Phasers Set To Stun: Top 10 Episodes from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season Two

0:01 Space the Final Frontier. Join us for a bold conversation our prime directive to recap our favorite Star Trek shows, both new and old, to engage in debate about all things Trek. Prepare to energize with Phasers Set to Stunt. Hello, and welcome back to Phasers Set to Stunt. In this ongoing series from a film by podcast, we focus on every quadrant of the expanding universe of Trek by covering television, animation, movies, directors, and more. Applying the chorus as always is your Core Trek Crew. I am Scott.

0:55 Hoffman, I'm David Barns, and I'm Wayne Whiten. And in this episode, we're continuing with Starter Treks, a spoiler free curated episode list of the top ten episodes you can watch as a great way to get into each series after listening to this episode. You can find that list in the description below. And just to be clear, we're talking about the ten episodes to watch in the order of appearance, not necessarily an order of preference. And what are we talking about, Scott Deep Space nine Again, you're coming back to us for season two, so crew, let's get into it. Dave, I think you're starting us off with the Homegoing. I Am the season two opening episode and the first one of a three part story. A Majoran earpiece arrived on board the station, which belongs to a thought to be dead but Jordan resistant legend Lee Knollis care Talksis Go into letting her go to Cardesia four along with Chief O'Brien to see if this individual is alive and if so, rescue him. While he's to go to search, bajor Is on the verge of civil war as an extreamis group called the Circle appears and are beginning to cause problems on the station. Their goal to eliminate all non Majoran and they are gaining power. This is all the reason why everyone hopes Lee n Eilist is indeed alive so he can help bring peace and stop this internal conflict. Written by Iris, Stephen Behar, and Jerry Taylor and directed by Rinnich Kobe. So this is a pretty eye opening episode, right, I mean three episodes immediately, which

2:26 I know we're going to dig into a little bit more. But what I find very interesting about this episode Franklin Jella, for one, who refused any credit for this role because apparently he was doing it for his kids, who are like huge Star Trek fans. I think that is a fantastic move from him. I always like him. He's been around a long time, has done a lot of stuff. But one of the favorite roles of acquisition is in this episode. I laugh hysterically every time every once in a while declare, peace infuses the hell out of your enemies, And that's true. I love that one so much.

3:07 Yeah, so, I mean this one. I found it really interesting because I had forgotten entirely that this is start the start of a three parter refresh my memory, like next Generation Deep Space nine. We haven't technically had one of those yet, have we. No, this is the first time there ever been a three parter yep. And it doesn't necessarily feel like it's setting itself up that way like it you know, you don't know that it's part one or part two of anything. It just bleeds right in. I think it's interesting how it starts to set the tone for the long play that Deep Space nine leans into really well, that it's going to be.

3:48 You know, there's there's pocket episodes, there's bottle episodes, but a lot of it is made for the long term investment. And I don't know, it didn't seem like it was drawn out. I was. I was got into the entire trilogy, which is part of the reason we're going to talk about all three of those from the beginning obviously, But and it also gets into a lot of those deep political roots of this right about the you know, unrest and some gorilla warfare and how people are adjusting to the new Majordan government, the new balance of power. Uh. Yeah, I think it was a great way to start the season.

4:30 Yeah. I agree, having a three parter was was a bold move because they've never done that before. But this is the first time you start feeling that they're moving away from that that next generation style of storytelling, you know, the the the individual episodes. It gets even more so as the series goes by when they have this serialized storyline. But here, you know, we're we're away from the station, away from the the monster, the problem of the week, and now we're getting more into the political Injure Greek and learning a lot more about Beijor it's politics, it's religion. Uh. It makes for a great season opener. And this is a season with a lot of good episodes, and I think it started off very strongly.

5:14 This is this is starting to lean towards where we're going to get a whole season story arc. You see d space that is starting. To go that way a little bit, not just yet, but it is heading in that direction, which you know is a new theme for Star Trek. Yep, this is the season where that starts to here and you start feeling the bits of story they're starting to feed you, the little little seeds that will spring out and grow for the rest of the series. Yep. Absolutely. I know. The one thing that I want to talk about was when Cisco was talking to Daxon O'Brien, who already knew about Kira's plan. I thought it was funny that everybody kept coming in and talking about it, and its like, is there anyone on this station who does not know about Kira's plan and Cork.

5:59 But probably. Yep. Well, and it's a good it's a good pull through with the end of last season in the hands of the prophets. Because what is her name? I hate her so much. I mean credit to Louise Fletcher. Louis Fletcher, who plays. We won't be done with her for a while, but but she's it's such she's such a good actor, such a great fact that you love it, you love to hate her. That's that's the mark of a great actor in a villain role. Yeah, it's also hard for me to not see Franklin Jela as the bad guy from Dave. I'm just like, it's always going to be that guy, but I just got to turn that off. All right, Well, let's move into the next one. The part two of this is The Circle.

6:54 Yes, The Circle, written by Peter Allen Fields and directed by Corey Allen. In this second part of the three episode arc, Major Kira is abruptly reassigned from Deep Space nine as political tensions rise on Beijor. While she seeks spiritual guidance at a monastery, Vedic Burial helps her uncover a plot by the extremist group known as the Circle to overthrow the provisional government. Meanwhile, Commander Cisco investigates and discovers that the Rebellion is being secretly armed by the Cardassians to destabilize Beijor and drive the Federation away. As the Circle's force is prepared to attack the station, Kira and her allies race to expose the conspiracy before Beijer falls into civil war. This like being the second part, it really goes on the very strong performances of Nana Visitor and Franklin Jella. They really give way to Mean Lagella is a big draw for this series. I mean, he's a very well known actor, and having him on it, even though he's not credited, was a big coup for the for the for the producers, for the whole show, because you know they are and they're both very strong people.

