Deep Space Nine Season 3 TOP 10 Episodes & Season Recap

So i think this is the best place to make this comment. As far as "Past Tense" goes, I really loved it, and I feel like they didn't "get" it. It's not "poverty is bad." The fact they didn't realize Earth is a utopia speaks to something they seem to not get about this show. A big factor in why many people love trek is its positive, utopian vision of the future. DS9 was ciriticized for subverting that but I disagree; its about showing what it takes to maintain that and the cost of thet future. Alex talks about he loved Kirk saying "there is no prejudice on the birdge" and the genera; morality of Picard. These are extensions of Starfleet's ideals, and these characters are in starfleet not just because its a job, but because they passonately are fully committed to those ideals and are willing to die for them if necessary. Past Tense contrasts a possible future with the trek one. it's not about poverty versus post-scarcity. Its about hope vs apathy. Its about what it takes for the future of humanity to be one worthwhile. Its a very deep theme of this series that it seems like TA doesn't "get." "Not just in our time. There are any number of effective treatments for schizophrenia, even in this day and age. They could cure that man now, today, if they gave a damn." "It's not that they don't give a damn, Doctor. It's that they've given up. The social problems they face seem too enormous to deal with." "That only makes things worse. Causing people to suffer because you hate them is terrible, but causing people to suffer because you have forgotten how to care? That's really hard to understand." "It's not your fault things are the way they are." "Everybody tells themselves that. And nothing ever changes." - Julian Bashir and Lee BASHIR But it makes you wonder, doesn't it? Are humans really any different than Cardassians... or Romulans? If push came to shove, if something disastrous happened to the Federation, and we got frightened enough, or desperate enough, how would we react? Would we stay true to our ideals... or would we just end up... here... right back where we started? This is what makes the epsidoes powerful. Its emphasis is on the spiritual. And its very much true to Sisko's character, something they also don't get. He is the emissary. And here, the choices he makes, the things he does, are very much about that. We have seen him, from where he was in the pilot, BECOMING the emissary. yes, he's the "destined hero", but he also is embracing something in his nature. Something that is differnt from Kirk or Picard. There is a great movie called "American History X" that Brooks is in. The movie is about a kid who turns in a history paper on Mein Kampf. His teacher wants him to redo the assignment and have it be about his brother. The teacher is played by Brooks. He also taught his brother. We get the story of his brother, fresh out of prison, who was in for murder and was a white supremacist leader. Out of prison he is cutting off those ties and trying to protect his brother from the same fate. We see the story of his progression and what happened to him in prison. there's a signficant scene wich represents a turning point for him. After he is assaulted by other white supremacists in the shower after a series of events where he becomes disillusined with them, his old teacher visits him at a moment when he is ripe to hear what he has to say. Brooks approaches him, and the character he is playing, at the time, he was on DS9 playing Sisko, the emissary. And this character like all the characters in DS9 was also informed by the actor Brooks. This character, in American History X, is giving the nazi spiritual counsel. And I'm sure, in terms of the way Brooks played this, he was thinking about the other character he was playing, because here he is very much in the role of the Emissary. This is not a fluffy, feel good message. It is a hard message, a message from the Prophets, in that tradition. It's a message that resounds with the prophetic nature of Trek- not in predicting the future, but in showing people the potential glory of what lies ahead. In contrast to the darkness of being trapped by anger and hate and apathy. For the people who loved Past Tense, its very much "Trek" at its most explicitly spiritual. Bell, again as the Emissary, through his act of sacrfice, wakes up the consciousness of a nation. He wakes the consciousness of the asshole guard. This is what Prophets in this sense do. The song of songs, the songs of grace and possibility but also of personal responsibility. The themes in the movie cut with the themes of DS9. The Bajorans, and the Cardassians, even the Dominion, whose society represents an Anti-federation, born from rational fear of the other. DS9 here is not just wallowing in the suffering and misery, but like trek has done for many people, showing the possibility of transcendence. Sisko is trying to assure that the human future is brighter, by inspring through an act of sacrfiice, people to care again. Which is necessary for the future he knows to come to pass. What makes this great is how the the themes of trek resonate through every season. We're going to the past, but we're going to our potential future. The "realism" matters because its not some distant unimaginable future, its very much here and now, and it's saying that we as a species have different possible futures. If we want the optimisytic future of Trek to come to pass, we here now who care about such things can let apathy overwhelm us. Yes, we all know the crew ill fix it. It's the themes of that journey and the experience that if it is effective, hits some of us in a potent way. Now, I can see the response being "well, ok, but they didn't execute it well.: For me, they absolutely did. And I think, especially for DS9, you have to be bought in to really get hit with that on that level. Not only that, but you have to be able to really relate to that "spiritual sense" which is not something everybody does. I think this is where there is a divergence with the "execution" question. In my view, for those who "have the ears to hear" or in tune with this sort of thing, the execution is fanatastic. But not everybody is aligned that way, and I think for some.. Well, you also kind of have to be "bought in" to the idea of transcendent art, which, in terms of the mode many critics operate at, is something that is sort of precluded by a sort of cynicism and... being able to suspend cynicism and believe there is something where these mediums can encapsulate the essense of the prophetic... Or even in terms of understanding WHAT the prophetic is, being able to relate to that... Well, you cant "get" or enjoy something if that mode of feeling isnt something you experience. But otherwise, its misjudging it, the analogy I make where sometimes TA criticizes something for not going for what they want then on the terms of what its trying to do. This isn't meant to be a clever, twisty "how are they going to solve it?" time paradox heavy sci-fi story. Its very much a story about these characters and their ideals, and especially Sisko and the role he's growing into. here's the clip I was referring to. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgIMuTELzXI

