that time I already find them much more interesting than the entirety of the Next Generation crew. The setting is again more intriguing than that of the previous series, and really makes the show feel that there is a lot of potential for conflict here. A rough start, but not a bad one.

The best pilot episode of all the Trek series
The powers that be pulled out all the stops for this excellent and very good-looking first show of the Deep Space Nine series. The infamous and often referred to battle at Wolf 359 is finally seen to some extended length in the beginning of 'Emissary'; the rundown space station is a well-conceived set design; the matte painting of the Bajoran temple on the planet surface is mesmerizing albeit too briefly seen; and all those aliens! The production design put forth here was the most superior effort by the creative staff in any Trek program to date - heck some of the movies don't look this great!

Also the story is a terrific, hard edged and dyed-in-the-wool science fiction tale that is handled well. The revelation of the existence of the wormhole; the incorporeal wormhole beings using a variety of people from Sisko's memories to interact with him; the explanation of the mysterious Orbs and their purpose; Sisko using the game of baseball to demonstrate the concept of linear time; his rush of emotions over his admittance of his inability to 'exist beyond the moment his wife died' and that he has been living in non-linear time; many more brilliant touches are present within this well-structured script.

The characters are surprisingly well defined for a first episode. Normally the main characters undergo a severe change in the shows immediately following; an actor will begin to add their personality to the composite of the person they are playing and these differences are usually noticeable. That doesn't happen on ST: DS9 though, the character flow from pilot to series inception is practically seamless. The best character interchange we get to see in 'Emissary' is the scene in Sisko's new office where he has called together Odo and Quark for a meeting. The tension between Odo and Quark comes into play right away; Quark breaks out in uproarious laughter at Sisko's request for him to remain at DS9 and become a community leader; Odo sarcastically makes the observation that Quark has all the natural qualities of a politician. The addition of the character of Dax allows the show to continue the familiar Trek theme of the differences between our Earth-centric view of everything in terms of humanity and the point of view from an outsider that adds interesting and conflicting complexities. Being over three hundred years old and having existed as a variety of alien beings added a great and very unique dimension to this Trek series. As far as the actors go for this particular show an honorable mention should be made for the young Cirroc Lofton; he stood in for the wormhole aliens in a variety of sequences and did an admirable job. Also his scenes with Avery Brooks as father and son are believable and convincing.

Best line: Sisko and Gul Dukat's first meeting is quite memorable. When Gul Dukat makes a point of how uncomfortably close the Federation members are to the formidable Cardassians Sisko remarks sarcastically "We'll be sure and keep the dog off the lawn."

The best Trek yet!
People will debate this for years to come, but in my opinion, the best Star Trek series ever started here... Deep Space Nine.

Benjamin Sisqo (Avery Brooks) plays the head of a Starfleet delegation sent to bridge relations with the Bajorians. Bajor has been under the enforced rule of the Cardassians for the past 50 years, and after winning their freedom, reluctantly accept the help of the Federation in rebuilding their society. However, the discovery of a wormhole to another sector of the galaxy changes everything.

Over the course of seven seasons, DS9 went from being the afterthought of the Star Trek universe to being the standard bearer. Well thought plotlines, and stories that had consequences made this worth the visit every week. There are weak episodes, and there are great episodes. Make sure you don't miss any. ... Read more

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A Must For All Dukes Fans!
Whether you are collecting the tapes from Columbia House or on Amazon.com, this is a perfect addition. There will never be a show like the Dukes again so I would definetly recommend buying this and hanging on to it! ... Read more

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Riker's deep, dark secret revealed!
I love it when we find flaws and dark pasts in our favorite Trek characters. This time, Commander Riker is the subject and the secret he has been living with for twelve years is one that could alter Federation relations with the Romulan Empire forever!

