Reviews (7)

Ferengi comedy at its best
If you find the Ferengi funny, especially Quark, then you'll love this episode. Quark, who knows humans as an intelligent and formidable species in his time, is amazed to meet the humans of the 1940s. He's amazed at their niavety and apparent stupidity (compared to humans of the 22nd Century), and, in classic Ferengi style, he immediately tries to take advantage of them for a profit. This episode attempts no moral theme or philisphical statement about anything or anyone; it's not dramatic. It's for pure fun and entertainment, and I thought it was great!

A bad attempt at comedy
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine gives it's weakest performance in a long time after five relatively insightful episodes from the fourth season of the show.

"Little Green Men" begins with Nog leaving to the starfleet academy. Amazingly enough, Quark's cousin Gayla just happens to give Quark a ship for the purpose of Nog's transport...

Quark, Rom and Nog start the joyrney towards Earth. The trip leads to a weird accident in Earth's orbit that leads to a crash that -as a consequence of a freak technobabble phenomenon- carries the ship into the past. More specifically to the town of Roswell, where the U.S. military finds it.

Ring a bell?

The story of "Little Green Men" comes from Toni Marberry and Jack Trevino and the teleplay from the main writer's od DS9: Ire Steven Behr & Robert Hewitt Wolfe.

Behr and Wolfe's dialogue combined to James L. Conway's directing are the only things that save this episode from being the absolute worst trek has to offer. It comes near, though. One of the first rules of modern sci-fi is: forget Roswell; nothing good will ever come from it.

This applys to comical sci-fi more accurately than to any other kind.

"Little Green Men" is probably meant to be a comical episode, but it's more like a torture for star trek viewers in it's unintellectually boring way of telling it's "humorous" story. An idiotic premise, horrible additional characters and lousy story structure quarantee an episode that really should be non-canon.

Little Green Dollars and Greedy Ferengi
AWESOME EPISODE ! Quark, Rom, and Nog get tossed back into time ( United States ) ! If you love Ferengi episodes then here is another one that is sure to rub your lobes ! 5 STARS !!

OO Agent

Uproarious Ferengi
Armin Shimerman's, Aron Eisenberg's, and Max Grodenchik's talents are showcased in this Ferengi episode; my favorite of all the Ferengi shows. The three Ferengis (Quark, Nog, and Rom) are thrown back in time to 1947 Earth as a result of a sabotaged shuttle. Rom and Nog think of ways to get home while Quark thinks of ways to take over Earth. The problem is they are held prisoners of the military who think they are invading martians. Quark continually tries to manipulative the military and convince Rom and Nog that their taking over Earth is in the Ferengis best interest. However, Quark doesn't realize that there was a stowaway on board his shuttle and this stowaway is determined to get back to DS9 and their own time.

This show gives a hilarious twist to the Roswell, New Mexico, UFO story. If you're a fan of the Ferengi, as I am, this is a must see episode!

Explains Roswell perfectly!
I absolutely loved this episode. Normally I find Quark detestable-and generally I feel the same way about all ferengi-but this episode was perfect. It was actually believable. Can't you just see Quark going back in time and causing the Roswell incident? I love how Odo shows up and gets them all out of the mess they are in. I didn't expect Odo to be there at all. It was a surprising episode that was funny and well done. A nice change from all the 'Dominion Wars' and constant political struggles. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Susanna Thompson
In my opinion, "Rejoined" represents Star Trek at it's finest. I only wish they continued with this storyline with the later episodes of DS9.

"Rejoined" also highlights the career of Susanna Thompson (Lenara). Many people became instant fans of hers immediately after "Rejoined" aired. I'm one of those fans. :)

This is a classic episode which every Star Trek fan should have in their collection. A big round of applause should go to Avery Brooks for his directing and Rene Echevarria for his writing.

Surprisingly functional for a love story
..."Rejoined" is at first glance just another boring love story.

It deals with a forbidden relationship between our Trill science officer Jazia Dax and Lenara Kahn, another joined Trill scientist.

The thing that makes this relationship forbidden is the fact that the two of them have been married before. Kind of...

A hundred years earlier when the Dax symbiont was joined to a host named Torias, he (Torias Dax) was married to Leilani Kahn, a person who was half the Kahn symbiont, half a long dead woman.

There's nothing more unholy in the Trill society than a joined Trill 'rejoined' to a family member or a beloved from his/her 'past life'. People who have committed this have been exiled from the Trill homeworld. The result has been the eventual death of both the host and the symbiont, as a new host has been unavailable. And according to the first code of trill morale, the symbiont's life is everything.

It all begins when Lenora Kahn comes to DS9 to commit an experiment in wich an artificial wormhole is being created.

Lenara has an older scientist and his brother watching over her shoulder for the experiment and for her ex-husbands 'new form'.

Eventually, Lenara and Jazia redescover the love Leilani and Torias had. This leads into a powerfull and even beautiful story of forbidden love that contains all the clichés that go along with that same old story, but manages to offer thought-provoking and powerfull scenes. A big credit of this goes to the powerfull performances by Terry Farrel and ----- as Jazia Dax and Lenara Kahn.

"Rejoined" is all about a society's and culture's autonomy over individuals and their lives, and it gives a lot to think about.

Then of cource there's the issue with the motives behind the episode.

"Rejoined" is a very Roddenberrian episode that defends the oppressed, this time sexual minorities, and in that respect "Rejoined" isn't all that succesfull.

The story is extremely figurative, and doesn't make a clear statement. It avoids direct opinion by using the Trill, who have lived several lives both as male and female. That way you could state that bisexuality would be unavoidable for a Trill.

Still, the episode has some successes in that field also. The fact that both Jazia and Lenara are women isn't an issue. At all. On the countrary, when Lenara first comes to the station, Jazia's colleagues speculate on a possible relationship. And before this episode, Jazia's had several relationships with men. This would suggest that Star Trek confirms what sosiologist and psychologist have speculated: that sexuality isn't going to be so one-sided in the future as it becomes less of a tabu.

Nevertheless it would have made a better impact to the show if it had made a clear and unnegotiable statement on the issue. After all, Star Trek is being marketed as an open minded and intellectual show. Well, they still have "Enterprise" and movies, and several Star Trek books have made a clear statement on sexual minorities. And the oppinion of the writers is clearly apparent in "Rejoined", and we get to witness a lesbian kiss that doesn't leave (almost :)) anyone cold...

"Rejoined" is mature and surprisingly unsentimental for a virtually plotless love story episode, containing good characterization, quality drama and exellent acting performances.

Good drama.

The Alien Among Us
Rejoined is often mistaken for a "gay" episode, and while the undertones are undeniable, and the acceptence of same sex relationships in the 24th century assumed, this is in fact, not what the episode is about.

In many episodes, the nature of the Trill is assumed, and their society seems not so different as our own. Their looks and the familiar presense of Jadzia Dax make us forget that with few exceptions, the Trill are the most alien society featured in the Star Trek universe.

Rejoined brings the viewer face to face with societal responsability, love, and what it means to be an individual. All and all, an excellent outing, Star Trek at it's best.

