CaptainWacky
I want to smell dark matter
One More Unto the Breach - Worf tells O'Brien and Bashir that if they believe in the legend of Davy Crcokett, they'll believe he died a hero's death. Kor comes to the station and tells Worf that Gowron won't give him a command as he has too many enemies. He wants Worf help to end his life as a warrior. Worf goes to Martok but Martok has no time for Kor and tells Worf to bugger off. Martok plans an important attack on a Dominion target. Worf tries to speak to him about Kor on Martok's Bird of Prey and Martok yells to clear the Bridge. Martok tells Worf how he came from a small and proud family and his father tried to get him an important position but Kor turned him down because Martok comes from a lowly house and Kor from one of the great families. Martok eventually worked his way up to command but never would have got there if Kor had had his way. Worf's already made Kor an officer in the fleet anyway (Martok notes that Kor's name alone opens doors for him.) Kor catches up with Dax then admits to Worf he can't remember rejecting Martok but he probably did it. Worf tells him he'll serve as third officer on the ship under Martok and Worf. Everyone stares in awe as Kor comes onboad Martok's ship, much to Martok's displeasure. Martok's aged aide (kind of a Klingon yeoman) is particularly excited to see Kor. Ezri tells Kira how she's having dreams of her time as Curzon after speaking with Kor and part of her wants to be out there looking out for him. Quark listens in and is upset because he thinks she's talking about Worf.
Martok's crew fawn all over Kor. Martok tells them his plan and Kor pointsout it was the same plan he once used against the Federation and tells the story to the delighted crew. Kor gets confused when everyone is called to he Bridge (he's old.) One of Martok's ships is destroyed by the Cardassians. The remaining Birds of Prey attack a Cardassian base. Martok and Worf are knocked out and Kor has to take command. He fucks up and gets people killed and starts to think he's back with Kang fighting the Federation. Martok throws a knife at Kor's face but Worf catches it in mid air and punches Kor out to save his life (this is pretty cool.) A disgusted Martok orders Kor off the Bridge. Quark makes a speech telling Ezri not to go back to Worf as she deserves better. Ezri tells him she wasn't going to, but it was nice of Quark to look out for her. Martok embarrasses Kor in front of the crew (his disapproving aide tries to leave but Martok forces him to stay.) Everyone joins in with the mocking but Kor just tells them to enjoy being young while they can because one day they'll be old and useless like him (he says it more poetically.) Worf removes Kor from duty. Martok admits to Worf that seeing Kor as a pathetic old man gave him no joy, even though he'd been dreaming of it for thirty years. They detect ten Jem'Hadar ships chasing them even though they're cloaked. Worf comes up with a plan to stop the Jem'Hadar, but it'll mean him sacrificing himself and one of the Birds of Prey (and whoever volunteers to go with him.) Martok reluctantly agrees. Martok's aide goes to Kor and they talk about being old and the good old days when all they did was fight and eat. He tells Kor about Worf's plan to sacrifice himself and shows the plan to Kor. Kor thinks it can be done but Martok's aide says it would take someone with a lot more experience than Worf. Kor hypos Worf and takes his place, telling him he'll say hi to Jadzia. Martok is worried when Worf comes to the Bridge knowing that Kor has taken his place. They move out of sensor range and can't tell what's happened, but somehow Kor wins and saves them. Worf says it doesn't matter how he did it. They all drink bloodwine and sing about Kor.
It's one of the strongest Klingon episodes yet! I actually liked the Klingon politics here with Kor coming from an ancient house and thoughtlessly rejecting Martok years ago and Martok remembering it. It's the kind of thing Discovery kind of tried to do except it's much more relatable here involving two characters we actually like and who was can actually understand what they're saying. I like how both Kor and Martok are unlikable at times in the episode but are both good guys overall. Just flawed! The comparison to the legend of Davy Crockett works well too. The b-story continues the "Quark in love with Ezri!" story I'm that big a fan of but it's fine. This is good.