Admiral Pressman, Riker's old commanding officer aboard the starship Pegasus, wants to retrieve the lost Pegasus because it has secret technology that the Pegasus crew had been working on when their experiments went awry (and the ship was lost). The key is that the Pegasus's crew was working on cloaking technology which, as the episode explains, is illegal for the Federation to use. Never mind the absurdity of such a treaty (c'mon, this is like the USA banning stealth fighter technology so we don't upset China and then allowing China to use stealth technology--it would be an incredibly stupid thing to do), the important thing here is the conflict generated among Picard, Pressman and Riker. Riker is torn between loyalty to his former commander and his duty to the Enterprise and the Federation. There are plenty of terrific, dramatic, and tense moments in this episode. As Riker, actor Jonathan Frakes shines here. Great episode all the way!

This episode, along with "Second Chances" and "A Matter of Honor", makes up what I call the essential Riker collection.

The deep dark secret of Riker and the USS Pegasus
Admiral Pressman has joined the Enterprise on a secret mission to recover the USS Pegasus. Twelve years ago, when the Pegasus was captained by Pressman and William Riker was a helmsman, the ship disappeared under unusual circumstances. When Picard questions Riker about what happened his First Officer refuses to answer: he is under orders to remain silent. Just to make things more interesting, the Romulans are also looking for the Pegasus. When the Enterprise finds the ship, buried deep within an asteroid, the truth is revealed: the Pegasus had an experimental cloaking device which was also capable of phasing matter. Unfortunately, this device violated the Federation's treaty with the Romulans. When Pressman tried to run field tests on the device, his crew mutinied. Now Riker has to choose between the order to keep his mouth shut about what his former Captain is trying to do and his obligation as a Starfleet officer.

"The Pegasus" is one of the first of several Star Trek episodes to hint at dirty dealings by a secret segment of Starfleet; this idea was explored more fully on Deep Space Nine. Apparently everybody on this show has a past and in this one we learn more about Will Riker's. The teaser for this episode is one of the cutist in the series, as Picard and Riker inspect the entries made by the ship's children for Captain Picard Day (and Picard has to explain it all to an admiral who interrupts with the orders for their mission). "The Pegasus" is a slightly above average episode of the series, hurt by the idea that Riker really could be ordered to keep Pressman's secret. If he spoke up when Picard asked him for the truth, he could have saved everyone a ton of grief.

Doing Your Duty v. Doing the Right Thing
The conflicting demands of duty & conscience have formed one of the most basic themes of all 3 Star Trek series. "The Pegasus" represents one of the show's best treatments of that theme, a story of intrigue which poses some hard choices for Commander Riker. Riker's first commanding officer, Capt. (now Admiral) Eric Pressman enlists the Enterprise to salvage the remains of the Pegasus, an experimental starship which they served on together, until it was lost, years before. The Pegasus' wreckage still contains top-secret technology, now in danger of being stolen by Federation enemies. But Riker's current captain, Jean-Luc Picard, begins to suspect that the Pegasus has darker secrets which both Pressman & Riker are hiding from him. Picard challenges Riker, forcing him to re-evaluate choices he made as a young man & consider whether the secrets that he & Pressman are protecting are worth the cost.

Pressman is portrayed by Terry O'Quinn, whose performace surprisingly anticipates his role on the TV series "Millennium" as Peter Watts.

Another guest star, Michael Mack, turns in a wonderfully smooth & predatory performance as the enemy commander, Sirol. In two pivotal scenes, Picard & Sirol engage in darkly comic exchanges of diplomatic niceties, full of thinly-veiled threats. Mack reminds us of why even people who know history are willing to forget the absurd roots of this enemy race, the "Romulans," as a sort of alien version of the Roman Empire; instead, he focuses on the features which make them unique: their elaborate manners & catlike cruelty. Mack's casting also introduces the idea that Romulans come in more than one shade of olive!

The script also works in a few moments of lighter humor. The stiking thing is that these moments are actually done well--Star Trek has been using puckish humor unsuccessfully for decades! Don't miss Jonathan Frakes' Patrick Sterwart immitation, or Picard's embarrassment over being a children's "role model"!