THis episode makes you think
I am a huge fan of Deep Space Nine, and this is one of my favorite episodes. This episode makes you think about all of the implications of the joined Trills. I do not think that this episode has anything to do with homosexualtiy. The fact that Dax and Khan are both currently in female hosts is unimportant. If anything, I think the Star Trek people have been very concervative with the sexual preferences of the Trill. TO my knowledge, the issue of the symbiants genders has never been explained. What if the symbiant was male and the host was female or vice versa? I tend to think of the symbiants as hermaphroditic just because it simplies things. Even then, that means half of your personality was dervied from a creature that can mate with any of its own kind. Then, there would be the effects of the past hosts on your personality. At this point in the series, Dax had been male 4 times and female 4 times. This means that Dax remembers being a man and presumably finding women attractive. Also, both times that a trill has shown an attraction to someone of the same gender on Star Trek, the two were first involved as a heterosexual couple before one (or both) of them changed host(s) and gender. For those homphobics out there, ask yourself this: If you woke up one morning and you were in a body of the opposite gender than when you went to sleep would you love your spouse any less? THAT is the situation Jadzia has finds herself in in this episode. When she fell in love with and married Nilani Khan Dax was a man. Jadzia overcomes her obviously heterosexual orientation (every other relationship she had on DS9 was with a man) because she has a shared history with Khan.

Dax rejoins with an old lover, breaking the Trill taboo
A team of Trill scientists comes to DS9 to create an artificial wormhole. The leader of the scientists, Dr. Lenara Kahn, used to be Nilani Kahn, who was the wife of Torias Dax. For those keeping track of all the Daxes (Daxi?), Torias was before Joran who was before Curzon who preceded Jadziah. However Kahn has gone directly from Nilani to Lenara. Now, to make things really interesting, we learn that the Trills have a taboo against continuing a love relationship begun by another host. Violation of this taboo is punished by exile from the Trill home world, which means the symbiont will never have an opportunity to join with another host. Of course, Dax and Kahn discover that their feelings for each other are still strong.

You certainly to appreciate the idea that love transcends gender/body type that is at the heart of "Rejoined." I always liked the way Sisko called Dax "old man" because of his relationship with Curzon. At this point in time on the cosmic wheel Dax and Kahn both happen to be women, but that just has to do with their hosts not with the symbionts themselves. The first time I watched this episode I thought the taboo idea was stupid. After all, is symbionts can go on living forever then why can they not go on loving forever? But the more you think about it the more interesting it gets. Are the symbionts the only ones in love? What about the hosts? Do they agree to be in love with someone or is one party more dominant in that regard? Would we not expect Jadziah Dax to have different tastes in the realm of love from Torias Dax or Curzon Dax? Are the Trills prohibited from being in love before they become hosts? There are all sorts of fascinating questions this episode raises, but "Rejoined" is one of those self-contained little episodes with an unsatisfactory ending that does nothing more than remind us that next week there will be a new story with new guest stars on DS9. This is why I prefer the Star Trek stories that add or at least work into the existing mythos. "Rejoined" just scratches the surface on the interesting issues it raises. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This episode concluded what amounted to a three-part story arc that began with episode 46, "The Jem'Hadar," a cliffhanger episode that ended DS9's second season and continued in episode 47, "The Search, Part I," the first installment of year three. Back on DS9 after a harrowing encounter with the Jem'Hadar, vicious warriors of the Dominion, Sisko and Dax find themselves blind-sided by the Federation's willingness to cave in to the Dominion and the Jem'Hadar on a treaty. Meanwhile, Kira tries to contact Sisko from Odo's home planet, while Odo receives his first exposure to his own people and their concept of the "great link" that connects all shapeshifters. This story provides a solid conclusion to the tale and sets up much of what comes in the next season, as the entire region becomes destabilized. It also offers real insight into Odo's life story, which is told for the first time. The DS9 part of the plot is particularly tricky, and the ending plays mind games with the viewer in ways that the average show would never dare. Still, the Dominion turns out to be a lot less forbidding than the Borg, the scariest Star Trek villain of all time. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Something of a false start to the big War with the Dominion
Odo discovers a whole lot about his mysterious past from the colony of Changelings he and Kira have discovered in the Gamma Quadrant. The Constable is also tantalized by references to the "Great Link," a merging ceremony unique to the Changelings. Meanwhile, Sisko and Bashir limp back to DS9 on a shuttle only to discover the Federation is negotiating a treaty with the Dominion. Sisko and company know this would be a fatal mistake and decide to take matters into their own hands. There is a fatal flaw with Part 2 of "The Search," which is simply that the conclusion basically undoes the entire episode. Consequently, this episode loses a star although the surprising revelation that the Changelings are the Founders and Sisko's decision to collapse the entrance to the wormhole are pretty good. Besides, DS9 had been building towards this big confrontation between the Federation and the Dominion that is suddenly pushed back to some time in the future. This is necessary because it would be hard to explore the various characters on the show while a war was being fought on the Promenade, but it does come across as something of a cheat.

A conclusion?
After the shocking end to the first episode Odo comes face to face with his own people. In the meantime the crippled Defiant makes its way back to DS9 once there the remaining crew find a Dominion negotiation party that are planning on brining a close to the Federation-Dominion problem. But Starfleet are terrified of this new threat and begin giving-in to the outrageous Dominion demands, Sisko can't stand by and allow the Dominion to make a foothold in the Alpha Quadrant so he decides to destroy the entrace to the wormhole, keeping the Jem'hadar on the other side of the galaxy. But before he can Starfleet threaten to prevent any attempt by Sisko... ... Read more

Amazon.com

This is the first of a two-part episode that opened DS9's third season, coming after a second-season-ending cliffhanger involving a villain potentially as devastating as the Borg. The Dominion controls Gamma Quadrant on the other end of the wormhole and is threatening to attack DS9 and the Federation, using the war-happy Jem'Hadar as its conquering force. Sisko, Odo, and the rest head off in a warship of their own to make contact with the Founders, the secretive leaders of the Dominion, to explain the Federation's peaceful intent. But when they are ambushed by the Jem'Hadar, Odo and Kira escape to follow Odo's sudden instinct that draws him to the Omarion Nebula--and his home planet. It's a well-written blend of action and sci-fi fantasy, mixing a complex set of plot lines and finding a way to bring them full circle in the second episode. Particularly solid is the use of the character of Odo, who is played touchingly by Rene Auberjonois. --Marshall Fine ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Sisko gets the Defiant to play with and Odo finds his people
As the third season of Deep Space Nine begins Commander Sisko has a new toy to play with: a prototype warship named the Defiant. Instead of waiting for the Dominion to attack DS9, Sisko intends to take the ship into the Gamma Quadrant and try to locate the Founders, the supposed leaders of the Dominion and its Jem'Haddar soldiers. Although equipped with a Romulan cloaking device, the Defiant still ends up being boarded by the Jem'Haddar. Odo and Kira escape in a shuttle where the Constable reacts to a sudden urge and takes the ship to the Omarion Nebula where he discovers a colony of Changelings.