8:06 You know, Visitor just not get enough credit. She's phenomenal as Major Kiara. And this is a really good episode. But you know, even more this this episode even goes deeper into the political exposition. You know, it shows that that shift towards the serialized storytelling, you know, the beginning of that style. It's it's a great second part, which a lot of times those second parts in a trilogy kind of fall flat. This one doesn't. Not this one. And as we get to see Cisco's baseball for the first time, I yes, that's right. It starts making a lot of appearances throughout this season. I might add, which I didn't get the connection that that was a leftover from last season, from the wasn't there holiday character yea, So it's interesting. Yeah, I agree.

8:51 It's a lot of depth you get with Kira in this one. You see how much she means to everybody on the station as they're they're letting her go. It seems like this, you know, legendary war hero is not much of a replacement, not really connecting. You can see that, you know, kind of his lack of faith in himself doesn't really engender a lot of faith in his his character. One of the things that struck me, like, the more we're talking about, the more we're getting into the circle, it's not the It's not the last time we'll see this kind of inner faction kind of uh, you know, come up as some kind of third force or third party in this. We'll have to talk about it when we get to the Maquis. But there are parts of mereskind like, is this like the start of the Maquis?

9:44 Is this the mini Mocky or. Is it spoiler Scott spoilers. So for me, as a cinematographer and a guy who likes to direct, one of the things I want to point out is the director shot the scene in care of quarter in one continuous uninterrupted take they edited together, showing like some intercut close ups and stuff like that and reverse angles, but the master shot of all of it was there as one long take. I think that was really cool. I love it when directors do that stuff. You don't get to see a lot of artistic stuff like that in Star Trek. And it was neat to get a director actually pulled that one off in this one.

10:28 So I wish we had a pity they didn't. Yeah, I p it's pitty they didn't keep that, just that one long take in there without the close ups, because I would have loved to have seen that. I mean, that's I love when the directors do that me too. And another thing. I mentioned this in the season one when we talked about Deep Space nine, but I tell you, every time Cork just loses it and starts laughing hysterically, I start, I start laughing along with him. When he got deputized by Odo and in the back I just started busting out laughing. Yeah, so good. I gotta give him credit for acting through those teeth. I don't know how that wouldn't take the heck out of the inside of your mouth, just all the different points I'm sure it was, you know, smooth down and whatnot.

11:09 But man, you think you get and you're going I would think. So it's got to be he's got to be so hard to talk and think he did that for seven years. Yeah, absolutely incredible, Yeah, it really is. And to perform as good as he does, that's that's yeah. Yeah, all right. Well. Rounding out the third part is The Siege that's written by Michael Pillar and directed by Winrick Colby. Cisco and the Federation are forced to make a difficult choice. They could drive them out of d S nine, but they won't leave without a fight. With families and non essential personnel evacuated, they make a stand against Bajoran forces being manipulated by the Circle. Meanwhile, a reluctant Bajoran war hero but finally believes in himself enough to live up to his own legend and help the DS nine crew on Bajor, Kira and Dash find an old shuttle that takes them to the heart the Circle with evidence that could turn the tide. It's a strong conclusion to a three part opening that sets the tone for the season and possibly for the rest of the series. I don't know if either of you were a fan of Wings, Yeah, the show and it was out, so yeah, seeing Steven Weber as Colonel Day maybe happy in this one.

12:21 He was, he was that show was still running when this was area it was I thought that was yeah, that was like ninety seven or eighty eight, So yeah, he was well known then at that time. But it was interesting to see kind of the the guerrilla tactics they employed with this one, kind of hiding in Jeffrey, to Jeffrey's tubes and trying to fight back for the station. It's kind of hard to talk about this part of the trilogy without you knowing spoiling things. Yeah, yeah, more than I already have. But but again, I think it speaks volume to Cisco's character again here. You know, we talked about him last season in What Heed the character he shows with Son and stuff like it. But for the Station, this author shows his character as well. Because and I'm trying not to give anything away obviously because we're spoiler free here with this, but I mean the fact that the federations that you go get out of there, we're done, you pull pull your team out, and.

13:15 He was like, I'm not doing that, I'm sorry. Yeah, and then you know, obviously he got people to buy into that. You know, I won't fault anybody for you leaving, but then obviously we know what happens. I just think that was really shows how strong of a commander Cisco is. Yeah, that's a good point to raise, and I think I totally agree. It's not the last time we'll see kind of a big, rousing speech from Cisco. And I think that's one of the powerful things about Avery Brooks is that you see a lot of the respect that he commands and a lot of the powerful stature that he has. There's a lot of great balance in there.

13:56 And one of the things that comes to mind is he hands a letter to Jake that seems very conversational. It seems very casual, even though that's a pretty weighty thing. He's basically saying, I might not ever speak to you again. So I put all this in this letter. H that's a big thing for anybody to say to anybody, let alone a father raising a son, alone to a young teenage son. So there's even a lion there. And I don't remember exactly what it was said, but it says, dying get you off the hook, living for your people and I don't remember the rest of it, but I just thought that was a very powerful line that was given. You know, it's true, I feel now, you know, they it feels like the writers now have a grasp on what they're planning on doing with with Cisco. It felt a little rough during the first season with his character. Now, you know, especially with this episode, it feels like they finally got the hang of it. They know what they're doing.

14:55 They made him a strong leader and you know, a strong commander of the station. And this episode, I don't know if you guys noticed, has probably the largest cast that I've ever seen on in one of these shows. Almost everybody is in this episode. You know, we got the entire regular cast, which is rather odd. Usually one or two are missing, but you've got you know, Ross and Chow's there, Max, Greta Chik, Aaron Eisenberg, Haiti Hayti, Philip Englin, Louise Fletcher. They're all there, all there, the secondary casts to it. It could make for a very very crowded episode, but it doesn't. They all feel natural, They all feel like they should be there. It's it's a great ending to the three parter. I remember when this first aired and watching it, I think this really made me fall in love with Deep Space nine because I wasn't sure about the first season. I really wasn't sure.

