Date: August 28, 2020

Season 7, Episodes 10, 11, and 12

Musical Accompaniment: Songs that start with the letter ‘T” on my iTunes

Interstellar News: 3 more days left to back the Kickstarter and help unlock the 14th stretch goal! Also, Rest in Power Chadwick Boseman and Fuck Cancer.

So what had happened in “It’s Only a Paper Moon” was…: Nog comes back to DS9 after receiving a biosynthetic leg to replace the one he lost and he’s obviously withdrawn. He’s constantly listening to Vic’s recording of “I’ll Be Seeing You” and heads into the holosuite where he gets an idea, he wants to do his rehab with Vic. Jake brings a date to come see Nog, but Nog is cold to them and starts a fight and then is surprised when Vic throws him out. Vic and Nog patch things up and we get a montage of them working together to build a new casino. Vic’s not used to being on for days so he gets some rest while Nog takes care of the books. Nog slowly begins to come out of his funk, which Ezri is delighted at, but Vic realizes Nog can’t stay there forever so he turns off the program. Nog finally shares with Vic that he’s scared, the war has become real and anything can happen to him – or anyone – at anytime. Nog goes back to limited duty and returns to tell Vic he made a deal with Quark to leave Vic’s program running 26 hours a day.

Favorite Quote:

Rom: My son is insane.

Ezri: Rom.

Rom: He’s a one-legged crazy man!

Ezri: He is not crazy.

Sisko: But he is living in a holosuite.

Rom going off the rails, Ezri trying to calm him down, and Sisko being perplexed. This is right before they all start bashing on Bashir about his holosuite programs.

“I’m an engineer, not a philosopher.”: I am so excited to find that Trek can do a counseling episode mostly correctly. Patient-led therapy can be a fantastic tool and this was a fun way to put a 24th century spin on it. Nog needed time and space to get used to his new leg and he transferred his anger to everyone in his life from before the accident because now they will all look at him differently and he just lashed out. War can take its toll mentally and physically and it did both for Nog. Ezri, the actual counselor, did nothing of note except for when she gets Vic to see he can’t keep Nog. The fact that she thought a hologram could counsel better than her is beyond me, but I digress. I love that Nog goes back to what is familiar to him, business, as it’s his safe place. He grew up thinking he was going to be Ferengi businessman like his father and uncle and then realized he could forge his own path. Now he’s having second thoughts because he’s coming to terms with his decision. A distraction was certainly what he needed and it worked out well in the time elapsed format. I do like that we see them dealing with the fallout of something. We got virtually nothing regarding aftercare when Bashir was kidnapped, O’Brien was imprisoned in his mind, or after Picard was assimilated. I give this 9 counseling theories of note.

So what had happened in “Prodigal Daughter” was…: When O’Brien doesn’t return to the station, Bashir tells Sisko it’s because he went out to New Sydney to find Bilby’s widow who recently disappeared. Ezri’s family is from that system and Sisko asks for her help, which Yanas Tigan agrees to if Ezri comes to visit. We meet her two brothers, Norvo and Janel, who help with the family business and may have gotten themselves involved with the Orion Syndicate. Family dinner is awkward and it’s clear the mother is overbearing. O’Brien is found and brought to the Tigan household where he shares that Morica Bilby is dead. O’Brien helps to fix some equipment when Bokar comes to threaten Janel, so O’Brien and Ezri look through the family financials and find that Morica was on the payroll. Janel explains that the Syndicate helped loan them some money and paying Morica was their “owed favor”, but it turns out Norvo killed her to prove to his mother that he could handle any problem. Ezri stays for the trial and then returns to DS9, upset she left and never looked after her brother.

Favorite Quote:

Kira: How much gagh did she order?

Odo: 51 cases.

Ezri: Each containing a different variety.

Kira: There are varieties of gagh?

Poor Ezri. The Cruzon/Jadzia train is a hard one to follow if you don’t like bloodwine or gagh.

