Customer Reviews

Star Trek - Deep Space Nine, Episode 70: Shakaar [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When I was watching this episode, I finaly realized how evil Kai Win was. I had missed a lot of the first few seasons, such as the Bajoran Revolution and the exitingof Kai Opaka, and at first thought of Win as just another side character. But when I watched this episode, I realized she was as much of a dictator as anything. it happened as soon as the Bajoran security guards walked into the hut where Kira and her former leader were located and said 'You are under arrest by order of the Kai,' for no other reason thans he wanted it to happen, she became the villan captains hate: in charge of a government who thinks she's wonderful, wanted to be remembered as great and willing to do anything to get there, and angery that the prophet is a non-Bajoran.

The last time I saw this episode, I didn't fully understand it, but since then, I've gotten a new under standing of military and political operations and dialogue (Thank you West Wing and Tom Clancy). Kai became a spoiled girl in this episode. By trying to coerce Sisko into giving her Federation help by withdrawing Bajoran application for membership, and by trying to arrest people for no reason, she became to me what I think the writers wanted her to be: someone who is in a position they should not be in, too small and too weak to do anything but what they want.

The return of a famed Bajoran resistance leader poses a unique challenge for the world of Bajor, seemingly in endless political disarray already. Shakarr's arrival appears nothing more than an attempt by the writers to say 'Hey, let's not forget about Bajor, in the midst of all of the other subplots that carried successfully throughout DS9's own continuity. Certainly not a stinker, SHAKARR just didn't explore new territory; quite frankly, it was an inferior single episode retread of Season Two's fantastic three-part opener, regarding almost all of the same themes.

Okay, so I'm not exactly a veteran DS9 viewer. However, recently I've really gotten into reading about the show ( at startrek.com and reading the excellent episode guide ). Finally, a few days ago, I stumbled upon an episode on T.V. I was thrilled to find one and have been watching it regularly since. Today's episode was Shakaar, which I believe is an excellent action AND character oriented show. It may be a tired retread of earlier episodes, and that's entirely possible. Every Star Trek show has its certain flavour, and that can get tiring after awhile. However, since I'm not accustomed to DS9 yet, I can enjoy even the slighter episodes. I don't believe in any way though that Shakaar is a "slight" episode though. The characters are strong, particularly the title one. I also like how one of the villain's soldiers ( a "bad guy" ) is confronted in a scene where life and death matters are discussed like the results of a recent football game. Overall a very good episode.