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Re: DS9 S6: Wrongs Darker Than Death or Night
The ending makes sense because it relates to Kira well. Although it could have been a good opportunity to make her character develop and evolve a bit her hardcore resistance mindset. In that case, this episode would have gained another star.
But I don't think the link comfort women - betrayer should pass as a message.
Meru is a victim, like all women in the same situation. I was just reading about the korean, chinese and taiwanese comfort women under Imperial Japanese rule. The same probably happened in Denmark, France and other parts of Europe occupied by the Nazi. When the war ended, many of these women probably had to suffer a second torture by being stigmatized as betrayers. Because "it doesn't make it right". Are we really still thinking like that?
The ending makes sense because it relates to Kira well. Although it could have been a good opportunity to make her character develop and evolve a bit her hardcore resistance mindset. In that case, this episode would have gained another star.
But I don't think the link comfort women - betrayer should pass as a message.
Meru is a victim, like all women in the same situation. I was just reading about the korean, chinese and taiwanese comfort women under Imperial Japanese rule. The same probably happened in Denmark, France and other parts of Europe occupied by the Nazi. When the war ended, many of these women probably had to suffer a second torture by being stigmatized as betrayers. Because "it doesn't make it right". Are we really still thinking like that?
Re: DS9 S5: Empok Nor
I actually like this one. Classic claustrophobic sci fi. And Garak would alone carry anything, even the most mediocre episode.
I liked the characters involved because they make sense. A squad of engineers suddenly turned into shaky soldiers. Nog, a cadet in need to show his value in a real life combat situation. O'Brien, a veteran who is forced into a situation which brings memories he'd like to forget. On the other side, Garak, a shady former assassin who shows here his darkest Cardassian side. And Cardassians work amazingly as villains.
Not consequential, but very entertaining.
I actually like this one. Classic claustrophobic sci fi. And Garak would alone carry anything, even the most mediocre episode.
I liked the characters involved because they make sense. A squad of engineers suddenly turned into shaky soldiers. Nog, a cadet in need to show his value in a real life combat situation. O'Brien, a veteran who is forced into a situation which brings memories he'd like to forget. On the other side, Garak, a shady former assassin who shows here his darkest Cardassian side. And Cardassians work amazingly as villains.
Not consequential, but very entertaining.
Re: DS9 S5: Soldiers of the Empire
The only issue with this episode is that they could have elaborated more on Martok's "cowardice" that I suspect is rationalized as tacticism but in fact is trauma due to the imprisonment. Let´s not forget that Jem'Hadars are the literal terror of the entire gamma quadrant. And for a Klingon it must be terrible to face defeat from such a mighty adversary that, by Klingon standards, has no honor. Given that Klingon's strength comes from honor in their culture. The old Klingon's speech to the young one reflects this.
They could have linked Martok's trauma to the low morale of the crew, that was also defeated by the Jem'Hadars.
So overall more of this, and perhaps less of Dax.
Other than that, I loved it, because I love every episode centered on the facets of Klingon society and culture. Plus the victory song in the end was so inspirational I almost smashed my mug on the table. QAPLA!
The only issue with this episode is that they could have elaborated more on Martok's "cowardice" that I suspect is rationalized as tacticism but in fact is trauma due to the imprisonment. Let´s not forget that Jem'Hadars are the literal terror of the entire gamma quadrant. And for a Klingon it must be terrible to face defeat from such a mighty adversary that, by Klingon standards, has no honor. Given that Klingon's strength comes from honor in their culture. The old Klingon's speech to the young one reflects this.
They could have linked Martok's trauma to the low morale of the crew, that was also defeated by the Jem'Hadars.
So overall more of this, and perhaps less of Dax.
Other than that, I loved it, because I love every episode centered on the facets of Klingon society and culture. Plus the victory song in the end was so inspirational I almost smashed my mug on the table. QAPLA!
Re: DS9 S2: Paradise
Amazing idea behind this episode, with lots of themes that sound relevant today. The pretense of simpler times which hide, under a cloak of rethorics and charisma, harsher and darker truths. Challenges presented by nature one the one hand, and power-hungry sectarianism on the other hand.
But the ending ruined it completely. When the engineer protected that wanna-be prophet dictator I was like "what?!". And NOBODY leaves! I mean, what?!
The episode should have ended with the locals raging against her and her son and trying to put her in one of the cages out of revenge, only to be blocked by Sisko telling them that they were still federation citizens, and that humans moved from that kind of "justice" long ago. Then and only then he should have beamed away with her and her son.
