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The Streets of San Francisco: Dead or Alive (1976)
Beginning of the decline
From this episode on there is no Michael Douglas character which definitely affected the show and the ratings. But this episode revealed something else that I think affected viewers maybe deeper than the loss of Douglas's character: A total "all in" attitude about the pop psychology of the day. The idea that child molesters & sexual predators are solely a product of their environment and "sick" and therefore should be given treatment and not punished. This idea really took off in the mid 70s and the pendulum has not yet swung back the other way -except with minor corrections. The idea that a girl, at the very beginning of this episode, could be brutally raped, beaten and then murdered - and the monster who perpetrated the crime would not be the focus of the storyline but rather her father's ill-fated attempt to put a reward out for her killer and the shenanigans taking place in the city as a result of a million dollar bounty. By the end of the episode he (the father) is the bad guy - the focus of Mike Stone's (Karl Malden) rage and passion - hoping against hope he can get serious felony charges to stick on the grieving and revenge-seeking father. We really never learn much of anything about the girl, her family or what kind of person she was, or even if she had a mother. She was beautiful, white and wealthy. We learn a good amount about the killer, and also how greed can turn otherwise "normal" San Franciscans into crazy weirdos. The focus, truly, is placed directly on misdirected vigilante justice and there were several times where I thought the writers were actually trying to manipulate the viewer to feel sympathy & sadness for the hunted killer.
The SOSF writers had flirted with this idea before (of trying to pull heartstrings for criminals committing horrific crimes) but this time they went "all in" -and I believe lost viewers and eventually the series in the process.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Fascination (1994)
Everybody Plays The Fool - Song by the Main Ingredient 1972
Review:
The events of this episode have been reviewed ad nauseam by several (15 total!) professional reviewers and amateur reviewers - like myself. Lwaxana Troi comes on board the station and brings with her an interesting physical condition which affects all of the people around her. This coincides with a Bajoran festival being celebrated and people being in a light-hearted mood. This mood pervades the episode which was Avery Brooks (Sisko) 3rd time directing. The producers and writers wanted this episode to be light-hearted and fun by heavily using pink hues, unusually (for DS9) bright-lit scenes and the color purple which was always normally rejected because it's associated with old science fiction shows from the 1960's (namely the original Star Trek series). The off-beat, romantic nature of this episode resembles a frenetic Shakespearian comedy. The motivation for keeping things so bright and light for this episode, reportedly, is for the serious and dark story-lines which were being planned in the near future.
Corny romantic interludes abound and the pairings are presented as funny and silly. One pairing might've led to a real-life romance, though. Each pairing of the DS9 crew was unrequited - except for one. As you watch the Kira-Dr. Bashir pairing (the only one which is mutual) keep in the back of your mind the knowledge that, in real life Nana Visitor and Alexander Siddig DO end up with a short lived marriage in their future (1997-2001) and have 1 child (born in 1996). This episode aired at the end of 1994 - coincidentally, I'm sure, when Visitor's first real-life marriage ended with her husband.
Art, it seems, sometimes does come close to imitating real life.
The obvious pain this episode inflicts on us in real life is that we often pursue people we want for romantic partners when they only want someone else. Everyone in this episode is the object of someone's passion while at the same time having someone completely different they madly desire. This leaves everyone unfulfilled and heartbroken - eerily similar to real life. The writers and producers may have not wanted to create a dark mood story but what they stumbled on was the cause of actual misery and loneliness in our society - much more dismal feeling in our real lives than an attack by the Founders from the Gamma Quadrant.
Some reviewers have stated this episode was "filler". I don't agree with this at all. I think by "filler" they mean an episode which isn't in the episodic tradition of carrying on story lines and developing characters, etc. In their minds this episode is meaningless and just taking up time and space with no real purpose. As you watch this episode watch it for what it brings to the screen and your reaction to it - not for if it is part of the serial. This reaction (of wanting the episodes to continue being serial oriented instead of stand-alone stories) is typical of why the producers were wrestling with where to take DS9. They knew if they ventured into serialization, instead of stand-alone stories, it could have a potential backlash. People newly tuning into the series would be confused and tune out. So as they progressed deeper into the serialization concept when they produced a stand-alone episode (similar to this one), it would affect viewers who had committed to the series as a continuing story. Either way they would face criticism and viewer disgruntledness.
