UNCUT - The Way of the Warrior (DS9 S4E1) | Star Trek Journey 376

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet, but this is Avery Brooks' normal look. The producers had him with hair and sans goatee because Avery was already popular from another role as "Hawk" in the show "Spencer: For Hire", and the spin-off show "A Man Called Hawk", and they didn't want people to just see "Hawk" on screen so they had him grow his hair and ditch the goatee. Obviously after he was well established as Benjamin Sisko, they eased up on that.

THE REASON WHY.... The reason why Captain Sisko finally has the bald head and goatee look was because of Ira's command change. When DS9 first came out, Brooks wanted to maintain his look from his previous show Spenser for Hire where he played bass ass "Hawk", bald head and goatee. But the studio didn't want "Hawk in Space" and forbade him from keeping the look he loved. When Voyager took off and took most of the brass with them, Ira, now in charge, agreed with Brooks for a slow transition into .... "Hawk in Space". Additionally, the writers started leaning into the characters more by listening to input from the actors. You find that from slightly before season 4, Brooks's contributions to the show as becoming more felt. The fact that as soon as the brass started Voyager, Sisko became a captain, got the blad head and goatee, and better scripted lines, tells you that the studio has entered "fuck it" mode and let DS9 do whatever they want.

Given that a lot of your patreons can't watch this despite paying, are you rushing out the condensed version?

This really is a top level episode and jam packed with one excellent scene after another. DS9 came out swinging and seemed determined to show that, like Sisko said, they are here to stay. Describing it as a "soft reboot" captures it perfectly. It's like a different show. All that said, there are a couple of negative elements that hold this episode back in my book. First, the whole concept of Worf considering resigning from Starfleet just didn't carry any weight for me. With everything else going on in this episode, it felt like too much and not enough time to really explore it. As a result, it just felt like unnecessary filler. It was an obvious attempt to create tension or "stakes" that just didn't work for me. I never believed Worf was going to resign. And we didn't really get to see him struggle with that decision. While I can appreciate him struggling to find his place and to fit in after the Enterprise had been destroyed, I don't believe that alone would be enough to cause him to abandon Starfleet. And yes, there were the events of this episode that made him feel like he'd betrayed his people by being loyal to the Federation. But he didn't refuse Gowron's offer to join them in battle because of the Federation... he refused because he did not agree with the choice. I just don't buy it. I also was disappointed with the way Gowron was portrayed in this episode. One of my pet peeves in television is when a character changes depending on what the story of the week requires. And this story required the Klingons to attack the Cardassians and abandon the peace treaty with the Federation. And yes, those are some huge plot developments that did a lot for the series, opening a whole new realm of possibilities moving forward. But in order for all that to happen, the leader of the Klingon people had to make it happen. And that does not fit with the Gowron we knew in TNG. If Gowron had been assassinated and they had some new unknown leader of the Klingons, sure, I can see it happening. But Gowron would not do the things he was seen doing in this episode. This seemed more in line with the sort of behavior you would have expected if Duras had managed to be in command. But not Gowron. And much as I like this episode, that is a significant negative that I can't ignore when rating this episode.

One last thing: It was genuinely funny to me that you guys are worried that adding Worf means they won't have time for the other characters. Like, OMG, they have NINE characters now? I actually laughed when you said that. Guys, you are forgetting Rom, Nog, Dukat, Garak, etc. This show has so many awesome characters. Like, there are great characters in this show that you guys haven't even met yet! (That's generic enough to not be a spoiler, right?) This show has no problems with characters, I promise. Please don't worry about that. The awesome characters are the #1 strength of DS9

*Birds of Prey

Finally got the time to watch this. Well, I'm watching it in chunks today because I don't have a 3 hour block of time until the weekend. I love this episode. It has everything I could ever want in Trek. Has great character work. Comedy. Drama. Huge stakes. Space battle. It has everything! It is in my personal Top 10 DS9 episodes list. Very excited to start season 4. This is one of the strongest Trek seasons I've seen.

Imo this is a great season. Some eps may be better than others but there's only one flop and I think we can all agree what it is :D

Should put a pin in loving how dynamic and active the camera work was to review again later. While amazingly done here, we are definitely going to see examples where that is taken to an extreme as to be nauseating.

Watching this again, it occurs to me that "favorite series" can mean a lot of different things. DS9 is my "favorite" Star Trek series because I think the writing and characterization are overall the strongest and the stories have stayed the most relevant over time. With that said, I will never love it the way I love TNG, because I grew up with TNG as a young child and it shaped a big part of my worldview. I'm fine with both those things being true. You might live in a better house now than the one you grew up in, but your childhood house will always be your first home, you know?

"The Way of the Warrior" is probably a Top 5 episode for me in ALL of Star Trek. I can't even begin to count how many times I've watched it and I never grow tired of it. One of the best things that the show creators do is how they incorporate Worf into the series going forward. I don't feel like any of the other characters get short-changed at all. Everyone still gets plenty of time to shine and stories focused on them. He's a great addition.