“He has a boot with my name on it.”: We’ve gotten to meet everyone’s family at this point in time, so of course Ezri needed her episode. We see why she became a counselor, her family is a hot mess. We also see her use her backbone by ordering O’Brien because sometimes it sucks to be the enlisted dude, though it all works out in the end because the family did not cover it up. I was worried that her family would be the ones the tried to bribe the police or something, but they were not that kind of rich folk. It also sucks that it was the brother she liked and obviously got along well with, because that makes it hit harder when her mother realizes that she created the environment that led to this terrible tragedy. Other than seeing the family awkwardness and O’Brien being a boss engineer, I didn’t get much out of this episode. 2 “awwwwws” for Bashir impatiently waiting for O’Brien. Also, what happened to all the gagh?

So what had happened in “The Emperor’s New Cloak” was…: The Nagus is missing and Quark gets a surprise visit from Mirror Ezri who explains that a cloaking device is needed in order to secure Zek’s freedom. Quark and Rom steal one off of a Klingon ship and go to the Mirror Universe in order to ensure Zek comes back and to get away from angry Martok. Mirror Vic (not a hologram) is shot and the trio is captured, Ezri is a mercenary. Mirror Brunt helps them to escape and they get the device to Regent Worf. Unfortunately Quark and Rom are taken captive along with Zek while Mirror Ezri makes out with Mirror Kira (the Intendant), much to the chagrin of Mirror Brunt (who is in love with Ezri) and Mirror Garak (who just wants to kill Kira). They enlist Rom to help put the device together and they cloak to sneak up on the Mirror Defiant. Ezri, however, sabotages the ship as payback for Kira killing Brunt. The rebels defeat the Alliance, Ezri helps the trio get back to their own universe, and Mirror Leeta helps “debrief” Ezri.

Favorite Quote:

Rom: Isodine coupler. Does this look like an isodine coupler to you? I don’t see how anything gets fixed around here.

Garak: I’d advise you to watch your tone of voice, Ferengi!

Rom: Or what? You won’t let me install the cloaking device?

Garak: I’m sorry if I’ve upset you. Now would you please get back to work.

Rom: Don’t mind if I do.

I love Rom, he gets better with each episode.

“That settles it. I’m never helping you again.”: Mirror Kira is all about killing the Ferengi. I’m pretty sure she’s responsible for killing Quark, Rom, Nog, and now Brunt. Poor Mirror Garak just wanted to kill someone, preferably the Intendant, and then he is killed by his own device at the end. Watching Vic get shot was kind of funny, but his presence is just too short. I loved listening to Rom try to understand the “alternate universe” and then confusing himself more, it was very Rom. I absolutely LOVED when Rom stands up to Mirror Garak, it was so much fun. Also, if you enable captions you get to read “hostile hissing” when the Ferengi go after Mirror Garak when the ship is sabotaged, which made me giggle with delight.

I loved that Quark was so confused at first that he thought Ezri wanted to role play and he was totally into that, let your freak flag fly Quark! I was glad to see they had Mirror Ezri be fond of women and that the Intendant be bisexual, but both felt forced and overt as opposed to how much passion there was with Dax and her former beau. The best part, though, is when Rom and Quark are carrying the cloaked cloaking device and Rom tries to “act natural” by staring at the bulkhead. However, when that’s the best part of the episode you’ve got a problem. This was not the most successful outing for the Mirror Universe, but I’m glad it’s the last for DS9. One thing I’m left wondering is: do they bring the cloaking device back and, most importantly, does Martok kill them? On the count of 3, we’ll pick up the cloaked cloaking device…

TA Out!

Date: August 27, 2020

Season 7, Episodes 8 and 9

Musical Accompaniment: The DragonCon American Sci-Fi Classics Track has a panel about The Hunt for Red October, which I watched recently, and when that was over I listened to some violin covers.

Interstellar News: Today was not a good day for me or the cats, I hope some sleep will cure us all. Happy 8 months to this blog, though!

