Posted on March 1st, 2010 by Samuel Walters
“A Call To Arms” features a long (almost too long) buildup to one of the best closing sequences we’ll see for a season finale in a Star Trek series. In many ways, the episode is a bit like watching a summer thunderstorm build and creep closer and closer before the torrent of wind, rain and lightning is unleashed. The one drawback to the episode, though, is that its opening paces stumble ever-so-slightly and, as such, the buildup isn’t quite as suspenseful as it might otherwise have been. No matter. The episode will be remembered much more for its final moments than the forgettable scenes which led to them.
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Posted on March 1st, 2010 by Samuel Walters
“In The Cards” is an enjoyable distraction, ending with an important, and profound thought. In many ways, it shows how infectious optimism can be, and how important it is to do things for other people. There’s a nice level of humor to the story. And the characters are fun to watch. But it’s a slow, meandering tale which takes some time to get moving and never really finds a great deal of traction. I do like the “calm before the storm” approach to this, the penultimate episode of Deep Space Nine’s fifth season (the finale will surely be a riveting affair). Still, as pleasant as this outing might be, it just isn’t a particularly exceptional episode.
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Posted on March 1st, 2010 by Samuel Walters
“Empok Nor” is an exercise in mood and suspense. On those levels, it works quite well. It also features some strong character interaction, though this is perpetuated into a bit of hyperbole by the episode’s main conceit. As such, it isn’t quite as evocative or valuable as it might otherwise have been. In the end, the episode goes for broke in the hopes that the audience will hang on for the ride. The results? That all depends on how far down the rabbit hole you’re willing to go …
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Posted on March 1st, 2010 by Samuel Walters
“Blaze of Glory” is an episode about closure. It’s ironic (and a fantastic idea) that the answers ere wrapped in shades of grey, showing the multifaceted nature of the issues surrounding the central plot of the episode. Once again, there’s some great writing and great acting — with enough action thrown in to keep viewers on their toes. The result is an episode that is very, very good.
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Posted on March 1st, 2010 by Samuel Walters
With “Children of Time,” Deep Space Nine does a TNG-style episode … and does it very, very well. This is a solid sci-fi story, designed in such a way as to explore some deep, meaningful questions. There are some issues in terms of story decisions and character motivations. And there are those ever-persistent paradoxes that tend to crop up with “time travel” stories. But on the whole, this is an episode with the potential to be affecting on both thoughtful and emotional levels.
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Posted on March 1st, 2010 by Samuel Walters
“Soldiers of the Empire” is a good Klingon episode that tilts slightly toward the melodramatic. Still, despite the heavy-handed approach to its central conflict, it nonetheless tells the tale of how far two men would go to save the honor of the other. In that sense, it’s a fine tale, worthy of being told. In many ways, this is Deep Space Nine’s version of TNG’s “A Matter of Honor.” And while the TNG installment fares better, DS9 has, shall we say, an honorable followup.
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Posted on March 1st, 2010 by Samuel Walters
“Ferengi Love Songs” is a train wreck of of misplaced ideas, humor and stories. Almost nothing works here, from the premise to the script to the performances. Instead of humor, we get horrid. The installment increasingly grates on the nerves and the only way to endure this drivel is try to ignore it as it unfolds. I’m not sure why Deep Space Nine had such a fetish for bad Ferengi stories — there’s no reason why they all have to be nonsensical farces — but the love affair with the Ferengi is destructive and demeaning.
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Posted on March 1st, 2010 by Samuel Walters
“Ties of Blood And Water” is an episode heavy on emotion and drama. It fits nicely into the larger continuity of the series and features some strong performances from its cast. And while it’s not a perfect installment, all told, it’s a classic.
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Posted on March 1st, 2010 by Samuel Walters
“What’s one life compared to the lives of 28 million people?”
“Business As Usual” is one of those “typical” Star Trek episodes which puts its characters into tight spots to prove a point about one thing or another. It’s a fairly straightforward and usually successful formula. And in this installment, the story works. The problem, though, is that it doesn’t really do anything spectacular, interesting or particularly noteworthy. The result is an episode which is, simply, average.
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Posted on March 1st, 2010 by Samuel Walters
“A Simple Investigation” is a romance. It’s a slow, deliberate and often tender affair, despite the film noir and mystery elements. As such, it’s a nice change of pace from the recent Deep Space Nine fare. It’s a nice story. And it allows for some important character work to be done. But there are plenty of potential barriers between this episode and viewers. The pacing is glacial. The plot is cliché and silly. Some of the character decisions don’t make a whole lot of sense. Plus, the story is, well, slow. Very. Slow.
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