Customer Reviews

Star Trek Deep Space Nine - The Complete Fourth Season

5 star:		(47)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

While I wouldn't go so far as to call season 4 the best of DS9, it certainly is in the running. With the introduction of Worf into the mix, things suddenly got bumpy as the Klingons were introduced more and more regularly. There's a number of twists and turns regarding Eddington and the regulars that allowed DS9 to surpass NextGen as the best Trek show ever.

In The Way of the Warrior the Federation/Klingon alliance splinters. Hippocratic Oath deals with an unusual casualty of war--the slaves forced to fight it. Bashir tries to cure the Jem'Hadar of their addiction to "the white" against the wishes of fellow prisoner O'Brien. The Visitor is one of the most touching and emotionally powerful episodes written. Michael Taylor's story uses a convention that Kurt Vonnegut did in Slaugterhouse Five; Sisko becomes "unstuck in time". The only constant in is his reappearences is Jake. It's a beautifully realized script with nuanced performances from Tony Todd (who had auditioned for the role of Sisko)and Avery Brooks.

Dukat is further softened up as we discover he has a half Bajoran daughter he intends to rescue in Indescretion. He enlists a reluctant Kira to help. Though Dukat's edgy character is blunted somewhat, it adds further depth to a villan that was characteristic of DS9. The marvelous Marc Alaimo continues to amaze in this well designed episode. He's one of the most underappreciated character actors. In many respects, Indiscretion was clearly inspired by John Ford's classic western The Seachers. Rejoined allows DS9 to dip its toe in the sexuality of Trills. Dax meets a former lover and has a hard time resisting her attraction to this person. Well directed by Avery Brooks, Rejoined does what classic Trek does best--deal with difficult issues and emotions in a 45 minute episode of television. There are a number of other delightful, well written, directed and acted episodes included here.

Little Green Men was a bit too cute for me at first, but I've grown to like it over time. We finally find out the truth about Roswell and it ain't what you expect. Quark makes an early appearence on Earth and the script by Ira Steven Behr and writing partner Robert Hewitt Wolfe delightfully skewers America in 1947. While I'm not a huge fan of the "holosuite" adventures of the crew (their a bit too common and done a bit too often for my taste), Our Man Bashir is still a standout. It's a marvelous confection that tips its hat to Our Man Flint, the Bond films and Matt Helm. Ron Moore's script is on target and we discover that Avery Brooks would make a wonderful Bond villan. Are you listening MGM? Finally, Homefront demonstrates what DS9 and writer Behr & Wolfe always did best--create an atmosphere of paranoia and darkness in Roddenberry's optimistic future world. The shapeshifters are on Earth and they're quite busy undermining security. Or are they? Robert Foxworth (another great character actor)does a terrific turn as an Admiral that will use any excuse to seize power whether or not it really is in the Federation's best interest or not.

I can't comment on the discs because the set hasn't been released yet as of this writing. The DS9 sets have been improving with each set and, while the extras are nice, there's nothing like having the original episodes. My only complaint is that, again, no one was contacted to do any episodic commentary. There's no booklet to give an overview of the series episodes. I personally like the way B5 has included the previews for each episode from the original promos. These allow you to get an idea as to what each episode is about. In the absence of a booklet, these would do quite nicely as well although I doubt that Paramount will change the sets at this late date.

While many B5 fans complain that DS9 ripped off B5 (and I'm a B5 fan), it's not the actual concept of the series that matters. What matters is the quality of the acting, writing and directing of each individual episode and season. DS9, like B5, was an outstanding series even when compared to other mainstream television programs.

Season 4 of Deep Space Nine was a pivotal one in the show for many reasons. The Dominion takes a far more prominent role in the storytelling, which becomes far more sophisticated in this season. There is great character development across the board, including the addition of fan favorite Worf, which once again alters the show's dynamic. The season has it all: human drama, great space opera, and wonderful continuing storylines. Put simply, this is a complete season that just begins to show the show's full potential.

