PATRON TAKES - DS9 S1E14

This was another with an interesting idea. And we see Miles being a curmudgeon. Maybe it’s just Julian that does that to him. Life was easier for him when all he said was “energizing”. I rather liked the Jake/Nog B story as well. This is still a rather embryonic DS9 but the characters and relationships are developing.

Interesting at this early stage that the mostly mentioned-but-not-seen character Nog seems to get more depth than Jake does. Obviously, the series has a long way to go, but right now Jake's character is getting short-changed. Kind of like the concept was "Sisko has a kid." "What is he like?" "Ah, we'll figure it out later."

I always look at DS9 as the first Trek show that gives us a look at religion that isn't their usual one-sided critical view of it, with honorable religious leaders like Opaka. Except for this one where we get a gullible, primitive group that are like a weird Bajoran fringe cult.

Sigh - yet another leftover TNG script used for DS9. It's nice to see Bashir and O'Brien bonding(?), but this doesn't fit Bajor. Bad call, Pillar, bad call!

DS9 needs episodes like this to build the characters and lore of the series. You’ll have a much better appreciation for these episodes after you’ve finished the series.

Everyone hates "Move Along Home." THIS is my personal vote for the worst episode of DS9 S1. All I remember is it being intensely... boring. And awkward. Not the "charming" kind of awkward either. But, it's been a while since I went back to it, I suppose.

Who would you rather be stuck in a long shuttle craft voyage with? Bashir? Wesley? Or a ravenous space cloud of dubious origins?

I never did like this episode. But I find myself saying that so often in DS9 Season One, I’ll just leave it there.

There, an O’Brien episode. Happy now? I wouldn’t consider it a GOOD O’Brien Episode, but it will do for now.

Eh. I suppose it builds some stuff with Chief and Bashir, but the rest is pretty tedious for me.

Although there are fun moments, this episode is just meh.

The best thing this episode has going for it is that it is NOT, "Move Along Home." This will be my excuse for all the "not as good" Ds9 episodes going forward. Colm Meaney avoided the worst part of season 1 only to be given this script as penance. Nog plot was cute though.

This is one of those bad episodes that I enjoy. The whole plot with O'Brien is just ridiculous. I also just love the O'Brien/Bashir pairing.

Something clicks in this episode, although not the best by far, the characters involved finally feel fleshed out and genuine. It's a lighthearted episode that has many memorable moments.

Saved by the Chief - the episode (and the villagers)

Goofballs! They’re hepped up on goofballs!

One of the stronger episodes of season 1, IMO. Chief O'Brien shines.

I'd like to say the A-plot is a nice slice of TOS-era cheese, but it doesn't quite get played earnestly enough for that. Still, a fun time if only for O'Brien and Bashir's interactions.

This episode is kind of fun but I always want to skip it halfway through.

Good O’Brien story, but a weird scenario. This old guy’s been faking this supernatural monster for decades and no one figured it out?

I love watching O'Brien fail miserably as a motivational speaker while the cloud of space shaving cream is ravaging the village. Colm Meaney really brings the awkwardness home. Brings a smile to my face every time.

The Storyteller - where the leaders of a Bajoran community gaslight the shit out of villagers for generations. B Plot- I forgot there were so many "kids" episodes (yawn) in S1. But they lay a great foundation for later (and we get the Odo oatmeal scene). A Plot - Miles is out of his element & Julian loves his misery. The writers/actors did a great job with the O'Brien & Bashir banter & Colm's facial expressions are priceless. I'm okay with the TOS vibe Cloud plot until DS9 finds its groove in S2. I enjoy it & give it a B if I'm only comparing it to S1.

It's the Chief! But he's in one of the worst episodes of Season 1! At least the B plot is somewhat interesting, but even that is C grade at best and can't pull this out of the mire.

This is not a great episode, but it is fun we get some understanding of who Bashir is and it's always good to see O'brian get a good chunk of screen time.

One of the weaker episodes. The saving grace is the pairing of Bashir and O'Brien. Bashir finding the humor of the whole thing while O'Brien is getting more and more frustrated with it, while still trying to be diplomatic and respectful is good.

Was this Dal'rok (Balrog?) plot originally written for a Fantasy B-movie? Because this is NOT science fiction. Or Star Trek. Was THIS the first thing the writers wanted us to see of Bajor after the pilot? A world recently devastated by the Cardassian occupation. Tragedy? hardship? rebuilding? Nope, we get to see a bunch of gullible villagers chasing away a fake ghost instead. At least the B-plot takes Bajor (slighty) more seriously.

Not bad. We got a little danger, but I feel like the people were a little silly in there extremes from one moment to the next.