When last we left our merry little band of heroes at the end of Season Two, Sisko was intending to prepare DS9 for a Dominion invasion fleet coming through the worm hole. Yet here we are, taking the battle to the Gamma Quadrant, thereby saving the anticipated invasion for Part Two of this episode. Of course, the surprise appearance of the Changelings at the end turns out not to be totally unrelated to the threat of the Dominion. There is a sense in which "The Search" constitutes a new beginning for the series, since the threat of the Dominion will be an omni-present element from now until the final episode.

If the Dominion comes through the wormhole, we'll be ready..
The shocking season finale left Sisko stating that DS9 was the first line of defence from any attack force from the Gamma Quadrant and he intends to be ready for them!

A huge sub-space disturbance is picked-up well within weapons range, DS9 is placed on red alert with a possible Dominion invasion on hand... the strange disturbane turns out to be a cloaked ship, a cloaked FEDERATION ship, The Defiant - a new battleship that will lead the Starship presence in the Bajoran system.

In an attempt to find a pieceful solution to the Dominion threat Sisko takes the Defiant into the Gamma Quadrant with the intention of finding out more information on this new threat - a more deadly cunning plot is revealed as Odo is attracted to a mysterious Nebula in the middle of Dominion space...

U.S.S. Defiant kicks!
I thought the Defiants first showing on DS9 was cool! It had wounderful action shots and was an edge of your seat ride from entering the unknown Gamma Quadrant on the other side of the GALAXY to find the Founders of the Dominion to woundering if the crew of DS9 would servive! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Starfleet's attempt
An exellent episode! Combining action with a good plot. You also get lots of good scenes of Starfleet headquaters and Earth in the 24th century. You even get to see Admiral Leyton in charge of starfleet and the president of the Federation.

Sisko uncovers yet another conspiracy in Starfleet
In "Homefront," the first part of this two-part storyline, Sisko learned the Changelings had infiltrated Earth and went with Odo to Earth to head up security. However, at the end of the episode the Federation President declared a state of emergency. Now Earth is under martial law, with security troops apparently on every street corner. However, Sisko is now suspicious about the series of events that led to the decision and "Paradise Lost" details how our hero ferrets out the truth. The mystery is rather average and I must admit to a prejudice against episodes where Starfleet goes fascist, especially when it is so darn easy to have a successful (in the short run) conspiracy. I guess I just have idealistic hopes for the future. Anyway, idea that oppression reigns on earth is pretty week and this ends up being an average DS9 episode.

A good conclusion to Homefront
This episode is a good and surprising conclusion to the previous, episode, Homefront. Sisko finds out that one of his friends has engineered the incident so the military will take control of Earth. Sisko must betray his friend, or betray what he knows is right. Meanwhile, the starship Defiant is heading towards Earth to reveal the conspiracy, when the Admiral informs another ship that the Defiant has been taken over by changelings. Will the Defiant be lost in the power strugle? This episode was superb and will remain a classic in the series ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The Defiant helps the Jem'Haddar turn on some renegades
A Jem'Haddar raiding party steals equipment from DS9 and escapes into the wormhole with Sisko giving chase in the Defiant. When they locate a damaged Jem'Haddar warship, Sisko beams abaord six soldiers and their Vorta leader, Weyoun. From Weyoun they learn that the Dominion has discovered an Iconian gateway device (you might remember this from the "Contagion" episode of STNG), but that the scientists sent to investigate the gateway have rebelled. Weyoun wants Sisko's assistance in destroying the gateway and the renegade Jem'Haddar. Of course, the Federation cannot afford to have any Jem'Haddar in control of a intergalactic gateway, so Sisko agrees. "To the Death" is an average DS9 episode, where the action is halfway decent, but I have to admit that I do not understand what the Dominion is up to. We have been waiting about TWO YEARS for the Dominion to attack the Alpha Quadrant through the wormhole, and now all they send is a raiding party? Also, it seems too early in the game to turn the fierce Jem'Haddar soldiers, the killing machines who never sleep or eat, into drug addicted malcontents. I never understood the need to undo the blind obedience to the Founders idea; after all, it works for the Vortas. In the final analysis, this one gets four stars because of Weyoun, who is certainly the greatest sycophant in Star Trek history.

To the death... well 'til I'm tired!
Deep Space Nine is attacked by a group of Jem'hadar would steal some equipment and supplies. Sisko is outraged and takes the Defiant into the Gamma Quadrant to stop them, determined to send a message to the Founders that Starfleet will not stand-by and let Dominion ships go unpunished. Once in the Gamma Quadrant the Defiant finds a crippled Jem'hadar warship with a Vorta onboard, Weyoun.

Weyoun informs Sisko that the Jem'hadar that attacked DS9 are renegades and that they stole the equipment to make a powerful portal, utilizing ancient technology that allows them to transport to anywhere in the galaxy instantly. Thinking of Earth and how vulnerable it would be, Sisko teams up with the Jem'hadar in an attempt to take out these renegades before they fix the transporter.

Apparently these renegades are ruthless and want to rule the Dominion on there own, that is why Weyoun is after them, when they pick up sensor information that this portal is nearly fixed an attack is launched. Fighting side-by-side Sisko and Weyoun must destroy the portal... a bloody action-packed episode that sheds new light on the Jem'hadar society! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

The Defiant in a showdown with two Jem-Haddar ships
The Karemma Commerce Ministry of the Gamma Quadrant is secretly negotiating with the Federation to conclude a trade agreement, but unfortunately Quark has been helping by making sure he makes a profit off of both sides. Then two Jem'Haddar warships show up to punish the Karemmans and end up crippling the Defiant which finds Kira on the bridge dealing with Sisko, who has a concussion, Dax and Bashir caught in a turbolift, and Worf in the engine room. So, basically what you have is the Defiant taking on the Jem'Haddar with one hand tied behind its back, metaphorically speaking. All this takes place in the atmosphere of a gas giant, so this episode is one of those Star Trek versions of an old World War II submarine movie, like "Balance of Power" from the original Trek with a bit of Next Generation's "Disaster" thrown in to make it even more interesting. But while "Starship Down" is not completely original, it is still an above average DS9 episode, since it does get into some of the tactical aspects of starship battle.

One of the better DS9 shows
this episode has some of the best acting in the series as Captain Ben Sisko (Avery Brooks) must save his starship after it is damaged in batttle with the Jem Hadar warbirds. Featureing some good acting also by series regulars; Nana Vistor, Terry Farrell, Alexander Sidag, and Michael Dorn.

Treks just don't get any better than this ...
STARSHIP DOWN is an outstanding tale, reminescent of all those great Cold War films from Earth's 1960s ... the enemy is out there, but we just don't know where it is. Heavy on subplots involving red shirts that, sadly, we never see again, Worf, Quark, Dax, Bashir, and Kira all have lessons to learn in the midst of a conflict to save their lives while the Defiant is falling apart around them as they're trapped in the atmosphere of a huge gaseous planet ... all this with 2 Jem'Hadar ships in close pursuit! Some terrific character moments from what was arguably their best season of DS9.