Worf's welcome to the show in "The Way of the Warrior" introduced the static between the Klingons and Federation that would last for a little more than a season. Several other klingon characters, including General Martok, were introduced here who, although they didn't factor in much here, would eventually become prominent players later on. The episode is one of the show's most action-packed, and it also carries on the tradition of the show having strong first episodes to start out the season. After this episode comes the emotionally-packed "The Visitor," which is, without a doubt, the most poignant episode of the show, perhaps of any show ever. Jake Sisko spends his whole life trying to find a way to bring his father back to life after Benjamin is killed in an engine room accident. Brilliant and provocative acting from Tony Todd as old Jake. After this strong start the show kicked into high gear. "Hippocratic Oath" explores the nature of the Jem'Hadar, "Starship Down" is a tribute to submarine movies, "Little Green Men" is the show's most tongue-in-cheek episode, which is as funny as it is provocative. The episode has Quark, Rom and Nog being stranded in Roswell circa 1947 after a time-travel accident. It is the most funny Star Trek experience since the fourth feature film. "Our Man Bashir" is a combination good, whimsical spy story and people-working-against-time-to-save-people story with some precious lines from Garak, a real spy. After he sees the opulent life of spies in 20th-century Earth, he comments, "All these years I've been working for the wrong government." Good stuff. There is a magnificent two-part episode, "Homefront" and "Paradise Lost", which explores the intricacies of Federation Politics, the Starfleet/Federation situation, and civil liberties. The episode features some powerful dialogue, as well as some intense fight scenes. "Bar Association" has Rom standing up to his brother and creating a union, "Rules of Engagement" makes Worf face his deep-seeded resentment against his race. Yet another trip to the mirror universe in "Shattered Mirror", Michael Eddington's defection in "For the Cause", and more encounters with the Dominion in "To The Death" and "Broken Link" round out this season with a final development that shows just how sophisticated the plot structure became.

As can be plainly seen, the season is replete with highlights. In fact, substandard episodes are few and far between. "Rejoined" is one such episode. An interesting concept foiled by improbable characterization, predictable plotting, and wholly unsatisfying storytelling. The show must have been filmed during sweeps, because the inevitable lesbian kiss is performed without any passion. Come on, people, Dax just isn't the impulsive, driven by hormones type. With all that wisdom she should have an evolved view on romance. Alas. "The Muse" also is hardly stellar, with trite plotting and yet another visit from Lwaxana Troi, who had already overstayed her welcome.

Although not perfect, one can see that the sub-standard episodes were becoming fewer and farther between by this time, and there was a much greater proportion of hits than misses than before. This season is an incredible dramatic accomplishment and sets up the extremely prodigious later seasons. This is a must-buy for all fans of dramatic achievement or science fiction.

Season four saw a lot of changes on Deep Space Nine, both in front of and behind the camera. The show underwent its first major cast change in the addition of Michael Dorn's Worf to the lineup, and the storyline accommodated this accordingly. The twists and turns delighted me, and I raced through this season quickly, eager to find out exactly what was going to happen next.

After the Dominion-related adventures of seasons two and three, one would expect season four to continue building up those storylines. But the writers and producers neatly subverted expectations by throwing the emphasis in other directions. While there certainly are some stories which keep hyping the threat of the Dominion, the bulk of the uber-story is focused upon what effect the Dominion has had on the Alpha Quadrant. We therefore see huge changes for the Cardassians, the Klingons and the Federation. The Dominion, the Jem'Hadar and the Founders do pop up from time to time, but they're kept to the shadows -- a menacing presence quietly trying to manipulate events for their own agenda.

Adding Worf to the cast was an interesting and successful evolution. I think what I enjoyed the most about it was the fact that after being thrown into the middle of this ongoing storyline at the beginning of the season, Worf doesn't immediately find himself at home. Given that this is Star Trek we're talking about, I was half expecting Worf to become "part of the family" within a couple of weeks. But he doesn't. In fact, he is continually irritated by this new crew, and is nostalgic for the calm ordered structure that existed on the Enterprise. By the middle of the season, he's become so fed up that he moves his living quarters onto the normally empty USS Defiant. It was great to see a new face on board the station, and it was satisfying to see the creators not violate the individual characters to ease the transition.

Although reviews of Deep Space Nine seasons will tend to talk about what big galaxy-shattering events were going on in that year, I would be neglectful if I didn't also praise the standout standalone episodes. Of particular note is "The Visitor", a story rightly hailed as one of the best of all Star Trek series. And "Little Green Men" is a hilarious romp concerning the real story behind Area 51; it was the Ferengi.

The extras on this DVD are focused towards the events of this season, and most of it concerns itself with how the addition of Worf to the cast affected things behind the scenes. The writing/producing crew explain how it changed the dynamics among the characters. Michael Dorn appears in a handful of interviews (taken from various points during the filming of the series and beyond) talking about how he enjoyed playing the character and what directions he wanted to go in. The producers also mention the freedom they had with Star Trek: The Next Generation being off the air, and Voyager set in a distant corner of the galaxy. Now the Federation, the Klingons and the Cardassians were theirs alone to play with. Also included among the extras is the requisite look at the special effects and the alien makeup featured during this year.