SCORE: 9/10
The Siege of AR-588 - Rom sings at Vic's. Well, this isn't getting 10/10. Vic's made audio recordings for Bashir to recover to the troops on the frontline. Wouldn't they rather have tapes of Vulcan Love Slave or something? Sisko admits to Odo that he can no longer read the name of everyone Starfleet officer who dies in the war as there's so many of them. The Defiant is brining supplies to troops on the frontline on one of the planet's captured in last season's finale. Quark is going there for contrived reasons (a "fact finding missions" for the Grand Nagus.) The Defiant is attack and Quark goes to the Bridge to see what's up. Nog is embarrassed by his uncle. Sisko, Bashir, Nog, Quark and Ezri (for some reason) beam down to the planet and are attack by edgy Federation soldiers. A solider complains that they've been stuck on the planets for months longer than Starfleet regulations allow. The commander shows Sisko the communcations array they're protecting and points out there were 150 of them at first and now there's just 43. Quark and Rom notice a soldier with a necklace of Ketracel White tubes. Nog is impressed that he's killed so many Jem'Hadar but Quark isn't. He says humans are wonderful people but can turn as violent and nasty as any Klingon in the right situation. A psycho soldiers nearly hits Bashir for trying to touch his bandage. A guy he hated died putting the bandage on him. The soldiers tell Sisko about "Houdini" mines that appear from nowhere. Sisko is supposed to leave but the Defiant is being attacked by Jem'Hadar ships. They've beamed more soldiers down so Sisko's going to stay on the planet even though he doesn't know when the Defiant will come back. I see no reason at all why he couldn't have had Quark beam back up though? The Jem'Hadar attack but they're only holograms sent to see how many Federation soldiers there are (not sure how that works to be honest.)
Nog doesn't want Quark bringing food to him while he's in the trenches bu Quark points out that the Federation never would have gone to war if they were like the Ferengi. The Ferengi would have hammered out a peace treaty. Sisko sends Nog out on a scouting mission (due to his super hearing) despite Quark's objections, who points out Sisko wouldn't send Jake. Ezri has befriended the engineer working on the communications array (he's the only one there who hasn't been driven mad from the fighting.) She remembers how her previous hosts felt when in combat but it's different being there herself. Rom completes his scouting mission but is shot in the leg. The gruff knife-obsessed soldier is impressed by Nog now. Quark reports to Sisko that Nog is going to lose his leg. Bashir says Nog should be able to have a robot leg fitted but there could be complications. Quark tells Sisko off again but Sisko snaps that he cares about every soldier under his command and goes to see Nog. Nog apologises not getting away before the Jem'Hadar shot at them. He wants Sisko to assure him the communcations array was worth it. The engineer comes up with a way to make the Houdinis visible and Sisko plans to use them against the Jem'Hadar. They have to move the mines to a ravine to take out the Jem'Hadar. Ezri points out that just hours ago they were talking about the mines being something only the Dominion would use. Bashir plays the Vic recordings for the troops before the battle (this is good use of Vic.) The mines go off but many Jem'Hadar still get through. There's lots of shooting and hand to hand combat as Quark tends to Nog. Ezri nearly dies but the engineer saves her before being killed himself. Quark has to shoot a Jem'Hadar (well, he's done it before.) Basically only necklace guy survives of the guest characters. The Defiant returns and Worf tells Sisko it was a great victory but Sisko doesn't feel like celebrating. Back at the station Kira reports that 1,730 troops have died in the last week. Sisko says they have to remember that they're more than just names.
It's a great episode though I did have some problems in the first half. Some of the soldier characters are a bit cliched. They feel like they've just been taken from any random war movie and dropped in Star Trek. Quark staying around on the planet is really contrived (seriously they could have beamed him back up!) But it's worth having Quark there for his observations throughout. Things really pick up once Nog loses his leg and the final battle is great at capturing the horror of war (in a Star Trek way.) Avery Brooks has some strong subdued Sisko stuff. It's good.