15:44 It just felt like a copy of the next generation, like you know, you know, But now it's it's come into its own and I just remember loving this three part and loving this ending. So as with any TV series, season one is going to be a little rough. Okay, a lot of your characters you don't know where they're going to go yet, you don't know how you're going to develop them yet. But when you get to season two, you start to see that a little bit more, and you're right, this is where we're starting to see a lot of these characters start to shine, and they're starting to really start develop that chemistry together, and you see it with everybody. Practically, we're getting to know the characters obviously for one, but you're getting to see them get to know one another and start to. As actors even perform better with each other. Wayne, you know as well as I do.

16:29 I was a bigger Babylon five fan than I was Deep Space nine at this time. A lot of my attention was on Babylon five at this time, and that's gonna come up a little bit. We'll talk about that in an episode that I'm going to discuss. But I so watching it now, Deep Space nine, you know, with you know what I know that I remember back then, I can see why I was aggravated with Deep Space nine. Then I was Babbelon five. But now in the future of me seeing it, look, looking back in hindsight, both of them were great shows. They really are. I should have given Deep Base nine a little bit more effort in my opinion. Well, it was hard back then not to compare the two shows. They were airing exactly the same time, and you know, during the first season, Deep Space nine just basically gave us more of what we saw in the Next Generation, which isn't a bad thing, but it's not anything original or Babylon five was given this blow away, you know, continuing storyline, things that we'd never seen before.

17:27 So yeah, a lot of people were moving over to that. But I think this is the season where people started paying attention more to Deep Space not I think, because you know, by the end of this series, some people consider this and still do to this day, their favorite Star Trek series. And I can see why. Yeah, I agree. Well, we go from the seriousness of a very heavy three parter to Rules of Acquisition, which goes in a different total direction. Yeah, and this episode is really important, so I'm not really spoiling any things, but I'm going to give a little little bit of hints to what's going on in the In the episode, this is written by Hillary J.

18:08 Bader and Iarin Stephen Baer and directed by David Livingston. Cork is chosen by Grand vegas Zek to negotiate the first Farringi business deal with the mysterious Gamma quadrant specie known as the Do Side. When Quark's new assistant Pell proves unusually skilled and ambitious, he is unaware that Pell is secretly a woman, defying strict Fringi law that forbid females from earning profit. As their partnership deepens, Pelle fells in love with Quark, and her secret threatens to unravel both their fortunes and reputations. There are two really important things to take out of this episode, which is why I kind of pushed for this to be included this in these top ten and the it's not really spoilers, if you know, but it's very important for the viewers to notice these things. Of course, the first is, of course, they're the character of the hell and how her her appearance pushes the development of the Fringi culture in Star Trek.

19:07 You know, we've known that the Fringi women are not allowed to wear clothing, they're not led to have jobs or money, because this was established all the way back when the Feringi first appeared in the last outposts, back in Next Generation. So you know, that makes it really hard to show Fringy females on the screen, you know, if they have to be naked. You know this this was a clever way of bringing that side of their culture onto the show without having the the Spencers coming after them, really, you know. Plus then you also got the first mention of the governing force in the Gama quadrant, you know, called the Dominion, which is just a drop away mentioned here, which is why I'm not considering really it ailer spoiler, It'll become very much important, very much more important. You need to pay attention to that. But you know, I think, well, what I like the most is about this episode is it is played for comedy, but there's a lot of a lot of charm to the performance, especially between armand Shimmerman and their guest actress Helene Eddie who plays Hell. She puts a lot of humanity, humanity into her character, you know. And I like the way that Quirk is torn between his feelings for her and the culture, you know what he's been led to believe, you know. It's it's a standalone episode this season, but it's a very important one for the series as a whole.

20:28 Udi was amazing as Pal For one. I loved her performance in this and she really shined and gave us that side of the FERRINGI that we haven't seen before, and I thought that was very, very impressive just on her part. Having wal as Shawan back a Zach is incredible. I love Wallace Sean, but the character of zek Is is hysterical to himself, especially the whole flirting and stuff that he was doing throughout the episode. But for the love of God, because police cut the hair out of his ears, that is disgusting, okay, foul and disgusting, all right. I love the way he screams and yells when he finds out that pells a wart. I think that's so hilarious.

21:12 I also want to point out Brian Thompson, who plays in Glatu. I anytime I get an opportunity because I want to make a stab at Dayton at podcast. I mean, is the fact that he was in night Slash. He was nice slasher in Cobra. I love to keep pointing out Cobra favorite of yes, a favorite document something. That's why I keep pointing that out. But another thing I really want to point out too is Quark's outfit in. This is awesome. It is awesome, the whole different colors and it just it was vibrant and it really spoke to his character. I loved it. Yeah, I think, yeah, the development of the Ferringe is very interesting. And I would just say, and I think I'm talking to Jeff when I say this, be patient.

21:55 I know that things like zex Zex's character is very creating on purpose. I mean, he has his ear hair groomed right. It should be hard to watch. But there's a lot of a lot of great depth that's building in this, a lot of great comedy, but it's also a very important look at a species that could have just been a throwaway of you know, fur vests and whips. Right. This this is just a great example of how much how much opportunity there is for it, not just in comedy but as a species. There's a lot of great writing. With a Frankie here, yeah, I agree.

22:37 I want to also bring up that, you know, this episode was nominated for an Emmy Award for the Best Makeup. It didn't win, but it has some there's some great makeup in this. And also when this episode first aired, they's misspelled the title of the episode wrong. On screen. They corrected it, so if you watch it streaming, it's correct. But back then you if all of us old trekkers, if you have videotapes, go back there and check the acquisition is a spell right? Oops? Well quality and sixty six always up, Jack, Yes, quality control people come on now, all. Right, everybody, Well, before we get into the next episode, let's take a quick break, and when we come back, Dave will tell us about the next episode. All right, we're back. Dave tell us about Necessary Evil.