Ratings down!
Starfleet is trying to get some information out of the Karemma, the same race that helped direct the Defiant to the Dominion communications relay in The Search (Part 1). The Jem'hadar get wind of this and are not impressed, attempting to destroy both the Karemma vessel and the Defiant. With the ship crippled, Sisko calls for them to head into the unstable atmosphere of a gas giant. Once in there they need to come up with a way to get home, all the while three meanacing Jem'hadar fighters are searching the gaseous atmosphere. The major characters get divided in the most hilarious circumstances that should've been serious but looked slapstick and totally scientifically inaccurate. Thinking that they're all going to die 'secrets' are revealed in the heat of the moment, nothing shocking, nothing exciting, add to that one of those "the Captain's going to die unless we get back in 40 minutes" stories and you have a melodramatic predictable episode.

Deep Space Nine
On a mission in the Gamma Quadrant, the Defiant is attacked by the Jem Hadar who are out to punish the Karemma. When the Defiant pursues the Karemma and Jen Hadar vessels into the gaseous atmosphere of a giant planet, the ship is attacked and severely damaged. Struggling to repair the crippled ship, Dax and Bashir become trapped in a turolift, Sisko and Kira wounded on the bridge, Quark trapped in the Mess Hall, and Worf and O'Brien in the Engine Room tring to save the ship. A great episode. The effects were good. Just a great episode. ... Read more

Amazon.com

With resonant ties to previous DS9 episodes, "In Purgatory's Shadow" kicks off the fifth season's only two-parter with a nail-biting cliffhanger. It's also a series highlight for Andrew J. Robinson as DS9's resident Cardassian, Garak, who travels with Worf into the Gamma quadrant, where they're captured by the Jem'Hadar and held in a Dominion-controlled internment camp. Reunited with his now-dying mentor (Paul Dooley, returning from the third season's "The Die Is Cast"), Garak reveals a moving secret of his lineage, while Sisko and Kira, on DS9, cope with the Dominion's imminent invasion of the Alpha quadrant. Building up a steady head of steam, this tautly paced episode allows Robinson (best known as the villain of Clint Eastwood's Dirty Harry) to deepen his character's impact on the series, and Worf finds honor and friendship with Klingon general Martok (J.G. Hertzler), who would make welcomed appearances in subsequent episodes. Despite its pretentious title, this episode represents DS9 at its best. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (4)

My second most favorite Star Trek episode
Excellent episode. The beginning of what would be the two-year long war between the Federation and the Cardassians/Dominion. Filled with suspense, surprises, twists and turns, shocking developments, and strong tests of courage. Well-written episode and worth every penny to buy. In case you want to know, my most favorite Star Trek episode of all time is the "Sacrifice of Angels".

The Jem'Hadar are ready to invade the Alpha Quadrant
The day the Alpha Quadrant knew was coming finally arrives in "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," Episode 112, "In Purgatory's Shadow" (Written by Robert Hewitt Wolfe & Ira Steven Behr, Aired February 10, 1997). DS9 picks up a coded message from the Gamma Quadrant that appears to be in Cardassian, so Garak (Andrew J. Robinson) is asked to analyze it. He says the message is not important, but then is caught trying to sneak off in a runabout. When Garak admits that the message is a distress call from his mentor Enabran Tain (Paul Dooley), the former head of the Obsidian Order, Sisko allows the Garak to go to the Gamma Quadrant, but with Worf (Michael Dorn) along to keep an eye on him. The pair are pretty much at each other's throats the entire trip, until they stumble upon the entire Jem'Hadar fleet. This can only mean one thing: the invasion of the Alpha Quadrant is about to begin.

Worf sends a warning to DS9, but before he can confirm it went through he and Garak are captured by the Jem'Hadar and sent to a Dominion detention center. There they meet Martok, the Klingon general who was replaced by a Changeling ("Apocalypse Rising"), Tain, who is irate that Garak was foolish enough to be captured, and a member of the DS9 crew, which means there is a Changeling aboard the station. Meanwhile, Sisko gets enough of the message to realize what is happening and starts to prepare for the invasion, but the only real option he has is to seal the wormhole, even if Worf and Garak are still on the other side. To be continued... in "By Inferno's Light."

"In Purgatory's Shadow" gets a lot set up for the first part of this two-part story. There are several elements that could sustain an entire episode present in this one, especially the encounter between Garak and Tain, so that ups the ante considerably, making for a strong episode that has a nice balance between small moments and large implications. Of course, given that there is only one way for the Dominion to invade the Alpha Quadrant, I would have to say that the wormhole and Deep Space Nine should already have a couple of Starships patrolling the area, but that would have been the smart thing to do and would have taken away from the big cliff-hanger. Just be sure that you have both parts before you start watching this one.

The Dominion threats begin.
When the station picks up a mysterious coded message from inside the Gamma Quadrant that appears to be Cardassian, Garak is asked to analyze it. He reports that the message is insignificant, but is later caught trying to sneak off the station in a Runabout. He then admits that the message is some sort of distress call from his mentor Enabran Tain, the former head of the Obsidian Order. Garak convinces Sisko to allow him to travel to the Gamma Quadrant to search for Tain, but Sisko sends Worf along as a "chaperone."

Garak and Worf bicker consistently and find nothing. Finally, Worf announces that they can go no further and takes the ship out of warp, explaining that the source of Tain's signal is deep in Dominion space. Garak pushes Worf to travel through the nearby nebula but they end up right in the middle of the large Jem'Hadar fleet.

Worf realizes that the entire fleet can only be assembled for one reason â€" to invade the Alpha Quadrant. He immediately sends a warning message to the station, but is not confident it will get through. Moments later, four Jem'Hadar soldiers materialize on the ship and take Worf and Garak prisoner. Back on Deep Space Nine, the crew is able to decipher enough of Worf's signal to realize the Dominion is coming. Sisko sends Kira to find Worf and Garak, but they are already imprisoned in a Dominion detention center, where they are told they will remain until they die.

Inside the camp, Worf meets Martok, the Klingon general who was replaced by a Founder. Martok leads Worf and Garak to Tain, himself a prisoner, who is dying. Instead of being thankful to Garak for coming, Tain chastises him for allowing himself to be taken prisoner. Meanwhile, Kira returns with grim news that at least fifty Dominion ships are heading their way. With reinforcements at least two days away and only Gul Dukat on hand to help out, Sisko sees only one choice, is to seal the wormhole. If Worf and Garak don't escape in 36 hours, they will be trapped. Meanwhile, Worf and Garak are introduced to another prisoner: Bashir, meaning the Bashir at the station is a Changeling.

On the station, the Bashir Changeling begins making himself useful to Dax and O'Brien while they work out the technology that will seal the wormhole. In the internment camp, Garak meets with Tain again, desperate for a kind word from his mentor before the old man passes on. When Tain makes Garak promise to escape as a final request, Garak makes a request in return â€" that Tain acknowledge him as his son. He does, and father and illegitimate child share a memory before Tain dies peacefully. His mission complete, Garak is ready to find a way out. But he may be too late. On Deep Space Nine, the crew shoots a particle beam from the phaser banks, at the wormhole, intending to close it. However, something goes wrong. The wormhole remains open, and the large Jem'Hadar fleet begins pouring through.

