Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Season Seven

Reviewed By Tim Smith

More Star Trek video reviews, this time looking at the final season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, with our resident DS9 expert, Tim Smith...

Volume 7.1 - "Image In The Sand" / "Shadows And Symbols"

It is three months since Sisko left Deep Space Nine and he is still working at his father's restaurant on Earth. Whilst there he receives a vision of finding a woman's face on the planet Tyree, and a visit from an old friends. Meanwhile the newly promoted Colonel Kira receives some disturbing news from Admiral Ross.

Deep Space Nine enters its' final season with an intriguing and thought provoking two parter. After the previous season's shocking conclusion, the producers had a hard act to follow. Not only did they have several plot threads to follow up, but they also had to replace a well loved character who had been killed off (rather well I thought) in the preceding season's finale.

I have to say that in my opinion they have overcome these problems brilliantly. There are two main plot threads running through both this, and the following episode. The 'main' plot has the three Siskos, and the new Dax, journeying to Tyree to search for...Well I'll let you discover that for yourselves. The 'b' plot has Kira and Odo having to deal with a Romulan 'medical' outpost on a Bajoran moon that seems to be very heavily armed. as both sides refuse to back down things begin to escalate until they are facing open conflict. The Romulan scenario may initially seem just like plot filler, but even if you think that, and a subsequent episode will make these events a little more important, it does not stop it from being gripping and well executed by all concerned.

Sisko's journey to Tyree doesn't actually start until the following episode ("Shadows And Symbols"). First of all he has to struggle with the vision and a nasty attack by a member of the Pagh Wraith cult. Those who like their Trek fast and furious and with plenty of special effects, will be frustrated by the pacing of "Image In The Sand". However those who like the more character driven moments will be justly rewarded for their patience. It is a joy to see the the scenes between the three generations of Siskos, and they showcase the talents of all three actors. Or maybe that should be four actors. The introduction of Ezri Dax is brief but impressive.

It is not until "Shadows And Symbols" and "After Image" that her character is explored in any great depth, but her brief scenes towards the episodes end certainly promises much. Kira faces a showdown with the Romulans over their supposed medical base on the moon whilst Sisko, his father, Jake, and Ezri Dax make a startling discovery on Tyree, and Sisko is shocked by a revelation from the prophets.

Things get REALLY weird in "Shadows And Symbols". Whilst the Romulan plot is resolved in a fairly predictable, but still enjoyable way, events on Tyree are what you might call left of centre. There are disclosures made that fundamentally alter one, if not two of the characters permanently. I cannot really explain much more about what and how is discovered without spoiling it for those who may not have seen this episode yet, but suffice to say that once you have seen this, you will not only want to watch it again, you will need to watch it again. It is not only what is uncovered that will keep Star Trek fans talking, but also the way that it is uncovered. Many fans will be debating just what it means, and how it will affect the overall story arc for some time. A superb start to the season. 10/10.

Volume 7.2 - "After Image" / "Take Me Out To The Holosuite"

Ezri not only has to deal with the conflicting personas she now has due to her link with the Dax symbiont, but also the reactions of those who knew Jadzia well. Nicole deBoer gets to grip with her character properly as "After Image" (written by Rene Echevarria, one of the show's strongest writers) explores how she reacts to her new situation. She does an astonishing job in displaying so many different aspects of a complex character, and in making it feel that she has been playing the role for sometime. She manages to show the confusion about who she is, and what memories are hers beautifully, and without ever going over the top with her performance. deBoer manages to make Ezri different enough from Jadzia for the viewer to know that they are dealing with a new character, but bestows her with enough mannerisms to show that something of the old Jadzia lives on. I don't know if Nicole studied Farrell's previous performances, or even if she did this deliberately, but at times it is truly uncanny.

The rest of the cast support her admirably. Mention should go to Michael Dorn as the still grieving Worf, and Andrew Robinson (in his first appearance as Garak for a while). Robinson's scenes with deBoer are breathtaking. As Garak first tries to defend himself against Ezri's gentle investigation of his growing claustrophobia with a tyrade against the young and vulnerable Trill that breaks her spirit, and then as he breaks down as the real reasons behind his attacks come to light. A quite staggering piece of acting. Another strong episode, and a confirmation that Nicole was the correct choice for the role. I only wish that she had been in the show sooner!

In "Take me out to the Holosuite" an old Vulcan rival of Captain Sisko's arrives at the station and challenges him to a game of baseball, Sisko must try and mould his friends into a team to be reckoned with.

I have more than a few problems with "Take Me Out To The Holosuite". It is essentially meant to be a comical diversion from the Dominion war arc, but for me it fails. Firstly there is ALOT of baseball in this episode. For those who know and like the sport this won't present a problem, but for the rest, who do not have even a mild interest in the sport, it will come across as somewhat boring. Granted it does allow you the opportunity to see both Chase Masterson and Nicole deBoer in baseball outfits, but this does not save the episode. On second thoughts maybe it does!

Secondly, and far more seriously, the portrayal of the Vulcan Captian, Solok borders on racist. His ten year vendetta against Captain Sisko, his desire to beat Sisko in the game (surely an emotion?), and his open crowing of his achievements over Sisko's are bad enough. These are all very human traits, and bad ones at that. Not only have I never seen a vulcan portrayed in such a way since classic Star Trek began it all, but I have seen few humans portrayed as so bitter and self centred.

What is even worse is his open disdain of the humans which verges on hatred. I do not count episodes such as Voyager's "Meld" where Tuvok is overtaken by negative emotions, and it leaves me with an uneasy feeling when I see a race that has been shown to be one of the more enlightened ones of the Federation shown in such bad light for no real reason other than comic relief. What makes it surprising that this happens is that the episode is written by Ronald D. Moore. Someone who normally has quite a good handle on these sort of things.

Ignore "Take Me Out To The Holosuite", and buy this tape just for "After Image". 8/10