Action and intrigue, the stuff that makes Trek great . . .
The Pegasus is one of TNG's best episodes, with great character development, mystery and intrigue, and new layers added to the substance of what makes up Starfleet and the Trek Universe. For those who haven't seen it, a nice twist in the plot regarding Pegasus and Riker's past; some excellent dynamics with Riker & Picard . . all in all a great show. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Damon Bok returns and threatens to kill Picard's son (???)
A probe delivers a message to Captain Picard from his old nemeis, the ex-Damon Bok (from "The Battle," Episode 10) informing that he will finally avenge the death of his son by returning the favor and killing Picard's son. Picard is rather stunned since he did not know he had a son. But since Bok obviously believes that Jason Vigo is Picard's son, the Enterprise heads off to save the young man. What Picard discovers, when they beam Jason up from his rock climbing, is a rather disappointing young man who genetic tests prove is indeed his son. However, Bok continues to pursue Jason, and while the Enterprise crew does everything it can to block his evil plans, Jason comes down with a rare genetic disorder.

A lot of rabbits get pulled out of the hat in the final season of STNG: Riker has a duplicate, Troi had a sister, and now there is a chance Picard has a son. "Bloodlines" does have the distinct of waiting 164 episodes to pick up on Bok's attempt to take his revenge upon Picard, although certainly the idea of the bloodthirsty Ferengi had been replaced by Quark and the Rules of Acquisition in everyone's minds. It is also interesting to see that science in the Star Trek universe is not infallible. However, when it comes to Picard being a "real" father, I much prefer "The Inner Light" (Episode 125) where Picard lives out an entire lifetime on Kataan in 25 minutes of unconsciousness (and where Patrick Stewart's actual son played his son in the episode). "Bloodlines" ends up being a below average STNG episode, which aspires to be memorable but does not really come close. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Spock's father takes a nose dive
Famous Vulcan ambassador Sarek (Mark Lenard), also known as the father of Spock, is very old, on his second wife, and going through an emotional crisis. Emotional? A Vulcan?

Sarek boards the Enterprise with his second wife, also a human, Perrin, along with some Vulcan aides so that he may be present during a meeting between the Federation and the mysterious Legarans.

Counselor Troi feels emotions from Sarek and during a musical performance in his honor, Picard and many others in the Senior Staff see Sarek crying and subsequently whisked away by his Vulcan companions.

Dr. Crusher surmises he is suffering from Bendii Syndrome, an incurable disease that removes the emotional control that Vulcan's prize among all other attributes in their culture. Sarek is desperate to complete this one final mission, but Picard is worried that Sarek might flip out at the wrong moment and ruin the negotiations with the Legarans.

With pleadings from Perrin, Picard tries to see another logical alternative to their predicament. He agrees to a risky ritual - to mind-meld with Sarek so that Sarek can briefly maintain control over his emotions while in his meetings with the Legarans. Picard becomes a mental basket case, overwhelmed with nearly 200 years of pent-up emotions that have been so carefully surpressed through decades of Vulcan teachings and meditations. Everything comes out at once, the love for Perrin that his Vulcan façade won't let him reveal, his anguish over the loss of fellowship with his son Spock, the loss of his first wife and so many other emotions of anger, rage, lonliness, passion and love all come bubbling to the surface like a volcano.

Can Picard hold it together while the lionshare of his locus of control is on loan to Sarek? Is Picard's self control enough to protect Sarek through the negotiations? Before their mind-meld, Sarek warns Picard that they will share each other's thoughts and refers to the act as "a terrible intimacy." Enough to make most grown men pee in their pants, but not Picard, who is willing to risk his career and his very mind to help a dignified man retain his dignity through the annals of history.

Great acting!
any epsidoe including sarek is always good, It was yes I will us e the term "fascinating " to see picard and sarek mindmeld. poor picard had to endure the onslaught of vulcan emotions, so sarek could get on with business. the part with sarek's wife and picard where he talks about how much sarek loves her and she replys I know I;ve always known a sweet scene.

