Deep Space Nine 3.03, 3.04, 3.05
I love “The House of Quark”. It’s so melodramatic and hilarious. I think it’s great how Quark takes credit for the death of the Klingon at the beginning and assumes he’s in trouble for that by the deceased’s brother. What great politics for him to then get in trouble by the deceased’s widow for the opposite reason. I thoroughly enjoy the machinations of the opposing factions and how utterly bored the Council is by Quark’s accounting presentation. But how great is it when Gowron has enough and throws down the pad? I also love how Gowron can’t pronounce Quark’s name right. Even better is when Quark bluffs the physical confrontation and goes into execution position, then Gowron declares the brother a cheating dickhead, and shuns him with his crossed arms. I love how Grilka is so matter of fact when Quark asks her for a divorce. But he gets the girl. Sure, it won’t be until her next episode, but we know she’s not completely opposed to the idea, even now.
I can’t say I’m a big fan of “Equilibrium”. I find I don’t really care that much about Dax’s history during this rewatch. So learning about the secret murderer host that Jadzia never knew about really wasn’t that exciting to me. There are lots of cute character moments, like Odo stirring the soufflé by moving the bowl instead of the spoon. But mostly, ugh, it’s just kind of boring. Ooh, a mysterious song. Ooh, a mysterious masked character with a mask underneath. Yawn. I thought it was interesting that the symbiont pool guardian dude wore the same outfit as the initiate dude Jadzia was fucking with last season. Otherwise, feh. Joran hosted Dax for six months. Does the guy that stole Dax out from Jadzia get a fancy hallucination reveal for some future host?
Despite some similarities to the Troi-as-Romulan episode (which I also really like), I really like the Kira-as-Cardassian episode, “Second Skin”. This is actually an interesting mystery. I like that it starts with something as innocuous as a research request for primary source interview of a survivor of a particular harsh occupation prison. Watching Kira get swept up in her search for the answer is exciting and fun. Then when she wakes up as Iliana, oh boy does Nana Visitor ever knock it out. I just adore the progression of emotions starting from complete certainty in her disbelief that she’s an Obsidian Order undercover agent. Her journey to starting to actually believe in the possibility that she could really be Iliana is painful and gorgeous. It makes her understanding that Ghemor is the real target so much more sharp and triumphant. I loved that the rescue party included Garak; his quip about overhearing something while hemming pants was classic. And then the ending, with back-to-Bajoran Kira talking with her “father”...tears. It’s just so good. She has come a very long way.
I can’t say I’m a big fan of “Equilibrium”. I find I don’t really care that much about Dax’s history during this rewatch. So learning about the secret murderer host that Jadzia never knew about really wasn’t that exciting to me. There are lots of cute character moments, like Odo stirring the soufflé by moving the bowl instead of the spoon. But mostly, ugh, it’s just kind of boring. Ooh, a mysterious song. Ooh, a mysterious masked character with a mask underneath. Yawn. I thought it was interesting that the symbiont pool guardian dude wore the same outfit as the initiate dude Jadzia was fucking with last season. Otherwise, feh. Joran hosted Dax for six months. Does the guy that stole Dax out from Jadzia get a fancy hallucination reveal for some future host?
Despite some similarities to the Troi-as-Romulan episode (which I also really like), I really like the Kira-as-Cardassian episode, “Second Skin”. This is actually an interesting mystery. I like that it starts with something as innocuous as a research request for primary source interview of a survivor of a particular harsh occupation prison. Watching Kira get swept up in her search for the answer is exciting and fun. Then when she wakes up as Iliana, oh boy does Nana Visitor ever knock it out. I just adore the progression of emotions starting from complete certainty in her disbelief that she’s an Obsidian Order undercover agent. Her journey to starting to actually believe in the possibility that she could really be Iliana is painful and gorgeous. It makes her understanding that Ghemor is the real target so much more sharp and triumphant. I loved that the rescue party included Garak; his quip about overhearing something while hemming pants was classic. And then the ending, with back-to-Bajoran Kira talking with her “father”...tears. It’s just so good. She has come a very long way.