SCORE: 9/10
Covenant - Oh no it's this episode. Odo notes that Kira spends so much time in Bajoran services that he wishes he was a believer so he could go with her. Vedek Fala, an old friend and spiritual advisor of Kira's, comes to see her and hands her a strange crystal which beams her all the way to Empok Nor (the money-saving station!) Kira finds herself amongst a Pahwraith cult and their leader...DUKAT. And he has a Pahwraith earring now. Dukat asks her how she could have faith in the Prophets while Cardassia occupied Bajor. She says they had a plan for Bajor but Dukat says the Pahwraiths are the real Gods and wanted to play an active part in Bajoran life. They were cast out by the Prophets to stop them doing so. Makes sense! He's the Emissary of the Pathwraiths. He admits that the let the Pahwraith enter him for selfish reasons but became a true believer after (Jadzia's death couldn't be avoided.) He says "you have no idea how much it pains me..." but doesn't finish in the usual way. He claims the Prophets are responsible for the Occupation, not him. He wants Kira to join him in loving the Pahwraiths and blah blah blah he surely knows this isn't going to work. Back at the station everyone finds out what happened to Kira (it was a Dominion super transporter.) Fala tells Kira he turned to the pahwraiths at the end of the Occpuation after the Prophets did nothing to stop it. Kira does her usual "Prophets move in mysterious ways" thing (except when Sisko asks them for help, they'll step in then!) He shows Kira around the station. He introduces her to a pregnant young Bajoran who Dukat has given permission to have a baby with her husband. Dukat is teaching them to resist wordly pleasures (ha ha.) The girl's husband has done a painting of a Christ-like Dukat standing in front of the wormhole surrounded by Bajorans and it's AWESOME. I want that painting. Kira tries to shoot Dukat as he leads a service but all the Bajorans stand in her way.
Dukat and Kira have the usual "you just want Bajorans to love you/the Occupation would have been worse without me" talk and Kira's mum comes up too. Dukat thinks if he can open Kira's heart to the Pahwraiths he can do the same to any Bajoran. The Bajoran girl gives birth but the baby is half Cardassian. Dukat looks worried at first but then declares it a sign from the Pahwraiths. Most of the Bajorans fall for this crap because Bajorans are dumb but the husband doesn't look sure. Kira asks Fala how the fuck she can believe in this. He says he believes because he has faith and Kira should understand that. Kira wants to investigate and talks to the husband. He admits that his wife "prayed alone" with Dukat. Dukat confronts the mother and apologises for raping her (she's forgiven him.) He tries to murder her via the airlock but Kira and Fala arrive in time to save her. Kira confronts Dukat and he has her locked up. Dukat asks the Pathwraiths what to do next. Dukat tells his stupid fucking followers that the Pahwraiths have instructed him that it's time to leave their corporeal bodies. He tels Kira about the suicide pills they'll take and turn to dust (he's taking one too, he insists.) Kira breaks out of her prison. She stops the Bajorans from taking their pills by jumping on Dukat. He loses the fake pill he was going to take and won't take the one Fala gives him. The Bajorans finally turn against him and throw their pills at him. He takes his earring off and tells them they'll never know the love of the Pahwraiths and beams away. Fala takes a suicide pill because he still has faith but sadly doesn't turn to dust. Everyone leaves on the Defiant and Kira tells Odo that Dukat is changed and genuinely believed he was doing what the Pahwraiths wanted.