Actor Patrick Stewart's finest moment as Captain Picard
Sarek (Mark Lenard), the long-time Vulcan ambassador and father of Spock, arrives on the Enterprise for a final diplomatic mission, which will negotiate the admission of the Legarans into the Federation. Sarek is accompanied by his third wife (an Earth woman like Amanda) and two staff members. But on their journey there are suddenly random incidents of violence on the ship and during a musical performance Picard is stunned to see Sarek is crying. Dr. Crusher determines that Sarek is suffering from Bendii syndrome, a disease that affects Vulcans over the age of 200 and results in the loss of emotional control. Sarek refuses to accept the diagnosis until one of his assistants admits he has been trying to stabilize the ambassador's emotions. At that point Sarek's wife makes a bold suggestion: Sarek should do a mind meld with Picard, to provide the emotional stability that will allow him to successfully complete his final diplomatic mission.

Patrick Stewart does not have a finer moment as an actor in the entire series than he does when he plays the overwhelming deluge of Sarek's emotions. For his part, Mark Lenard's performance as Sarek is as elegant and as strong as it has always been. There is a sense in which his performance is probably more to the mark than Spock's when it comes to denoting the true Vulcan. "Sarek" also establishes a bond between Picard and Sarek that will have additional meaning down the road in the two-parter "Unification." But the most important thing is that this is the absolute height point of the series in terms of acting.

Outstanding Professionalism
Scriptwriter and novelist Peter Beagle creates a splendid vehicle for the classical acting skills of Patrick Stewart and the late, much-loved Marc Lenard, who shows us the heart of a Vulcan whose logic made life so difficult for Spock.

One caveat. The music that makes Sarek weep isn't Mozart but Brahms.

A Touching and Engaging view of Ambassador Sarek.
Mark Lenard shows his strength as an actor when he faces off Patrick Stewart. Sarek is raving mad from a rare Vulcan illness and Picard tries to help him regain his dignity. Mark Lenard has worked with Sir John Geilgud and Lawrance Olivier and his classical acting style compliments STNG and the scene with Picard was wonderful. I am sorry Mark Lenard passed away. ... Read more

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Arguably one of the best episodes of Deep Space Nine and a jewelin the entire Trek canon (it was shown during the Museum of Television and Radio Broadcasting's Tribute to Excellence in 1994), "Duet" is apowerful and moving tale about the apparent capture of a notorious war criminal.When a middle-aged Cardassian (Harris Yulin) arrives on the station to receivemedical treatment, Major Kira (Nana Visitor) accuses him of being a monsternamed Gul Darhe'el, the "Butcher of Gallitepp," who killed thousands of Bajoransat a notorious labor camp. What ensues is an incendiary exchange between Kiraand the imprisoned Darhe'el, in which he boasts provocatively of his crimes andstrikes a nerve in the major by accusing her of ignoring the pain and deaths shecaused as a Resistance terrorist. Seeing red, Kira keeps returning to Darhe'elfor more verbal combat, but Sisko (Avery Brooks) and Odo (Rene Auberjonois)suspect something is amiss.

Pitched by a couple of interns on the show as a Judgement atNuremberg-like courtroom drama, "Duet" was instead given a Man in the Glass Boothspin by writers and coproducers Ira Behr and Peter Fields. Ironically, theepisode was made during a state of end-of-the-season exhaustion and under afrustrating mandate to shoot cheaply. Yet the result is stellar, a morally andpolitically complex drama. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (11)

A fantastic work of psychodrama
Wow...this is "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" at its best. The plot is simple (Kira suspects that a sick man brought aboard the station is actually a notorious Cardassian war criminal), but terrific direction, great music, and fantastic acting from everyone involved make this episode totally riveting. Harris Yulin is arguably Star Trek's most impressive guest star ever, and his Dr. Hannibal Lecter-ish role is wonderful. The psychology of prejudice is examined in the simplicity of the interrogation scenes and comes to a head in an incredible ending. A nearly flawless and definitely recommended episode.