QUESTION: Why does O'Brien let Keiko treat him like such a sap? She is very annoying in this episode. She cares about her career as a botanist and her boyfriend on Bajor more than the chief. Why didn't she tell O'Brien to retrieve his resignation letter from Sisko - not because she wanted to save his career but because she didn't want O'Brien following her down to Bajor and interfering with her "friendship" with the guy botanist.
QUESTION: One of the only persons not affected by Troi's condition was Commander Sisko. He had Dax constantly in his space lusting after him but he didn't desire anyone. This was an interesting decision by the writers.
Men take a lot of heat in our culture for being called "players" if they carry on with multiple women and openly flirt and try to impress as many women as possible with the possibilities of romantic interludes.
BUT.....
Women can do the same dang thing with the same dang results and often get away with this behavior simply because men are pigs and women are.........progressive and liberated.
EXAMPLE on point: Major Kira. In the last episode "Defiant" she carried on with Commander Riker (see the eyebrow raising scene between her and Dax) throughout the episode with the conclusion of melting when Riker gave her a passionate kiss goodbye. Yes...she did kiss him back. In this episode she keeps one dude (Odo) tied to a string and handy just in case she needs companionship, evidenced by her reaction to Odo when he finally musters up the courage to "ask her out" in the opening sequence. I felt so bad for Odo because most guys have been there. We follow the clues left by a girl in our life. The clues that she might be interested in us and in more than us being part of her personal "friend zone". Odo certainly had reason to believe Kira was interested in him moving from the "friend zone" to the "romantic zone". The clues she left behind in previous episodes are many. But when Odo finally does get the courage to approach this female player disguised as Kira, watch closely to what she does. In some of the following scenes Odo pines wistfully and painfully for Kira - at a distance. For some of you fellas post traumatic dating world stress may follow.
Bareil (spiritual leader-guy from Bajor and other kissing partner of Kira) is the 3rd guy in Major Kira's zones of romantic circles. At least, he's the 3rd guy we KNOW about. The 3rd such guy in 2 successive episodes. This count doesn't hold the events of this episode against her. Even Captain Kirk, the king of all Star Trek players, only had 1 romantic partner per week.
But none of this behavior on the part of Kira would lead anyone to accuse her of being a player. No....she's a modern woman living a liberated and progressive lifestyle getting what she wants and not ashamed to pursue whomever she wants to fulfill herself as a person. As a single guy living in 2021 America, I cry unfair and foul. Not that anyone cares or is listening.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Defiant (1994)
The Life And Times And Sexy Hind End Of Major Kira Nerys
Quick Review:
There is a LOT of WOW moments in this episode. As you watch it, you a re going to no doubt agree with me. Another reviewer said this is a good episode for non Star Trek fans to watch to get a feel for the Star Trek vibe (my paraphrase) - and to this, I completely disagree. There is too much back-story and understanding of how the Federation deals with rival and enemy organizations.
Almost all reviewers are at least disappointed by the ending - some reviewers are infuriated. I feel like it left a lot on the table of unknowns and a writers potential paradise of loose ends to tie up. The episode leaves a lot of questions unanswered and in need of sequels of sorts. Writers hate to paint themselves in corners and creating dead-end characters and situations. With this episode they have opened up - not a single can of worms but a whole pantry full of cans of worms. Wow! "sequels of sorts" and "whole pantry full of cans of worms". I'm so clever at turning a phrase! LOL.
Star Trek The Next Generation fans will tend to LOVE this episode with Riker appearing. They will go all a-goo-goo when he appears on the screen in the opening. Who cares if it's only his transporter created evil/searching/not-sure-of-himself-living-in-William Riker's-shadow twin Riker?
I noticed Nana Visitor (Major Kira) with her flaming white hair, being overly vocal and giddy on the set of the recently released movie "What We Left Behind - Looking Back At Star Trek Deep Space Nine" (2019). The kind of confidence she exhibited, surrounded by all of the other DS9 cast members trying to find some light in her shadow, was obvious and not contrived as some do to hide insecurities. She had every reason to be the center of attention in the documentary. I noticed watching this episode of season 3 DS9 the entire series seems to revolve around her emotions, her character, her love interests, her weaknesses, her passions and goals. The writers of DS9 - at least up to this part of the 3rd season - made it VERY clear they had found a gold mine in the character of Major Kira, former Bajoran terrorist and type-A sensual personality. The directors and producers must've wholeheartedly agreed with the intentions of the writers because there is NO ONE else on the series they tended to focus the camera on more than her when she's facing it and especially lingering on her when she walks away from it. I'm surprised they didn't rename the series, "Star Trek Deep Space 9, The Life And Times and Sexy Hind End of Major Kira", sometime after the first season.