23:26 Which I'm gonna say is my favorite episode of season two by Flora, written by Peter Allen Fields and Robert Hewitt, Wolf, directed by James Conway. Cork is visiting woman named Paua on Beijor negotiating, he learns she wants him to retrieve a strong box on the station that she can't do herself because of a murder investigation from the past which Odo was working on. Upon retrieving the strong box, Cork and Rahm can't hold back their curiosity and open it, revealing a list of AJR names. The list is forced from Quark's hand by an intruder and he is shot. Doctor BSh year racist to save his life while Odo questions rom which leads him back down the same path of investigation that he was doing years ago for Gold to Cod.

24:08 So I absolutely love. This episode for many reasons. One the flashback sequences that we get, because the way they are able to make that station, change it around and make it look cold and unwelcomeing I thought was brilliant. But the other scene that I loved, and this is a cut an edit that they did, is when Odo types in the password of that room and the camera switches to the inside and it's immediately a flashback on how they cut that together when he walks into the room. I love that so damn much. But the other thing that I love about this episode is again Nana Visitor Holy crap. Does Sheep pull out one hell of a performance in here?

24:54 You know, get we get to see some of these characters that we've already got to know the last season and a half. Well not really half yet, but I guess it's close enough. We get to see them meet for the first time here, and you know, the way we meet Kiara and Odo, it's kind of like strange at first, like this is how they met and it is and it's it's awkward at first, and then you see how much growth these two characters have had over the years. Before we even met them. It's just so. Intriguing and interesting and where they're going to go And I just I loved this character and I'm going to go back to something else rom scream. I still laugh about that.

25:36 Yeah, it almost seems like it's non stop, Yeah, right, like you have to hit a button to turn it off or something. I totally agree. It's such an important episode to understand more about Odo and Kira's relationship. It's a great look back at what the station was like before it is what it is today. Because I would say at this point it's a they had to fix a lot of things, but I would say it's a fairly vibrant, lively place. It has to be. It should be kind of a way station. Total opposite when you see the flashbacks, I think the first scene where we see Kira in a flashback is very emotionally powerful, and I'd say the last scene that we see with her is equally as powerful, if not more so. I love the fact that it also gives us some history into Odo's career. It's basically the beginning of his career as a as an investigator. And interesting how he has a reaction to the word constable. Yeah, even though that's how everybody usually refers to him.

26:35 Yeah, it's this is real. So it's really an important episode too, especially for those flashbacks, you know, like you said, we get to see Odo's first a meeting with Kira and Quark and Goldecott. But more so, this episode is probably one of the most atmospheric, more most complex episodes of the season. It's so well done, and mainly because of Renee and and Nana's performances. They are so strong, such such complex human you know characters there. You know, neither one of them or human now said that word, but it really this episode shapes Odo. It does shapes hit her. His personality, you know, the way he interacts with all the other characters makes him very more morally. It justifies everything that he has become, you know, really solidifies himself, his reputation for you know, for what he does. It's it's a great characters storyline or it's not storyline character episode that you don't want to skip this one. This one's no nominally good.

27:41 Episode, one of the best, and we're starting to get to realize that Rom is not a complete buffoon, right, You're getting to see that he's got some smarts behind him, especially when it comes to mechanical and technical knowledge. So I'm glad they're setting that up. Mm hm. So I think it's It's also an interesting one that could bear a rewatch because I remember being kind of surprised by this one and thinking back to what I had just seen, even going back to the beginning of the episode, it almost sets itself up as a murder mystery. Yeah, and it even took me a little while to figure out the resolution at the end. All right. The next one is also very interesting and deep digs into history of another character at this time, Jedzia.

28:25 Das All right. So this episode is called blood Oath. It's written by Peter Allen Fields and directed by Winrick Colby. An agent Klingon Legend staggers into DS nine, finding himself lost without purpose and reliving glory days in a hollow suite and a drugkens tuber. Shortly after, another agent Clingon arrives with a kinship and a sense of disgust at his weary friend. What Dax discovers as a third Klingon arrives is that this trio shares a blood oath, one that Curzon joined and she's now beholden too. Their blood oath takes them on a quest for justice that dives deep into Dax's history and that jed Zy you can stand her ground alongside anyone in battle anytime. It's an episode that will come pretty important to her character and a great look into her past and her future. I love seeing Dax's history and I love how much focus they gave, how much room they gave to explore that in this episode.

29:20 Mm hmm. Terry Farrell, I think always does an amazing job. Yes, there is one stand up performance in here, and I could not shake it, and I was trying to place it for the longest time. The voice the character of Kang played by Michael and Sarah. And let me just ask before I say who it is. Did did you you have the same kind of feeling like I know that voice you to get it? Did you have to look it up? No? I didn't have to look it up. I realized it. I don't know about third or fourth time he was on screen. It hit me then, like, oh crap, I knew that voice. Yes, God, the chilling voice of mister Freeze from Batman.

30:05 I forgot about that. I guess I just remember him from Buck Rogers. Oh No, that was a totally different place. But yeah, oh my god. The voice delivery in this one, David, Am I right? It sounds very very similar. It's always to mister Freeze. It's just it's just as powerful here as it is there. I think all the Cleons do a great job. William Campbell, John Kalicos that play kind of this this trio. They do a great job of kind of challenging whether or not that should even be involved and ultimately bringing her along for uh to kind of satisfy this quest. It's hard to talk about it without getting into spoilers, but it's definitely a worthwhile episode to dive into a bit more of Clingon culture and a lot more of Daxon history.

31:01 We all three of those actors are from the original Star Trek. Yeah, let's let's playing play king that they played Kingons. Yeah, John Clickers was an errand of Murphy in sixty seven, William Campbell was in the Trouble with Tribbles in sixty seven, and mikel and Sarah was in Day at the Dove in nineteen sixty eight. So it's really neat that they're bringing them back in this which is really cool. But they don't look the same. No, they do not look the same. Not even clothes. Much was different, Yeah, much much, A lot more pad. A lot more hair. Yes. Yeah. And one thing I pulled from this episode is the line I'm going to use a lot. It's been a Klingon afternoon. That it has for a couple of months. Yeah, yes, that's true.