An epic episode and an epic reaction! I'm so happy and relieved that they enjoyed and appreciated the episode. I was a little disappointed that they didn't enjoy season 3 as much, but to be honest, I didn't really get into the first two seasons when I watched them back then. I found the Prophets storyline strange, and nothing bored me more than internal Bajoran politics. The characters had potential, but somehow something was missing. Things started to get good in Season 3, but to be fair, I didn’t really start enjoying Season 3 until I watched the series for the third time. I’m really excited and hyped for future reactions!

The change to Benjamin "Hawk" Sisco is complete. "Chancellor Gowron, withdraw or witness the power of this fully armed and operational battlestation!"

Worf stayed because he fell in love...with the Defiant's weapons systems, and that Sisko ordered him to fire at his discretion. Michael Dorn enjoys Star Trek and playing Worf very much. My understanding is that he did not take much convincing.

One nice bit I don’t think J&A noted was that Garak and Odo having breakfast here is a payoff to their final conversation in The Die Is Cast.

It gets better than this.

At least in terms of DS9 and Voyager, the Captain gets top billing in the opening credits. Everyone else is credited alphabetically by last name. For Voyager, Robert Beltran just happens to come first alphabetically, not because Chakotay is First Officer. Because it's alphabetical, Siddig's name change moved his credit to being later (right before Nana Visitor's credit).

Gowron has been shown to be a bit dupicitous though. I think it was in "Unification" where Picard wanted to borrow a Klingon ship to cross into Romulan territory and Gowron initially ignored the Enterprise's messages, and Worf commenting that Gowron was "rewriting" the history of how he rose to power. Plus, we all assume Duras killed the previous Chancellor, K'mpec in "Sins of the Father," but the episode never said one way or the other. Only that Duras had planted an explosion. There was no evidence if who poisoned the Chancellor. So Gowron could very well be an unhinged political manipulator.

I've definitely been waiting for TA to get to this episode. I'm sure everyone has, haha. This episode is one of the lynchpin episodes of the entire series. And I feel that I can say that without risking accusations of spoilers. This was a lot like TNG's "Borg moment" with Q in that regard. S+

Did you notice that Siddig El Fadil changed his name to Alexander Siddig? He has said in interviews that he did this to fuck with the producers when he found out he wasn’t going to get a decent share of his action figure revenues.

Perfect season start. Followed by my favourite Trek episode of all. Hope you like it too.

It was never split up in two parts it’s a full episode.

Watching the 90 min DVD version on streaming and just dealing with figuring out where we are and the differences because fuck it, I WANT THE WHOLE TA REACTION GOD DAMNIT and I'm willing to work for it.

If there one episode that scream this series needs a hi def remaster it’s this one

I thought this episode balanced bringing Worf on and establishing him on the show without neglecting the characters who have been there not ALL shows are successful doing this

The word is earned. This episode was earned and set up in seasons 1-3. That’s what good writing is

It's not the ship Worf lost, it's the TNG family. In his heart, he's still an orphan, stuck between cultures.

https://youtu.be/7g9K2uV7nmc?si=fO8L7or1K8na3rb_

I can't believe the credits spoiled the reveal of Data's friend.

If it helps, back in the 90s, it was known Dorn was joining way before season 4 started. Ironically, fan magazines spoiled all this stuff way in advance...even TV guide was a spoiler source.

You can partly thank JMS of Bablyon 5 for lighting the fire under DS9s writing team and proving to Paramount that views want serialised sci-fi. I hope one day you watch B5.

Finding out Worf is in the show is pretty unavoidable. He's also pictured on the DVD set. It wasn't a secret when it originally aired anyway. TV Guide covers and other entertainment coverage. They were trying to get a ratings boost.

There was indeed Trek fatigue setting in by 1995. Some audience just wanted more TNG and not DS9/VOY. Sort of like how some people are treating the MCU after Endgame. TV was very different in the early to mid 90s compared to when TNG was on the air as well. The sci-fi TV landscape was a barren wasteland when TNG launched. By the time TNG finished there must have been 20 sci-fi shows on TV competing for that same audience.

Wait...did Alex just praise Ira Steven Behr?!

After Avery Brooks, the rest of the main cast billing is alphabetical, same as Voyager.

Paramount Plus has it as one 90 min episode!

This is the best Star Trek action movie.

IT'S HERE!!!!!!

I think only Dukat’s mother has ever been as concerned for Dukat’s well-being as J&A were during the rescue scene. Also notable was Kira’s life flashing before Josh’s eyes after she got stabbed. I assume he briefly considered that they were killing off Kira in the premiere to make room for Worf.

I've been looking to seeing your reaction to this one. Definitely my favourite DS9 you've watched so far.

The Sisko has achieved his final form.

Sisqko didn't go bald... he shaved... he used to look exactly like this in a previous show "HAWK" ... this is his normal look... he was finally able to return to his normal look before DS9.