So what had happened in “The Siege of AR-558” was…: Sisko and Odo look at the casuality reports before the Defiant heads to the front lines to deliver supplies, along with Quark because the Nagus asked him to make a report. They get to AR-558 where a Federation crew has been holding a Dominion communications array for five months and they are not doing well, they’ve lost a lot of people. Just as Bashir recommends to Sisko that the crew needs to be rotated off, Worf has to leave with the Defiant so the away team stays to help hold their position. Ezri and Kellin work together to detect and move the mines. Nog, Larkin, and Reese go in search of the Jem’Hadar; Larkin dies and Nog loses a leg. Bashir play’s Vic’s recording before the big battle and people are lost on both sides, including Kellin and Vargas, and Quark even shoots a Jem’Hadar that walks into the Infirmary. Worf returns with the Defiant and the Vera Cruz for a change of crew and passage to the hospital. Sisko returns to DS9 just in time for a fresh batch of casualties.

Favorite Quote:

Kira: Sir, the latest casualty reports have just been posted.

Sisko: How many this time?

Kira: Including the troops lost at AR five five eight, seventeen hundred and thirty.

Sisko: Seventeen hundred thirty.

Kira: That’s a lot of names.

Sisko: They’re not just names. It’s important we remember that. We have to remember.

Kira and Sisko talking about what really matters.

“I’m an engineer, not a magician”: Dude who played Lennier looks soooooooo strange with hair, but the voice was unmistakable. I thought this was a great vehicle for all of the characters involved. Quark is trying to protect his nephew and Nog wants to prove has has what it takes. Sisko and Bashir want to help in any way they can, though Sisko provides leadership and Bashir tackles the mental health aspect. Ezri is still trying to get used to her previous hosts and she’s able to explain to Kellin how surreal this all is for her. Unfortunately this shows off more of her science/engineering past as opposed to her counseling skills, but we can’t win them all.

We get to care about all of the crew members who have been stuck for five months, so when they die it’s a blow to the heart just as it would be if a main character has died. Quark delivers some insight to Nog about how hu-mans get when they are not well taken care of, and he’s not wrong, but he also stays armed with a phaser while he’s protecting Nog during the siege, showing that no matter your species you will defend those you love and care for. We also get to see what happens to those who are out in the front lines, especially when you are trying to keep something as vast as space under your control. One thing I found interesting was when the mines were activated, it reminded me a lot of when they detonated the cloaked mines in “Sons of Mogh“. Overall, an excellent episode, 8 songs from Vic Fontaine.

So what had happened in “Covenant” was…: Vedek Fala, Kira’s old teacher, comes aboard DS9 and gives her a crystal that transports her to Empok Nor, now the home to the pah-wraith cult being led by Dukat. Dukat wants Kira to believe, as he does, that the pah-wraiths are the true gods of Bajor and not the prophets. During a service she tries to kill Dukat but is stopped by his followers. Mika goes into labor but the baby is Cardassian looking so while we all know Dukat slept with her, he tells everyone it’s a miracle. Mika says she won’t lie to her husband so Dukat tries to kill her, but Kira finds her in time. Knowing he’s about to get caught he turns full on crazy cult leader and creates a falsehood about everyone leaving their corporeal bodies, but really it’s a mass suicide plan. Kira breaks out of her room and knocks over Dukat and the drugs when everyone realizes he wasn’t planning on dying with them, so they turn on him. Dukat transports out, Fala takes the drug and dies, and the crew of DS9 come to save Kira.

Favorite Quote:

Dukat: Oh, this station has been abandoned a long time. There’s no reason why they’d object to us putting it to use. Your hair. You changed it.

Kira: Your ear. You pierced it.

