Product Details

• Actors: Avery Brooks, Rene Auberjonois, Michael Dorn, Terry Farrell, Cirroc Lofton
• Directors: Avery Brooks, Rene Auberjonois, Alexander Singer, David Livingston, James L. Conway
• Format: Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 7
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Paramount
• DVD Release Date: August 5, 2003
• Run Time: 1183 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00008KGT0
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,364 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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• For more information about "Star Trek Deep Space Nine - The Complete Fourth Season" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

• This is item 4 in The Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Series.

Editorial Reviews

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The fourth series of Deep Space Nine can be summed up in one word: Klingons! The show's producers apparently felt beset from all sides. Babylon 5 was a huge hit, as was Star Trek: Voyager, the flagship of new channel UPN. Stepping up DS9's action quotient seemed to be the answer. Time would tell, however, whether doing so via Trek's tried-and-tested former bad guys was the best solution. Opening with a special two-hour extravaganza, the new year was immediately unfamiliar. Dennis McCarthy's original theme--despite winning an Emmy--had been deemed too subdued. As its upbeat new rendition kicked off, the station was seen in battle and swarming with activity. Moments later, we met old/new crewmember Worf, whose sudden appearance was the result of a brewing invasive strategy by the Klingons. This initiated the first of many loyalty shifts, as the Cardassians became the victims. With plenty of re-appearances by Gowron, Kor, and Kurn, it was clear that an ongoing space opera was being crafted. Dukat revealed a tragedy-ridden daughter; Odo's relationship with his people (and Kira) became increasingly melancholy; and even the Jem'Hadar foot soldiers were given a sympathetic angle by their drug addiction.

Adding to the layers of ambiguity about Earth's (read: the producers') position over being at war, was the "outing" of two recurring characters as rebel activists. Lest we forget the homely/spiritual side of the Captain, time was spent with a future version of Jake, with his father (Brock Peters), and on the nature of his role as "the Emissary." Avery Brooks worked behind the camera a couple of times, but this year the surprise was LeVar Burton directing five shows. There was still time for comedy: the Ferengi warped back to Roswell in 1947 and Bashir played James Bond. But the year will be remembered predominately for its violence. One of the episodes Burton directed had its fight scenes drastically cut, while the series as a whole won an Emmy for its space battle effects.--Paul Tonks

Product Description

STAR TREK DEEP SPACE NINE is set on a space station orbiting the planet Bajor. Commander Benjamin Sisko (Brooks) is in charge of a diverse crew who must fight off rival alien species who want to control DS9 because of its strategic position close to a wormhole that allows speedy travel to the far reaches of space. Season 4 includes the episodes "Broken Link" and "The Visitor," which TV Guide included in its Top 35 Star Trek episodes ever story (Aapril 20-26, 2002). "The Visitor" was listed as the #4 favorite.

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Customer Reviews

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32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DS9 Season Four - A season fit for a warrior!, August 24, 2003

By	K. Wyatt "ssintrepid" (St. Louis, MO United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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DS9's fourth season can arguably be titled the series best season! As the first three seasons easily proved that they could reach the entire range of emotions and touchstones from the various episodes; the fourth season proved that they could take an excellent series and make it even better.

Between the third and fourth seasons Paramount prompted the producers to "shake up the series" but didn't tell them how they wanted them to do it. This initially left them shaking their heads until they touched upon a quote from "The Die is Cast" in which a Changeling stated that in the future all they had to worry about was the Klingons and the Federation and that wouldn't be for much longer. As time would prove, this quote set them on the path to an outstanding story arc that would carry the series all the way through to the final episode of the seventh season.

The addition of Michael Dorn and his character Worf was pure brilliance. Of all of the STNG characters, his was the most beloved by a majority of the fans and despite the character feeling that he didn't fit in too well with those around him on the space station, he fit in perfectly!

One extremely important change is Sisko's promotion to Captain which should've happened previously. Also shaking up the series was the addition of a much more powerful defensive system on DS9 itself as the Klingons would soon find out in the season opener. We're also introduced to Martok, played brilliantly by J.G. Hertzler, which was unknown at the time but his character turned into to one of the most popular recurring characters of the series.