In the end of "The Die is Cast" the changeling says "Now the only threat left in the alpha quadrant is the Federation and The Klingons and they won't be a problem much longer" (not exact words) ... one of many "Foreshadowing"/Links to this episode... Also, this episode mirrors the premier in soo many ways including "the 5000 torpedos" in the premiere Kira faked 5000 torpedos using thorum fields and derulium shadows (which martok calls out ) . except now they are real... the station is finally as powerfull as she bluffed it was and more.... This episode has soo many links and references to previous episodes.... i can't list them all... There are also soo many things in this episode that link to future episodes... its crazy. This is where DS9 finally earns the Babylon 5 Comparison as far as interwoven story beats. This Episode even has a Babylon 5 cast member (shes on the defiant for 5 seconds then dies in battle). Funny note "Worf kept bitching about his uniform soo much the entire 90min , They gave him a new one with a new color and everything" So you're uniform reminds you of how your people hate you... no problem... here is a new one. Finally, When this was a 2 part on tv... I believe part 1 ended with the Worf Reveal (i don't remember if he says high to Chief in episode 1 or episode 2. I think episode 1 ends with quark saying ... "Last thing we need is another Klingon" and part 2 starts with them at the bar after a "Previously on last episode" .

Sisko should take up the offer to see Kasidy's brother play baseball. Be cool to visit Pike City on Cestus III. Not only the planet where Kirk fought the Gorn Captain, but a city named after Christopher Pike.

This episode is definitely worth the hype. I'm not one to say "this is where DS9 begins", but it is where the show really comes into it's own. The setup is done, and the cast and crew are ready to rock and roll, and man do they kick off the season with a bang. Beyond just shaving his head and adopting the look we all remember, Avery just has a new energy in this episode. He's finally comfortable playing Sisko, and he really owns every scene. From action Sisko marching down a corridor and clearing rooms with a phaser rifle, to suave Sisko flirting with Kassidy, to that utterly badass delivery of "battle stations", it feels like nothing is holding back Avery/Sisko anymore. Also dude took on an entire klingon boarding party solo with his bare hands. The man is a beast. Your idea for a fakeout reveal followed by Worf moving into frame would have been hilarious. Part of me gets where all the people agonizing about the reveal being in the intro are coming from. But at the same time, they were actively advertising he was joining the show, so it was never intended to be a secret. It is what it is. I've heard some people say adding Worf was a mistake, that the show didn't need him. While I would agree that the show could have been perfectly good without bringing Worf in, I certainly never felt he took away anything either. And besides, I love Worf, so it was never an issue for me. Some people prefer the slower, more melodic S1-3 intro, but I definitely prefer the updated intro. I'd go as far as to say they should have introduced it in S3, especially since the Defiant was shown in the teaser for The Search. Seeing all the runabouts and work bees(the little maintenance pods) flying around, all the freighters and starships flying around the station, and the little guy working on the docking pylon(saw someone joking a while back that that's O'Brien just welding out in the vacuum of space in his birthday suit😄), and of course the defiant flying off to some mission in the Gamma Quadrant, all to the much more upbeat theme, it all adds to the feeling that the station isn't some little backwater outpost anymore. Deep Space Nine has become the fulcrum for the biggest political and military shifts in 2 quadrants, and all that firepower Starfleet strapped to the station speaks to that. How far DS9 has come since Emissary when it could barely slow down some crappy Cardassian ships. Gowron turning heel never really surprised me. He was always more a politician than a klingon. Don't get me wrong, I love the character to death, but it's pretty on brand for him. If they continue down this path of Klingons being full time baddies again, it'll be interesting to see how that works after everything TNG has done to develop them, VS TOS/Movie era Klingons. The Martok character is interesting. A lot of klingons would have flown into a rage if spoken to the way Worf did after beating up his son, and him saying he doesn't want to quarrel with Worf or antagonize the federation points to him being fairly reasonable. But then again, after Gowron saw the light that they were playing into the Founders hands, he was also pushing for the battle to continue. Hard to say where he stands. If you're wondering where you've seen the actor before, he was briefly in Emissary as the Vulcan captain of the Saratoga. Love all the little character moments throughout this one. Though regarding Miles and Worf reminiscing about their time on the 1701-D, I think Colm got confused on his line about the holodecks. It was like he was halfway between saying "working right(correctly)", and "keep the holodecks working, right(am I right)". Still, great seeing their reunion, great back and forth between him and Odo, Kira and Dax having a girls night out, Odo and Bashir looking out for each other(why is Odo worried about getting hit with a bat'leth again?), Garak and Odo having lunch(Die is Cast callback), just so many great moments. And if that weren't enough, Dukat is here as well. They cram so much into 90 minutes, and I hope that reassures you that this show will ALWAYS find time for it's characters, even if there's loads of politics and space battles to share screen time with. Congrats to Bashir and Dax on their promotions on the heels of Sisko becoming a captain. Also I gotta say, Kira punching Lancelot because "she was playing a married woman", big W in my book. I get it, it's a holoprogram, but I can't knock loyalty. As for Worf wanting to leave starfleet, I don't think it was about the Enterprise being destroyed as much as it is the loss of that ship representing the end to that chapter of his life. Aside from O'Brien, he doesn't know anyone on DS9. Yeah O'Brien suggested a new Enterprise would be built(I mean we all know the TNG crew ended up with a runabout for the remaining movies), but for all Worf knows that could be assigned to a whole new crew and the 1701-D crew could be scattered to a bunch of different assignments. He just doesn't feel like there's anywhere in the federation he really belongs. I mean he could go spend time with his parents, but he's not going to sit around without purpose. Add to that no longer having the option to return to the Klingon Empire, I can see the desire to go somewhere where he can have a totally fresh start. I do feel kind of bad for the klingon captain who was executed. Bro was just doing his job. If I were Sisko, I'd probably have compromised that one time and convinced Kassidy to let Starfleet people search the ship just to defuse the situation. Then again, Sisko might have as well if he'd known he was going to get the guy killed. Something of a lost opportunity was not putting Worf in a DS9 yellow uniform either earlier in this episode or in Generations. If they had, Worf would have worn both the red and yellow variants of the early TNG, later TNG, and DS9/VOY uniforms. I don't know what else to say. The dialogue, the character interactions, the super cinematic battles both in space and on the station, Worf joining a show where they actually let him kick some ass(dude was putting in work with that mek'leth), it's all just too good. It can't be anything other than an S. Still not my favourite DS9 episode, but it's way up there.

