Product Details

• Actors: Avery Brooks, Rene Auberjonois, Cirroc Lofton, Alexander Siddig, Colm Meaney
• Directors: Winrich Kolbe
• Writers: Ira Steven Behr, Gene Roddenberry, Jeri Taylor, Michael Piller, Rick Berman
• Producers: David Livingston, Ira Steven Behr
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Paramount
• VHS Release Date: July 8, 1997
• Run Time: 106 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304489706
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #413,735 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Only Kira Nerys would risk going to war over an earring. And that's precisely what she does in the witty and wise second-season opener. "The Homecoming" is the first episode in a complex trilogy involving the fate of the tenuous Bajoran Provisional Government, an extremist group called the Circle, and, yes, a legendary member of the resistance whose fame really has to do with shooting an unarmed Cardassian Gul in his underwear.

The title refers to the return of Li Nalas (Richard Beymer), but it could just as well announce DS9's coming into its own. With "The Homecoming," the writers started taking chances with the direction of the series--and the payoffs are immediate and far-reaching. Bajoran religion is brought to the forefront and shown to be the driving force for both Kira (Nana Visitor) and her factional society. It's political and separatist and ugly and fulfilling all at once. When Kira risks war over an earring, Sisko backs her up because he knows that if Bajor is to survive, there must be a voice to unite it--and what better voice than an icon? Nalas, the so-called hero, will do. It makes sense. Characterizations deepen and gel here like never before. Visitor and Colm Meaney in particular shine in the Cardassian backstory, and Armin Shimerman's Quark forever establishes himself as a lady's man via the infamous Earring Exchange. Major hootage, minor branding, hellish location shoot. (By all accounts, the misery in the Cardassian labor camp was real.) Great story. --Kayla Rigney

From the Back Cover

Quark (Armin Shimerman) receives a mysterious Bajoran earring which was smuggles out of a prison camp on Cardassia IV. Major Kira (Nana Visitor) recognizes it as belonging to Li Nalas (Richard Beymer), a legendary Bajoran resistance fighter. Planning a rescue, she begs Commander Sisko (Avery Brooks) for a Runabout. He agrees, but insists that O'Brien (Colm Meaney) must accompany her.

Meanwhile, graffiti bearing the insignia of The Circle, an extremist group that wants to rid Bajor of all outsiders, is found on the station. On Cardassia IV, Kira and O'Brien execute a daring rescue and return to the station with Li and the other survivors. Later, Bajoran Minister Jaro (Frank Langella) arrives to welcome Li home and, much to Sisko's dismay, announces that Li will be the new Liaison Officer to Deep Space Nine.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Homecoming" deserves to be in your home!, December 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Star Trek - Deep Space Nine, Episode 21: The Homecoming [VHS] (VHS Tape)

"The Homecoming" is DS9's 2nd Season premiere. Kira goes on a mission to rescue an old Bajorian war-hero from the occupation, Li Nalas. The action-rescue scene is riveting, but better than that--it is action with a purpose! When Li returns to the station, an interesting discussion between Li and Sisko occurs about the nature of legends. Sisko needs Li to bring stability to the political situation of Bajor, but Li does not deserve to be a legend. This is part 1 of a 3 part story. It will certainly be enjoyed!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars circle, circle, dot, dot, now you've got your cootie shot, November 2, 2004

By 

Shelley Gammon "Geek" (Kaufman, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Star Trek - Deep Space Nine, Episode 21: The Homecoming [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Ok, not exactly, but I couldn't resist. In this 2nd season opener, we've got a more mature crew, better makeup for Odo and better storylines - thank goodness! Quark presents Kira with a Bajoran earing, thinking it will impress her. When she sees it, her nose crinkles go from horizontal to vertical and she wants to know where he got it. It was smuggled out of a Cardassian labor camp on Cardassia Four. You'd think if your species was successful enough to have at least 4 planets that you'd come up with some other names. Ffffft.

Anyhoo, Kira recognizes the symbols on the earing as belonging to a legendary Bajoran freedom fighter, Li Nalas (Richard Beymer). Bajorans have sung his praises for single handedly killing a Cardassian Gul in hand-to-hand combat, but the true story behind the legend is far less glamorous.

The Bajoran provisional government is poorly organized and made up mostly of political opportunists. After being terrorized by occupying Cardassians for decades, there is a growing movement on Bajor called The Circle. They are extremists who want Bajor for Bajorans - no offworlders are welcome - and this includes the space station. O'Brien finds grafitti on the station - someone has painted the symbol used by The Circle as a message that even a Federation-held station is not invulnerable.

Kira hopes to rescue Li Nalas from the labor camp and asks Sisko for a shuttle. Hmm... risk war with the Cardassians? Sisko has to think on that for a while. Dax talks some sense into Sisko, stating the facts. Bajor needs a leader who can unify and Li Nalas' fame will be able to accomplish just that and make things easier for Bajor and for Sisko, and hopefully quell problems with The Circle. When Sisko mulls on what could happen if the Cardassians discover a Federation shuttle invading their camps, Dax rightfully responds, "you mean, what will Cardassia say to the Federation?" Cardassia has claimed that all POWs were freed after the occupation ended. Li Nalas was presumed dead, but his body was never found.

Sisko sends O'Brien with Kira to rescue Nalas and when they get there, they find multiple Bajoran life forms. In the small runabout, they are only able to beam 2 at a time and after the first 2 beam out, all hell will break loose on the planet and they have no way of knowing which one, if any of them, is Nalas.

They touch down, con a guard into thinking Kira is a "comfort woman" and disable other guards in time to lower the prison forcefields and get the prisoners out. A phaser battle ensues and 4 are left behind to distract the Cardies while Kira, O'Brien, Nalas and the others flee to the shuttle and they narrowly escape as Cardassian attack cruisers converge on their location.

Despite her success and pats on the back by Sisko, the provisional government is not happy with Kira and you can bet there will be revenge. Vedek Winn is in bed with the provisional government and hoping to make a theocracy - with Nalas alive and well, those dreams are gone and they will seek revenge on Kira for risking war with Cardassia when she was ordered not to go. Cardassia, embarrassed at being discovered, unexpectantly makes a formal apology to Bajor for the camp, saying that one lone officer was running a rogue operation that their government was unaware of. Yeah, right, whatever.

Li Nalas, like any POW, takes time to adjust to freedom, but in addition to freedom, he must also adjust to the constant horde of spectators who look like they just want to touch the hem of his garment. He is embarrassed by the legend he is associated with and wants no part in stabilizing Bajor - he just wants some alone time, far, far away from Bajor.

Interesting twists and turns with this 1st installment of a 3-parter. Great episode.