Customer Reviews

Star Trek Deep Space Nine: Season 2

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4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Here we are then with DS9 series 2. If you saw the first, and were not that impressed, dont give up. DS9 has so much to offer the viewer. The first series had trouble finding its feet, but with each series it gets better and better. This series begins to introduce elements that will continue through to the conclusion of DS9. When you have finished with this DVD you will be gagging for season 3. The best trek, just got better.

The series started off well in the first season, and continued that slow progression in the second. More or less, there was a seeming station-keeping feel to this season. TNG was coming to an end, and it seemed that the producers were all focusing their energies there. Many good episodes are to be had here, but they were still a season away from hitting their stride.

Again, Paramount has done a nice job of packaging this set. The extras a great. Although why they feel the need for a copyright proclaimation after EVERY SINGLE EXTRA is beyond me. Plus, it would be nice if they would either give the option of continuous play of the episodes, or at least put a chapter stop after the opening credits so that they could be skipped each time.

Star Trek DS9: The Second Season. We're introduced to the Dominion when Quark tries to establish a Ferangi trading aggrement in the Gamma Quadrant and then the Jem'Hadar in the season ending cliffhanger. The episodes were better this year when the series seperated itself and tried to be less like The Next Generation and established its own identity. Although future seasons were better than this, a few of my favorite series episodes: notably Rivals (with The Princess Bride's Chris Sarandon) are in this season.

This season included some great episodes. It starts out with a riveting three-part story about Bajoran society and politics (Homecoming, Circle, Siege) which further develops the Bajoran characters on the show. Invasive Procedures delivers suspense, Armageddon Game is an intriguing look at biological weapons with a subtle built-in irony. Profit and Loss has Quark moving profit down on the priority list (for once) and shows another aspect of Quark.

The best of the set, however, has to be Whispers. An artfully constructed conspiracy story is often underrated and forgotten when fans make top-10 lists, Whispers was the most atypical trek episode that had been produced up to this point. Told in flashback with voice-over narration, Chief O'Brien recalls the steps which caused him to suspect a massive conspiracy. The true power of the episode, though, is in the journey and in a truly inspired twist at the end. The use of subjective point of view filtered through O'Brien keeps the viewer unprepared for what awaits. The set should be purchased because of this very episode.

There are also many episodes that begin long-lasting storylines. The Wire is a mind-bending episode dealing with Garak's sordid past. It also set up one of the best story arcs on the show that would blossom in the following season. The arrival of the Maquis was an infinitely important Trek development, for it not only began a storyline which lasted for several seasons, but also contributed storylines to TNG and made Voyager possible. Crossover brought back the mirror universe from the original series and began a storyline that would continue well into the sixth season. The most important, though, has to be contact with the Jem'Hadar, signalling a metamorphosis in the series and beginning the journey to the show's destiny.

Sadly, the season is dragged down by inferior episodes, some of which are generally considered to be the show's worst. Melora is a clunker of a preachy message episode about the handicapped. Similarly, Rivals is a boring episode with the most preposterous science that I have ever heard in an episode of any Trek show. There are a number of filler shows which keep this season from reaching its full potential. Nevertheless, it contains some enjoyment, and is worth the purchase. This season paved the way for the rest of the series.

This was the season that won me over to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine! I became a "Niner" (subset of Star Trek fans) after I watched the repeat airing of the season finale "The Jem'Hadar". I had never seen anything like it on TV before. "The Jem'Hadar" featured an intriguing "who are they?" story about the fearsome Jem'Hadar - the soldier race of the Dominion, coupled with the grandest space battle (at that time) that I had ever seen on TV. Sure, the space battles would improve in later seasons, as would the characters and writing, but it showed me enough to keep me on board.

Later on I would see the remarkable three-part season opener - commonly referred to as "The Circle Trilogy" - along with other gems like "Blood Oath" (which brought back three of the original Star Trek's best Klingons: Kor, Kang and Koloth), "The Maquis, Parts I & II" (for better or worse, this is where Voyager began), "The Wire" (one of the best Garak stories) and "Crossover" (DS9's first visit to the classic Mirror Universe).

This was the year that Ira Steven Behr, Peter Allan Fields, Robert Hewitt Wolfe and James Crocker started to fully realize what the Dominion was and what it would later become. This quadrant-spanning empire was first mentioned during the first season, but this is where the ongoing story arc truly started. If you like SF that is daring, vivid and thoroughly complex, DS9 is the series for you.

*A special note: May God bless the families of the seven brave astronauts who died on board the space shuttle Columbia on February 1, 2003. And may He forever hold them in His warm embrace.*

In the second season of DS9, we see the continuing development of a superior science-fiction series, based on excellent story-writing and character development.

The 3-part season-opening story arc (The Homecoming, The Circle, and The Siege) shows us the darker side of Bajoran politics.