To hell with the episode. I want more TA cinematic universe now. Brilliant.

The one thing I've learned, after running the full ST gambit and being old enough to run it when it all first aired, at this point in the 'world', just expect characters to return. They are now part of the universe.

This 90 minute episode is so good, that I include it in my Star Trek film rankings at #4.

Great reaction, really enjoyed rewatching the episode with you. I disagree that the first three seasons were the prologue. To me, they were Act 1 of the show and this is now the start of Act 2.

I just upgraded because I couldn't wait until Monday lol.

"We're watching it, so shut up now." - Target Audience

great episode, great reaction but i'm more excited for episode 2 guys, looking forward to it

of all the places to try and take over in the quadrant, a bajoran space station filled with people that just spent 50 years fighting against an occupying force was...probably not the greatest idea

I love this one, it feel different, yet with the characters we have grown to know and love. They seem seasoned now, and it shows us their relationships before even Worf shows up. Then Worf appears and he is another character we have grown to love over many years and he fits in like a glove. They have him interact with the main cast and shows us he is a good fit. SIsko looks great and looks like he is ready for anything now and is going to take charge. Feels fresh and familiar at the same time. Love it

You guys brought it up.. who is and isn't a changeling?.. gonna be interesting

Miss the white boards lol.. especially for this episode

I actually bought Season Four on Prime Video for this. BTW, worth it. I know so many purists insist on physical but digital has always worked better for my habits even allowing that I might someday no longer be able to access it. For others like me, if you have been trying to stay synced on Paramount, the Prime Video version apparently matches when Target Audience watches. Made syncing way easier and I was even able to stop mid play because matching their time stamps actually works with this version

Oh I still remember when this aired. I was utterly breathless throughout that entire battle. Nothing like that had ever been done before and it was wonderful - I've watched it dozens and dozens of times and still love that entire set piece. Part of why I love this channel is what I get out of watching it through your eyes and perceiving each episode in a new light. Cassidy and Sisko's scenes were genuinely heartfelt - from the close ups and soft lighting to even the actor's eye movements taking in the face of who was stood opposite. It really was well done. The Quark/Garak scene with the root beer is up there in the annuls of Trek as one of the most wryly-observed conversations in its history and I love seeing it time and again.

Gowron is bad at reading a room

Dammit. Dropped right when I am in the middle of a bunch of stuff where I can't have this on. It's available now and I can't watch it for hours.

Of course Worf knows about Curzon Dax. Curzon was Federation ambassador to the Klingon Empire. He even was part of the Khitomer peace negotiations.

Avery Brooks had the bald/goatee look back in the mid-80's when he played on the show Spencer for Hire. Sisko adopting this look in the mid-90's was a precursor to culture catching up. After 2000, the bald/goatee look exploded for a while. Now it's the bald/full beard look mostly.

I didn’t know if you guys knew about Worf. I thought maybe you heard something in the last 30 years.. but I thought what a pop 💥 if you guys had no idea. Kira is a badass! She killed 3 Klingons with a gut wound. It’s so plot “banana peel” that Verad’s gf beat her up in “invasive procedures”

Great reaction, I don't expect you to like everything but I am glad you enjoyed this one. Onwards and upwards!

The Obsidian Order and Tal'Shiar, while not necessarily entirely destroyed, suffered a huge blow in "The Die is Cast" which is presumably what let the Cardassian underground, which we have seen, manage to unseat the Central Command who were dependent on the Obsidian Order to keep the civilians in line. It would ne like if the KGB/NKVD had most of its senior operatives and most of its operatives in general killed, soviet dissidents would have been able to operate much more effectively.

NOTE: Sisko "grabbing his earlobe" which is a subtle thing that has happened in previous episodes like "The Adversary" is actually him "consulting his pah" like the Bajoran priests do, a subtle thing he does more and more as the show goes on and he becomes "The Emissary". There is definitely a slow, subtle change in Sisko from the beginning as his character evolves.

I saw "The Jem-hadar" as more of the "soft reboot" in terms of changing the premise of the show from a wayward frontier station to a super important location for the Federation and Season 3 as more of what you guys are talking about but y'all hated that. I don't really see this as a "soft reboot" in the sense it doesn't really change anything about the premise, but continues on from whats been established before and adds a legacy character.