Yeah I hate this episode but it could have been kind of good. They could have really explored Kira's faith. They nearly do that, but every question just has the same "ithe Prophets have a plan" for us answer. So we don't get any serious discussion on why the Prophets didn't interfere with the Occupation while they did kill millions of Jem'Hadar for Sisko or anything along those lines. Instead we get Dukat as a cult leader. They literally just ran off a list of cult cliches with Dukat as the leader and it's the least interesting he's ever been, absolutely rock bottom for his character. He should have died in 'Waltz' ironically saving Sisko or something because it sure as shit wasn't worth keeping him around for this. What even was his plan anyway? We learn later that he's really in communcation with the Pahwraiths (it's not clear here) so I guess the Pahwraiths told him to do all this? Why? What do they actually get out of it? How is it helping them towards their goal? How does it fit with what we'll see Dukat do for the rest of the season? Or, if Dukat decided to do all this by himself, what was his goal? Did he just run this scam over many, many months so he could rape one more Bajoran and trick them all into killing themselves for a laugh? I don't know, I don't like it, it's bad.
But I do love that painting of Dukat.
SCORE: 2/10
Martok's crew fawn all over Kor. Martok tells them his plan and Kor pointsout it was the same plan he once used against the Federation and tells the story to the delighted crew. Kor gets confused when everyone is called to he Bridge (he's old.) One of Martok's ships is destroyed by the Cardassians. The remaining Birds of Prey attack a Cardassian base. Martok and Worf are knocked out and Kor has to take command. He fucks up and gets people killed and starts to think he's back with Kang fighting the Federation. Martok throws a knife at Kor's face but Worf catches it in mid air and punches Kor out to save his life (this is pretty cool.) A disgusted Martok orders Kor off the Bridge. Quark makes a speech telling Ezri not to go back to Worf as she deserves better. Ezri tells him she wasn't going to, but it was nice of Quark to look out for her. Martok embarrasses Kor in front of the crew (his disapproving aide tries to leave but Martok forces him to stay.) Everyone joins in with the mocking but Kor just tells them to enjoy being young while they can because one day they'll be old and useless like him (he says it more poetically.) Worf removes Kor from duty. Martok admits to Worf that seeing Kor as a pathetic old man gave him no joy, even though he'd been dreaming of it for thirty years. They detect ten Jem'Hadar ships chasing them even though they're cloaked. Worf comes up with a plan to stop the Jem'Hadar, but it'll mean him sacrificing himself and one of the Birds of Prey (and whoever volunteers to go with him.) Martok reluctantly agrees. Martok's aide goes to Kor and they talk about being old and the good old days when all they did was fight and eat. He tells Kor about Worf's plan to sacrifice himself and shows the plan to Kor. Kor thinks it can be done but Martok's aide says it would take someone with a lot more experience than Worf. Kor hypos Worf and takes his place, telling him he'll say hi to Jadzia. Martok is worried when Worf comes to the Bridge knowing that Kor has taken his place. They move out of sensor range and can't tell what's happened, but somehow Kor wins and saves them. Worf says it doesn't matter how he did it. They all drink bloodwine and sing about Kor.
It's one of the strongest Klingon episodes yet! I actually liked the Klingon politics here with Kor coming from an ancient house and thoughtlessly rejecting Martok years ago and Martok remembering it. It's the kind of thing Discovery kind of tried to do except it's much more relatable here involving two characters we actually like and who was can actually understand what they're saying. I like how both Kor and Martok are unlikable at times in the episode but are both good guys overall. Just flawed! The comparison to the legend of Davy Crockett works well too. The b-story continues the "Quark in love with Ezri!" story I'm that big a fan of but it's fine. This is good.