"We're guilty, all of us."
This one was definitely a highlight of Deep Space Nine's first season. Playing with the old wounds of the Cardassian occupation of Bajor, the writers created an intricately constructed story that parallels some real-world events, but adds enough of its own material to retain a unique flavor.

The plot of this episode takes a number of tricky twists, so I won't go into a summary of them here. It's enough to say that a possible Cardassian war criminal appears on the station, and Kira must determine who he is, and what crimes he committed in the past. The plot, as it unravels, is diabolical, and had me completely fooled and eager to get to the next revelation.

This is an episode hinging on strong performances and steady direction. Harris Yulin as the Cardassian is particularly notable. Two scenes in particular stand out, and I'll try to describe them without giving away any plot points. In the first scene, we see Yulin's character from Major Kira's point of view, and what she sees is genuinely frightening and unsettling. In the second scene, the scripted lines are very similar, but Yulin alters his performance, and the direction is just different enough to throw a completely different spin on what is unfolding on the screen. We see the action through Kira's eyes, and the difference is startling. Kudos to everyone involved for managing to completely change the tone using only the most subtle of means.

This episode proves that Deep Space Nine can do a terrific episode without leaving its main sets. In fact, the narrative rarely moves away from three rooms, and this gives the episode an intense and effective claustrophobic feel. The strong script, excellent performances, and confident direction combine to make this episode one of the best Star Treks that I've seen. This one is definitely recommended, especially to those people who know that science fiction (and indeed good drama) is far more than mere visuals and special effects.

Being Cardassian IS'NT Enough!!!!!
I get COLD CHILLS at the end of this episode.I'm a
Star Trek fan with some HARSH criticism about DS9 but THIS
is one of their Top 10 BEST shows.It's about an alien who tries
to take credit for his old masters murder of Bajoran laborors
to expose his people's attrocoties.He's played by Harry Yulin
who's blood curdling performance and Nane Visitor's emmotionally
charged delivery make "Duet" DS9's highlite.And it's a "bubble
show"-no action takes place outside the space station.But

existing in tandem with real-like documentary films such as
"Schilnders List" this show's theme transendes all science
fiction and is CLASSIC storytelling.I recommend this to all
Trek fans who dissmissed DS9 early on-it more then makes up for
some of the drek later accociated with Star Trek's big black
sheep.

Simply put...
Simply put, this is the best Star Trek episode that I have ever seen, and I have seen the majority of them. Flawless, brilliant, and cutting, this is the best of DS9, and the best of Trek. Those five stars are not enough for this episode.

Not just great Trek, but great storytelling
This is an classic story, and a fascinating and ultimately moving hour of TV. Major Kira, her wounds still fresh (and deep) from her planet's previous occupation by the Cardassians, goes through a major transformation after dealing with an alleged Cardassian war criminal who is apprehended on the space station.

A lot of DS9 episodes may take a little familiarity with the backstory to appreciate, but this episode stands firmly on its own 2 feet. You get all the exposition you need, and the payoff at the end is powerful. Plus, Harris Yulin's performance as the Cardasian suspect is nothing short of awesome. Great sci-fi, but more importantly, great drama. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Melancholy Remembrance of Things Past
Catherine is introduced to a new hire at the District Attorney's Office. One evening she sees him go to the tunnel entrance in Central Park. It turns out that the man (named Devin) was Vincent's closest boyhood friend. He has returned after a decades-long absence from the tunnels. Making extensive use of flashbacks, this well-crafted episode gradually reveals to us details of Vincent's relationship with Devin, and details behind friction between Devin and Father. We learn of childhood dreams, never realized. The final shot, a flashback moment involving Vincent and Devin, is quite moving.

In 1998 I conducted a poll among Beauty and the Beast fans asking them to rate the 44 episodes of the first two seasons on a 1-to-10 scale. 31 fans participated. "Promises of Someday" finished 11th out of the 44 episodes.