This production values of this episode are well done. Every Star Trek fan loves getting on those cool space ships and trekking. All the buttons and lights and beeps and "on the screen" stuff. The ending is not infuriating - it is simply a can of worms (or a pantry full of them). The crew that Riker assembles, of Maquis, definitely do NOT act in character at the end of this one and the whole premise is a lot of cheating on the part of the writers to gain story material for future episodes. Come on guys! Be true to the audience and the fans of the whole Star Trek franchise! Your decision to bring in Riker was a good one but how you used him to give yourselves material for future scripts instead of an honest telling of a story was cheating and you guys KNEW it! This is how those people in charge of a franchise take advantage of a group of people (Trekkers) they feel are gullible enough to go along with it. And guess what? They were mostly right. Thus the next full 4 seasons of salaries and posturing and politics to live (and profit) off an entire population of people who are committed to the original passion of Gene Roddenberry. The passion and premise of a hopeful place in the future called the United Federation of Planets where they and their leaders have ended disease, don't take advantage of people who are gullible, don't cheat and are honest in their dealings with the population. Ironic isn't it? And THAT, to me is the essence, epitome and ultimate revelation of this episode of DS9.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Meridian (1994)
A Sappy Love Story and A Very Interesting Ethical Situation
Quick Review:
Story #1 -
Sisko and the squad are off in the Gamma Quadrant in the Defiant exploring strange new worlds. This after getting their butts handed to them by the Jem'Hadar and the Founders. That confrontation wasn't even close if you will remember. And the Dominion didn't just physically destroy them in short order, they mentally and psychologically controlled them as well. This mission defies common sense and makes me wonder if the writers were getting bored with stories on the space station. It's so much more fun being out there in space and meeting interesting beings.
The planet they come across has an interesting dilemma they face as a society relating to dimensional shifts.
One of the sappiest Trek love stories ever to unfold on the screen does so involving Dax with one of the planetary lover boys attracted to women with spots. Planet man: "How far do those spots go down?" Dax: "All the way..."
This romance is silly and ridiculous on so many levels. It makes Captain Kirk's weekly infatuations seem mature and realistic by comparison.
By the way Dax, did you happen to mention the worm living inside of you?
In the end the love story was so contrived it made me upset the writers were trying to present something which completely insulted the viewers in a way that had me saying, "Give me a break..."
Story #2 -
Quark is offered a lot of compensation to create something interesting (and definitely ethically challenged) relating to the holosuite and Major Kira by an alien that reminds me of Pinocchio's naughty friend Lampwick. This weirdly obsessed alien asks Quark to create a computer simulation of Kira because he has been rejected in real life by her. When Quark asks the alien why he wants a holosuite creation of Kira they have a non-verbal understanding that borders on obsessive creepiness. All I could think as I watched the episode is: Oh boy, when Kira finds out........Instead...there is a hilarious twist which made me laugh out loud.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Civil Defense (1994)
This Space Station Will Self Destruct In 3 Minutes!!!
Quick Review:
O'Brien and Jake Sisko are working in a little-used part of the space station. All of a sudden.....they trip a security alarm which sets off a series of security protocols the Cardassians put in place - and apparently didn't bother to disengage when they left OR let the Federation know about it.
Gul Dukat's voice and video image warning Bajoran workers to please cooperate or else he will kill everyone - plays incessantly in the background and foreground.
Plot Hole Question: Why didn't the Federation THOROUGHLY sweep DS9 before allowing families and civilians to live and work on the station? How many other traps and death-lurking-security-protocols are awaiting whomever stumbles upon them?
This episode is a clear reminder of what DS9 was before the Federation took control. A drab, depressingly dark and dingy place of forced labor for Bajorans.
Leadership rises to the top under any situation. Notice how Sisko (stranded on the station in isolated rooms with O'Brien and Jake) takes charge, comes up with awesome ideas, and has a never-give-up attitude. People who are genuine leaders tend to be leaders in all aspects of their lives and in all situations - not just when they are in their normal leadership position.