So some interesting things. People have already said the root beer scene was added, but the original idea was to have it be a comedic scene. Behr wanted it to have mor subtext, and Shimmerman fought hard for that to be the case. There was a studio mandate to "shake things up" and originally they had the idea for Vulcan to withdraw from the Federation because they were afraid their membership was putting Vulcan in danger from the Dominion, but then they changed it to the Klingon Alliance ending, which also changed the previous season finale which was originally going to be a two parter cliffhanger with the idea of changelings on Earth. Having the studio say no cliffhanger lead to the changes and the idea with the Klingons becoming antagonists again, which Moore felt was the way to go as having them be federation allies had defanged them, brought open the opportunity for Worf to come on to the show which certainly "shook things up." A couple of small things- When they were watching the Defiant initially engage with the Klingon ship searching Cassidy's freighter, TA said "so the Defiant has to take on the whole Klingon fleet." At the time, the whole fleet wasnt there, klingong ships were spread out searching ships that were entering or leaving Bajoran space since its so close to the wromhole. Though Cassidy's freighter had left awhile ago it was still in bajoran space, presumably just on the edge of it, but the crew pointed out that parts of the fleet had withdrawn to just outside Bajoran space where they couldnt do anything if they wanted to search vessels.

All of the ship shots in this episode are models shot with motion control. But there is a major caveat. There is no way they could have used the studio models for all shots and got them filmed in time or on the expanded budget. So they did supplement shots with some really cheap tricks to expand their coverage. They used a bunch of AMT model kits for ships that were going to get destroyed. And for distant background ships, they used Hallmark Christmas Ornaments that were mounted on sticks and shot in a group (typically of three in formation). Even with those cheats, they used both fx production teams on both episodes (normally each team works on a rotating basis, thus getting typically two weeks to work on one episode. Those model kits and Ornaments not only were cheaper, lighter and easier to film, they didn't have lightning rigs on them that each type of light requires a separate filming pass, and more composite time. They were painted with material that under black lightning would look like they were lit up when filmed. And from a distance, and in Standard Definitions you couldn't really tell.

The ratings decline actually started after season 6 of TNG (Season 7 only managed to keep its level due to how much the strong performance of All Good Things lifted its average. But remove the finale, and season 7 was showcasing the start of the decline. Berman was the one to suggest Worf, after Ira thought let's bring in the Klingons. Paramount/Viacom had already let them know that they wanted to pump up the show. For two reasons, declining ratings for Trek over all, and the fact that they felt DS9 had got lost int he PR press of Voyager starting. The studio did some things very unusually for them. Now most season openers and closers are typically more expensive than the standard episode. But they really wanted to push it up. The show was 8 times more expensive than the standard episode. IE 8 times over pattern, pattern being what they spend on each episode, not counting fixed costs (the lion share of a tv shows budget is its fixed costs). They also let them have more time to shot, Typically most episodes are filmed in 6/7 days, they approved 8 for each. Something that they absolutely don't normally do.

Josh and Alex I actually think there is blood shown in Blood Oath. Not in the combat with Kang and the Albino. But in the mortal wound of Koloth. We see him using his hand to cover his wound (similar to Kira's in a way, but not shown as clearly). And it's very much obscured, by Kor and his Batleth, for most of the shot. But we do get a tiny moment where it's shown, and his hand definitely looks to have blood over it. Its more reflective, and has a redder color then his other hand (or the hand of Kor) or the rest of the his Klingon Makeup. But it is very much blink and you'll miss it. What's effective here is the cuts on the actors. Most likely not due from the bladed edge but from blunt force impact. But it does help. What doesn't help this episode is the fight isn't in atmospheric fog, but regular lightning for the most part. Making every blade stick out even more clearly. And with more blades shown, by a significant degree, not seeing any blood on those weapons, is even more glaring. Well Kira's hand is a nice touch, its also follows a shot were after she is stabbed, she grabs her wound, and then uses that hand to touch the side of the panel she's next too. And when that hand falls, not a trace of blood on the panel wall. But the budget did allow not only the most stunts in Trek to date, but also the largest makeup crew, outside of the pilot (the scene when Quark first opens is loaded with a ton of characters in prosthetics) still the largest scene of that nature in Trek to this point.

No but in 96’ or whenever there was a huge add campaign I remember watching like no way! There’s no way a Trekkie went into this season not knowing..

FYI - if you watch this on Pluto TV, they do break it up into 2 parts. And it appears they cut out a couple of scenes in the early part of the episode.

I would agree that most all of us know exactly which upcoming episode in a future season that he was talking about 😉

Jadzia put Worf over. Gowron heel turn was good heat. Quark cut an epic root beer promo. Royal Rumble in ops. Klingons are the new DS9 NWO. Sisko 3:16 says I just whupped your ass.

What ruins the opening credits are actor agents and managers and their contracts.

Target Audience has finally begun

When Gowron says Worf can redeem himself in the eyes of his people he means for telling the Federation, his newest "sin" against his people.

Yeah, yeah, it's a great showing from DS9, but on this same date, Nitro's got Flair vs Arn! (and Bret's fighting a pirate on Raw...)

To the Question which Character instead of Worf from TNG: I think Barcley would work really good.

Also, forgot to mention this, but the soundtrack in this episode is sublime.

There is just SO MUCH to say about this episode. I think this is my all-time favourite Trek episode/movie. Most of all, because it marks the beginning of DS9 finally maturing past its prologue stage. DS9 only gets better from this point on. So glad to be on this journey with you guys. QAPLA'!