Miles should have stayed to organize the exodus from the planet. Of course some of the people would have still stayed, because it is very troubling to leave sects even when one starts to wake up.
Amazing idea behind this episode, with lots of themes that sound relevant today. The pretense of simpler times which hide, under a cloak of rethorics and charisma, harsher and darker truths. Challenges presented by nature one the one hand, and power-hungry sectarianism on the other hand.
But the ending ruined it completely. When the engineer protected that wanna-be prophet dictator I was like "what?!". And NOBODY leaves! I mean, what?!
The episode should have ended with the locals raging against her and her son and trying to put her in one of the cages out of revenge, only to be blocked by Sisko telling them that they were still federation citizens, and that humans moved from that kind of "justice" long ago. Then and only then he should have beamed away with her and her son.
Miles should have stayed to organize the exodus from the planet. Of course some of the people would have still stayed, because it is very troubling to leave sects even when one starts to wake up.
Re: ENT S2: Cogenitor
I liked this episode, but I find weird that archer is so mad with tucker about "interfering" given that he himself did not show much restraint in the past in applying human ethics to alien affairs. I don't find his reaction in line with his character, which kind of affect the believability and coherence of both the scene and the captain. I am left again perplexed and unable to frame this mercurial captain in any way.
It would have been probably more realistic if Archer showed some empathy with Tucker, while also recognizing his faults and punishing him. perhaps all of this while at the same showing that he learned something for the future. That there are nuances, and that sometimes one needs to consider cultural relativism.
I liked this episode, but I find weird that archer is so mad with tucker about "interfering" given that he himself did not show much restraint in the past in applying human ethics to alien affairs. I don't find his reaction in line with his character, which kind of affect the believability and coherence of both the scene and the captain. I am left again perplexed and unable to frame this mercurial captain in any way.
It would have been probably more realistic if Archer showed some empathy with Tucker, while also recognizing his faults and punishing him. perhaps all of this while at the same showing that he learned something for the future. That there are nuances, and that sometimes one needs to consider cultural relativism.
Re: ENT S2: Stigma
I for one liked this episode very much. It moved me. It made me furious with the vulcan posturing. It also highlighted how the perfect, elf-like "logical" vulcans have also their flaws and dark sides. I love this, because it makes them multidimensional, conflicted and nuanced. It highlights that logic for vulcans is more a cultural goal, dramatically hard to reach, than something that comes out of "nature". Similar to Klingon honor. As such, it implies conflicts, both individual and social. Storytelling about vulcans in episodes like this one can be seen as a very nice allegory to postmodern and marxist critiques of scientific positivism and classical rationalism of 1700s. If DS9 had stories centered on vulcans, they would probably look like the ones portrayed in this and other similar episodes of ENT.
I also laughed a lot at the phlox/Tucker plot, because I feel Tucker, with his countryside attitudes, is the right guy to bring up when it comes to odd cultural "exchanges ". He is conservative and likable, so things can keep a light vibe. The sincerely libertine attitude of both denobulans only makes everything more laughable.
I give this 3,5 stars.
I for one liked this episode very much. It moved me. It made me furious with the vulcan posturing. It also highlighted how the perfect, elf-like "logical" vulcans have also their flaws and dark sides. I love this, because it makes them multidimensional, conflicted and nuanced. It highlights that logic for vulcans is more a cultural goal, dramatically hard to reach, than something that comes out of "nature". Similar to Klingon honor. As such, it implies conflicts, both individual and social. Storytelling about vulcans in episodes like this one can be seen as a very nice allegory to postmodern and marxist critiques of scientific positivism and classical rationalism of 1700s. If DS9 had stories centered on vulcans, they would probably look like the ones portrayed in this and other similar episodes of ENT.
I also laughed a lot at the phlox/Tucker plot, because I feel Tucker, with his countryside attitudes, is the right guy to bring up when it comes to odd cultural "exchanges ". He is conservative and likable, so things can keep a light vibe. The sincerely libertine attitude of both denobulans only makes everything more laughable.
I give this 3,5 stars.
Re: ENT S1: Detained
I am giving ENT a second run, mostly because I am curious to experience again this show after watching Discovery, the JJ Abrams movies and Picard.
This episode is an example of what I am feeling towards ENT in general right now. More trek than the new stuff, that is for sure (with the exception of a couple of Picard episodes), but too lazy and linear writing. And characters that are either not relatable, flat or simply out of place.
In this specific example, the social commentary is nice, but too linear, and there are too many things that are left out, which bother me to the point of finding the whole thing meh, despite the good intentions. As others have mentioned, what about the Suliban's wife? The guy just leave like that? Really? What about the fate of the prisoners fleeing? What about the other camps, in which most probably there will be reprisals?