I placed "Promises of Someday" 20th in my own personal 1-through-44 rank-ordering of the episodes. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

One of the best TV shows I have ever seen.
The Dukes of Hazzard is my favorite TV shows, it is full of car chases and Muscle Cars and it is a very funny TV show. I HOPE THAT ALL EPISODES WILL BE RELEASED ON DVD IN THE NEAR FUTURE, I would like to have all the episodes of each of the SEVEN SEASONS plus the movie that was made specilly for television. I DREAM of owning all of the SEVEN Sesions and the movie I even think about buying CHARGER.
I CAN'T WAIT FOR ALL FULL 7 SEASONS TO BE RELEASED ON DVD, it would be a great idea.

The Big Heist
This show is great, simular to the show that Bo and Luke bought the General Lee when it was black. Seems that the only difference was the moonshine and the jewels hidden in the car. But I do not seem to remember the title of that show nor the month of 1979 that it aired, it did not seem to be too far from this show's release. And it is extremely hard to find too. I just wish they would release all of the show's so that we could have them at home, it is getting harder to find them on tv if at all now. Any help out there????? Keep up the work Dukes. I am one fan that would buy the rest that I do not have in my collection. It is a very fine show for everyone to watch.

The big Heist
As is with anything to do with the Dukes of Hazzard I am a big fan.There was plenty of action in this flick as with any of the Dukes shows,in movies to purchase i would probably put this on the 2 or 3 spot in what to purchase first. ... Read more

Amazon.com

To aid in a battle simulation program, the Enterprise enlists the skills of a master strategist from the Zakdorn race, Sirna Kolrami (Roy Brocksmith). Riker and Picard face off, with Riker helming a broken-down old derelict of a ship called the Hathaway. Riker bucks the odds, and the arrogant Zakdorn's low assessment of his abilities, using a holographic trick to distract the Enterprise, thus winning the contest. Only the contest attracts a very real Ferengi vessel that attacks the Enterprise, thus taking the game to another level, an opportunity to display their game skills in an actually dangerous situation. "Peak Performance" revolves around the air of superiority of the smug Kolrami, whose arrogance and master-level abilities in the strategy game Strategema drive the crew to distraction. The episode bursts with ideas about finding creative solutions to complex problems, that pit left-brain, or logico-mathematical, skills against right-brain, or creative, abilities--and very good ideas at that. --Jim Gay ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A missed oportunity to examine the Ferengi culture
Without question, Star Fleet would have the most rigorous standards for entry, advancement and evaluation. With billions of potential candidates from many different species, only the very best would even reach the level needed to apply. Therefore, command officers would constantly be put through new training exercises, sometimes with little chance of success. Such a scenario is the premise for this episode, where Commander Riker is to take command of an 80 year-old ship and lead it in a simulated battle against the Enterprise. The odds are overwhelmingly against Riker and his band, as their vessel, the Hathaway, is essentially a derelict, without antimatter for warp drive.
Relying on his knowledge of the security features of the Enterprise, Worf is able to simulate the appearance of a Romulan warship on the Enterprise view screen. This distracts the crew long enough for the Hathaway to inflict a great deal of simulated damage to the Enterprise. After applauding Riker and his crew, Picard believes that an approaching Ferengi warship is also a false image. However, this one is very real and attacks the unshielded Enterprise. Sustaining heavy damage and unable to immediately respond due to the weapons being taken off-line, Picard receives an ultimatum from the Ferengi. He must surrender the Hathaway or be destroyed. Once again, the guile of the Enterprise officers serves them well as they convince the Ferengi that another star ship is in the area.
There is also a major subplot, where a member of a species known for their strategic thinking is the Federation observer assigned to monitor the exercise. Arrogant to the point of being extremely obnoxious, Dr. Pulaski maneuvers Data into engaging him in a strategy game. While it is easy to root for Data, the subplot is much too dominant. I would have preferred more effort having been spent in explaining the exercise and fleshing out additional tactics. After all, the crew of the Hathaway had to have a secondary plan after the first. Also, there is very little explanation as to why the Ferengi would attack the Enterprise in such a blatant manner. Risking an interstellar war over a derelict vessel makes no sense without some additional justification. The Enterprise crew should have held a conference where the psychology and motives of the Ferengi were examined in detail.
This starts out as a very good episode, I found myself laughing at some of the "improvisations" performed by the crew of the Hathaway. However, the strength of the subplot and the inexplicable attack by the Ferengi weakened it to an average episode.