Let’s point out the obvious my friends…

“That was some kiss.”: Apparently Kira forgot all about the time she was possessed by a Prophet and I feel that was a total missed opportunity. This was, however, a great cult story from start to finish. Kira listens to two hours on forgiveness and then is brought to the one person she can’t forgive, Dukat. He killed millions of Bajorans, he took her mother away, he’s taken advantage of dozens of Bajoran women, and he’s got a god-complex the size of the Gamma Quadrant. He’s finally found Bajorans who will love him and worship him, but he still doesn’t buy his own bullshit and still can’t keep it in his pants. He had an escape plan, on top of his “let’s all drink the Kool Aid” plan, and he wasn’t willing to die for his cause… he was not a true believer. This is the slimy Dukat we have come to know and hate, and he almost has Kira convinced that he’s changed. He’s certainly not as hellbent on revenge as he was when he took on the pah-wraith, but when you’ve been touched by evil not much is left in your heart.

You do have to give credit to Dukat for being an excellent improviser, someone should sign him up for Improv, stat! It’s sad, though, for Kira who has to lose and be betrayed by Fala. It’s also sad for her to be oogled by Dukat again. It’s incredibly sad for Fala who has felt betrayed by his faith, but it’s the worst for Dukat’s child. Yet another child he fathered with a Bajoran woman and then abandoned, but I am glad Benyan didn’t do anything to harm the child once he realized Dukat was the biological father. I hate to know what would happy to the baby after they all realize they were duped by Dukat, but I’d like to think they decided to love it and squeeze it and call it George, or Billy, or Gildo, or even Giovanni. I’d like to throw Dukat out of 7 airlocks, thank you very much.

TA Out!

Date: August 26, 2020

Season 7, Episode 7

Musical Accompaniment: Bard music compilation

Interstellar News: Everything was later than it was supposed to be today, so I only got one episode in… le sigh.

So what had happened was…: Kor arrives on DS9 to deliver his condolences to Worf about Jadzia and also to ask for Worf’s help. Martok is absolutely against Kor being given anything and he tells Worf about applying to officer school and being denied by Kor. He eventually earned a field commission, but that was years later and the damage was already done. Worf, however, already ordered Kor to appear as the Third Officer on the Ch’Tang where they will be engaging the Jem’Hadar. The crew is in awe that Kor is there and he tells a legendary story in the mess hall. The battle does not go as planned and, when Worf and Martok are knocked out, Kor takes over but thinks he’s back at the battle of Caleb IV and that he’s fighting the Federation. Kor is distressed because he has not yet died and he knows he’s not fit to be a warrior any more… but what else can he do? An officer finds that a fleet of Jem’Hadar ships are following them back to DS9 but will overtake them soon. Worf comes up with a plan that will require him and six others to volunteer their lives, but Kor realizes this is his chance and knocks Worf out to take his place. Amazingly he is able to distract the enemy ships so the Klingon ships can make the rendezvous and they all toast to Kor and welcome him to Sto-Vo-Kor via song.

On the station, Ezri and Kira talk about how Ezri feels about Kor and Quark overhears but thinks it’s about Worf. Ezri and Kira have polite banter but Kira shows discontent for Quark. Later Ezri comes to order a drink and Quark makes a long, embarassing speech about how she shouldn’t seek a relationship with Worf. To his surprise she agrees, kisses him, and calls him a “sweetheart”. All the while Jake is in the background grinning like a buffoon and making fun of Quark.

Favorite Quote:

Kor: Do you have any message you want me to convey to Jadzia?

He hypos Worf.

When I reach the halls of the hallowed dead, I will find your beloved and remind her that her husband is a noble warrior, and that he still loves no one but her. Goodbye, my friend. Live well. Long live the Empire!

Kor’s last words.

“Such a man would not take the job unless he were certain.”: As we all know I love Klingons, let’s start with the bad and end with the good. While it’s awesome to see Ezri and Kira have gotten over some awkwardness, and that Quark has grown a heart as well as a conscience, it feels like just filler to keep the folks on the station involved in the episode. It would have been nice to see what the Defiant and others were doing while they waited for Martok… or just a whole lot more of Klingon goodness.

It must be so hard to see all your friends go before you and to feel like you’ve outlived your usefulness. I saw it with my Grandma Gloria when she couldn’t bake her Christmas cookies or cook a family meal anymore. When you can’t do the things you used to or the only things that make you feel alive, it has got to be the absolute worst. For a Klingon warrior, losing your mind is just as bad as losing a limb. I loved how Martok eventually came around and realized that being mean wasn’t as rewarding as he had hoped. The toast and singing at the end was fantastic, and the fact that Kor got the drop on Worf. No one expects the Spanish Kor! 8 bottles of bloodwine, an excellent vintage of course.