As the episode progresses the groups formed are:
Group 1 (Roaming around in isolated rooms) - Benjamin Sisko, Jake Sisko and Chief O'Brien
Group 2 (Stuck in Ops) - Kira, Dax, Bashir, Garak, and an expendable extra
Group 3 (Stuck in Odo's security office) - Odo and Quark
This episode drags along. The writers had a hard time with it from the conception of the idea. There is so many pseudo science discussions and space station terminology and phraseology the episode bogs down. Even when there is only a few vital minutes remaining before the space station self destructs the actors are walking through their cues and blocking with hardly a sense of inevitable death. At least Kirk, etc. Acted desperate like their lives depended on their actions. He was sometimes accused of overacting but we all loved it and you know it.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Abandoned (1994)
A Jem'Hadar In The Midst......
Quick Review:
Story line #1 -
Quark pays an interesting looking alien lady 3 bars of pressed latinum for the wreckage of a ship she found in the Gamma Quadrant. He normally looks through stuff before buying it but because she licks his ear, he buys it sight unseen. Inside the wreckage - a Jem'Hadar baby!
The baby, a boy, grows up faster than anything does normally.
Odo convinces Sisko to let him mentor the Jem'Hadar guy. The guy is pre-programmed to be addicted to a substance and pre-programmed to want to fight and kill and hate everyone but the Founder-guy Odo - whom he respects in a worshipful way - at least at first.
Story line #2 -
Sisko invites Jake's 20-year-old Dabo girlfriend, Mardah, over for dinner. Jake is 16. She is a very well endowed (ahem) and mature - like all the Dabo girls who work for Quark.
Sisko wants them broken up.
It's too bad she is only in this episode - she is a compelling character. I'm not sure why the writers decided against having Mardah be a semi-regular.
Also:
Odo announces to Kira (who brought him a housewarming gift for his new quarters) he doesn't need his bucket to regenerate any longer. Since hanging out with his own kind he just returns to his gelatinous self and lays around his quarters. To hear him describe it to Kira is hilarious. Kira's giddiness while being with Odo is so over the top it is disconcerting.
Odo's make-up is weirdly different in this episode. Maybe in relation to him returning from the Founders???
Avery Brooks apparently said the story of the Jem'Hadar boy is a metaphor for young men of color growing up in the inner cities of America. Addicted, hateful and purposeless in a society they don't feel a part of. As you watch this episode ask yourself if Brooks is right.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Second Skin (1994)
Kira Wakes Up On Cardassia As A........Cardassian!!!
Quick Review:
Kira gets kidnapped.
She wakes up on the Cardassian home world.....but wait - there's more!
She wakes up and she's not a Bajoran anymore.
She's a.........Cardassian!!!!
This one has an excellent plot twist that I'm not going to ruin for you. Suffice it to say - Kira figures it out right there on the screen with you.
Get ready to meet the most honorable man on Cardassia.
Get ready to see Garak go off and be the cold blooded killer he really is.......
Fun stuff.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Equilibrium (1994)
Trill Time
Quick Review:
Everything you wanted to know about Trills but were too bored to ask.
Going back to the home world of Jadzia to figure out what is wrong with her before she dies.
Those little worm guys swim around in pools full of a milky substance. Their pools are located in dark caves.
They communicate by visible electric bolts of lightning as their little worm heads swim just above the water line - kind of impersonating a shark without any of the danger. The person who thought all this science fiction story up - about Trill and the little guys lovingly inhabiting a persons body -has a very interesting mind.
Can't anyone tell the truth any more? Why is there always a liar or liars loose on planets everywhere???
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The House of Quark (1994)
Quark and Klingons........
Quick Review:
Story lines for this episode..........
1- The House of Quark - Ha Ha! This one had me laughing out loud several times throughout. This Klingon lady love is kind of attractive - for a Klingon.
You will learn A LOT about Klingons and their culture.
Quark is pretty funny in this episode.
2 - The House of O'Brien is in trouble.
The school on the space station is shutting down.
Oh no! What is Keiko going to do with her time????
The O'Brien marriage is on the rocks because Keiko isn't fulfilled as a woman with a career.
Oh no!!!