So Sisko was a Lt. Cmdr during BOBW. Sisko was behind Riker in rank and then surpassed him. This season was ambitious. More Winn and Dukat. Development for Nog, Rom and Garak. New recurring characters Kassidy and Leeta. Not sure when they secured the actor for S4 but I feel like they knew they had to work on their existing cast more before bringing in the a new regular cast member. TNG cast overall barely had the development that DS9 has done in 3 season. And I think they tried to keep DS9 from being so centered on a few characters for stories.

Tier list?

And last one to wrap up season review week Before I get bogged down. Glad we aren't likely to have 3 in one week again. Maaaayybee 1 more time at the end of DS9 S6/Voy S4 depending how things line up. Josh Patrons Alex 1 - Heart of Stone 1 - IC/TDIC 1 - Heart of Stone 2 - Explorers 2 - Defiant 2 - Visionary 3 - The Die is Cast 3 - Heart of Stone 3 - Explorers 4 - Improbable Cause 4 - Second Skin 4 - Family Business 5 - Defiant 5 - The Search 5 - Defiant 6 - House of Quark 6 - Explorers 6 - The Adversary 7 - The Abandoned 7 - Civil Defense 7 - Meridian 8 - The Search 8 - House of Quark 8 - The Abandoned 9 - Life Support 9 - Visionary 9 - Life Support 10 - Facets 10 - The Adversary 10 - The Search Honorable mentions The Adversary Life Support House of Quark Visionary The Abandoned Second Skin Facets IC/TDIC Fascination Facets For me, I guess I'd be mostly aligned with the other patrons, just in different order. 1 - IC/TDIC 2 - Heart of Stone 3 - House of Quark 4 - Defiant 5 - The Adversary 6 - Explorers 7 - Life Support 8 - Second Skin 9 - The Abandoned 10 - The Search HRs are Visionary Civil Defense Family Business Facets

This is my favourite ST Season you've watched so far, i gave every episode between S and B. My favourites are: S: Visionary, Civil Defence, The Adversary, Defiant, Improbable Cause, The Die is Cast, Facets. A: The Search, The House Of Quark, Fascination, Equilibrium, Destiny, and Through The Looking Glass. I gave the rest B.

It is great everything got at least 1 vote, so Shakaar and Equlibrium made someone’s list, I am not into those two or Prophet Motive but it shows the strength of the show when every episode gets a vote.

I just want to say, don't watch the opening credits of season 4, we're all counting on you.

When will you do the tier lists? When Youtube catches up or sooner? I know there are always many complaints when the lists video comes before all reactions are on YT.

For me the Heart of Stone Nog plot hits because Nog loves his dad and Rom is a great cheerleader for him. Nog has the extra guilt of having a great father and still not wanting to be like him. That's so much more layered and difficult than a "screw you, Dad, I'm going to Starfleet" plot. I love it.

Thank you for the mention. Happy to be of help.

Best of Both Worlds is a good episode but it's overrated. It's far from the best episode of TNG. It's not even the best 2 parter of TNG IMO. Improbable cause/Die is cast is much, much better.