I feel like I'm getting into a rut describing these Deep Space Nine season box sets, but yet again we are left with a year that takes the show in bold new directions while also dropping plotlines to be developed later. I had gradually faded away from the show around this season when the episodes were originally airing, but I'm very glad that I have finally decided to get back into the show now through its release on DVD.

The Fourth season was far and away the creative peak of DS9 overall. Though the decision to make the Klingons an enemy again was good-intentioned it was utlimately one of the few true storytelling mishaps of the series -- luckily it didn't take a hugely prominent role in the 4th year (the Dominion stepped up to the plate here). While the third season served as a mostly introductory period to the Dominion, the fourth much more deeply explores this mysterious and terrifying new threat.

IN between, some of the best Star Trek episodes ever made are produced -- highlighted by "The Visitor", which ranks with "The Inner Light" and "City on the Edge of Forever" as Trek's most moving episodes ever made.

Most of DS9's all-time best episodes are in the 4th YEAR, including...
The Way of the Warrior, The Visitor, Rejoined, Little Green Men, Our Man Bashir, Homefront, Paradise Lost, Sons of Mogh, Rules of Engagement, Shattered Mirror, For the Cause, Broken Link.

As a set, this season ranks highly not only against any other Star Trek season, but any other season of science fiction on TV. I think "The Visitor", "Hard Time" and "The Quickening" are in the top 5 episodes of all Star Trek. "Homefront" and "For the Cause" (and the absolutely brilliant root beer scene in "Way of the Warrior") bring complexity and conflict to the ideals of the Federation, which were not adequately examined before in DS9 (and totally unquestioned in TNG). "Indiscretion" and "Return to Grace" give tremendous depth and understanding to Ducat, one of my favorite characters. "Crossfire" does the same to Odo - I love how the terrorist plotline becomes less important as the episode sinks into Odo's turmoil, and it's anti-climactic ending becoming something of a surprise to the viewer (and Odo). Klingons tend to be very boring characters, but Worf shows some un-Klingon attributes by being both unprepared, but willing to learn from mistakes in "Rules of Engagement" and "Starship Down". Even the Ferengi and Dax episodes were good. I think there was only one sub-par episode ("The Muse").

Getting every season of every Star Trek series is expensive. For those that pick and choose, make sure this set is one you buy.

Season 4

1) The Way of the Warrior - Klingons arrive at the station and want to take shore leave. Worf is called in to help.

2) The Visitor - Sisko is killed by a plasma leak from the warp core.

3) Hippocratic Oath - Bashir and O'Brien are captured by the Jem'Hadar and held prisoner.

4) Indiscretion - Kira and Dukat go together on a mission.

5) Rejoined - Dax is faced with a choice and must chose between the Trill society and one of her previous hosts.

6) Little Green Men - Quark, Nog and Rom travel back to Earth of 1947 in Roswell.

7) Starship Down - The Defiant get trapped in a planet's atmosphere after a battle with the Jem'Hadar.

8) The Sword of Kahless - Worf, Dax and a Klingon warrior setout and search of an artifact that they believe will unite the Klingon Empire.

9) Our Man Bashir - Bashir is a 1960s secret agent, in holosuite, and is the only one that can save his friends.

10) Home Front - Sisko and Odo travel to Earth and investigate a possible war between the Changelings and the Dominion.

11) Paradise Lost - Sisko and Odo discover that Starfleet plans to seize control of a planet.

12) Crossfire - Odo finds that his feelings for Kira are interfering with his work while trying to deal with [danger] to a station visitor.

13) Return To Grace - Kira is recruited by Dukat to help him regain is former status in the Cardassian Empire.

14) The Sons of Mogh - Worf's brother want him to [destroy] him, because of his dishonor.

15) The Bar Association - Rom organizes all of Quark's employees into a union and goes on strike.

16) Accession - After 200 years, a legendary Bajoran appears and w9uld like to see things return to the "old" ways.

17) Rules of Engagement - Worf goes on trial after destroying a Klingon ship carrying 400 civilians.

18) Hard Time - O'Brien is sentenced to prison for a crime he did not do.

19) Shattered Mirror - Sisko goes after Jake into an alternate universe.

20) The Muse - Jake falls under the spell of a mysterious woman.

21) For the Cause - Sisko learns that his girlfriend maybe a Maguis smuggler.

22) To the Death - In order to stop a bunch of renegades, Sisko must join forces with the Jem'Hadar.

23) The Quickening - Dr. Bashir attempts to save the Gamma Quadrant society from a terminal disease.

24) Body Parts - Quark sells off his body parts to pay off his debts.

25) Broken Link - Odo is put on "trial" for killing a Changelings.