A brief synopsis of the more outstanding episodes, (Every episode of the season was outstanding but unfortunately there's a 1k word cutoff):

Way of the Warrior - In this extraordinarily exciting season opener the Klingons have decided that the Cardassian government has been taken over by Changelings and stage an invasion fleet at DS9. In order to help deal with the issue, Sisko sends for Worf, after all, who better to deal with Klingons than a Klingon. This episode was but the first of many huge space battles involving countless ships that the series produced so beautifully.

The Visitor - In this emotionally charged episode that is one of DS9's most popular episodes, Tony Todd guest stars as an older Jake Sisko that witnessed the death of his father! Captain Sisko would periodically show up for a few minutes leaving Jake to try and figure out how to get his father back!

Rejoined - Dubbed one of the series and Star Trek's most controversial episodes, this episode highlights what one would think would be a prominent thing among Trill, two symbionts who were previously married when they were with two different hosts. Directed admirably by Avery Brooks, this episode highlights what Star Trek is all about!

Little Green Men - In this hilarious Ferengi episode Quark's cousin Gaila has given him a shuttle and he decides to use it to take Nog to Starfleet Academy on Earth. Unbeknownst to him, the shuttle isn't exactly in the best working condition and an accident occurs. Quark, Rom and Nog wake up to find themselves in Roswell, New Mexico in the 1940's being interrogated by the military.

Our Man Bashir - This is the first of the exceptionally entertaining episodes where we visit Bashir in the holosuite as he's playing out his fantasy of being a 1960's spy for her majesty's government! Unfortunately for the rest of the crew, there's been an accident on a runabout and they've been integrated into the running program. Along for the fun is the real spy, Garak.

Homefront & Paradise Lost - Originally set to be the season three cliffhanger and season four opener, these pivotal episodes show exactly how much chaos the Founders can create when they blow up a conference on Earth, prompting a recall to Earth of Captain Sisko. We meet his father who had previously been intimated to have died.

Sons of Mogh - Tony Todd makes a return as Kurn, Worf's brother! Due to Worf's disgrace in the Empire, Kurn requests that Worf kill him which would make his death an honorable one.

Hard Time - This is a superb O'Brien episode as we see him deal with the after effect of being convicted of a crime on another planet and sentenced to twenty years in prison. He was hooked up to a machine and did these twenty years in his head in a relatively short period of time.

The Quickening - This is an extraordinary episode in which Bashir finds himself on a planet in the Gamma Quadrant that had defied the Dominion. As punishment, they've been suffering the "blight" for nearly two centuries. Bashir does everything he can to come up with a cure.

Broken Link - In this pivotal episode, Odo becomes sick and must be taken to Founders who seem to be the only ones who can save him. Upon arrival in Dominion space, the Founder leader shows up and tells him that his sickness was no accident and that he must come to their new homeworld to be judged for his crime of being the first Changeling to ever harm another. The conclusion of the episode is astonishing to say the least and sets up the fifth season beautifully as we learn that Chancellor Gowron has been replaced by a Changeling.

Special Features:

Charting New Territory: DS9 Season Four
Crew Dossier: Worf
Michael Westmore's Aliens: Season Four
DS9 Sketchbook: John Eaves
Photo Gallery
Ten "hidden" Section 31 files

Episode list:

The Way of the Warrior
The Visitor
Hippocratic Oath
Indiscretion
Rejoined
Starship Down
Little Green Men
The Sword of Kahless
Our Man Bashir
Homefront
Paradise Lost
Crossfire
Return to Grace
Sons of Mogh
Bar Association
Accession
Rules of Engagement
Hard Time
Shattered Mirror
The Muse
For the Cause
Tot the Death
The Quickening
Body Parts
Broken Link

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best seasons, June 11, 2003

By	Wayne Klein "If at first the idea is not absu... (My Little Blue Window, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

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.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly Strong Season, March 12, 2003

By	Adam Dukovich "colts_19" (Roseville, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.