Netflix had this episode as a 90-minute feature as well. Can't imagine watching this in two parts.

Barring having to deal with Paramount's ridiculous editing that was a blast to watch along with you guys. I've lost count how many times I've watch DS9 now but it's always fun to watch all over again with those who have never seen it; some of your reactions were great. Really looking forward to hearing your thoughts in full but I'll have to come back for that, work tomorrow... Looks like you really enjoyed it though.

It doesn't look like anyone has shared this behind the scenes tidbit yet. If someone has, I apologize for the repeat, but it's a good one. In regards to the 'root beer scene,' that scene really exemplifies what makes DS9 so good. It is in fact a filler scene that was not in the original script, and was written when it looked like the script wouldn't be long enough to cover the full 90-minute runtime. Some shows pad runtime by adding meaningless technobabble or finding other ways to waste time. DS9's writers used that missing runtime as an opportunity to write one of the best scenes in the franchise. When they shot the episode, it turned out that they were wrong and that the episode was long enough, but the root beer scene was too good to cut. The episode as a whole is so good. All the character interactions, a gripping and exciting plot. Worf comes in and fits in so naturally. The return of the Klingons as the villains has a sense of 'back to basics' for Star Trek since they were the main villains of TOS and the TOS movies. And capping it all off with the largest battle the franchise had ever seen up to that point. None of the first 7 movies had more than 3 ships fighting, and the only other battle with dozens of ships was mostly off-screen - the Battle of Wolf-359. Having a full battle with this many ships where you see everything was a real statement about how DS9 wasn't afraid to go bigger than your father's Star Trek ever dared to go.

I think Quark even grew his nose hairs longer for Season 4.

As a kid in the 90s, I had tuned out of Deep Space Nine, and I think I remember looking forward to Voyager's release more (that enthusiasm would not last for very long). So, yes, I think I have first-hand experience in the "Trek fatigue." But even I was made acutely aware of "Way of the Warrior." As I recall, there was some intense marketing done to boost the S4 premiere. I specifically remember a billboard being put up in the next town over that had the faces of Sisko, Worf, and Kira (I believe), advertising the new season. And I couldn't help but dip into DS9 for once to see what was going on. I was a different Trekkie at the time, and I felt that Way of the Warrior was too many explosions and not enough thinking. Well, if my user name is of any clue, I've come around to the pulp-y/action-y style of storytelling, but back then the younger me was very cynical and felt that DS9 had turned into an action schlock fest. This may still be *true*, but I've since come to agree that DS9 is objectively the BEST of the 90s era Treks, and while there's a heavy focus on war and space battles, the characters still take front and center. Over the years, I'd skip on watching Way of the Warrior because it's such a bigass dayum sandwich of an episode to swallow, but in pre-watching it before Alex and Josh and then viewing it again along with y'all, I have to admit that this episode is so dayum good in so many ways. Y'all say it's the "Worf" show; I think that's not entirely true. We don't get Worf until about 25 minutes in, and there are *still* tons of scenes with the other characters. For every moment that the plot spends in setting up a battle scenario, there are bits of character interaction and comedy and intimate dialogue spent on the established cast members. It is admittedly difficult for newcomers to just... waltz in on this and figure out what's going on. But the show takes from so many dayum established plotlines and lore bits and characters and continuities that it feels like a real lived-in universe. Y'all say that this is a "soft reboot." Perhaps that's true. I like to believe it's a matter of bringing all of the innumerable elements of DS9 BACK into focus and then setting the pace for how the universe will proceed from here on out. Yes, it's a shitton of characters and elements to juggle, but if you're willing to have patience with it, the ultimate canvas being painted is one of the most elaborate and rewarding works of thematic art in all of Trek~ I lurve me some ridiculously epic forms of storytelling with ensemble casts and a big macro-lens, and DS9 at least attempts--if not masters--such a take in world-building~

I thought you two were insulated from spoilers so I started a conversation with the Bridge Crew: "should we provide them with a recording of 4x01 that had Dorn's name blocked out so the reveal would happen naturally in the episode?" But most people thought that going into season 4, everyone knew about Worf already. It was heavily promoted by the network (and was done for ratings purposes, Alex got it right). And most people were pretty sure that TA had dropped enough hints to indicate they knew already.

So I was trying to insulate my partner (who had never seen the show) from spoilers, so I was using rips of DS9, played through Plex on our Roku. Well, Plex likes to take titles and scour the Internet for stock photos to show on the show select screen. Some time in the middle of Season 2 or so, it brought in a cast photo from LATE in the series' run to show on the screen. My partner saw that and said "oh, I guess Worf joins the show at some point."

I believe that the original 90-minute edit is the "canonical" way to watch this anyway. IMO, the right way, it would just be awkward to have a cut and a "to be continued" right there in the middle.

Real tension! Real stakes!

The root beer scene is especially so great because root beer is Nog's favorite earth drink as we learned at the end of season 3. So for Quark it is THE symbol for the "Federation corruption of Ferengi society".