Notable for its guest star casting
Later to make himself known as "Quark" on DS9, Armin Shimerman dons the lobes of Ferengi commander "Bractor" in this episode from the series' second season. This was not the first time that the actor portrayed one of big-earred aliens, having assayed similar and distinctive characterizations in two earlier installments.

The story is rather routine and not among the show's best but it's worth a look for the development of Ferengi as pivotal characters in the Trek mythology.

Starfleet War Games: Can Pupil Riker surpass Master Picard?
Starfleet has sent the legendary Zakdorn strategist, Sirna Kolrami, the Third-level Strategema Grand Master to overseer a simulated war game. On one side we have the Enterprise, commanded by Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his trusted Android Second Officer Commander Data. On the other side we have Commander William Riker, supported by La Forge, Worf and Wesley, in the Hathaway, an eighty-year old starship that does not have warp drive. Sounds really fair, huh? This would be a really good test for Picard and the Enterprise, especially with the Borg on their way from the far ends of the Star Trek universe. Okay, the set-up is somewhat lame, but Riker and his wily crew sure have fun coming up with all sorts of tricks to help even the odds. Then, just to make things interesting, the Ferengi show up and cause trouble. This episode is a bit above average, and even though nothing significant happens it does show the crew being innovative and having fun. Clearly a couple of key elements in the show's second season was not only showing the crew as highly functional but also establishing them as becoming more of a family. In these regards "Peak Performance" helps solidify both elements.

COOL!
I really liked this particular ST:TNG episode because there is no particular pressing do-or-die mission to accomplish, just a routine simulation to run to test Commander Riker's commanding skills. Like always, things are not quite as they seem. Picard learns this when he mistakes a real attacker for a computer simulation. Another plus in my opinion is that we learn about the technological capabilities of even the most outdated hunk of junk in the galaxy, and the Enterprise crew plays a game other than poker! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A good episode with some inconsistencies
This episode has great special effects, and I for one never get tired of great space battles in DS9. However, when compared to previous episodes such as "The Way of the Warrior", it pales in comparison. The Alliance sees fit to send at most six ships to try and retake the station, yet in "The Way of the Warrior" a massive Klingon fleet is dispatched to DS9. And isn't Terok Nor supposed to be orbiting Bajor? What happened to the planet?

Back Through the Looking Glass for Captain Sisko
Jennifer Sisko comes from the Crossover universe to lure Jake back with her and force Captain Sisko to follow. The rebels have taken over Terok Nor (DS9 Crossover counterpart), but an Alliance Fleet led by Regent Worf is coming to take it back. "Smiley" O'Brien had stolen the schematics for the Defiant, but their version of the warship has some problems and they need Sisko's help to get it ready for battle. "Shattered Mirror" has one of the all-time best Star Trek battle sequences at the end and while we might be wary of so many episodes involving the Mirror Universe there is always the pleasure of finding out what Intendant Kira is up to in her catsuit. Unfortunately, this time it has to do with the idea that sometimes there are tragic parallel events in parallel universes. "Shattered Mirror" is a first-class DS9 episode.