It's all about ratings. And Paramount wanted them higher. So what do you do? Why, you bring one of the most popular characters ever in the Trek canon to help boost those sagging ratings. Will it work, or will it fail?

That was up to the fans...

While season three ended with idea that the Changelings were already in the Alpha Quadrant and possibly on Earth, it would nearly half way through the fourth year before these story threads would be picked up again.

It appeared, as the third season was coming to a close, Paramount was already thinking toward the fourth year and was in active -if secret - negotiations with Michael Dorn to bring one of the most popular characters on The Next Generation to Deep Space Nine. Once it was decided, the plot lines from "The Adversary" would be pushed aside and a new direction would have to take center stage.

With Worf now coming to DS9, the writers had to figure out how too not only get him on the station, but also keep him there. The writers hatched onto the idea that Klingons, long now the friends of the Federation, were growing restless due to pending invasion of the Dominion and Federations lack of action. Discourse was brewing and as Ben quoted his old friend Curzon Dax, the best people to deal with the Klingons, was a Klingon.

The two-hour opener, "The Way of the Warrior", reintroduced the Klingons as bad guys and series was off in a new direction. And that was a good thing.

Over all, the fourth season would see the series really grow stronger, building on what was delivered during the previous season. There was "Hippocratic Oath", the brilliant acted and directed episode "The Visitor", "Indiscretion", the controversial, same-sex kissing of "Rejoined", the cat mouse and mouse game of "Starship Down", the comedic "Little Green Men", the James Bond take off "Our Man Bashir", the paranoia two-parter "Homefront" and "Paradise Lost", the silly "Bar Association", the next chapter in the Mirror Universe saga, "Shattered Mirror" and another brilliant, if quiet season finale, "Broken Link".

Yes, there were a few stinkers, but overall, it was a strong season that would lead into an ever-stronger fifth, sixth and seventh year.

And once again, we are left with disturbing news. As Odo was being judged by his people for the actions in last season's "The Adversary", he believes that one of his own people -a Changeling -may be in command of the entire Klingon Empire; an Empire on the brink of war with the Federation...

The fourth season of DS9 sees Worf returning to the Star Trek family. Overall this season is great, with only one mediocre episode (The Muse).

My favourite episode are (in no particular order):
- THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR (great double-length episode with plenty of action)
- THE VISITOR (the best episode of this season, if not the whole series, great acting from Tony Todd, Avery Brooks and Cirroc Lofton)
- INDISCRETION (any episode with Kira and Dukat is good)
- LITTLE GREEN MEN (the head-banging scene is hilarious)
- OUR MAN BASHIR (A brilliant, deliberately over-the-top episode with a great musical score. Watch out for Garak's comments!)
- CROSSFIRE (the second best episode of this season. René Auberjonois is brilliant in portraying a man torn between his duty and his feelings)
- RETURN TO GRACE (another great Kira/Dukat episode)
- SONS OF MOGH (a terrific episode with Tony Todd, this time as Worf's brother Kurn)
- RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (A courtroom drama. I love the way this was filmed, with the characters speaking directly into the camera)
- HARD TIME (extraordinary acting by Colm Meaney)
- SHATTERED MIRROR (another visit to the mirror-universe. The scenes with Garak and Worf are very funny)
- TO THE DEATH (introduces Weyoun, played by the great Jeffrey Combs)
- THE QUICKENING (Bashir is taken down a peg or two)
- BROKEN LINK (the ending makes you beg for more, more, more)

The special features are good, especially MICHAEL WESTMORE'S ALIENS. watch WORF''S CREW DOSSIER carefully and you will notice that Michael Dorn does not have the same build as Worf (in a behind the scenes clip you see him wearing padding on his chest, arms and back!).

If you are a DS9 fan you will already have bought this season. If you are not, buy it now and you will be amazed.

After three solid seasons, Star Trek Deep Space Nine truly became a landmark television series in the fourth season. The season premier two-parter: 'The Way of the Warrior' was as exciting as television action action gets, in addition to continuing DS9's signature 'sereial' storytelling style. Season highlights such as 'The Visitor' and 'The Quickening' are devistatingly emotional in their impact, and expamples of some of the finest drama television has to offer. The Dominion arc continues as the season takes a brief detour into the short lived Klingon war (hey, it was worth a shot, right?) and the show welcomed Michael Dorn's Worf into it's ranks of capable performers.

This season gets a real shake up, and ends up churning out some of the best hours EVER on television. You just have to see it to believe it. My favorite episode, The Visitor, will move you, and if it doesn't bring you to tears, you are simply not human. It is easily the most engrossing and spectacular hour of television you will ever see. The entire season is extremely worthy of your time and money, and you will not be sorry for getting it. :)