I was not a big fan of Klingons before Deep Space 9, but they really did a great job expanding on the Klingon culture, and this was the beginning of that. I’m also not keen on bringing back old characters for the sake of bringing back familiar characters (I’d rather see new ones), but they did a super job with bringing back Kor, Koloth, and Kang for a mission with Dax, with a story that did not feel contrived. Terry Farrell shows how tough she could be as Jadzia Dax. I remember that my therapist at the time, who was in a Klingon club, came to the house one time for a session, and afterward we watched this together. She was thrilled by this amazing Klingon episode.
You will see that I am fond of romantic stories, and this one is no exception. I get to see Vic, played by James Darren (be still my heart!), acting as matchmaker for Odo and Kira. I’m a big fan of the movie The Fabulous Baker Boys, and the scene where Kira sings on the piano is a delightful tribute to that movie. This episode gave me more development of Odo’s character and the relationship between him and Kira. And I got to see and hear the wonderful James Darren. What’s not to like?
This episode with Joel Grey is a heartwarming and emotional rollercoaster. He is a class act and well-matched with Kate Mulgrew. He’s so funny and sincere. The relationship between him and Captain Janeway is what connects me emotionally to this story, and his sacrifice and her reaction are something I like to experience.
This is a great episode and rightfully considered one of the best Next Generation episodes. It’s so touching how these logically thinking proto-Vulcans try to deal with seeing technology more advanced than their own. Some use logic, and some go back to less logical thinking. And then the feelings of loss at moments in the story are real and allow those characters to grow. Really well-written. And to see Katherine Leigh Scott from Dark Shadows is an extra treat!
Tuvok was a very good Vulcan character whom we got to know in Voyager. In this episode, we see how good a father he is by the way he interacts with the children he meets and has to take care of. I loved seeing his relationship with these children and finding out that he has the great honor of helping them in the last days of their reverse lifespan. It’s a beautiful and touching story.
I am really surprised at how much I like La’An, because she did not appeal to me at first. But Christina Chong really touches me with her performances, especially in this episode. It is a bit complicated, but she and an alternate timeline James Kirk (played delightfully by Paul Wesley) go back in time to stop an explosion from changing the timeline. In the course of events, they become very close to each other, but then he gets killed. Though she is bereft, she manages to finish the mission and return to the original timeline, where James Kirk is very much alive. She calls him at the end and is so relieved and yet heartbroken that he is alive and has no idea who she is to him. It really gets to me. My favorite line in this episode is, “I can even make plomeek soup in a toilet!”
The relationship between O’Brien and Keiko is another surprisingly wonderful gift from Deep Space 9. And their daughter, Molly, is a special treat because she's adorable. Imagine my surprise that when she experiences time travel and shows up as a grown-up, the actress, Michelle Krusiec, was from my favorite show on the Travel Channel: Travelers. She’s gone on to do great things, but she made this episode one of my favorites because I believe she is Molly, who grew up wild and yet still loves her parents. Their sacrifice of sending her back to her world is believable and touching. And then Molly sees her younger self and sends her back to her time. Very cool!
This is of course another classic Star Trek episode. It is the first time we learn more about Vulcan society and customs. I like how Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has played with this in their alternate timeline. My favorite line from this episode is, “… having is not so pleasing a thing, after all, as wanting. It is not logical, but it is often true.” We also get a glimpse into Spock’s affection for Kirk and even McCoy.
This was the first episode of DS9 that made me say, “I love this show!” I already had a fondness for Kira, the tough soldier. Brian Keith surprised me with his excellent portrayal of a grumpy but lovable old man who is not going to be moved. Kira’s struggle is so poignantly recognized by Sisko when he says, “It’s no fun being the bad guy, is it?” By stating it so bluntly, he helps her face that and move on with her duty, which serves the greater good. Wonderful episode.
I am aware that many find this episode problematic because the alien didn’t ask Troi’s consent before impregnating her. But it feels okay to me because there was never any physical pain for her, and the alien was not trying to control or gain power over her, which is the real problem with rape. The alien just didn’t know how else to communicate with humans. This episode makes me “feel the feels” of a mother loving their child, the pain of loss, and the generosity of sacrifice. This was the first episode where I felt that I really loved The Next Generation.
