PATRON TIER LIST - DS9 S2E20 - The Maquis Part 1

Cal Hudson is worth an A.

While they were mentioned and appeared in a couple of TNG stories, this two parter is more or less the foundation for one of the more prominent story arcs throughout DS9. I give it an A, not because its not great, but because the show gets even better in S3 and beyond.

I went back and forth, between A and S and chose S because it's such a high A that it feels more honest.

Makes you wonder: why in the heck did they even make this treaty? They couldn’t just draw a map that kept Cardassian planets on their side of the line and Federation planets on theres? They traded planets? Why? What was the need?

In my mind this is the point that DS9 really starts getting good. A+

I rated it a B, which might seem a bit harsh. It's a very good episode. My minor issues are that the plotting (in both parts) boils down to 1) Depart from DS9 2) Return to DS9 and talk about what happened 3) Depart DS9 4) Return to DS9 and talk. 5) Depart DS9 again. 6)..... Also, the story does feel a bit like neither quite TNG nor DS9, but a sort of inbetween.

Picard saw this coming from a mile away but was powerless to stop it. Federation: “We’ve signed a treaty with the space Nazis to avoid an interstellar war. Part of the treaty is exchanging planet/colonies that will be on the wrong side of the border.” Colonists: “We want to stay in space Nazi territory. We’ll be alright.” Federation: “No. No you won’t and we’re not going to war to protect you if you choose to stay.” Colonist: “We’ll be alright.” Turns out that they are not alright living in space Nazi held territory. Cal the Maquis: “Why won’t the Federation go to war to defend humans?”

Casey's Cal Couldn't Conduct Convincing Conversations. C

A two parter that is more like, and better than most Star Trek theatrical release movies.