Invasive Procedures gives us a deeper glimpse into Jadzia Dax.

Shadowplay teaches us about loss and the lengths someone will go to keep memory of loved ones intact, while at the same time giving us a cryptic preview of the Dominion.

Blood Oath gives us a glimpse of the past with Klingons being portrayed by legendary original Trek actors, such as Michael Ansara.

The Maquis two-parter kicks off the storyline regarding ex-Federation members having to go it alone against the Cardassians in the De-Militarized Zone.

Crossover shows us the consequences of James T. Kirk's actions from the original Trek episode "Mirror, Mirror."

The Jem'Hadar finally introduces us to the sinister Dominion, in what will turn out to be the dominating storyline for the rest of the series.

There is much more that can be said about this wonderful season but there is not enough time and space.

The best that can be done now is to purchase this season (and all the others) on DVD and see for yourself.

The one thing that is really remarkable about DS9, is that it gets better and better with each season. That's not to say that the earlier seasons aren't important or worth getting, in fact, just the opposite. To understand the complexity of the story that develops in the later seasons, one must know the story and motivations for the characters early on. I love this season, and think it is worth every cent. I think you will too. DS9 is not only the best Trek, but one of the best shows ever on television. :)

DS9 season two turned out many of the series greatest episodes and at the same time started to give ominous signs that portended what was to come with this outstanding and spectacular Star Trek series. The producers, while entrenched in the final season of Star Trek The Next Generation, preproduction on Star Trek Generations and preproduction on Star Trek Voyager brilliantly were able to write and produce one outstanding episode of Deep Space Nine after another. The second season is where the producers and everybody involved found their stride with the series resulting in absolutely amazing character interactions where everybody worked well off of one another. Of the many Star Trek variants, DS9 I believe as a whole is dramatically the most compelling due to its very nature of conflict between the main characters. It was truly fun watching DS9's first season, STNG's sixth season and then DS9's second season and STNG's seventh season all in the order they were originally aired, just as it was when they were all aired. It is too bad we won't initially be able to do that with DS9 & Voyager since we won't be seeing those sets until sometime next year. Of all the series that have passed, this is the one that I miss the most.

A brief synopsis of some of the "stand out" episodes of this great season:

The Homecoming, The Circle and The Siege - What can one say when they're treated to such an outstanding, well written and performed trilogy to begin a season of Star Trek, amazing! The thought process that went into this trilogy is well played out on the screen as our beloved characters find themselves deeply entrenched in the political situation on Bajor after Kira receives evidence of a famous Bajoran freedom fighter named Li Nalas still being held by the Cardassians. This is where we first meet Vedek Winn and learn of her ambition to become the next Kai and the lengths in which she'll go to attain that goal.

Invasive Procedures - This is a great episode in that it does give us some idea about how Trills end up being joined Trills.

Cardassians - This outstanding episode serves well to give us a slight glimpse into Garak and at the same time raises more questions about this superb character played by Andrew Robinson.

Rules of Acquisition - This is another outstanding Ferengi episode starring Quark, one of the most entertaining characters of the series. Along with Quark, we're treated to Grand Nagus Zek and several other Ferengi characters.

Necessary Evil - This is one of the most outstanding episodes of the season as it gives us a glimpse into what DS9 was like when it was Terok Nor and under Cardassian rule during their occupation of Bajor. Rene Auberjonois performs admirably as Odo when Gul Dukat thrusts him into the role of an investigator in order to discover who killed a Bajoran merchant. This is when Odo and Kira met and also where a huge question between them wasn't answered until the poignant conclusion of this episode.

Blood Oath - In this incredible episode we're treated to three Original Series Klingons all dressed up as "new" Klingons and they have a blood oath in which Jadzia Dax is a part of. This great episode is certainly a great precursor to her later "Klingon" episodes and when Worf joins the crew.

The Maquis, Part I & II - As a follow on to STNG's episode, "Journey's End" establishing the treaty between the Federation and Cardassia where several colonies end up on the wrong side of the border and the setup of the premise to the beginning of Star Trek Voyager, we're treated to a full blown Maquis episode. What makes this so intriguing is the fact that Sisko and gang don't necessarily know who to trust due to several Starfleet officers resigning to join the Maquis.

The Wire - Even after seeing a full seven years of DS9, this episode stands out as one of the best featuring the Garak character. Again, we're treated to a few answers about this rather enigmatic character, such as his first name Elim but we're also left to question whether what was revealed was true or not...

Crossover - After so many years of waiting, we're finally treated to what happened to the Mirror Universe after Kirk left. Kira and Bashir run into some form of an anomaly and then go through the wormhole only to find they've gone through the looking glass. This is but the first of several outstanding, humorous and enlightening "Crossover" episodes.

Tribunal - In this outstanding and quite poignant episode, we see O'Brien captured and put on trial by the Cardassians. Colm Meaney performs brilliantly in this episode where his character is tried, convicted and sentenced all prior to his capture.