You guys historically dislike finales... but I gotta say, I take a bit of exception as BSG S1's finale isn't just a trailer for season 2, as I feel it's the culmination of everything in S1. Adama and Roslin's deal about leading the fleet, the growing faith in the fleet giving purpose to people after the end of civilization, but causing division, Boomer's struggle with her identity, Helo and Sharon's plot on Caprica chrystalizing, Lee torn between his father and Roslin and making his choice, Baltar falling further into his delusions... and Adama, if there's one theme about the "Kobol's Last Gleaming" 2-parter, it's Adama losing control and getting betrayed. First Roslin, then Kara, then Lee, culminating in Boomer betraying him with 2 shots to the chest. That's the beauty of that finale. Yes it IS setting up directions for the next season, but it's doing so by moving the themes and character motivations running through the whole season forward, resolving them by transistioning them into a new dynamic. And it's not to make sure we come back, it's give us something to talk and speculate about in the off-season.

The whole "you have no idea" is just Trek in general. Its rare that it doesn't constantly outdo itself season to season (TNG season 7 is an exception - its fine, but never matched prior seasons).

My Top 10 1 Explorers 2 Defiant 3 The Die is Cast 4 Civil Defense 5 The House of Quark 6 The Adversary 7 Improbable Cause 8 Heart of Stone 9 The Abandoned 10 The Search

Best of Both Worlds 2 has that awesome battle where they shoot fireworks at the Borg Cube and steal Picard, which is the best action scene in Trek.

That “HOW!?!” just scared my cat off. He’s now warily peeking at the tv from around the corner like someone’s going to jump out at him …🤦🏽‍♀️

My Top 10: 1. Heart of Stone 2. Improbable Cause/The Die is Cast 3. The House of Quark 4. Second Skin 5. Explorers 6. The Abandoned 7. The Search Part 1 & 2 8. Defiant 9. Civil Defence 10. The Adversary Honourable Mentions: Life Support, Family Business, Visionary and Facets DS9 Season 3 is very solid, maybe it doesn't have as many highs as TNG's 3rd season but it's still really good, bar 4 or so episodes. The show's been on a steady incline from the start and with the final pieces now falling into place, DS9 is about to reach its true form. All this to say, I'm excited that you're getting to season 4 and I can't wait to rewatch it with you, even if you hate it 😜

If you can count on one thing: Alex will always bring the same Joke at his Number One: It's the Episode i hated the most.

Great discussion! DS9 season 4 has some of my all time favorites, and thats for any trek show. Looking forward to hearing you call them mid!

I'm curious, you know how we the audience, or at least some of us, have grown to appreciate character scenes and moments or entire stories focused on the characters more, do you find you've grown to appreciate "larger scope" storylines more than you did before starting your reaction journey? Not saying you have to, but I'd hope that one day our influence might rub off a bit on you too (just a bit - I was surprised that Josh had improbable cause and die is cast on his list, especially so high) Also, love the tangent on Q-pid randomly hitting in a DS9 season review lol, TNG will always be a part of you Josh, and that's okay. Lol at Alex's face when Visionary wasn't on Josh's list. Be careful Josh, you've made an enemy. I'm the same Josh, if someone texts me I respond right back almost always, no need for games and my phone's always right there.

My Season 3 Top 10. 1. The Search (A+) 2. I.Cause+TDiCast (A+) 3. The Adversary (A) 4. The Abandoned (A) 5. Visionary (A) 6. Heart of Stone (A) 7. Facets (A) 8. Distant Voices (A) 9. Past Tense (B) 10. Explorers (B) And YES, your eyes are not deceiving you, Distant Voices is in there. So is Past Tense.

'Denise Crosby will return in Avengers: Doomsday.'

Concerning Avery Brooks's performance in "Facets", all we have is this from the Deep Space Nine Companion: "The scenes involving Sisko as Joran had to be shot twice because the producers were unhappy with the first set of dailies. The reason for this was they felt that Avery Brooks' performance was TOO creepy. According to visual effects supervisor Gary Hutzel, Brooks spoke in an almost inaudible whisper that 'literally sent shivers up your spine'." Sounds like it was just a take that had the wrong tone for the scene, but of course everybody thinks that darker is always better, so it becomes this overinflated legendary thing.

I believe we are going to get an entire 26 episodes of absolute fury about the season 4 DS9 opening credits......DO NOT WATCH THE FIRST EPISODE'S OPENING CREDITS......This qualifies as legal indemnity for all T.A. Patreons.