SCORE: 9/10
The Siege of AR-588 - Rom sings at Vic's. Well, this isn't getting 10/10. Vic's made audio recordings for Bashir to recover to the troops on the frontline. Wouldn't they rather have tapes of Vulcan Love Slave or something? Sisko admits to Odo that he can no longer read the name of everyone Starfleet officer who dies in the war as there's so many of them. The Defiant is brining supplies to troops on the frontline on one of the planet's captured in last season's finale. Quark is going there for contrived reasons (a "fact finding missions" for the Grand Nagus.) The Defiant is attack and Quark goes to the Bridge to see what's up. Nog is embarrassed by his uncle. Sisko, Bashir, Nog, Quark and Ezri (for some reason) beam down to the planet and are attack by edgy Federation soldiers. A solider complains that they've been stuck on the planets for months longer than Starfleet regulations allow. The commander shows Sisko the communcations array they're protecting and points out there were 150 of them at first and now there's just 43. Quark and Rom notice a soldier with a necklace of Ketracel White tubes. Nog is impressed that he's killed so many Jem'Hadar but Quark isn't. He says humans are wonderful people but can turn as violent and nasty as any Klingon in the right situation. A psycho soldiers nearly hits Bashir for trying to touch his bandage. A guy he hated died putting the bandage on him. The soldiers tell Sisko about "Houdini" mines that appear from nowhere. Sisko is supposed to leave but the Defiant is being attacked by Jem'Hadar ships. They've beamed more soldiers down so Sisko's going to stay on the planet even though he doesn't know when the Defiant will come back. I see no reason at all why he couldn't have had Quark beam back up though? The Jem'Hadar attack but they're only holograms sent to see how many Federation soldiers there are (not sure how that works to be honest.)
Nog doesn't want Quark bringing food to him while he's in the trenches bu Quark points out that the Federation never would have gone to war if they were like the Ferengi. The Ferengi would have hammered out a peace treaty. Sisko sends Nog out on a scouting mission (due to his super hearing) despite Quark's objections, who points out Sisko wouldn't send Jake. Ezri has befriended the engineer working on the communications array (he's the only one there who hasn't been driven mad from the fighting.) She remembers how her previous hosts felt when in combat but it's different being there herself. Rom completes his scouting mission but is shot in the leg. The gruff knife-obsessed soldier is impressed by Nog now. Quark reports to Sisko that Nog is going to lose his leg. Bashir says Nog should be able to have a robot leg fitted but there could be complications. Quark tells Sisko off again but Sisko snaps that he cares about every soldier under his command and goes to see Nog. Nog apologises not getting away before the Jem'Hadar shot at them. He wants Sisko to assure him the communcations array was worth it. The engineer comes up with a way to make the Houdinis visible and Sisko plans to use them against the Jem'Hadar. They have to move the mines to a ravine to take out the Jem'Hadar. Ezri points out that just hours ago they were talking about the mines being something only the Dominion would use. Bashir plays the Vic recordings for the troops before the battle (this is good use of Vic.) The mines go off but many Jem'Hadar still get through. There's lots of shooting and hand to hand combat as Quark tends to Nog. Ezri nearly dies but the engineer saves her before being killed himself. Quark has to shoot a Jem'Hadar (well, he's done it before.) Basically only necklace guy survives of the guest characters. The Defiant returns and Worf tells Sisko it was a great victory but Sisko doesn't feel like celebrating. Back at the station Kira reports that 1,730 troops have died in the last week. Sisko says they have to remember that they're more than just names.
It's a great episode though I did have some problems in the first half. Some of the soldier characters are a bit cliched. They feel like they've just been taken from any random war movie and dropped in Star Trek. Quark staying around on the planet is really contrived (seriously they could have beamed him back up!) But it's worth having Quark there for his observations throughout. Things really pick up once Nog loses his leg and the final battle is great at capturing the horror of war (in a Star Trek way.) Avery Brooks has some strong subdued Sisko stuff. It's good.