The Jem'Hadar - In this great season finale, we finally get to find out a little bit of what the rumored Dominion is about along with their fighting force, the Jem'Hadar. This episode is extremely intriguing as we see a Galaxy class starship easily defeated and we see that Starfleet's defenses are easily defeated by the Jem'Hadar. This episode is one of the biggest reasons why DS9 is referred to as a 176 hour saga because from here on out a majority of the episodes deal directly or indirectly with the pending war between the Federation and the Dominion and the whole "epic" feel of it all. {ssintrepid}

Special Features:

New Frontiers: The Story of Deep Space Nine
Michael Westmore's Aliens - Season Two
Deep Space Nine Sketchbook: Season Two

Crew Dossier: Jadzia Dax
New Station, New Ships
Ten different "hidden" Section 31 clips

Episode list:

The Homecoming
The Circle
The Siege
Invasive Procedures
Cardassians
Melora
Rules of Acquisition
Necessary Evil
Second Sight
Sanctuary
Rivals
The Alternate
Armageddon Game
Whispers
Paradise
Shadowplay
Playing God
Profit and Loss
Blood Oath
The Maquis, Part I
The Maquis, Part II
The Wire
Crossover
The Collaborator
Tribunal
The Jem'Hadar

In season 2 we learn quite a bit about the crews past (e.g., previous loves, alliances, etc.)

1) The Homecoming - Kira risks war with the Cardassians when she attempts to rescue a Bajoran from a prison colony.

2) The Circle - Kira helps revealing the secret behind "The Circle".

3) The Siege - Bajoran forces are due to arrive and take over the station. Sisko and his officers remain on board to delay the takeover.

4) Invasive Procedures - A Trill steals Dax's symbiont with the intentions of transplanting it into himself.

5) Cardassians - An orphaned Cardassian raised by the Bajorans causes trouble on Deep Space 9 when the Cardassians try to get him back.

6) Melora - Dr. Bashir develops a way so that a woman he has fallen in love with can walk in normal gravity.

7) Rules of Acquisition - A female Ferengi, disguised as a male, falls for Quark.

8) Necessary Evil - When an attempt is made on Quark's life, Odo is faced with a 5-year-old murder, which Kira was the prime suspect.

9) Second Sight - Sisko falls in love for the 1st time since his wife's death.

10) Sanctuary - An alien race arrives on Deep Space 9 and claim that Bajor is its homeland.

11) Rivals - A swindler comes to Deep Space 9 and is in competition with Quark at the same time Bashir and O'Brien clash in a sporting contest.

12) The Alternate - Odo's old mentor arrives and wants to resume looking for Odo's true origin.

13) Armageddon Game - Dr. Bashir and Chief O'Brien work with two alien races for peace and rid them of deadly weapons.

14) Whispers - After returning from a mission it appears the entire station has turned against him.

15) Paradise - Sisko and O'Brien are stranded on a planet where the inhabitants appear to have rejected any form of technology.

16) Shadowplay - Odo and Dax work a mystery where the inhabitants of a planet are slowly disappearing.

17) Playing God - The station is facing disaster from a "new" universe that is expanding.

18) Profit and Loss - Quark is reunited with an old love which happens to be a Cardassian that is now a fugitive and he is willing to risk everything to win her back.

19) Blood Oath - Dax is willing to risk her life and Starfleet career to honor an oath made with 3 Klingons.

20&21) The Maquis (part 1 & 2) - Sisko discovers that terrorist actions could start another war with the Cardassians. Sisko and Gul Dukat work together to avert the war.

22) The Wire - Dr. Bashir saves his friend Garak who is slowly dieing of a brain implant.

23) Crossover - Kira and Bashir enter an alternate universe where Bajor is powerful and humans are slaves.

24) The Collaborator - Kira investigate the man she loves because he may be the one that aided the Cardassian's and 43 Bajorans were killed.

25) Tribunal - Chief O'Brien is put on trial by the Cardassians for a crime he insists he did not do.

26) The Jem'Hadar - The Jem'Hadar from the Dominion captures Sisko and Quark.

Everyone settles into their characters nicely this season. Quark begins to shine more, Garek develops (but doesn't mature), Dax -is too painful to talk about in any season, Kira is less annoying -she got a lot better over the years, and everyone is somehow shadowed by Avery Brooks (Sisko). To this day, he is probably my favorite actor. After seeing him in an interview, I thought he might be controllably schizophrenic because he acted so crazy (yelling odd, non-rhyme poetry and barking at the host - making those around him look a little uncomfortable), but when he's acting it's as though he believes every word, thought and nuance of his performance. He is a stellar actor. They ALL are. Even O'Brien get's an episode here and there and pulls it off. That's what makes this show so solid, not a weak link in the chain. Production and writing through to performance. It's a great collection of stories for all ages.