In puragorys shadow and by infernos light
Worf and Garak go into the gamma quadrant to investigate a cardassian code whice garak claims was sent by tain the former leader of the obsidian order. They progress further into the gamma quadrant where they are captured by gem hadar. Worf is forced to fight the gemhadar while garak engineers their escape from the dominion prison camp . It is a great episode which is one of my favorites it shows worfs true test of klingon honor and spirit.

meanwhile on ds9 doctor bashier was replaced by a changeling where he is damageing station systems and would be sucessful if doctor bashier wouldnt have hailed the station from the gamma quadrant.

A taskforce of klingon ships arrive from cardassian space and gowron agrees to ally the klingon empire with the federation once again and it is the beginning of the dominion war saga a must see !! ... Read more

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It seems no one told Jadziah Dax about Joran Belar
When Dax starts having erratic mood swings and strange hallucinations, Sisko and Bashir take her back to the Trill home world. There they learn from the Symbiosis Commission that for some reason Jadziah is rejecting her symbiont. If this happens, the Dax symbiont will be removed from the host and Jadziah will die. Then it turns out the problem has to do with a previously unknown host named Joran Belar, and the mystery reveals some disturbing facts about what the commission has been doing. Some interesting revisions of what we know about the wonderful but wacky world of the Trills, "Equilibrium" is one of a handful of DS9 episodes that deal with Dax's previous hosts. Overall this is an average episode that just offers a momentary diversion while we wait for the Dominion to come pouring through the wormhole. Besides, we all know that while Jadziah is certainly beautiful, Curzon is definitely the best host Dax ever had.

The Best
This probably one of my top three favorite DS9 episodes. This is by far my favorite Dax episode. The musical score was very good, also. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Top notch action!
Whilst on a mission in the Gamma Quadrant, Sisko and crew travelling in a defenceless Runabout (come on guys, in the middle of hostile territory!) they find a Jem'hadar fighter that has crashed into a planet and is half-buried beneath the surface. Sensors indicate everyone on board is dead so Sisko decides to dig out the starship and send it back to Starfleet, something that will greatly advance Starfleet's knowledge of the Dominion.

Sisko, Worf, O'Brien, Bashir and few irrelevant officers become trapped in this Jem'hadar fighter when another warship arrives full of Jem'hadar. For some reason the Jem'hadar will not risk entering the downed fighter and killing the Starfleet officer, Sisko realises that there is something inside this ship that is very important to them, if they find it they find they're ticket out of danger!

This is a great episode that shows the tension between Worf and O'Brien, unfortunately one of the irrelevant Ensign-like officers is on his deathbed, unfortunate not because he dies but because we have to put up with everyone mourning his death for 20 minutes. Apart from this small problem the episode is flawless, we see a new side to the Vorta and a weakness in the Jem'hadar! Written by a Star Trek fan who had never had anything commissioned before, this is a pivotal story that would be looked back on in future episodes.

The Ship is an excellent, very enjoyable episode.
I found the Ship to be an excellent, very enjoyable episode, though certain bits I'd have written slightly differently. Definitely feel it to be one worth having on tape in my collection.
However, I feel it has no relevance to the situation in Iraq. No relevance whatsoever. For starters, there is no similarity between Hussein and the Vorta character - the Vorta character has a valid interest and moral stature of some degree in the situation. Hussein has none, therefore the comparison is an empty one.

Sisko has a Jem'Hadar warship and a Vorta wants it back
"The Ship" (Story by Pam Wigginton & Rick Cason, Teleplay by Hans Beimler, Aired October 7, 1996) is actually a much more intimate sort of episode than you would expect for the 100th episode of "Deep Space Nine." While exploring a world in the Gamma Quadrant, Sisko, Dax, Worf, O'Brien and Muniz, one of O'Brien's engineres see a Jem'Hadar ship crash onto the planet's surface. The crew are killed, but the ship is intact enough for Sisko to want to use the Defiant to get it back to DS9 to study and learn some of the military secrets of the Jem'Hadar. However, before that can happen, another Jem'Hadar warship appears and destroys the Federation runabout, killing all aboard. Sisko and the others take refuge in the crashed ship and wait for the Jem'Hadar to attack. But instead a Vorta named Kilana makes contact and demands Sisko give up the ship. Sisko figures out that there must be something aboard the vesel that the Vorta wants, and the negotiations taken on a whole new tack. Meanwhile, Muniz has been seriously wounded and needs medical attention.

"The Ship" is actually an interesting meditation on the problems of negotiating with the enemy, especially if you think in terms of zero-sum games. I am not sure if I agree with the idea that either Sisko or Kilana would have ever accepted a win-win situation, but I can certainly appreciate the notion that each would prefer to have a lose-lose outcome rather than risk having the other side "win." Of course, there is an irony to the final outcome of the situation, and I think there would have been more of an impact to the episode if both sides had lost everything. Still, this is a rather thoughtful episode from the show's fifth season.

The sacrifices men make in battle
The death of the ensign is worth twenty minutes of grief. Like year one's "Duet", "The Ship" shows the price the men pay when involved in combat and the importance of trust in diplomatic discussion.

The conflict between Sisko and the female Vorta is a perfect commentary on war.

'Seems to me that a certain resident of the White House and a Iraqi leader would benefit from watching this one. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Sisko, Dax, Odo, and Garak find themsevles on Terok Nor
"Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," Episode 106, "Things Past" (Written by Michael Taylor, Aired November 18, 1996) is a time travel episode that has the virtue of being about character insight as opposed to some time paradox. It begins with Sisko, Dax, Odo, and Garak being found unconscious in a roundabout. While Bashir tries to revive their bodies in the present they wake up on the station during the Cardassian occupation, when it was called Terok Nor. Fortunately everybody on the station sees them as Bajorans, so they are able to blend in. However, when Dax is hauled off by the Cardassians to serve Gul Dukat, the other three learn that their identities are those of three Bajorans that Odo says were falsely accused of trying to assassinate Dukat and were executed on the Promenade. The attempt to have history avoid repeating itself fails, and the trio is taken into custody, to be executed in two hours. Dax manages to help them escape, but when Sisko and the others again find themselves back in their cell, again two hours away from being executed, it becomes clear there is something more than time travel involved here and they are forced to re-examine what has been happening.

On the one hand the clues are there as to what is really going on, however the initial confusing as to exactly WHEN in the past this is taking place makes it difficult to pick up on them. The confusion is also a clue, but that does not really help. "Things Past" is not really a mystery in the sense that you can actually decipher the clues and figure it out before things are explained, but it is still rather interesting. My biggest problem was at that point because I think this episode involves a reading of one of the characters that I do not think is especially justified. I can buy all of the time travel elements and the other strange going ons, but it is the question of character consistency that bothers me with this episode.

DS9 Forever!!!
I think the best thing about this episode and DS9 in general is that this series allowed the characters to be fallible. They aren't superheroes, they're ordnairy people caught up in the midst of extraordnairy times. There are no cop-outs, i.e. Odo's memory doesn't turn out to be a hallucination caused by some alien virus. The audience is not allowed the automatic comfort of knowing "Hey, this is just a show, these people didn't really do anything wrong, they wouldn't." DS9 tried the audience more than most shows on television with few exceptions like The Sopranos. A show would be lucky to be this good.