31:43 This would be the end we see them. Yeah, I want to bring out that. You know, while we see these three Klingons, two of them do return to Star Trek later on to play those characters. You know, we got Colicos returns later two more times in the series, and King appears in Voyager the episode Flashback. But there's one other person. I don't know if you guys pointed him out. It's such a small part here. Christopher Collins appears in this episode. Is one of his final performances that he ever did before he passed away a little about just about two months after this. You know, he's a he's a very familiar voice. If anyone's ever watched G I, Joe or Transformers. Oh, yeah, that's true. I'm sure they have. I know we have.

32:24 Actually we should talk about that sometimes. Yeah, sometimes, right, I do. I do want to point out the scene between Dax and Kane was incredible. I love that the dialogue between the two of them when they were first when he finally realized that she needs to go with them, you know, it was that that conversation that he didn't want anything to do with it, and then him I mean, Dak's basically telling this is why I need to go. This is you know, and I just thought that was very, very impressive. But it's almost it's almost like she's stepping on the toes of the courtroom drama that we had last season. You know, wait a minute, You're not that person anymore. You're a different Perth. And so wait a minute, right, yeah, you know, but now I thought that was a really good thing, great episode.

33:10 All right, let's get into the next one, I think when you've got. This, yes, and this would be The Maque, which is a two parter written by Rick Berman, Michael Pillar, Jerry Taylor, and James Crocker. Part one was directed by David Livingston and part two was directed by Corey Allen. Tingins erupt when a Cardassian freighter is destroyed, leading to accusations that Federation colonists are turning to terrorism. Commander Cisco travels to the Border region and discovers that disillusioned Federation citizens, frustrated with Starfleet's and ability to protect them, have formed a resistance group called the Mackee. As he tries to mediate between the colonists and the Kardashians, Cisco learns that a Starfleet officer, Lieutenant Commander Calvin Hudson, his old friend, is secretly leading the rebels. The Crisis Force assisto to confront the growing cracks and the Federation's ideals, and the beginning of a dangerous conflict that threatens both peace and loyalty. Now, this this two parter which aired back in April twenty fifth and May second of nineteen ninety four, which that's important.

34:16 I brought up these states because this is very important, not just to the continuing storyline of d Space nine, but it's really important because it sets up the groundwork to the upcoming series Star Trek Voyager, which starts, you know, at the beginning of the next year, like seven months later. Plus you know this story would also carry on into the Next Generation. You know, we got the episode called Preemptive Strike, which aired two weeks later after this. You know, this this is such an important two parter. That's why we've we've chosen this one and you need to watch both parts to get the whole point, because you know, you can't you can't skip this one. It's a great episode, really really good Commander Cisco episode. But you know it's it's got some great guest stars. Richard Poe as Golly Beck is back. He's he's Pops in all the most all this series. You know, he was on Next Generation's Journey in he would be in Predemptive Strike, and then he would appear in Caretaker Voyagers Pilots. But I love this episode. I remember when it first aired, it was really strong. I knew then that they were setting up for something big, and it proved out I was right.

35:28 Well, I mean, this two part is really important because again you're seeing the conflict between the Cardathians, the Federation and the Maajorans, you know. So, I mean, if you didn't have this episode, you'd be kind of lost of what's going on with the Monkey. So it's vital that this two parters, and I'm glad that we grouped it together as one because both parts are very, very important, you know, to be seen. But I do want to point out John Chuck Wayne. Yes, that's to cling On. In the Undiscovered Country and the Voyage Home. Somebody else that we recently met Michael Bell. Oh, yes, we met him a couple months ago, didn't we. Yeah, he plays I know him as Duke and g I Joe the voice in g I Joe obviously, but he's done Transformers, He's done lots of stuff, but he didn't I believe with the character's name, I'm in this so no, I mean, these.

36:20 Two partners is vital. So there's definitely why. We picked these, Yeah, and that makes sense to you know. Like I said before, the Circle kind of sets a little bit of a tone for this kind of idea, so that we had another kind of a compound pair of episodes with us. I think Brendan case it does a great job as Commander Hudson. It's great to show kind of the the conflict that that Starfleet officers have to get undergo when they're facing issues related to the backy, but also when there are connections with you know, people in their past and trying to see the different perspectives there.

37:00 It's also a great pairing of Goldencott and Cisco as kind of reluctant partners in a lot of situations, which is a dynamic that I love to see because it's almost like whatever situation they're in, there's always this subtle little debate that neither one of them ever seems to win. But it's great dialogue. It's a great pair of actors going back and forth through a lot of dialogue that just works together really really well. And to put the two of them in a small space like a shuttlecraft really kind of brings that to light. I think that's one thing that DS nine does really well. Is the only ships they have, the only transport is these are these runabouts, So most of the scenes have to take place in this kind of cramped conditions, cramped quarters, and it just seems like a good setting for that kind of internsal dynamic wherever it kind of pops up.

37:58 Absolutely, this is a great and one of the very few examples of the producers using their advantage the fact that there are two Star Trek series airing at the same time. You know, like I said before, they're planning these seeds that would sprout later on. You know, when the show first appeared, when Deep Space nine first started airing, we were hoping for this, this more connection, these crossovers to the series, and they did a really good job of you know, planting this whole makey idea and letting it you know, grow throughout this season and on. You know, we got the first bits were shown on the Next Generation and Journey's end, but they weren't mentioned. We really didn't know because they hadn't been formed yet. Now Here we got the full two parter where we learn about them.

