Star Trek Deep Space Nine: Season 4

The fourth series of Deep Space Nine can be summed up in one word: Klingons! The show's producers apparently felt beset from all sides. Babylon 5 was a huge hit, as was Star Trek: Voyager, the flagship of new channel UPN. Stepping up DS9's action quotient seemed to be the answer. Time would tell, however, whether doing so via Trek's tried-and-tested former bad guys was the best solution. Opening with a special two-hour extravaganza, the new year was immediately unfamiliar. Dennis McCarthy's original theme--despite winning an Emmy--had been deemed too subdued. As its upbeat new rendition kicked off, the station was seen in battle and swarming with activity. Moments later, we met old/new crewmember Worf, whose sudden appearance was the result of a brewing invasive strategy by the Klingons. This initiated the first of many loyalty shifts, as the Cardassians became the victims. With plenty of re-appearances by Gowron, Kor, and Kurn, it was clear that an ongoing space opera was being crafted. Dukat revealed a tragedy-ridden daughter; Odo's relationship with his people (and Kira) became increasingly melancholy; and even the Jem'Hadar foot soldiers were given a sympathetic angle by their drug addiction.

Adding to the layers of ambiguity about Earth's (read: the producers') position over being at war, was the "outing" of Eddington and Sisko's girlfriend as rebel activists. Lest we forget the homely/spiritual side of the Captain, time was spent with a future version of Jake, with his father (Brock Peters), and on the nature of his role as "the Emissary." Avery Brooks worked behind the camera a couple of times, but this year the surprise was LeVar Burton directing five shows. There was still time for comedy: the Ferengi warped back to Roswell in 1947 and Bashir played James Bond. But the year will be remembered predominately for its violence. One of the episodes Burton directed had its fight scenes drastically cut, while the series as a whole won an Emmy for its space battle effects.--Paul Tonks

The features of the fourth season of DS9 (about 82 minutes total) are highlighted by the season overview "Charting New Territory," which discusses such developments as Worf's integration into the series. The crew dossier also focuses on Worf, including his relationship with Jadzia Dax. Makeup designer Michael Westmore examines aliens, illustrator John Eaves goes through a variety of sketches including the ship's new armaments in "The Way of the Warrior," and the usual Section 31 hidden files cover Leeta the daboh girl and such key episodes as "Rejoined," "The Visitor," "The Quickening," and "Little Green Men." --David Horiuchi

Episodes: The Way of the Warrior Parts I and II, The Visitor, Hippocratic Oath, Indiscretion, Rejoined, Starship Down, Little Green Men, The Sword of Kahless, Our Man Bashir, Homefront, Paradise Lost, Crossfire, Return to Grace, Sons of Mogh, Bar Association, Accession, Rules of Engagement, Hard Time, Shattered Mirror, The Muse, For the Cause, To the Death, The Quickening, Body Parts, Broken Link.