The whole "the show really starts with season 4" thing is nonsense. Season 3 is good. Season 4 is better. But it's not some huge jump.

Just hearing you guys discuss Moogie made this video an S for me.

By far the biggest thumb nail work Josh has pulled is for the Jem Da’Har Patreon thumbnail with both guys raising their arms triumphantly with Alex joyously looking to the sky.

My favorite part of this recap is when you guys went off-script and improvised, but left it in the vid. So brave. Filmmaking at its most pure, you might say.

I wholeheartedly agree - I can’t stand fake behind the scenes trivia that is endlessly regurgitated without any thought to it’s plausibility or authenticity. Incidentally, it’s why I only occasionally poke my head in to patron takes.

Your views on TNG and DS9 season 3 are a microcosm for the totality of both series. I prefer DS9 and TOS to TNG, but no Trek show has more tip-top perfect episodes than TNG. The flip side is no Trek has fewer outright terrible episodes than DS9.

Great stuff. Thanks gents. And Sisko's performance is still way too dark for Superman's dad, even in a Zack Snyder type universe.

I think Johnathan Frakes wanted to come on and play Tom Riker. And I'm not saying whether it happens or not, but he wanted to follow up with the character after Defiant, too. The man loves workin'! On his podcast or somewhere he said he was always calling Brent Spiner to come and act with him in little things, non Star Trek things and Brent usually says no, haha.

Ron Moore was excited to do the scene where Riker pulls off the sides of his beard to reveal that he's actually Tom Riker. I don't remember if he said that was the reason for the episode, but the idea did come from a creative place - it's kind of nice that it wasn't the studio shoving Frakes in there to promote the movie, anyway.

I championed BSG before I realized you guys had seen the whole first season. Given that, probably don't go back to it. That first season will tell you if you like it or not. FWIW, I think DS9 resolves much more completely and satisfyingly than BSG. Also -- you've really opened my eyes to the fascinating mentor/mentee relationship Sisko has with Dax. I never paid much attention to it before, but it's really unique and special within the franchise.

I agree with Josh about DS9 not having the same number of high-highs as TNG for their third seasons. I do think S4 of DS9 is the single most consistent season of ST, with only one definite bad episode and one other that depends on your point of view as to 'badness'.

It keeps getting better. IMO, it follows a quality trajectory similar to TNG. Fifth and Sixth season are the peak. Seventh is less strong but still good

I love that you guys love Explorers. Its just one of those episodes that has always stuck with me all these years later. I have more favorite episodes, but the episode has always stuck with me when i think of DS9. Season 6 has my ultimate banger of super bangers. :-)

Forgot to say this at the time, but your discussion of Distant Voices was very professional. It would have been easy to skimp on talking about it. Instead you both gave a very reasonable and fair-minded overview.

An interesting video for you guys to do sometimes might be a "We've come around" video and pick 5 episodes each that you were initially cold on but have found appreciation for in repeat watchings. Like how Alex said Half a Life went from a B to an S in your mind on the second viewing. For me personally, your favorite episode, The Bonding, I didn't really care for when I first saw it decades ago. I love it now.

My DS9 Season 3 top 10: 10. Civil Defense (B) 9. Fascination (B) 8. Defiant (B) 7. Improbable Cause (B) 6. The Die is Cast (B) 5. Explorers (B) 4. Visionary (A) 3. Second Skin (A) 2. The House of Quark (A) 1. Heart of Stone (S)

It's a very different show that TNG and Voyager. While still episodic, there's a lot more continuity across episodes that's woven into the filler time and B-stories. So there are character beats that happen within the stories that makes even bad episodes have these strong moments to them. I think it's a strong season, but the show does change in season 4.

I forgot honorable mentions for Voyager and DS9, the rest of season 1 for Voyager, let me try to remember my top ten for DS9, House of Quark, Family Buisness and the Search, I will try to remember next time. Oh my gosh! How did I forget civil defense ? I love that one, replace my number 4 with that

The key thing to note about DS9 is consistency. The series has has three solid season with every year building on the strengths of the previous seasons. the increase in quality as Josh points out has been gradual but consistent. The world building has continued with the Bajorans, the Cardassians and the Dominion adding layers to the shows ongoing narrative which has helped immensely. But boys, brace yourselves...... Season four will hit....... HARD........

A FEW weeks??!!?!

i'm a bigger fan of the '16 Kings... that was Buck Bokai's rookie year after all.