TA Out!

Date: August 25, 2020

Season 7, Episodes 5 and 6

Musical Accompaniment: Another instrumental rock list

Interstellar News: Mosquitoes are awful.

So what had happened in “Chrysalis” was…: The “Jack Pack” is back because they want Bashir to fix Sarina. He tries an experimental surgery with a piece of newly created technology and, five days later, she begins to speak. It’s obvious she’s more like Bashir and less like the rest of the group, and Bashir is smitten as hell. Bashir moves fast and tells her he loves her, but she’s just woken up and wants to find her way in the world. She goes off to an internship, the other three head back to the Institute, and Bashir finally remembers he’s a doctor who shouldn’t date his patients and goes back to his solitary life.

Favorite Quote:

Bashir: So here you are, on your way to one of those tiny little specks of light out there.

Sarina: I guess that’s what a genetically enhanced girl should do when she wakes up from her sleep. Go make a life for herself. I’m going to miss you.

Bashir: I’m going to miss you.

Sarina: You won’t forget me?

Bashir: Forget you? Never.

A lovely but painful exchange for them both.

“We’re genetically engineered. We do everything fast.”: Bashir has always confused me. First he was all in love with Dax, or really any woman, and then he was all “oh I never wanted a family because my parents genetically enhanced me” all the while he was still a massive flirt, and then he’s sad because Jadzia would have chosen him, and now he’s head over heels with someone who has quite literally just woken up and is quite child-like… make a decision Bashir! Also, we’re in the middle of a war and three genetically enhanced individuals can just pop on some Starfleet uniforms and smuggle a woman out of a facility? Oh and they just happened to invent/create the right machine to complete the surgery? There are too many things that if you think about them for just a minute, don’t make too much sense.

There are, however, some very funny things. Lauren falls in love with Nog but she doesn’t interact with him after their first meeting. The singing bit was fun at first, then lasted a bit long, but then was kind of beautiful right at the end, just as you see Bashir fall utterly in love with Sarina. Patrick gets to look dashing as an admiral. Jack gets to be, well Jack. Sarina is like a kid in a candy store and I spent the whole episode thinking she was going to revert, just as she feared, but instead she decided to make a life for herself. On one hand I know exactly what Bashir is going through. It’s hard on the heart to love someone so much and they don’t feel the same way about you. When you are so sure that you would be perfect together and everything has felt so right since that first moment, but they have other ideas. On the other hand, Sarina just woke up and Bashir was her doctor, of course she would hero-worship him! Once she said she owed him, he sort of seemed to come to his senses but that’s the way his brain moves… too fast for his own good sometimes. Overall the good and the bad of this episode clash and it comes out a wash, so 5 verses of “row, row, row your boat” for all of you.

So what had happened in “Treachery, Faith and the Great River” was…: Odo receives a message from Gul Russol, but it’s really Weyoun who wants to defect. On their way back they’re contacted by Damar and… Weyoun. Turns out Weyoun 5 (who replaced Weyoun 4) was killed in an “accident”, Weyoun 6 is with Odo, and Weyoun 7 is with Damar. When 6 won’t activate the kill switch, Damar and 7 plot to destroy their runabout. The female changeling arrives and isn’t looking too good. 6 tells Odo how the Vorta came to be and also that the Founders are dying. As they try to make a run for it from another four ships, Weyoun 6 activates his kill switch so that Odo may live.

The Promenade is closed for repairs and Sisko wants the Definat repaired soon, but the part won’t come in for several weeks. Nog gets to know the Quartermaster who tells him of a ship who has an extra and may want to trade, and so starts the material continuum. Nog lets someone borrow Sisko’s desk for a part that will go to one ship in exchange for another part to go to another ship and so on until they can get their part, and also he makes off with some of Martok’s bloodwine and O’Brien’s authorization code. O’Brien is starting to think his goose is cooked, but Nog comes through in the end and all is well in the world.

