4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pivotal Trek Episode, April 18, 2000
By A Customer
This review is from: Star Trek - Deep Space Nine, Episode 55: The Defiant [VHS] (VHS Tape)
"Defiant" represents both a strong stand-alone drama and the intersection of several ongoing Trek plots. Maquis rebels hijack the Federation's high-powered warship "Defiant" to use against their Cardassian foes. The hijackers are led by Tom Riker, a character introduced in the Next Generation episode "Second Chances." The product of a freak transporter accident, Tom is a nearly-precise duplicate of TNG character Will Riker and has defected to the rebels in part to establish an identity of his own. The hijacking places Tom at the center of an interstellar incident, threatening a new Federation war with Cardassia. To prevent war, DS9's Commander Sisko and the darkly charismatic Gul Dukat are forced to cooperate to find the hijacked ship. Onboard the Defiant, the kidnapped Major Kira tries to convince Riker the mission will be suicidal. But Riker's daring raid will reveal a secret fueling a whole new DS9 plot arc, in the episodes "Improbable Cause" and "The Die Is Cast."
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"We'll get you back!", August 20, 2000
This review is from: Star Trek - Deep Space Nine, Episode 55: The Defiant [VHS] (VHS Tape)
This brilliant episode would serve to set-up the two part "Improbable Cause" and "Die is Cast" that explores a mysterious Cardassian fleet being created by the Obsidian Order and inprison Thomas Riker. Thom steals the Defiant, with Kira onboard, and begins what appears to be random attacks on Cardassian outposts. These soon turn out to be calculated raids that will make it easier for the Defiant to slip deep behind enemy lines to the heart of Cardassian territory, in search of a rogue shipyard. The scenes between Kira and Riker are wonderful, equal to those between Gul Dukat and Sisko. A well written, fast paced episode with a great ending. DS9 at it's best.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Tom Riker, would-be �Hero At Large� now �Prisoner Incognito�, January 26, 2003
This review is from: Star Trek - Deep Space Nine, Episode 55: The Defiant [VHS] (VHS Tape)
Picking up the character of Tom Riker once again was an intriguing prospect for Star Trek fans. Certainly nearly all of us were wondering what had become of him and if he would make another appearance at all. So the twist in the second act of this episode that reveals Tom Riker was more than welcome in fact it seemed overdue. The writers piqued our interest further by having him act as the leader of a band of The Maquis who return for the first time since second season's 'Tribunal'. Everything seemed set in place for a great storyline featuring Tom Riker, but we learn that isn't to be the case.
While Kira is attempting to relax in the Promenade area she chances to meet Will Riker who is enroute to Risa. Though she pretends to be unaffected by Riker's charm she is soon giving him a tour of DS9 and at his suggestion the two board the Defiant for a look. He casually cons her into activating the bridge controls, suddenly stuns her with a hidden phaser, beams two waiting people on board, fakes a warp core breech so that DS9 will release the docking clamps and hijacks the Defiant. Before Sisko and the station officers can react the Defiant leaps into warp speed and heads for The Badlands with the intent of launching an assault on the shipyard located there believing that the Cardassian government is harboring a volatile political or military secret within it.
This fine episode of DS9 would have profound repercussions later in the series in such shows as 'The Die Is Cast' and 'Improbable Cause'. But what happened to Tom Riker? To this day he lingers in a Cardassian Labor camp awaiting a long overdue rescue. It makes sense that Sisko would work out the arrangement of this sentence; given the draconian nature of Cardassian justice (first seen in 'Tribunal') he barters with Gul Dukat on Tom's behalf. But I firmly believed that the DS9 members would attempt a rescue, especially since Kira promises Tom that she won't let him waste away in a labor camp. But as we all know the series ended without another mention of his name.
One of the high points of this episode is the Cardassian Central Command's War Room that Sisko and Gul Dukat are shown in. The Star Trek creative team did an excellent job creating the special effects for the displays that the two of them continually consult as they form a strategy to defeat the Defiant. And when Korinas of the Obsidian Order joins them in the War Room it adds even more intrigue to the affair. The clash of wills and political views between Central Command and the Obsidian Order would be one of the best continuing storylines of the third season. Also, Gul Dukat demonstrates that he has somewhat of a humane side to his naturally nefarious personality when he reveals to Sisko that he regrets having to miss his son's birthday. The two of them share stories about their sons adding a new dimension to their relationship that would be explored over the next two seasons. Kira's scathing indictment of Tom's sense of a higher calling and her final pleas to Tom to surrender the Defiant to Sisko and Gul Dukat are also highlights here.
Some final notes: In the ST: TNG episode 'The Wounded' Picard finds himself in a situation where he finds it necessary to assist the Cardassians in defeating a Federation ship that has become a renegade. Marc Alaimo played the Cardassian representative, Gul Macet, then as well. Tricia O'Neil, who plays Korinas, first appeared on the ST: TNG episodes 'Yesterday's Enterprise' as Captain Rachel Garrett and 'Suspicions' as Kurak, doing a sensational job in all three roles.
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