38:45 But then it continues on again in the Next Generation, and then it continus in Voyager. It's it's it's a great idea. It's too bad they didn't do this more. Really, you know, plant these storylines to continue over through the different series. You don't now don't don't get me wrong. You don't have to go and watch those other episodes. It's not important to watch the other ones. It's just nice that there's these connections making the whole Star Trek universe feel like one. That's fair. Well, while we're on the topic of very important yet kind of a darker tone episode, dave I wanted to talk about The. Wire, written by Robert Hewett Wolf and directed by Kim Friedman, the first female director of deepse Base nine, and the fact they were so impressed with her they would bring her back some for some major episodes. Later on, Cardassian Garrick is with doctor Bisher heading to lunch as they do once a week, when he starts acting a peculiar and begins to fall ill, but denies any help, leaving a very confused but year. It isn't long until Grek has another attack and is quickly taken to the infirmary, whereupon an examination, Bishier discovers Gerek has an implant that has been placed in his brain by a group known as the Obsidian Order. This implanet device prevents the person it is in from giving away any secret and being interrogated.

40:01 Gerrik is declining, and to make matters worse, he begins to speak of stories of his past, which are quite contradictory, but Shure begs him to allow him to try and save his life by removing the device while also doing what he can to get a better understanding of who he is. Yeah, this is a really unique episode, A very good besher episode, I might add, Really we really get to see him and his character really start developing. We'll get a little bit more of that later on at the end of the season, which I know we're going to discuss, but I think this is a vital basher episode for one thing. But I think this is the first time Cardassia Prime is mentioned in this series.

40:41 And I have to say that Andrew Robinson, who plays Gerrick, I think he did a fantastic job in this role. His performance of you know, going back and forth of you know, the different stories and stuff like that, and you know, it's hard to fake pain, and I thought he did a really good job of showing that on screen. But I love the fact that we get to see Bashir standing up against Odo. I thought that was something cool. She doesn't usually do that, So getting to see that in his character, it's like, all right, you go vi here. Yeah, it's a it's a it's a welcome departure from his role and like move along home, yeah, against screaming to himself. Right, it just seems to be this guy that you know, can never get, can never get with somebody.

41:30 I love the fact that they have this. This is an important relationship between Grik and Bashir that you'll see throughout the rest of the series, an important setup of the element of kind of secret orders, like the Obsidian Order, like Section thirty one, things that will come up a lot later. So it's definitely important to watch for those kind of reasons. But I absolutely agree the performance by Andrew Robinson here going through his very pleasant demeter kind of that disarming you don't quite know if you can trust him, but it seems like he really wants to win you over to somebody who seems to be going through, you know, addiction kind of withdrawals. Very very interesting direction here too. In the in the particular scene where she is trying to help Garrick, even though Grek doesn't necessarily want his help. And it's hard enough to say it too much without spoilers, but just trust us. Very important episode, a lot of powerful performances, but that will that will become very important as the series progresses.

42:37 I mentioned earlier that I would get back to talking about Babylon five a little bit, and this is the episode to talk about it. Because the Obsidian Order was actually ariginally called the Gray Order, but the creators of Star Trek realized that Babylon five was introducing a group called the Gray Council, so they felt like they were going to be stepping on some toes, so they decided to change the name when and that's what. They came up with, City in Order. Yeah, that would have been too close, Yes it was. I remember there was a certain time when there was Deep Space nine, Babylon five, and sequest DSV and I was like, wait a second, and all three of them. Yeah.

43:18 This this is a really good, strong, important episode for the relationship of Bashir and Garrett, but such an important episode for Garrick because before you know, I always felt when he first appeared last season and throughout he felt more like a Guianan character to me, you know, one that would just pop up and just to you know, give some exposition or or move the storyline for just a hair, just give it a nudge. But he never really had any any of importance to the actual whole Deep Space nine storyline. This episode, we've got more background to him, you know. He it's a whole completely different performance from from him. It's it's so important because he becomes an incredibly important character for the rest of the series.

44:04 And we're also introduced to his mentor, and who was played by another actor, Paul Doodle. He's been in practically everything. Is a fantastic actor. I remember him on the TV series ALF That's what I remember him. But he's great and we'll see more of him next season two. But good episode, good, good Garrick episode. All right, Well, before we get into our last two, I think maybe we'll take another little break and we'll come back. We'll talk about some familiar territory, going back to the original series. All right, we're back. So, like I said, this is this The next episode is one that goes back to the original series. It's called Crossover.

44:51 Written by Peter Allen Fields and directed by David Livingson. Kia and Basher are traveling home from the Gabon Quadron when a shuttle malfunction takes them to an unexpectedly familiar place, the Mirror Universe, although it's far from what we saw in Kirk's adventure. The Terran Empire has weakened, which leads to a new power form by an alliance between the Majorians, the Klingons, and the Kardassians. Near the top of this power structure is a dark version of Kira, who thrives on cruelty and torture. The stranded duo have to weave their way through several surprising versions of their closest friends to find a way back to their own universe. Very hard to talk about so many thesis episodes about spoiling things. It is hard. Yeah, but this is one of the kind of the the apex of performance by Nana Visitor because she gets to do it twice. We get the Mirror Universe version of her obviously, and as the the Intendant is that what they call her? Yeah, she has so she seems to be having so much fun with.

45:54 That outfit outfit right, and the bathtub scene. Oh yeah, oh. Yeah, easy, easy, But no, I mean, like every single performance she seems to be every single scene that she's in, she's in total control and to be having, you know, a dialogue with herself, that's not easy. So we got to give a lot of respect the Navista for that. And it's it's an entertaining episode because it harkens back to that near universe and that's been a big important thing since original series. It's come up a lot of other times. It's always a fun time, but this one is an interesting look at how things have could have could have gone in another direction. It's also interesting to see how despite Kirk's best intentions with trying to possibly turn some things in the original series, it didn't really work out the way.