Mirror, mirror... Defiant, defiant!
In a great mirror universe adventure Sisko must help O'Brien put the finishing touches to a Defiant they have built, you see an Alliance ship is on it's way with an evil Worf as it's Captain. In a greatly over-acted episode we get to see Worf and Sisko go head to head as the Defiant look-a-like goes up against a ship 10 times the size of it. Great plot and top-notch special effects! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

"M*A*S*H" works in more heavy material with the comedy
With Season 3 "M*A*S*H" settled in for the long haul. Producers Gene Reynold and Larry Gelbart had gathered anecdotes and firsthand observations at the 43rd Army Surgical Hospital in Korea (the 8055 was no longer mobile) which were worked into various episodes. As Gelbart later explained, it was difficult to come back from doing all those interviews and hear what things were really like during the Korean War and still be funny. Fortunately, the show was still high in the ratings (finishing 5th for the 1974-75 season) and could now mix heavy material in with the comedy, as can be seen from the first eight episodes:

(49) "The General Flipped at Dawn" (Writer: Jim Fritzell & Everett Greenbaum; Aired: September 10, 1974) has a new spit-and-polish general (Harry Morgan) showing up and deciding that moving the 4077th right onto the battlefield would be a good thing. Grade B: On the one hand the idea of a general being this nuts is unrealistic, but the general is played by Harry Morgan who, ironically, would be back one year later as Sherman Potter.

(50) "Rainbow Bridge" (Writers: Larry Gelbart & Laurence Marks; Aired: September 17, 1974) has Trapper (Wayne Rogers) and Hawkeye (Alan Alda) giving up a furlough to go after a group of wounded soldiers in enemy territory. Grade B-: Clearly inspired by the interviews conducted in Korea, but a bit much of a transition after the season premier episode. Singer Loudon Wainwright III, who would offer some musical accompaniment from time to time during the third season, makes his first appearance.

(51) "Officer of the Day" (Writer: Laurence Marks; Aired: September 24, 1974) has Henry on R&R in Seoul and Hawkeye forced to act as O.D. If that was not enough trouble, Colonel Flagg (Edward Winter) is back at the 4077th wanting to execute a wounded North Korean prisoner as a spy. Grade B+: One of the first times that Hawkeye has to act like a real soldier.

(52) "Iron Guts Kelly" (Writers: Larry Gelbart & Sid Dorman; Aired: October 1, 1974) has the famous genral (James Gregory) dying in the bed of Hot Lips (Margaret Swit). However, that is not heroic enough of a death for the general's aide (Keene Curtis). Grade A-: "M*A*S*H" was becoming more realistic and more of a dramedy than a situation comedy, but black comedy was also one of their strengths as this episode proves.

(53) "O.R." (Writers: Larry Gelbart & Laurence Marks; Aired: October 8, 1974) is set entirely in the operating room and is played without a laugh track. The casualties never stop coming and even Sidney Freedman (Allan Arbus) has to help. Grade A+: The stark realism of "M*A*S*H" was never more evident than on this stellar episode.

(54) "Springtime" (Writers: Linda Bloodworth & Mary Kay Place; Aired: October 15, 1974) has both Radar (Gary Burghoff) and Klinger (Jamie Farr) falling in love. Meanwhile, a grateful G.I. (Alex Karras) looks out for Hawkeye. Grade C+: Standard military sitcom episode, suffers from following "O.R."

(55) "Checkup" (Writer: Laurence Marks; Aired: October 22, 1974) finds Trapper suffering from a ulcer which turns out to be his ticket home. This requires a big party to say goodbye during which Hot Lips confesses a few things to Trapper. Grade B: Worth it for the look on Margaret's face when she realizes Trapper will be staying.

(56) "Life With Father" (Writers: Everett Greenbaum & Jim Fritzell; Aired: October 29, 1974) has Father Mulcahy (William Christopher) officiating at an infant's circumcision while Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson) is convinced his wife is having an affair back home with a doctor who drives a Jaguar. Grade C+: Nice to see Henry get a case of the doubts, but an average episode redeemd by the camp's priest getting something better to do than administer last rites.

This first videotape offers up two classic episodes, which is pretty good. Unfortunately, some of the other episodes are pretty average and keep Volume 1 of Season 3 from earning 5 stars. Historically these episodes set up Season 4 when Harry Morgan would join the cast and Wayne Rogers would leave, both of which remind us that the best of "M*A*S*H" is yet to come. ... Read more