Favorite Quote:

Odo: Aren’t you being a little paranoid?

Weyoun: Of course I’m paranoid. Everyone’s trying to kill me.

Weyoun 6 is pretty fantastic.

“I’m not a god, I’m a security officer.: The bit with Nog and O’Brien is fantastic, as long as you forget that replicators exist. I mean it’s not like Cardassian tech where it can’t be replicated… right? I will say, this is why you never, ever give out your password to anyone. This was a sort of lighthearted “O’Brien must suffer” episode because he had so much to do and just was hoping Nog knew what he was doing. It did all work out in the end, because Nog has the lobes for Starfleet, but O’Brien almost didn’t make it. I love how we hear more about Ferengi “religion” and how even Rom knows the tale and cautions O’Brien about the treacherous waters. This was just a fun story, if you don’t think about it too hard.

The Weyoun bit is just as awesome and with not as many flaws. I will say I’m going to miss the hell out of #5, but #6 had a vision that Odo agreed with. I do find it interesting that Kira has managed to have some sort of relationship with the only two “religious icons” on board DS9: Sisko, as the Emissary, and Odo, as a “god” to the Vorta. It was great to learn more about the Dominion side of things and I was delighted with how #6 told the story of the Vorta’s beginnings. Both bits of this episode were just so good, I give it 8 Weyouns (which is also how many I think we’ll end up with)!

TA Out!

Date: August 24, 2020

Season 7, Episodes 3 and 4

Musical Accompaniment: Though I have yet to watch it, I’m intrigued by this Mandalorian mix

Interstellar News: If you like Star Trek you’ve probably heard of Keith R. A. DeCandido, he’s kind of a big deal. He’s written a ton of stuff in the Trek universe, as well as several others and ones he’s created himself. He’s trying to get more supporters on his Patreon, so you should try it out. The levels range from $1 to $20 a month and the content is supremely awesome. If he’s not your cup of coffee, there are plenty of other wonderful artists, authors, and creative-type people that you may want to consider giving your support.

So what had happened in “Afterimage” was…: Ezri Dax is trying to figure out this whole being joined thing as being on DS9 is unsettling and she’s ready to go back to the Destiny. Garak has been decoding messages for Starfleet and is suddenly having claustrophobic episodes in not-so-confined spaces, so Sisko asks Ezri to give it the ol’ counselor try. Garak gets back to work and Sisko offers her the station’s counselor position. Ezri tells Bashir that Jadzia would have chosen him if it wasn’t for Worf, and Worf wants nothing to do with Ezri. Garak has another episode and tears Ezri a new one after meditation doesn’t work, so she decides to resign from Starfleet until she can figure her life out. She goes to say goodbye to Garak when he suddenly realizes what’s behind the attacks, he’s responsible for killing other Cardassians. Worf also realizes he’s been a jerk and Jadzia would not have wanted Worf to treat Ezri this way, and he asks her to stay if she wants. Ezri decides to stay in Starfleet, accepts the counselor position, and is promoted to Lieutenant.

Favorite Quote:

Jake: She is cute.

Sisko: She’s also about three hundred years too old for you.

Reminds me of the time Jake had a crush on Kira…

“These pronouns are going to drive me crazy.”: There is A LOT going on in this episode, and almost none of it is good. Ezri has encounters with everyone and it’s all just awkward. She’s also still trying to figure out how, and when, to listen to the voices in her head. She keeps ordering things that she didn’t like before, or trying new things to her because they worked in a past life, when she needs to not be in a place that has so many memories for her. I understand now why the Trill custom is to not interact with your old life if possible. With Garak she’s super awkward, starts with a Freudian method, and self-discloses to the detriment of her client. She also uses Garak’s sessions to further her own catharsis, so I’m not seeing any brilliant counseling work here. One thing that rang true is when Garak figures out what’s really causing the episodes, though it would take months of intense therapy to get there. I absolutely hated that she shared with Bashir it would have been him, what a fucking terrible thing to do to a person. I will say when she absolutely broke down it felt real and it did make you feel for her, she was out of her depth. That should have been all the more reason for her to leave. She’s a total hot mess and the ending didn’t make me think “she should stay and join the crew”. I would have liked it better if she was actually a good counselor, but we can’t win them all. 3 ham and cheese sandwiches, hold the bloodwine.