DS9 sex scoreboard Scorin’-a-plenty and a new LEADER. The sex score board Jadzia 5 +2 new Quark 5 Bashir 3 Sisko 3 Kira 2 +1 new Worf 2 Chief 1 Keiko 1 Odo 1 Jake 1 GUEST: Kassidy 1 Malcolm boytoy +2 new Other boy toy +1 new DETAILS: Jadzia is the Tomcat on the prowl MEoooow!!! 2 boytoys and a little spit-roastin’. And some props to Malcolm boy toy scoring Jadzia AND Kira. Yes, he is a holowhore but still, impressive. How about Kira, gets a new hairdo and some stress relief. Kira also almost got a second score but she was playing a married woman (umm ok). It looks like Jadzia is DS9’s Riker/Kirk and I say the more the better. Go get it Old Man/Hot Woman. Just a note Kassidy and Sisko already scored so that is why it is not new.

DS9 got a little lucky Worf never donned a DS9 uniform during Generations, otherwise the TNG gold to DS9 red uniform reveal would have fallen flat

This 90 Minutes has EVERYTHING. Characterdevelopment, Good Diaoluges, Humor, a great Plot, nice Camera Shots (now even in Space), some of the best Stunts in Star Trek, and amazing Action. S+ Top 10 DS9 Episode for me. Did i forget something?

Has Skeletor shown up in enough episodes to be considered a guest character?

Easy to miss, Bashir and Dax received off screen promotions between seasons. Bashir to Full Lieutenant and Dax to Lieutenant Commander.

“The Way of the Warrior” just might be my favourite Star Trek Movie. Fun to watch it with you guys. Thanks!

btw, my Paramount+ was 90 min, one episode

*ACK!* White board withdrawl... It's real!

Time travelling producers listening to this review. So, you like crying?

Great reaction, guys <3 It is a shame that Josh hated the episode. I mean, how good is an A+ really? That's only 4 places away from an E

welcome to Dorn space 9 - Worf the goat.

Open credits are in alphabetical order by last name.

Some of my favorite episodes of this series coming up soon, can't wait!

There are so many callbacks but I guess the most unexpected one is "Nice hat". Remember "Good tea. Nice house." from "The Survivors"?

From what I remember, the Star Trek “fatigue” started after the 30th anniversary in 1996. That was really the peak of Trek enthusiasm. It was really gradual though.

With all the problems everyone is having I’d like to suggest buying a brand new DS9 complete series set off eBay for $52. That’s just as much as 6 months of Paramount Plus, and it’s going to take longer than six months to finish the show. (Just test every disc during the return window)

kinda funny the klingons think the cardassian have been taken over by changelings and first thing they find on DS9 is changeling with a cardassian at his side

Michael Dorn is now the GOAT of Star Trek. No other character appears as many times as Worf.

This is absolutely a DS9 movie, nevermind it was on TV instead of the theatres. It holds its own easily against any of the theatrical releases.

Is anyone taking odds for the DS9 season 4 one Aquiel challenge?

I loved this reaction but I'm also super excited for the next episode

You can tell the guys liked it because like a third of the discussion is wrestling comparisons, or, as I like to think of it, TA Technobabble. 😅

I wish there is a Director's cut.

The producers were originally thinking about a "Vulcan pulling out of the Federation" arc. Ira Behr then remembered a line from Season 3. The female shape shifter had said the Federation-Klingon alliance was the only thing standing in the way of The Dominion. Bajoran politics, The Dominion, Cardassian intrigue, end of the Klingon peace treaty, amazing supporting characters. Any other show would be lucky to have one big continuing story option at a time. Brought it up before but still makes me chuckle. Josh and Alex in TNG Season 6, "Wonder if we will ever get any more Klingon stories after TNG?" You have said several times that DS9 has big balls. DS9's balls have not finished growing.

Guh, was really looking forward to you guys watching this one, but I had to give up on it. The two-part version is too different, and there's no way to figure out what scenes you guys are even watching :(

Non Sequitur Way of the Warrior 'They're the same picture' - Josh

Picard is using up all his excess vacation days while someone from HR stands over him.

Good show. I want some Root Beer now.

The 2 part version of the episode had about 5 mins worth of scenes cut from it (all from fairly early in the episode). That made it annoying to try and sync to you guys. Part 1 ends with Worf's conversation with Gowron where Gowron strips him of his titles.

Christmas came early. You guys fucking rule.

three hours!!?

You knowing Worf is in the show in advance is part of the Authentic viewing experience - the secret was leaked ahead of time and widely spoiled in the media back in the day.

We're a little under levelled for this Dominion content; so we're gonna grind some Klingons for XP for a while.

Just noticed nice continuity detail... When Odo gets up from the table with Garak, there's no coffee mug left behind.

For anyone watching via Paramount +, it's nowhere near as bad as Caretaker, just about 4 scenes inexplicably removed, and a few shortened. If you hit pause on PP+ the TA video will catch up. That being said, no idea why they chose to cut those scenes :( To answer your question guys, the episode split was in the middle of Gowron and Worf talking on the Klingon ship... yep, right in the middle!

I don't know why I thought I could get away with not using my DVDs, Paramount+ brings dishonour on their house with their edit. Brb!

Alex and Josh, this is when Target Audience REALLY starts... (couldn't help myself 🖖)

Finally, the real show has started (not because of Worf; but because Sisko shaved his head)

Jadzia has lifetimes of experience, but Worf is a Batleth tournament champion level good. I could play basketball for 90 years, I would still never be good enough to challenge Lebron.