The Quark story is cool.
The O'Brien story is annoying.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Search, Part II (1994)
What In The World Is The Federation Thinking?????
Quick Review:
You are going to like this second part of the season 3 premiere!
A LOT of story lines are brought to fulfillment.
A LOT of spoilers if I even attempt a review.
You WILL meet the Founders.
You WILL get entirely frustrated with the way the Federation is handling "peace talks" back at DS9 while the heroes of the series are in the Gamma Quadrant fighting the Dominion and holding on for their dear lives.
Kira and Odo????
Odo's description to Kira of being a bird, changing into one to see what it feels like to be a bird - is way out there man.
You need to hang on this episode to the very end.
Intensity of emotions.
One of the best episodes of the series to date.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Search, Part I (1994)
The Best Way To Defend Yourself Is To Go On Offense!
*Quick Review:
Sisko shows up back to DS9 after spending time de-briefing with Starfleet.
He brings with him a little surprise......enter the Defiant!!!
And it has some little surprises of its' own.
A Romulan Tech officer.
We are going to spend most of our time in the next two episodes in the Gamma Quadrant searching for the Founders.
Odo acts really weird in this episode. He seems to be acting a bit like a salmon who must return to the river in which they were spawned. It is a built-in passion no matter where they are in the ocean, no matter what obstacles are in their way - they WILL return to the stream or river in which they were born. Amazing isn't it?
Tons of Action.
Tons of suspense with the ending of part !.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Profit and Loss (1994)
Of All The Space Stations In All The Universe.........
1- VIEWERS CHECK THIS OUT.....................
*CARDASSIA = COMMUNIST RUSSIA..........
At approximately 1:40 - Doc Bashir and the Cardassian Tailor Garak (Andrew Robinson) are talking about Cardassian politics. As they discuss listen to the principles they are debating: Individual freedom VS the power of the state. Loyalty to the state VS loyalty to your loved ones. During the filming of this episode (1994) Russia was just coming out of a long darkness where everything done in Russia was filtered through the eyes of the state. It is obvious (even with some of the names used in Garak's illustration) Cardassia is Russia - or at least similarities can be made - for the inspiration of the DS9 writers. Bashir also tries to get Garak to admit to being a spy for Cardassia but Garak, in wily fashion, evades the issue....again.
*QUARK GRABBED AROUND NECK/THROAT AGAIN.....
At 2:55 Odo is questioning Quark about an illegal cloaking device. Odo has learned from sources that Quark may have one such device in his possession - illegal in Bajoran law. Quark vehemently denies this but Odo still feels free to reach across the bar and grab Quark by the collar against the neck.
*QUARK IS QUITE THE LOTHARIO.........
Many reviewers and viewers have made the comparison between this episode and the movie, "Casablanca" with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. Quark would be in the Bogart role and Natima - the Cardassian dissident (played by Mary Crosby - Bing's daughter) would be in the Bergman role. I've never seen Quark so smitten with anyone. Armin Shimerman, as Quark, really sold out to this episode and gave everything he had in a range of Ferengi-type emotions. When Quark and Natima are nuzzling each other and going all kissy poo - it is fairly disconcerting. To see a guy who looks like a little demon with giant ear lobes and spiked teeth kissing and mushing with a woman who looks like a reptile is definitely not sexy. When Shimerman talks you can tell he is talking through a teeth prosthetic - he mostly hisses when he speaks. It's not a speech impediment he was born with. The make-up crew was concerned because Quark mostly is an orange guy with orange make-up everywhere. Natima, as a Cardassian, was mostly gray. The make-up artists were standing by during the kissy, kissy, nuzzle, nuzzle stuff. Quark seems to only be attracted to women that are not Ferengi. He has made strong overtures to Cardassian, human, Klingon and Bajoran women. The episode where he thought his business partner Ferengi was a man and turned out, instead, to be a woman who was attracted to him -never went anywhere because even when Quark learned she wasn't a man - he wasn't interested.
*QUARK, THE DS9 CRASH DUMMY!...........
I don't know why it always strikes me as funny when Quark is thrown, shot, punched or runs around like a scared E. T. alien. I'm not sure It has anything to do with him being Ferengi. I think it's something that strikes my funny bone whenever I see him flung around or in quick little running step-type movements. I can't control it either. It hits me, every time, unexpectedly and spontaneously - I laugh out loud. At 25:35 I was laughing.......loudly. I think, for some unknown reason, the writers have felt the same funny bone because Quark is tossed, shot, thrown and flung more than any other character on DS9.