SCORE: 9/10
Covenant - Oh no it's this episode. Odo notes that Kira spends so much time in Bajoran services that he wishes he was a believer so he could go with her. Vedek Fala, an old friend and spiritual advisor of Kira's, comes to see her and hands her a strange crystal which beams her all the way to Empok Nor (the money-saving station!) Kira finds herself amongst a Pahwraith cult and their leader...DUKAT. And he has a Pahwraith earring now. Dukat asks her how she could have faith in the Prophets while Cardassia occupied Bajor. She says they had a plan for Bajor but Dukat says the Pahwraiths are the real Gods and wanted to play an active part in Bajoran life. They were cast out by the Prophets to stop them doing so. Makes sense! He's the Emissary of the Pathwraiths. He admits that the let the Pahwraith enter him for selfish reasons but became a true believer after (Jadzia's death couldn't be avoided.) He says "you have no idea how much it pains me..." but doesn't finish in the usual way. He claims the Prophets are responsible for the Occupation, not him. He wants Kira to join him in loving the Pahwraiths and blah blah blah he surely knows this isn't going to work. Back at the station everyone finds out what happened to Kira (it was a Dominion super transporter.) Fala tells Kira he turned to the pahwraiths at the end of the Occpuation after the Prophets did nothing to stop it. Kira does her usual "Prophets move in mysterious ways" thing (except when Sisko asks them for help, they'll step in then!) He shows Kira around the station. He introduces her to a pregnant young Bajoran who Dukat has given permission to have a baby with her husband. Dukat is teaching them to resist wordly pleasures (ha ha.) The girl's husband has done a painting of a Christ-like Dukat standing in front of the wormhole surrounded by Bajorans and it's AWESOME. I want that painting. Kira tries to shoot Dukat as he leads a service but all the Bajorans stand in her way.
Dukat and Kira have the usual "you just want Bajorans to love you/the Occupation would have been worse without me" talk and Kira's mum comes up too. Dukat thinks if he can open Kira's heart to the Pahwraiths he can do the same to any Bajoran. The Bajoran girl gives birth but the baby is half Cardassian. Dukat looks worried at first but then declares it a sign from the Pahwraiths. Most of the Bajorans fall for this crap because Bajorans are dumb but the husband doesn't look sure. Kira asks Fala how the fuck she can believe in this. He says he believes because he has faith and Kira should understand that. Kira wants to investigate and talks to the husband. He admits that his wife "prayed alone" with Dukat. Dukat confronts the mother and apologises for raping her (she's forgiven him.) He tries to murder her via the airlock but Kira and Fala arrive in time to save her. Kira confronts Dukat and he has her locked up. Dukat asks the Pathwraiths what to do next. Dukat tells his stupid fucking followers that the Pahwraiths have instructed him that it's time to leave their corporeal bodies. He tels Kira about the suicide pills they'll take and turn to dust (he's taking one too, he insists.) Kira breaks out of her prison. She stops the Bajorans from taking their pills by jumping on Dukat. He loses the fake pill he was going to take and won't take the one Fala gives him. The Bajorans finally turn against him and throw their pills at him. He takes his earring off and tells them they'll never know the love of the Pahwraiths and beams away. Fala takes a suicide pill because he still has faith but sadly doesn't turn to dust. Everyone leaves on the Defiant and Kira tells Odo that Dukat is changed and genuinely believed he was doing what the Pahwraiths wanted.
Yeah I hate this episode but it could have been kind of good. They could have really explored Kira's faith. They nearly do that, but every question just has the same "ithe Prophets have a plan" for us answer. So we don't get any serious discussion on why the Prophets didn't interfere with the Occupation while they did kill millions of Jem'Hadar for Sisko or anything along those lines. Instead we get Dukat as a cult leader. They literally just ran off a list of cult cliches with Dukat as the leader and it's the least interesting he's ever been, absolutely rock bottom for his character. He should have died in 'Waltz' ironically saving Sisko or something because it sure as shit wasn't worth keeping him around for this. What even was his plan anyway? We learn later that he's really in communcation with the Pahwraiths (it's not clear here) so I guess the Pahwraiths told him to do all this? Why? What do they actually get out of it? How is it helping them towards their goal? How does it fit with what we'll see Dukat do for the rest of the season? Or, if Dukat decided to do all this by himself, what was his goal? Did he just run this scam over many, many months so he could rape one more Bajoran and trick them all into killing themselves for a laugh? I don't know, I don't like it, it's bad.
But I do love that painting of Dukat.
SCORE: 2/10