Shaving the head is the new growing the beard.

Alex giddy and excited and incredibly optimistic about the future of the show. … just as we all expected. 😆

Great thing to wake up to. Unless you hate it. In which case, good thing to wake me up.

You'll never be able to measure my disappointment finding out that Worf joining the cast was spoiled for you guys. I know it was always going to be a hard secret to keep, but god, even just your reaction to the credits would have been incredible. Oh well...this show still has a few surprises up its sleeves ;)

Speaking of hair, both of you are looking great with those fresh clean cuts!

Looks like Paramount+ did the 90 min version too.

I don't know if this helps at all but nobody watching this when it aired was surprised by Dorn showing up either. In fact, even if you guys had only found out in the opening credits, you would have been in suspense for much longer than the fans in the 90s. In the months leading up to this premier Paramount made a massive marketing push with adds and magazine articles featuring Dorn to get more TNG viewers to watch DS9.

To answer your question the first part gets cut off half way through the meeting with Gowron where he offers Worf the chance to go with him to attack Cardassia and the camera focuses on him solemnly considering his options.

I enjoy your reactions and was looking forward to this one, but I really think you should have included a few more unblurred clips so people who only have the separate parts could sync up more easily.

I'll just chug 5 hour energy

One small thing that I just noticed on this rewatch, dax takes out Klingons with the same move that Worf uses to win their spar.

Ds9 supremacy

Somewhere deep in my memory, I recall that James L. Conway saw this as his audition to direct a Trek feature, so he threw everything he had into it.

Sometimes with Worf I think of Aslan in Prince Caspaian to Reepicheep “sometimes friend, you think too much of your honor.” But Worf was right

The guys hit on it some during the review, but special effects were taking a huge jump at this time, people really started to notice how epic the space battles were becoming as it was happening, instead of just being told there was a fleet and not seeing it.

I couldn't sleep anyway.

I thought what Sisko was trying to say, was that Worf leaving Starfleet would not keep him from feeling this conflict over who he is or what side he is no.

This episode blew me away the first time I saw. The most surprising thing Sisko becomes so commanding becoming captain did him good ;)

I also knew Worf was coming season 4 when I watched, but I enjoyed the first three seasons so much I was less interested by this point but this is a great episode

Best of Both Worlds Part 2 is a banger. Everyone needs to get over it.

AH, its 8:30 in the morning, I just got to work, and this evening at 9 p.m we have the semifinal of the champions league... Will be a long evening for me :D Btw I pre-checked parmount+ german edition, its split up in two episodes and a whole scene is missing to have the time for two intros... the hell? I'll watch via DVD

Thank you guys for keeping me up when I have work in five hours! But seriously: WORTH IT!!

I was watching on Paramount Plus and it is not two parts

-Worf was about to return to the Empire and that got fucked up at the last minute by the Cardassian invasion. Also Gawron is such a slime ball. He owes Worf. He would have never have risen to power without the ships and manpower from the House of Mogh. -The Obsidian Order was wiped out in The Die Is Cast. The Klingons invading is the fallout. -The credits are in alphabetical order

There is just so much in this episode. The Odo Bashir moment in the battle was also a callback to Emissary, Odo didn’t allow phasers on the promenade but now Bashir of all people used it well

Oh, you misunderstood. Josh, Alex... we didn't want to spoil Siddig's name change in the title credits. We're all Bashir-stans and wanted you to experience it with us.

Ok the sync is definitely different when you use paramount because when Worf showed up and you all were not reacting I was confused lol.

In fairness to the Wof stuff, everyone knew when it aired, too. I didn’t watch DS9 but I knew because they advertised the hell out of it when he joined. So you guys basically had the same experience the audience did back in the day.

Me, a full-time business professional, at midnight: "I think I'll grab a beer and watch the shit out of this." I do have to save the post-episode discussion for tomorrow (or later today at this point), but gents, that was a fine reaction.

The obnoxious Klingon is the General's entitled brat son....that's why it's cool that Worf beats on him in the first 5 minutes

A 3 hour reaction.... Hmm. Screw it. Calling in sick tomorrow. I know my priorities

... I have to wait for at least 9 hours before I csn watch this 😭 Damn you time zones 😭

Actors are listed in alphabetical order, other than Brooks.

Today is a good day to watch along.

I’m going to be half asleep at work tomorrow, but this is beyond worth it! Grabbing caffeine and pressing play… 🤩

Worth the wait AND the 3 hours...

Some hard to spot continuity with TNG "All Good Things". The new Klingon flagship is of a class first seen in that TNG episode in the future, when future Enterprise D wrecks them. At that point in history they are assumed to be common ships in the Klingon fleet, but here is where the class is first introduced as the flagship. So some things in Picard's future do come true.

Glory to you and to your house!

IT'S HAPPENING! This is not a drill, everyone!

OK, usually don’t do the uncuts, but booting up the dvd player…

I'm sorry guys I had to turn off the discussion part of the Twisted voyager reaction once I saw this notification.

*jolts awake*

Three hours

Welp… gonna be tired tomorrow.

I hope you enjoyed!!! (ps: S-Tier!)