2- Final Reflective Thoughts and Analysis & Final Grade For Episode (SPOILER ALERT!!!):
*I don't understand how Odo just completely circumvents Sisko's direct orders -to imprison and then hand over Natima and her students to Cardassia in exchange for Bajoran prisoners? As he is talking to Quark in his office he just arbitrarily decides to go set the prisoners free and undermine the deal the Bajoran and Cardassian governments had made with each other. In the scene before that, Sisko, disappointedly, places Natima and her students under arrest and says he has no choice because the Bajoran government calls the shots on DS9. After the excitement of releasing them and the confrontation with Garak and Gul Toran, there is no epilogue where Odo's actions are dealt with. It would seem that Sisko would be extremely upset and the Bajoran government, having lost several POW's would be infuriated - but it is never resolved. This is one of the biggest plot holes of the season.
The character of Garak endears himself to the DS9 loyal viewers with one squeeze of his trigger finger. His development as a character makes a MASSIVE evolutionary leap with this episode.
Quark and Odo's friendship deepens in this episode and we see a side to Quark rarely brought out in other episodes and seasons.
Final Grade For Episode: B+
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Playing God (1994)
Awesome Episode! One Of The Series Best.....
1- VIEWERS CHECK THIS OUT BEFORE, DURING OR AFTER YOU WATCH "PLAYING GOD".........
*SPECIAL EFFECT WIZARDS AND WIZARDRY HAVE A HOME ON DS9........................
The opening 10 seconds of a roundabout docking at a DS9 port is stunning art. I have re-watched it a few times and DS9 definitely had it "going on" in the artistic realm of special effects in the 1990's. I have a 79" screen and it is pure heaven to watch all of the special effects and artistic renderings. We, in America, in the 2020's are spoiled with all of the graphic art and green-screening (a verb?) in our entertainment today. All you have to do is put a movie in your dvd player from the 1980's (like Ghostbusters for instance) and listen to your kids guffaw and mock. But.....DS9 was on the cutting edge of artistic technology and they used that tech to the best of their abilities. I read some of the user reviews before tackling this episode and, frankly, I am excited to watch this one because of the special effects I know are rampant throughout. As Peter Pan said, "Here we go!!!!!!!!....."
*WATCH OUT FOR THAT WALL!!!...........
I think tall girls are very attractive. I know through their lives they were probably bullied by obvious monikers such as: "giraffe girl" and "do you have a problem with nosebleeds because the air up there is pretty thin isn't it?". Terry Farrell is listed as 6-0" so that would put her solidly in the "tall girl" category (the average height for an American female is 5-4" according to 2018 statistics). In Farrell's younger days she did some modeling and her gigs were with big name agencies. I think modeling agencies like the fact tall girls look good in outfits because their legs go on forever and a style put on their slender body has a reasonable chance of looking stellar. At approximately 5:10 the Symbiot Trill candidate (Arjin played by Geoffrey Blake) arrives at his Trill mentor's quarters. He is met at the door by a no-nonsense alien - big dude- who tells Arjin, "Jadzia is in the shower". Ummmm, WOW - I personally hate awkward situations like this. Jadzia comes out of the bathroom wearing only a towel and is a little put off by Arjin showing up early. She tells Arjin to make drinks for the two of them and then says goodbye with a smooch to her large alien (ahem...) friend. Interestingly enough, she asks Arjin to make her a Ferengi drink of some sort (she seems to like all things Ferengi) and then heads back into the bathroom/bedroom to finish getting ready. As she retreats to the bedroom (6:00) I notice she almost runs into a doorway wall! Sometimes the curse of being a tall girl is a bit of awkwardness attached to movement. It is hard for a 6-0 lady in a towel to be graceful in any situation let alone one that requires her to walk, talk with memorized lines of dialogue, know where all of the obstacles in the scene are without looking at them AND making sure her towel doesn't have a wardrobe malfunction.
*MEET THE HIND END OF MY CREW MATES!.........