46:49 That he wanted to. So was it just me or was Odo scary y? Yes, he was like frighteningly scary, like he had complete control of everything down there, And man, I tell you, there's. No way I would want to cross that guy. No way. Well, it's it's almost interesting if you watch this back to back with necessary evil, you know, not that I think it's just one bad day away would turn him into this other character. But you know, you could see how, you know, with some manipulation, how that could have been the case. And I feel, i mean, you know, the rest how the rest of the series goes. I mean, I know the new viewers don't, but when you look at where Odo's from and what he could have been, had you know, history different, he could have been very much like that, you really think about, you know, where he could have been.

47:43 Well, and when we get into other things that we discover about his species, how if he makes a certain big decision related to that species, the you know, could that possibly turn him in a different direction. We'll see a lot of that play out. Just wait for season three. Yeah. One of the things I got from walking away from this episode is I realized there is just like our Wayne. He knows his music and composers. One of the subtle things about this and is the relationship between Mirror Cisco and Mirror O'Brien, the.

48:25 Smiley Smiley O'Brien. Oh, that kind of made my skin crawl a little bit. Every time I called him Smiley. I was like, well, Cisco makes your skin crawl. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I mean it's a Cisco without Jake, right, with a lot of other decisions to take him into an evil place. But you know, speaking of Jake, you know, it's not unusual for Jake Cisco not to appear in an episode, because he only appeared in like half of him last season. But you know, we see the mirror universe in many of the different TV series and media and stuff, and there's always mere universe duplicates of the characters, all the characters.

49:07 We know. He is one of the very few, if not the only character that doesn't have a mere universe duplicate because he was never born. Yeah, because Cisco in a different way. It's it's kind of unusual, but interesting. I found that interesting. That did point out that you know he's doing. And also this this episode went through some very last minute rewrites too. Wharf was supposed appear in this episode, but they couldn't get Michael Dorn because he was filming all good things the finale, so they had to shift the parts around and they gave all the Wharf's lines to Garrick and gave all the Garrick's lines to a new character. But it was a last minute thing. It's interesting to know, to think about what would have happened and what may not have happened later on if you appeared in this episode.

49:50 Right, Boilers, Wayne spoilers. I'm trying not to. Oh, I think I just go up. So let's move on to the next EP episode. I think wigh In lessens. Yours yes, and it's no surprise that it's the season finale. The jim Hadar, written by Iris Stephen Bear and directed by Kim Freeman. Commander Cisco takes Jake, Nogg, and Cork on a camping trip to the Gamma Quadrant for some relaxation away from the station. Their outing turns perilous as they encounter interests a mysterious alien woman claiming to have escaped from a brutal warrior race known as the jim Adar.

50:30 After Cisco and the others are captured, the Jimidar reveal themselves as the fearsome military force of the Dominion, a powerful empire that rules much of the Quadrant. Back on Keep Space nine, a surprise attack by a Jimidar ship demonstrates their overwhelming strength, signaling the beginning of a new and dangerous era for the Federation. Now this explosive to be a good way of putting this season two finale really marks the German added turning point for the series and for they basically for Star Trek, the Star Trek franchise as a whole. I mean, because you know, the episode starts out rather lighthearted. You know, it's you know, taking them to a camping trip, which is what we expected.

51:14 You know, at this point, you know, the game of Quadron is just a place to explore. It's kind of neat. But now we find out that there's a new and terrifying threat there which completely changes everything, raises the stakes for the series. Yeah, it's clear that that D Space nine as the series has a grown that that familiar episodic comfort I guess bilod way but of their early seasons and it's now we're moving into some new territory for Star Trek. And it's a good charactor they're going because we see where it's heading. I mean, when we first fell this season air, we didn't know what was in the future is held for us in D Base nine. But seeing all of it and then looking back when this was got introduced and you really no crap here we go it's it's about to get serious, yep.

52:04 I mean of the of all the characters to be stuck in that situation together like again, I gotta tell you, yeah, him just like talking and negotiating the whole time to get out of that cage. Oh yeah, it's a great performance. I've got to give it to Molly Hagen as Heiress the species that we'll see in the future becoming important. Can't spoil anything, but I think her performance in this from cover to cover is fantastic. Also interesting to see and hear Alan Oppenheimer a familiar voice from the Master of the Universe days. Oh yeah, but also interesting to see it right, exactly interesting to see another very familiar looking starship. It almost looks as if the enterprise is the part of this.

53:04 I think, you know, the destruction of the terrifying scene and I think I just wailed. Jeff's got to cut that. We can't do that, Yeah, you ruined it. Another interesting aspect of this episode, aside from the you know, the dramatic pairings and the performances that we see from the the actors, there's a great use of ship battles. In this one. I think is kind of an interesting sneak peek into the types of h space battle dynamics that we see I think used to a great extent in this series, and I think Wayne, you and I talked about this a long while ago when we covered that documentary. But one of the things that I'm consistently impressed with is just watching how these they use ships in so many different ways. That choreography of these ships is fascinating. We're going to see much larger scale battles, and this one, there's a very very small one that raised the stakes, very meaningful and definitely raises the stakes with the jim Heddar.

54:16 They're they're there, are there are species to watch out for, and they're not even at the top of the food Chicken comes the dominion. So very the visual effects we get here this this is was an expensive episode. You know, all the model shows that they had during the season really where them saving up for this this episode because the visual effects that we do get are really amazing and kind of shocking for for d Space nine. And it's no surprising that they were nominated for Best Visual Effects for this uh this episode. They didn't win that well, they won, but they didn't win. They won for Voyagers Pilot rather than this one. But they're this this is a beautifully made episode wonderfully you know, directed, and very very important for the rest of the series, and.

55:04 A very important setup for season three. I think there's a pretty direct segue into that. It's not to be continued necessarily, but a very important setup. And it's a big farewell too. It's the farewell to the familiar com badges that we've seen all through the next generation. This episode is the last time we saw him on television. We got new ones next season. Because oil I'm down from more latinum, grow up kind of change. Well, we've gone through our top ten favorites. Anything that we want to mention as a dishonorable mention, one that we should avoid or that we just recommend, probably isn't worth our time. David, did you have any ideas on that.