The whole thing seems just coming out of another of Archer's mercurial caprices. The "bad" guys of the moment are at war with the cabal, and given that it seems that they have a common enemy, they ask him Intel. But he does not like "being asked things by force" by people never met before, so let's blow up the whole camp. Who is this, Clint Eastwood?
Risks for the enterprise, supposedly in an exploration/peaceful mission? Who cares. Diplomatic repercussions? Who cares. Superiors' opinion? Who cares. True identity of 90 sulibans interned there? Who cares. He just follows his instincts. Which would be even okeyish as a personality trait, if in "Dear doctor" we did not get an entirely different picture.
But even if we had seen a more consistent Archer in "Dear doctor" and the mercurial behavior of the captain was not even a thing, I would have still liked to see the episode dealing more with the above mentioned questions. Even if the ultimate answer would have still been blowing up the camp. At least we could get the whole picture, and relate/debate more about dos and donts. But the writing seems to be just too lazy and linear for that, here and in many other episodes.
Other characters are just flat or out of place, and again it feels just lazy writing. Tucker acts like a cowboy, which, being me European, I find just hilariously stereotypical and flat. His attitude in this episode confirms me that. The episode is really not the ideal place for having Travis in such a central role. I liked him in "fortunate son" but also other space-based or wilderness-based episodes, being him a pilot born in open space. I really wonder what is his role here. Malcolm, with his militarist views, would have been a way better fit. Why not, there could have been even room for heated exchanges with Archer, given that Malcolm would have probably been more keen to side with the "security" reasons of the bad guys. That would have been an example of good writing, similar to the centrality of both worf and Picard in the drumhead. It would have highlighted more the drama and the nuances of the situation, with conflicted characters and opinions.
But the more I go through ENT, the more i see examples in which writers just do not seem interested to do that. With some very pleasant exceptions, e.g. Vulcan/human/andorian dynamics.
I am giving ENT a second run, mostly because I am curious to experience again this show after watching Discovery, the JJ Abrams movies and Picard.
This episode is an example of what I am feeling towards ENT in general right now. More trek than the new stuff, that is for sure (with the exception of a couple of Picard episodes), but too lazy and linear writing. And characters that are either not relatable, flat or simply out of place.
In this specific example, the social commentary is nice, but too linear, and there are too many things that are left out, which bother me to the point of finding the whole thing meh, despite the good intentions. As others have mentioned, what about the Suliban's wife? The guy just leave like that? Really? What about the fate of the prisoners fleeing? What about the other camps, in which most probably there will be reprisals?
The whole thing seems just coming out of another of Archer's mercurial caprices. The "bad" guys of the moment are at war with the cabal, and given that it seems that they have a common enemy, they ask him Intel. But he does not like "being asked things by force" by people never met before, so let's blow up the whole camp. Who is this, Clint Eastwood?
Risks for the enterprise, supposedly in an exploration/peaceful mission? Who cares. Diplomatic repercussions? Who cares. Superiors' opinion? Who cares. True identity of 90 sulibans interned there? Who cares. He just follows his instincts. Which would be even okeyish as a personality trait, if in "Dear doctor" we did not get an entirely different picture.
But even if we had seen a more consistent Archer in "Dear doctor" and the mercurial behavior of the captain was not even a thing, I would have still liked to see the episode dealing more with the above mentioned questions. Even if the ultimate answer would have still been blowing up the camp. At least we could get the whole picture, and relate/debate more about dos and donts. But the writing seems to be just too lazy and linear for that, here and in many other episodes.
Other characters are just flat or out of place, and again it feels just lazy writing. Tucker acts like a cowboy, which, being me European, I find just hilariously stereotypical and flat. His attitude in this episode confirms me that. The episode is really not the ideal place for having Travis in such a central role. I liked him in "fortunate son" but also other space-based or wilderness-based episodes, being him a pilot born in open space. I really wonder what is his role here. Malcolm, with his militarist views, would have been a way better fit. Why not, there could have been even room for heated exchanges with Archer, given that Malcolm would have probably been more keen to side with the "security" reasons of the bad guys. That would have been an example of good writing, similar to the centrality of both worf and Picard in the drumhead. It would have highlighted more the drama and the nuances of the situation, with conflicted characters and opinions.
But the more I go through ENT, the more i see examples in which writers just do not seem interested to do that. With some very pleasant exceptions, e.g. Vulcan/human/andorian dynamics.
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