Top 50 Episodes #26-24

EPISODES 26-24

# 26. THE JEM'HADAR

Deep Space Nine, Season 2

Episode Number 46

Info and General Credits

Directed by Kim Freidman

Written by Ira Steven Behr

Aired 1994

Stardate Unknown

Guest Cast

Capt. Keogh Alan Oppenheimer

Nog Aron Eisenberg

Third, Talak'talan Cress Williams

Eris Molly Hagan

Premise

Whilst visiting a luscious Devonian period world in the Gamma Quadrant Quark and Sisko are taken captive by mysterious aliens. Soon after, the Federation are introduced to the Jem'Hadar, soldiers of the Dominion, when they send the Odyssey through the wormhole to test their resolve.

Comments

A lot of seasons 3 - 7 focused on the Dominion, and it was this show that started the whole ball rolling. The spectacular and shocking destruction of the Galaxy Class Odyssey I think made all DS9 viewers sit up and take notice of this new, mysterious threat. In many ways, at this time, it was what DS9 lacked - a solid, tangible military threat, as the Cardassians had largely faded a bit into the background, but of course would come back strongly later on.

This new Dominion factor also took some of the attention away from Bajor, which was a shame in some ways, as I had enjoyed the 'political intrigue' story lines of the past two seasons. This was meant to be one of the key on-going plots to the series, ie, the Federation take control of the station to oversee and aid in the aftermath of Bajor's occupation, and process the possibility of future Federation membership. This world's political and social instability, as well as the newly discovered wormhole was to be at the core of the DS9 series. And here, through the wormhole came this new threat. At the end of season two we became immediately aware of how dangerous and sincere the Dominion and Jem'Hadar were, and what a major role they might end up playing in the future. In some respects the cliff-hanger can be superior to the actual conclusion. That's perhaps why I favour this episode to the follow up 'The Search'. Overall this was a gripping, swashbuckling finale to the season.

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Soundbites:

The Ferengi are very choosy when it comes to fine cuisine:

Sisko: "I thought the Ferengi liked eating bugs."

Quark: "Only certain bugs....Ferengi bugs."

Sisko is introduced to the adversary that will dominate the next five seasons:

Sisko: "I'm Commander Benjamin Sisko of the United Federation of Planets. I want to know why we are being held here."

Talak'talan: "That's not my concern."

Sisko: "Then why won't you let us go?"

Talak'talan: "Because the Founders don't want you released."

Sisko: "And who are the Founders?"

Talak'talan: "That's not your concern."

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# 25. THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR (Parts 1 & 2)

Deep Space Nine, Season 4

Episode Numbers 73 & 74

Info and General Credits

Directed by James L Conway

Written by Ira Steven Behr and Robert Hewitt Wolfe

Aired 1995

Stardate 49011.4

Guest Cast

Worf Michael Dorn (Guest in Part 1)

Gul Dukat Marc Alaimo

Gowron Robert O'Reilly

Kasidy Yates Penny Johnson

Gen. Martok JG Hertzler

Drex Obi Ndefo

Garak Andrew Robinson

Kaybok Christopher Darga

Huraga William Dennis Hunt

Premise

A large armada of Klingon vessels arrives at the station. To help assess the situation, Sisko drafts Lt. Commander Worf for a temporary assignment. It is soon discovered that the Klingons plan to invade Cardassia, as it generally believed that the Dominion have taken control of the Cardassian government. When the Federation Council refuses to support the invasion relations between the two powers degrade, putting the very fabric of the alliance in jeopardy.

Comments

About a year on from 'The Jem'Hadar' things are definitely starting to kick-off in the Alpha Quadrant. As Sisko himself says, the Dominion want exactly this: Klingon against Cardassian, Federation against Klingon. This season opener, being initially a feature length TV movie has a real power-house of a story, with The Next Generation's Worf at the centre of it. And once against his loyalties to both the Federation and the Klingon Empire are put to the test.

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Soundbites:

Worf and O'Brien reminisce about the good 'ole days:

Worf: "Chief. Do you remember the time we rescued Captain Picard from the Borg?"

O'Brien: "How could I forget. It was touch and go there for a while. There were a couple of moments where I thought we were all going to wind up being assimilated."

Worf: "I never doubted the outcome. We were like warriors from the ancient sagas. There was nothing we could not do."

And it's true, if you drink enough of it you end up liking it:

Quark: "I want you to try something for me. Take a sip of this."

Garak: "What is it?"

Quark: "A Human drink, it's called Root Beer."

Garak: "Ahh, I don't know....."

Quark: "Come on....Aren't you in the least bit curious?"

Quark: "..........What d'you think?"

Garak: "It's vile?"

Quark: "I know. It's so bubbly and cloy, and happy."

Garak: "Just like the Federation....."

Quark: "But do you know what's really frightening? If you drink enough of it you begin to like it...."

Garak: "....It's insidious...."

Quark: "....Just like the Federation."

Gowron issues a stern warning:

Gowron: "...But let your people know, The Klingon Empire will remember what has happened here. You have sided against us in battle. And this we do not forgive....or forget..."

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# 24. TIMELESS

Voyager, Season 4

Episode Number 101

Info and General Credits

Directed by Levar Burton

Written by Rick Berman, Brannon Braga and Joe Menosky

Teleplay by Brannon Braga and Joe Menosky

Aired 1998

Stardate 52143.6

Guest Cast

Capt. Geordi La Forge Levar Burton

Tessa Omond Christine Harnos

Premise

A future Harry and Chakotay go to extreme lengths to send a message back in time 15 years to prevent the disaster which sees the loss of the Voyager after the catastrophic failure of a new concept warp propulsion system.

Comments

Another attempt to implement a brand new propulsion system goes belly up, this time Quantum Slipstream propulsion. We all know Mr. Braga loves to mess with time, and here turns out a real corker of a time travel style adventure. We learn that the initial experiment was only a 50% success, with Harry and Chakotay getting all the way back to Earth in the shuttle, but left Voyager behind to perish, tragically. What follows is a heart rending study into the self-inflicted psychological torture and remorse of survivor-guilt, as Harry is convinced the whole disaster is his fault to due to a critical failure in sending the correct phase variances to Voyager behind them in the slipstream. Once discovering the Voyager wreck beneath an alien glacier they retrieve Seven's interplexing beacon and the Doc's program, who finds himself again out of time - (see 'Living Witness'). In tandem with a stolen Borg temporal transmitter they attempt to send new course corrections back through time to Voyager and prevent the catastrophe. That's it in a nutshell.

It's also great to see Geordi back on episodic Trek, this time in the captain's chair of the USS Challenger. But he knows plenty about friendship and loyalty to shipmates and guesses correctly that Chakotay and Harry would not heed his warnings, but risk everything to complete the mission to save their ship. It's also a touching moment to see the present day Harry see his own alternate timeline, future personal log. A Voyager classic.

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