If Only...
The moral implications of this episode are so profoundly portrayed by Odo that you can't help but feel for his predicament during the "Occupation". The way the script manages to tear away the character's social defences and expose his vulnerability is admirable. Though the one major, glaring deficiency in the episode is the premise. That is to say that what the characters do, given the situation they're in, is certainly powerful, however, the whole reasoning for their being there is shaky at best. True enough, the character implications are more the focus than the plot, but the explanation given by Bashir feels forced and unsatisfying. That's a shame, but nonetheless Things Past is a rewarding and insightful episode not to be missed.

Flashback
This episode is very similar to Necessary Evil, which was just as rubbish. Dax, Odo, Sisko and Garak are all found unconscious and rushed to sickbay only to find they are in some strange coma. Though Sisko and co are infact in sickbay they all believe they are onbaord Terok Nor and a strange murder investigation goes underway in a slow, unrevealing and scientific flawed episode.

Terrible. Even Andrew Robinson aka Garak couldn't lift this one! ... Read more

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Somewhere along the way, Quark's idiot brother got smart. First, Rom's innate mechanical genius was magically revealed (remember "The Spatula"?), and now he's displaying Un-Yawn tendencies and organizing fellow workers in his brother's bar. Either this Ferengi's as dumb as a fox or there's something in the water on DS9.

The idea for a union comes up while Rom (Max Grodénchik) is being treated for a life-threatening ear infection. Rom's unionization may be accidental, but it's also righteous. Working conditions in Quark's Bar are awful--mandatory wage cuts, no paid overtime, no benefits, and certainly no sick leave--and when the employees strike, it means something. Chief O'Brien (Colm Meaney) gleefully fuels the fire with tales of Sean Aloysius O'Brien's 1902 anthracite union martyrdom. Quark (Armin Shimerman) arms himself with 10,000 years of Ferengi Tradition. Rom stands up to his brother; O'Brien, Bashir, and Worf end up in the brig for brawling over workers' rights; and since unions are both an obscenity and an offense punishable by death on Ferenginar, Brunt, F.C.A., makes a return appearance with Nausicaan thugs in tow. Watch for that kiss, Sisko's gift for extortion, and Nausicaan Darts. For once, Max Grodénchik really gets to shine. The actor always accepted Rom and liked him, and fans came to like him, too. "Bar Association" is a very funny episode that's also brave and kind of wise. Hidden behind the laughter is a good story about brothers--and a reminder that workers' rights are a hard-won privilege. --Kayla Rigney ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Rom leads the first strike in Ferengi history against Quark
Quark is obviously the focal point of every internal challenge to the Ferengi way of life. His mother wears clothes and turns a profit and now his brother Rom is trying to start a labor union because Quark has cut salaries by a third to increase his profits. Quark tries to laugh it off until his entire staff goes on strike and Liquidator Brunt of the Ferengi Commerce Authority shows up with two Nausicaan enforces to end the dispute. Now, I freely admit that this episode just rubs me the wrong way, even though it does have Rom getting the best of Quark, which is always good to see. But it makes it seem like the Rules of Acquisition have no foundation in basic economic theory (I know, I am aghast to see myself providing an economic critique of DS9). It would be one thing if the Ferengi system was committed to slavery or some form of socialism, but once you start paying workers you have to treat them well enough that you do not waste money hiring new ones. I could say more on this subject, but I will stop. Suffice it to say I find "Bar Association" a below average DS9 episode.

An example of what made this show great
Firstly, I fully acknowledge that Deep Space Nine was the least popular (sadly) of all the Star Trek shows among fans. It was, however, my favorite (to date) and this episode is one example of why that is so. Character development! Not just the main characters, week after week after week but in the shows last four seasons or so they developed the secondary characters (and adversaries) to have their own depth, dimensions, and drives. For the first few seasons Rom was nothing more than Quark's moronic brother and lackey. In this episode he finally stands up for not only himself but for the other employees of the bar, defying his brother. This not only earns him the repect of his brother Quark (grudgingly), his coworkers (especially dabo girl and future wife Leta), and the fans, but gives him the realization that he can be more than just his brother's employee. Okay, I thought being named the next Grand Nagus near the show's finale was a bit too much but hey, it's good to see a nice guy finish on top. There are many other episodes and lesser story arcs in this series that evolve the secondary characters, including villians, from flat, 2-D persons to beings just as intriguing as the main ones. The other shows did not do this to the extent done here (except for maybe Guinan and Chief O'Brien on STNG). This helped keep the show from getting stale and redundant.

GREAT EPISODE
Rom goes against ferengi tradition and forms a Union. This Episodes explains how Quark lost his business licence, and how Rom got his Starfleet job. ... Read more

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By the end of season 2, DS9 was a force to be reckoned with. The only thing the series lacked was a really good villain. It got three for the price of one. Turns out the Dominion is a trinity of evil: the Founders, the Vorta, and their enforcers, the Jem'Hadar. This episode marks the first appearance of the Jem'Hadar, those born-and-bred really bad guys whose mission in life is to serve the Founders. We're talking guys who are so bad, they'll ram into a retreating ship just to make a point.

What is supposed to be a working vacation in the Gamma Quadrant for Sisko and Jake turns into a surreal commentary on life and war when Nog and Quark go along for the ride. Sisko's prejudice against Ferengi is laid bare, and Quark calls him on it with remarkable candor. In fact, when the two are captured and imprisoned by the Jem'Hadar and it becomes obvious Quark's particular talents are needed for escape, the little Ferengi defiantly speaks his mind before giving in and contributing. Avery Brooks's Sisko is a very human--and fallible--cCaptain, and Armin Shimmerman really hits his stride with Quark, who is at his best when he has nothing left to lose. (This is the first time Quark serves as the "Greek chorus" for the series, and it's not the last.) Special kudos to Molly Hagen as the creepy Eris. "The Jem'Hadar" is an intelligent, powerful episode that reveals all--and nothing--about the Dominion. --Kayla Rigney ... Read more

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A jaw-dropping ending propels this one to the top!
"The Jem'Hadar" stands as one of DS9's most intense episodes, introducing the viewers to the one-dimensional "policemen" of the Founders in the form of the title characters and the conniving and sinister Vorta. Both would be a staple for the duration of the show's run.

The kamikaze attack during the installment's final minutes still remains one of the most shocking scenes in Trek history.

The Jem'Hadar make their presence known to the Federation
All throughout the second season of Deep Space Nine there were stories and rumors about the Dominion, the great power of the Gamma Quadrant. In the season finale Quark joins Sisko, Jake and Nog on a planetary survey mission, where for the first time they run into the Jem'Hadar, the savage soldier enforcers of the mysterious Dominion. The Jem'Hadar then deliver an ultimatum to DS9 that the Federation is no longer welcome in the Gamma Quadrant. Starfleet sends the Odyssey, a Galaxy class starship, to investigate, only to see the ship destroyed by the Jem'Hadar.