55:47 Stay far, far far away from the episode called second Site. Cisco falls in love with a woman named I think it's Finna, who has a very weird personality and he liked to disappear reappear, and you know, while I think Dax is working with a brilliant scientist who is doing terror forming. Yeah, stay away from that episode. Wayne, would you agree, Well, I do agree that is that it's not one of the highlights of the season. But that wasn't going to be my choice because I thought there were a lot of mediocre episodes this season. But to my choice would be the Laura. It's it's not a terribly you know, bad episode. Uh. The episode features a doctor Bashir he falls in love with a crew member named Lieutenant Hasler. I think it's those love episodes.

56:40 I don't know what's going on with that. Yeah, the Lieutenant. She's from a low gravity world and struggles to adapt to the life on the station. I find some of the concepts interesting. I find it very interesting that the show is attempting to, you know, depict a handicapped crew member, you know, having to use an external device like the the exo skeleton to be able to move around. That part's well done, you know. Plus I have to mention the character Malaura's played by the wonderful Daphne Ashbrook, an actress I've met personally a couple of times, and because she would go on to play Doctor Holloway on Doctor Who just a couple of years later with Paul McGann. But despite that, I think the episode just falls completely flat for me. The romance element is just it's too sappy, too unconvincing. I know that their original intention for the character of doctor Basheer was to make him more of a playboy, you know, running after every alien woman then there's a station, but that just that whole idea makes besher so unlikable. I'm glad they mostly did away with that by my next year. That that's my choice, I think mine.

57:47 I'm learning into. The reason I ask is because I'm leaning into Dave's camp for a second second. I'll admit there are parts that I just like, I just jumped forward a couple of seconds. Conceptually, it's just so odd that there there seemed to be a lot of times in Star Trek where in this episode main character falls in love with guest character. Will it last? No, it never does. I mean we'll see you know, romantic you know, couples emerge in this So I'm not saying that never happens, but it always seems like, oh yeah, they're gonna die. Like the Red Shirt con said, right, I also hate to have that happen so soon with Benjamin Cisco agreed, he just lost his wife now more than three years ago, granted, but it still feels like it's pretty fresh, and I understand the idea behind trying to delve into that, can he find love again? Can we respark something? But to see the execution of it in this way, I'm just like, wait, they got to do him like that? Like come on, yep, So stay away from second sight, don't give it another look?

59:06 All right? Well back into the positive. So obviously, I think it's pretty easy to see. Stand out character for this season is major Kira. Dave. What is one particular moment for you that stands out as the kind of the apex war. Well, it's not really a moment, but you've already touched base on it. It's then a visitor's performance and crossover. You you talked about her going back and forth between you know, being good Kira, bad Kiara and just being able to perform to probably another obviously another actress who was supposed to be her in some of those shots and doing that split screen kind of thing. I think her performance and all that was phenomenal. And getting to see Kira as bad, which you could possibly see. I mean, she could have gone that route, you know, with all the crap that she went through, but the fact that it's shows how strong she is in the real world, the care that we love and enjoy. It just shows you how strong she is and the fact that she has become who she is, this person that Cisco can lean on, the station can lean on. So that episode just speaks volume to her character.

1:00:17 It's also interesting how just when you were explaining that, one of the things that came to mind for me was that we rarely see moments of glee or joy major Kira. Not that she's not a person that wants to feel happy, that wants to feel joyful, but she's been through so much so to see such a stark, dark turn of that when she's just like reveling in it and she's like grinning ear to hear the whole time, and it's like, ew, I want her to be happy, but not in that way. No way, right Wayne? What about you? Well? I agree with you, David that Kira had a lot of great moments this season, but I feel her strongest and in fact, what I think is Nana Visitor's best performance this season was the episode Necessary Evil.

1:01:06 Oh. I don't want to give away the ending of that episode, because it's probably the season's most shocking revelation. But all during that episode, Kiara is defending herself in her past life as resistance fighter. And you can see how when Odo reopens the the investigation, how Kira is a demeanor changes, going from defensive to kind of reflective, you know, because she's forced to, you know, reveal that guilt and sorrow from all the things that she was forced to do during the occupation, all that stuff that she normally keeps very deep deep in her you know, it forces us to remember that while Kira seems to be in control and brave most of the time, but underneath, she's got a very dark history that she's not proud of. And and Nana Visitor did a phenomenal performance for that episode.

1:01:59 She did one for both of you, act and crossover. I love her. She's a great actress. That was my second pick in case somebody chows cross over because both those episodes were incredible for her. Yeah, I completely agree with both of you. I don't have a particularly emotionally powerful performance picked out. It just really struck me each time that I saw it. I rewatched the episodes twice when I when I had a chance. But I believe it was in Siege when Kira and Dax get the old Flyer out of the cave.

1:02:39 Oh yes, I have the right episode because of their friendship, because of that dynamic between the two that we really get to see them in kind of a you know, straighten on a planet doing a certain thing. It was just a lot of fun to see their performances there, and I think it's an important thing to watch for because of them being so close and just getting a little bit of insight into that. I think was a fun time aside from all the powerful dramatic performances. That's just one to keep in mind if you have to be selected, it's one worth watching out for. M hm, it is okay. Well, I know we've got a lot more startup to cover, a lot more DS than to cover, but we do. We gotta keep moving on. Thanks as always, Wayne and Dave for a great chat through season two.

1:03:31 Looks forward to season three yep, my pleasure, and as always thanks to our listeners for joining us. Hailium frequencies are always open for you to share your thoughts and your questions. Let us know what you think. I share your favorites that we didn't mention, You might get a mention on a future show. If you do, you can email us at a Film by a Podcast at gmail dot com, find us online at a Film by a Podcast dot com. You can follow us on your favorite social channels, and if you're looking for more exclusive content and swag, send some latinumar away through Patreon. We'll see you next time on another episode of Phasers, said this time m