So what had happened in “Take Me Out to the Holosuite” was…: Captain Solok, a Vulcan, arrives on DS9 and is in need of repairs. He and Sisko snark at each other and eventually Solok challenges the DS9 crew to a holosuite baseball game against his ship’s crew. They all try to figure out what the hell this baseball thing is and Sisko asks Odo to be their umpire. The whole senior staff shows up for “tryouts”, as well as Quark, Rom, Leeta, and Nog. After the first day Bashir is busy helping patch everyone up in the Infirmary and Sisko asks Yates to join the team. Rom is so terrible and Sisko is taking things so seriously, he’s thrown off the team… but he wants to watch everyone else play, even when they want to strike until Rom is reinstated.

Yates finally drags the story out of Sisko that he and Solok were in the Academy together, Sisko got drunk and lost a wrestling match to Solok, and Solok has been rubbing it in Sisko’s face ever since. Yates tells the rest of the crew, even though she promised not to, and they all want to win one for the gipper. The Niners are losing pretty badly to the Logicians and Sisko gets himself thrown out for touching Odo, leaving O’Brien in charge. There’s a bit of fun with Nog and a Vulcan who forgot to touch home plate and Sisko remembers baseball is supposed to be fun, so they sub Rom in who accidentally bunts and allows Nog to score the only run of the game. The Niners throw a celebration, which is super illogical to Solok, and sign a baseball for Sisko.

Favorite Quotes:

A collection of Worf’s greatest hits:

“We will destroy them.”

“Death to the opposition.”

“Find him and kill him!”

Worf is super dramatic and I absolutely love it.

“To manufactured triumphs!“: I absolutely loved this episode from beginning to end. We start with Sisko, who is generally only sassy to Cardassians and people who do him wrong, turning the snark and sass up to 11 with Solok. Sisko is obsessed with baseball but also needs a win with the war going on for so long, losing Jadzia, and the wormhole being closed for some time. I love that the non-humans, Worf, Kira, and Nog, get together to try to figure out the terminology and are totally lost, but they don’t fare much better than Bashir or O’Brien who are human. I did completely appreciate that O’Brien replicated gum and infused it with scotch, because why not? A total O’Brien thing to do! I love that Leeta and Rom are super excited to participate and Rom is just adorably cute when he is supportive of the team and really wants them to play. Odo practicing his “moves” is the absolute best and it reminds me of when my Dad used to umpire recreational softball. I also totally loved that both teams were mixed gendered, and the DS9 team was a range of races and ages and abilities.

When Sisko tells the story to Yates it’s a thing of beauty on both of their accounts and I knew she was totally going to tell the crew, the episode needed something to bring them all together. The ridiculousness of Nog trying to get the Vulcan out was superbly funny, especially because he didn’t know which Vulcan it was, and the look of glee on Sisko’s face was super infectious. When he realizes that he needs to make things right with Rom, I was thinking it would have been hysterical if Rom lost hold of the bat and hit one of the Vulcans with it… but their ending with a mistake bunt because Rom is trying to figure out the signs was just as good and heartwarming. I love that Solok also gets thrown out, the DS9 crew doesn’t win the game but remembers what was most important to them, and I even thoroughly enjoyed them picking on Solok at the end. Ezri doesn’t deliver the sass when she asks if she forgot to wear her spots, but Quark picks it right back up for her with his follow up line and it’s truly amazing. After the heavy first three episodes and end of last season, I needed this episode. It may have its issues but I don’t care because I really enjoyed it. 10 cheers for Rom and the team!

TA Out!