This episode does not exactly constitute a cliffhanger, but it does set up the third season with the promise that the Jem'Hadar are going to be coming through the wormhole to attack DS9. The series also manages to keep the mystery going regarding the Dominion because all we are seeing at this point are their shock troops. But these are pretty good shock troops, although it is more a matter of being told than being shown at this point. More impressively, this begins the Dominion/Founders story line that will continue all the way until the end of the series. This is an important transitional episode for the show.

Q View - The Trip Sisko Never Planned
Quark and Nog take off to the Gamma Quadrant with Captain Sisko and Jake. At this point you know its going to be one big old treat to see just what happens on this so called science project for Jake and Nog. Ha! You know your about to get some scientific laughs outta this one ... Then Sisko says the coolest thing" lets get going before anyone else shows up" Ha! And zoom thru the wormhole they go! As soon as they land on the planet Sisko is singing the blues having to deal with a good idea gone bad and poor Quark is covering his lobes in some green goo...something about he is allergic to nature! ha! Then a little time passes, darkness falls and O NO! A campfire scene, it might not be row, row, row your boat material, ha! In reference to Star Trek: 5 with Bones and Captain Kirk trying to teach Spock an old earth song, but its funny enough seeing old Quark complaining about bugs and bad food and getting himself caught on fire! Suddenly bad gets worse...THE JEM'HADAR! Captain Sisko and Quark are taken as prisoners, Jake and Nog take over a shuttle and its funny to see those two taking command.. You would swear Jake had been into a case of Romulan Ale with his horrific flying. The tension builds rapidly because of certain events that take place at DS9 and the present situation of Captain Sisko and company. DS9 to the rescue, but at what cost? Jailbreaks, starship fights the action builds! What will happen? Set a course for this episode a must see for any Star Trek fan !

Jem'hadar... ATTACK!
This episode centres around Sisko and Quark and how they are forced into camping together on a lonely planet, a comical account that really kicks into high gear when an alien with a personal cloaking device emerges from the trees and reveals himself as a Jem'hadar. Sisko, Quark, Nog and Jake are kept in a prison camp surrounded by a deadly forcefield, in there they encounter another trapped individual who reveals fascinating information about the Jem'hadar and a powerful new force... brilliant!

DS9 Finds It's Way
This episode starts like any other slow, character driven episode and ends with awesome action and a new 'bad guy' to menace the Federation! This finally shows the rumored Dominion who then became one of the more interesting enimies in Star Trek lore. ... Read more

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"The Sons of Mogh" is a sequel of sorts to "The Way of the Warrior." This episode was controversial when it first aired, and it remains a subject of debate. The violence (both graphic and implied) makes Federation fans uncomfortable, and the conclusion leaves Klingon fans feeling cheated. Worf (Michael Dorn) fans, however, love it. It proves once and for all that the perpetual outsider is more Klingon than Klingons--and that his understanding of Honor is truly profound.

When Worf's brother Kurn (Tony Todd) asks him to perform ritual Mauk-to'Vor, it makes sense. Because of Worf's actions in "The Way of the Warrior," the House of Mogh no longer exists. When Gowron stripped the family of all titles, land, and power, he stripped traditional Klingon warrior Kurn of all honor as well. At least if he died at the hand of his brother, he would be able to enter Sto-Vo-Kor and be with the honored dead. Worf agrees. But DS9 is a Federation station, and the ritual is cut short; another son of Mogh adapts to an alien culture. Sort of. This episode has everything--blood, honor, and its own inevitable form of death--and gives whole new meaning to the old adage "the things we do for love." This is a story about just what makes a life. Loads of mines but no great battle scene. Tons of blood but no unnecessary violence. Definitely not for the faint of heart. A real Klingon episode for real Klingons. --Kayla Rigney ... Read more

Reviews (3)

a warrior's disgrace
The Klingons have returned to Deep Space Nine. They're clandestinely mining the Worm Hole passage to the Gamma Quadrant in anticipation of the invasion of Dominion forces. But Worf's brother Kurn is not preparing for battle. He has arrived on DS9 bearing Imperial disgrace for Worf's unKlingon actions. Having lost his House, his Family, his Seat on the Council, and Command of his warship, Kurn can redeem his honor only with his death. And it's Worf's filial duty to strike the mortal blow with the ritual dagger. Once again, Worf is conflicted by his Klingon heritage and his Human Starfleet values. This episode spells the tragic end of the proud character played so magnificently by the incomparable Tony Todd. In an effort to avoid his unpleasant duty, Worf convinces his brother to instead take menial work on the Federation space station. Klinfans will cringe in painful empathy to see Kurn brought so low, clad in a Bajoran uniform, loading cargo! Kurn, unable to endure such misery for long, demands that Worf comply with Klingon custom. This time Worf's superior officers intervene and prohibit the ceremony. With their assistance, Worf devises an outrageously ignoble and unKlingon solution for his dilemma... Honorable death would have been better! Kurn was the epitome of a glorious Klingon warrior, my favorite supporting character of the Next Gen series. Leave it to DS9 to humiliate and destroy him! I had hoped, at the series end his fate would have been addressed, but khest it all! He was never even mentioned again.

Kurn shows up and asks big brother Worf to kill him
Once again Worf's traditional Klingon beliefs come into conflict with the enlightened views of the Federation in "The Sons of Mogh." Since Worf's actions in "The Way of the Warrior" caused the family to be excommunicated from the Klingon Empire, Kurn comes to DS9 to ask his brother to ceremonially slay him so he can regain his honor and enter Sto'Vo'Kor. Of course Worf agrees, but Dax and Odo intervene at the last second and save Kurn's life. Meanwhile, Kira and O'Brien discover that the Klingons have been setting cloaked mines all around Bajor in anticipation of that Dominion fleet coming out of the wormhole. Certainly it is long past time that Kurn showed up to comment on Worf's unilateral decisions affecting the Mogh family. But whatever questions you might have about Worf's actions in wanting to kill his brother, that is NOTHING compared to the way Dax comes up for Worf to end Kurn's life without killing him. I would have given this episode three stars except for the subplot. The Klingon's taking unilateral action (they like to do that apparently) to stave off the Dominion from entering the Alpha Quadrant, is a nice move.

