Station log: stardate unknown

Rene Auberjonois directs this episode that was written by Ira Steven Behr and Robert Hewitt Wolfe and first debuted on 11 November, 1996.

Worf (Micheal Dorn), Dax (Terry Farrell), Quark (Armin Shimerman), Basihir (Alexander Siddig) and Leeta (Chase Masterson) are all on holiday on Risa, but vacation doesn’t seem to agree with Starfleet’s solitary Klingon, as he is intrigued by, and joins up with a fundamentalist group (on Risa?) that argues that the Federation has gone soft.

And they plan to start their new revolution… on Risa?

On the plus-side we see the developing relationship between Dax and Worf and the reaction of their friends on the station. Watching their relationship, one can see shards of one’s own relationships and also that Worf has some serious moral issues – he’s pretty strict in his views. And lets not forget how jealous he can be. *eye roll*

The leader of the fundamentalists, Pascal Fullerton (Morite Markham) is a fear-monger and is constantly stirring the pot and trying to scare the vacationers into seeing things his way. And it’s a little bothersome to see Worf siding with him, after a ‘discussion’ with Dax.

This is a bit of a lighter episode for the cast, and it gives them all some of fun little character moments, but right on the tail of Trials and Tribble-ations, this one feels like it comes up a little short. Although the reveal after the Leeta-Bashir breakup is pretty funny…

Station log: stardate unknown

LeVar Burton directs this episode that was written by Micheal Taylor, and first aired on 18 November, 1996.

Sisko (Avery Brooks), Dax, Odo (Auberjonois) and Garak (Andrew Robinson)  find themselves thrown back in the past seven years to when the Cardassians ran the station, then called Terok Nor.

Everyone seems to think they are condemned Bajoran prisoners but a crime Odo investigated at the time, and his memory of it, may be the key to saving their lives and their escape back to the future.

Kurtwood Smith makes an appearance as Thrax, the Cardassian security officer who had Odo’s job before he did.

It’s a bit of an eye-opener for Garak, seeing the occupation from the other side and the episode is a strong one, exploring what we already know of the station’s past with new information, and revelations about Odo.

I like a good time travel episode, and this one does it in a slightly different way, and I love the fact that we get great character moments as well as more backstory on the station filled out.

There is more to see next week as I continue to enjoy my time exploring The Complete Series on DVD, now available from Paramount Pictures!

Boldly go…