O’Brien to the cloud - Jaysus!

Oof. The actual worst episode of Season 1. Jake’s story is OK but the nicest thing I can say about the Chief’s is that the director made good use of the window.

This is not one of my favorite episodes, but it has some fun O’Brien-Bashir interaction. The B story with Jake and Nog is also fun.

I actually like this episode. Not for the plot, but for the interactions between Chief O'Brien and Doctor Bashir. And all the stuff with Nog, Jake, and the Bajoran leader is good too. Low B for me.

I kind of wish this had been a Sisko story instead. If you're gonna have a character spend the episode yelling at a cloud, you really need that Avery Brooks hamminess to sell it.

I want to like this episode…. But I don’t, it’s more of a meh with parts I like a lot, but not enough to save it.

The episode where O'Brien has to fight an evil cloud... maybe this story was better left untold.

We finally found someone who worships Chief even more than Alex does.

A bitter failed apprentice (dreadfully acted). The monster out of Lost. Twilight Sparkles. 3 Hookers. Shit episode.

So they all need a leader to tell them to be strong and to shout at the big monster and....they cant just shout at the big monster and be brave by themselves? What?

This is a rather forgettable episode, but it's easy to enjoy the characters regardless of a dud plot. Regarding the Dal'Rok, it felt like a major discrepancy between the script and the production because it first gets described as a sort of beast in the wilderness, only for us to later see a large menacing storm cloud on screen.

Eh. It’s kinda dumb. It has its moments, character interactions I enjoy, but the plot is only good if you think of it like some cheesy 1950’s scifi.

Bad. Embarrassing. 3/10 (D)

It's okay, but not very memorable. On the other hand it is a stepping stone in the relationship between O'Brian and Bashir.

Well, it finally happened, a dud O'brien episode. How strange this Dal'rok thing managed to keep going through the Cardassian invasion. It's strange this plot is set on Bajor when it seems more suited to a random planet of the week. At least we get to see some character dynamics at play.

This is one I had to look up to remember what the story was. This one never made an impact on me good or bad.

I’m quite fond of this one if only for the inspired pairing of O’Brien and Bashir! It’s typical DS9 where the character dynamics are the strongest part of the episode.

Worth it for the Bajoran girl's arc. I love it when DS9 does politics! Good leaders don't triple down refusing to make any concessions in order to avoid appearing weak. Especially if the cost is all of their people's lives. Good leaders recognize opportunities and understand when to make compromises, concessions, or trade deals in order to secure the best interests of their people. The Ferengi actually have great advice here. I wish other world leaders would learn from it.

The A story was an unfilmed TNG script that got retrofitted for DS9. Which is the problem - it's generic Star Trek that, aside from the early episode tension between O'Brien and Bashir, has little about it that feels distinctly DS9. But Meaney and Siddig do play off each other well, so it's not a total loss. I like the B story a bit more, which is cute and at least leans a little into the serialized story of Bajor's post-occupation rebuilding efforts, though it rankles that the events of "Battle Lines" are never referenced.

Tedious immature twaddle. Plus, when has Odo ever looked like porridge?

This episode gets a one word review, "Generic"

Is this a great episode? Nope, more awkward s1 fluff. However, we haven't seen a lot of Bashir/O'Brien interaction yet so it's nice to isolate the two together. B plot is horny teenagers being horny teenagers

I’ll give this one a B for the character moments and a D for the plot. The Obrien/Bashir and Jake/Nog dynamics are fun. Everything else is garbage. “Opportunity + instinct = profit”. Words to live by.

Well…an A plot where Chief gets forced to fight a lame cloud monster and a B plot where Jake and Nog want to pork a bajoran politician. Damn this season is rough.

I like the idea of a comical fish out of water episode for o'brien. good pairing with the doctor, but the execution didn't really hit the mark for me. C+ / B-

This is the second episode this season where the wise elder challenges their successor by choosing an unlikely third party to replace them only for it to be revealed as a final test for their protege. (The nagus) Is there a character in any of the Trek series you've seen that you'd enjoy being plugged into this trope?

Another Season 1 TNG type episode, this is a very not good episode, even Colm Meaney can't save it. Just move along and forget it.

This was my first DS9 episode that I can remember watching back in the day. Not my favorite but it’s always nice to see the Chief in a comically uncomfortable situation.

2nd worst episode of the season

I loved the idea of O'Brien being a mythical messiah type of figure for this village, but the twist was kind of boring. I would rather see O'Brien grow into confidence with mystical powers than what we got.

Not as bad as "Move Along Home" ... but somewhat close.