A ok episode
Worfs brother kurn arrives on ds9 after gowrons forces took worfs land and removed his brother from the high councel Kurn wants nothing bt to die because a klingon without a house has no status in the empire eventually worf has his brothers memory removed so he will nolonger feel the dishonor he carries inside him ... Read more

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Fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation will recall an episode entitled"Second Chances," which introduced Enterprise first officer Will Riker'sbiological duplicate, Tom Riker. (Jonathan Frakes played both men.) Createdby a transporter accident, Tom has all of the original Riker's memories andemotions, but none of the benefits: rank, esteem, the love of people whom heloves. Intent on bringing Tom back into the Trek fold, the creators ofDeep Space Nine came up with "The Defiant," in which Tom attempts tocarve out a life and reputation of his own as a leader of the Maquis--thatloose-knit army of rebels intent on sabotaging peace between the Federationand Cardassia. While pretending to be Will, Tom kidnaps Major Kira (NanaVisitor) and steals DS9's state-of-the-art warship, the Defiant, forcingCommander Sisko (Avery Brooks) and Gul Dukat (Marc Alaimo) to track him down.It's a lot of fun to see Frakes play Tom Riker again, since the character issomething of a looser version of the often-starchy Will, albeit immersed in ahighly unusual existential crisis. But this episode is also interesting forits several moments of true connection between Sisko and Dukat, who at one point evenspeak to one another of their respective sons. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Tom Riker, would-be 'Hero At Large' now 'Prisoner Incognito'
Picking up the character of Tom Riker once again was an intriguing prospect for Star Trek fans. Certainly nearly all of us were wondering what had become of him and if he would make another appearance at all. So the twist in the second act of this episode that reveals Tom Riker was more than welcome ' in fact it seemed overdue. The writers piqued our interest further by having him act as the leader of a band of The Maquis who return for the first time since second season's 'Tribunal'. Everything seemed set in place for a great storyline featuring Tom Riker, but we learn that isn't to be the case.

While Kira is attempting to relax in the Promenade area she chances to meet Will Riker who is enroute to Risa. Though she pretends to be unaffected by Riker's charm she is soon giving him a tour of DS9 and at his suggestion the two board the Defiant for a look. He casually cons her into activating the bridge controls, suddenly stuns her with a hidden phaser, beams two waiting people on board, fakes a warp core breech so that DS9 will release the docking clamps and hijacks the Defiant. Before Sisko and the station officers can react the Defiant leaps into warp speed and heads for The Badlands with the intent of launching an assault on the shipyard located there believing that the Cardassian government is harboring a volatile political or military secret within it.

This fine episode of DS9 would have profound repercussions later in the series in such shows as 'The Die Is Cast' and 'Improbable Cause'. But what happened to Tom Riker? To this day he lingers in a Cardassian Labor camp awaiting a long overdue rescue. It makes sense that Sisko would work out the arrangement of this sentence; given the draconian nature of Cardassian justice (first seen in 'Tribunal') he barters with Gul Dukat on Tom's behalf. But I firmly believed that the DS9 members would attempt a rescue, especially since Kira promises Tom that she won't let him waste away in a labor camp. But as we all know the series ended without another mention of his name.

One of the high points of this episode is the Cardassian Central Command's War Room that Sisko and Gul Dukat are shown in. The Star Trek creative team did an excellent job creating the special effects for the displays that the two of them continually consult as they form a strategy to defeat the Defiant. And when Korinas of the Obsidian Order joins them in the War Room it adds even more intrigue to the affair. The clash of wills and political views between Central Command and the Obsidian Order would be one of the best continuing storylines of the third season. Also, Gul Dukat demonstrates that he has somewhat of a humane side to his naturally nefarious personality when he reveals to Sisko that he regrets having to miss his son's birthday. The two of them share stories about their sons adding a new dimension to their relationship that would be explored over the next two seasons. Kira's scathing indictment of Tom's sense of a higher calling and her final pleas to Tom to surrender the Defiant to Sisko and Gul Dukat are also highlights here.

Some final notes: In the ST: TNG episode 'The Wounded' Picard finds himself in a situation where he finds it necessary to assist the Cardassians in defeating a Federation ship that has become a renegade. Marc Alaimo played the Cardassian representative, Gul Macet, then as well. Tricia O'Neil, who plays Korinas, first appeared on the ST: TNG episodes 'Yesterday's Enterprise' as Captain Rachel Garrett and 'Suspicions' as Kurak, doing a sensational job in all three roles.

Decent
Pretty good plot. I was hoping to see more footage of the Defiant shooting stuff up. Oh well.....

Shows ambition, but has many problems
Episode title: Defiant

Written by: Ronald D. Moore

Directed by: Cliff Bole

After the second season episode "Tribunal", "Defiant" was the first to address the Maquis issue, that startet earlier on at season two, in the episode "The Maquis".

"Defiant" is finally an episode, that is clearly ment to contribute to the series as a whole, as it addresses the big political picture of the show.

The episode isn't very rich in the plot department, being more baced on conflicts between characters and the political aspects of the series, being more of a cat-and-mouse kind of episode.

These episodes are risky, because they often end up being boring and uninspired. "Defiant" isn't boring, as it carries the wiever throughout the episode, but it is in no means a succes either.

The story begins as Commander William Riker (yes, the one from the Enterprise-D) arives at DS9 to spend a vacation. Kira then takes Riker on a tour of the Defiant, and as soon as they get in, Riker hijags the ship.

Soon it becomes aparent that Commander Riker isn't actually Commander Riker, but his "evil double", Thomas Riker, who was introduced in the sixth season TNG episode "Second Chances", and who has since turned into a Mquis terrorist.

So begins a hunt, as Commander Sisko must co-operate with the Cardassian to stop Tom Riker as he takes the Defiant deeper into Cardassian territory.

The episode is uneven, with many promising sequences mixed up with some totally irrelevant fill-up scenes that contain clumsy and cliché filled dialogue, and don't contribute to anything.

It's also quite interesting to watch two of the worst modern-trek acting talents interact as Jonathan Frakes' Riker and Nana Visitor's Kira have intence, if overly lenghtend discussions on the Defiant. Especially Jonathan Frakes' performance as the rogue terrorist borders parody.

The end of the episode is predictable, but unlike so many other episodes, it leaves the feeling that something has changed.

I only hope the promising premise could have been exploited more fully, instead of concentrating on the quest character from another series.

The deletion of Tom Riker from the Star Trek universe
Okay, this is obviously going to be the minority opinion on this particular DS9 episode. I think "Defiant" is a solid episode and of some importance because it establishes that the Obsidian Order and the Cardassian Central Command have split, creating a serious power rift that will cause some problems as well as provide a few opportunities for Sisko and crew down the line. The strange and convoluted relationship between Dukat and Sisko continues to develop as well, which is always nice to see. My only complaint has to do with using the character of Tom Riker. Yes, I think it makes perfect sense that Kira and O'Brian would accept Tom as Commander Riker and I have little doubt that Tom would be unhappy with his lot in the universe he has found once rescued in the STNG episode "Second Chances." My complaint actually has to do with the later, because I would think it would be obvious even to Deanna Troi in the face of Tom Riker's love for her, that these two guys needed some serious counseling. But apparently nobody in Starfleet paid enough attention and now Tom Riker has joined the Maquis. Okay, so far I am with them. But then at the end Tom ends up being thrown in a Cardassian prison for the rest of his life. I realize that the point here is to simply remove the character from the Star Trek universe. Having taken the pains to create the character along with some interesting problems for the Will-Deanna-Tom triangle, the Star Trek creators have now effectively pushed the delete button. Besides, given Tom's psychological problems in adjusting to everything, I would find his sacrifice at the end of this episode to be another sign of his need for counseling and treatment, not incarceration in a Cardassian hell hole. So, because of the treatment of Tom Riker by both the writers and the characters, I have to knock this one down a star. Some