Deep Space Nine - The End Of Season One

 Due to time constraints here is a quick review of the final five episodes of Deep Space Nine season 1;

If Wishes Were Horses - A good fun little ensemble done in one episode which is also the finale of Julians Chaser arc 8/10.

The Forsaken - I thought this episode came later, the start of Odo's relationship with Lwaxana and the scene where Odo reverts to his natural form is arguably one of the most pivotal in the series. The rest of the episode is fun fluff but its all about these moments for me 7/10.

Dramatis Personae - Another good ensemble episode where Odo is pivotal, 8/10.

Duet - A really emotional deep cut cut episode for Kira, my memory of her growth was over the entire series but she's already grown so much in this season, 9/10.

In The Hands of the Profits - We've come full circle in this season and we're back to Bajoran religion. It feels different this time as opposed to the series opener we've had a season to get to know Bajor. It doesn't really feel like an episode in itself but an episode two or three of a Doctor Who story. Interesting rather than involving or enjoyable, 6/10.

Deep Space Nine - Progress

Like the last episode its another dual narrative episode with one story featuring Jake and Nog while the other story features Kira. Unlike the last episode this one works on almost every level imaginable. Jake and Nog have a fun Only Fools and Horsesesque story about selling and trading that includes various cast members. It shows what its like living on the station for kids and takes the viewer on a fun ride.

Kira's story has a lot of character development, we've touched on her past before and through the series up to this point we've learnt about her present. Her fight against the Cardassians is over and she must deal with what comes next, whilst helping Bajor and herself to move on. 

Both stories counterbalance each other, one is a fun ride played for laughs and one is an emotional rollercoaster and a pivotal episode for the growth of Kira.

Brilliant stuff and  9/10  from me, also a very good example of how to balance the cast on an ongoing show.

Deep Space Nine - The Storyteller

I have already forgot most of this episode.

The Jake and Nog stuff is cute while the O'Brien and Bashir stuff is interesting from a looking at the genesis of their relationship POV. 

Its a reluctant 2/10 from me, I feel like I'm watching an episode pitch that hasn't been fully written up. There are a lot of good ideas and Nogs "oatmeal" trick is actually very funny, no doubt there is the seed of a good episode in here. The only suggestion I have is that maybe it should have been pushed back and given more time in pre production.

Ricky Gervais - My Thoughts...

Ricky Gervais is one of those people who are so shallow theres just nothing to them. If he hadn't have got onto TV he's the kind of person who if you worked with you send memos or emails at every chance in order to avoid a meeting. I know he's released stuff recently that other people have rated highly, however I won't be watching any of it. He's lumped himself in with people who have thrown me out of job interviews, people who have attacked me and people who in various ways have lowered my quality of life. 

In short I have no time whatsoever for Gervais and his ilk, they have had far to much influence on the lives of the Transgender community. In response I've no doubt Gervais will pull his "oooh I've been cancelled routine" and in answer to that I say being cancelled is having recruit consultants slam the phone down on you when they hear your voice, being cancelled is having a managing director restructure the company so you don't have a job, being cancelled is when someone throws abuse at you and instead of help all bystanders do is shrug their shoulders and mumble something about everyone deserves an opinion. I hope this educates anyone of his ilk of cancellation, in the meantime I've got stuff to do.

Deep Space Nine - Battle Lines

Its an odd episode this week as some long term beats in the opus that is Deep Space Nine are introduced albeit in a song that isn't very good. We see more of the Kai this week and through her and Kira we are introduced to the religion of Bajor. However bar the three regulars who carry the meat of the episode everything else is bad or just doesn't work.

The script is perhaps the worst we've seen yet, most of the guest cast feel like their not trying and the main problem where this episode fails is that it writes out a character who hasn't been properly written into the show yet. In order for the viewer to care about Kai Opaka we need to have seen more of her - from memory I don't think she's shown up since the pilot. This could have been done anywhere up to this point, she could have been a guest speaker at the school or maybe an early victim of the Babel plague.

Its a very rare 1/10 from me.

Deep Space Nine - Vortex

Its another Odo episode so obviously its brilliant. We're about twelve episodes in and some characters are carving out their own niches and corners of the show with so far Odo being the most successful. Not only are his own episodes distinctive he fits in so well in other characters episodes. A more solid reason why this story is so enjoyable is the rule we've all heard before that science fiction is at its best when its trying to be something else. This story wants to be so many things, noir, a crime thriller, a story of salvation and hope.

Odo's backstory is one the defining arcs of the show and seeing the start of it is enjoyable on almost every level. An aspect of this story is the direction and writing, Odo is constantly preoccupied with Croden and becomes more obsessed with him as the episode goes on. As such we're given some swerves at points it looks like various regulars are going to be getting more screen time but as soon as Odo is done with them its straight back to Croden. It puts over the idea that Odo is alone and lonely but he could so easily not be if he opened up.

In short a fantastic early episode and has the feel of a must watch for Odo's character as well as the series, 9/10.

Deep Space Nine - The Nagus

Not only a Quark episode but we finally get our first Ferengi episode with the introduction of Grand Nagus Zek who is well played by Wallace Shaun. Theres a good bit of fun fluff with the Zek faking his own death and we get a good comedic episode.

The main part of the story watching in hindsight however is Jake and Nogs developing friendship - seriously I started this episode delighted to see Zek yet as it goes on I wanted to see more of Jake and Nog. This relationship between Nog and Jake is one of the centre-point relationships of the show and seeing it start from nothing is beautiful. Of note is Sisko's reaction both to Nog as a bad influence and the ending when he finds out what the pair have been up to.

In short, a delightful little comedy and character episode thats important to the show in multiple ways, 7/10.