At 8:40 Dax is taking Arjin around the station and introducing him to the staff and crew of DS9. At the same time, Chief O'Brien and Major Kira are investigating wires that have been "chewed" on by Cardassian voles (rodent like creatures) left on DS9 by the previous landlords - the Cardassians. When Dax and Arjin walk around the bridge of the station doing introductions O'Brien and Kira are both inside a console inner panel - head first with only their two rear ends sticking out- lol. Dax literally introduces Arjin to the chief and the major's rear ends! I can tell this is going to be a lighthearted episode!
*DON'T THESE VOLES LOOK LIKE GREMLINS FROM THE SPIELBERG MOVIE OF THE SAME NAME?
The Cardassian vole looks a lot like Steven Spielberg's gremlin creatures (from his 1984 movie "Gremlins") AFTER they get wet. Spielberg was inspired from the gargoyles/demonic creatures which medieval cathedrals in Europe have carved in stone around the outside of their sanctuaries. This is the first the viewers have learned of the voles. These creatures are about the size of a lap dog
and their teeth are fang-looking sharpies. If you are a family living on DS9 and you have children under the age of 2 - you better hope your kids' bedroom is secure from predators such as these! A simple rat trap won't do - you need a dog or a mongoose or a young mountain lion......
*KLINGON CHEF SINGS HIS GOOD-BYE SONG.......
At approximately 14:00 the last appearance by the Klingon chef (thank the gods in producer-ville) takes place. The interesting part of this scene is not the singing chef going table-to-table with an accordion-looking instrument, nor the still living food on the dinner plates...... it's when Dax gets up from her table and begins to sing in fluent Klingon with the chef. They then have a conversation in fluent Klingon about Arjin- in front of Arjin (rude? Yes...a little bit). The chef tells Arjin that Dax taught him the Pavarotti-style opera song...in Klingon. Dax - an obvious type-A personality realizes she is running over the type-C Arjin and engages in a serious conversation with him about how he needs to ramp up the strength of his personality or the symbiont will consume anything that is left of him when he becomes the host.
*TYPE A EXPRESSES HERSELF TO TYPE C AND GETS A REACTION SHE WASN'T EXPECTING.......
At approximately 24:00 in a scene with Arjin and Jadzia, she goes off on Arjin about her being "worried" in his potential lack of success in the joining process. Instead of backing down or shrinking silently away (like a good type C boy) he bubbles over and gets passionate for the first time in the episode. At first, I thought it was Dax's plan all along to fire the guy up, but when I saw the obvious hurt etched on Jadzia's face after Arjin storms out of the room post-verbal-explosion, I realized she didn't count on or plan for the reaction she got back.
*STAR TREK CLASSIC MOMENT:
Odo's line delivered to Kira, "I don't step on ants, Major" is one that has become a classic and made Odo a bit of a cultural icon. Kira is saying it's better to destroy the life found in the new universe (they originally thought it was seaweed-type of stuff) which Dax and Arjin accidentally brought back from the Gamma quadrant toward the beginning of the episode -when they ran into it in the runabout. Once they put the "seaweed universe" into a containment field in the science lab they discovered what they had inadvertently brought back with them - a just-forming new universe with unknown and possibly intelligent life contained therein. Kira, from the beginning, wanted to burn the whole thing up before it can destroy the station (they are down to about 5 hours before it does just that) and, very possibly, begin to consume their own universe. She is in the distinct minority - no one is expressing approval for her idea only contempt for her violent idea. When she looks at the group opposing her and asks the question, "well.....do any of you have a better suggestion?" everyone just looks back at her with a blank, stare. Sisko retreats to his office to come up with his decision. Of the three stories contained in this episode (1-Arjin and Dax, 2-the Cardassian voles and 3-the new universe and potential intelligent lifeforms) the new universe story seems the most compelling and serious with cosmic principles to ponder and CLASSIC Star Trek moments - yet it seems like the focus was with the Arjin story line. This is a bit of a disappointment and I'm not sure of the reasoning behind the decision.
Sisko ponders his self-imposed 1 hour deadline and makes the entirely fallacious internal argument of comparing what they would do by destroying the new universe with what the Borg did to the Federation and the planets contained therein. He says, "Would we be any different from the Borg if we would destroy their universe to preserve our own?" The problem with this reasoning is the Borg were assimilating, devouring and decimating other civilizations because they felt like they were the superior race and were venturing way beyond their original borders. They had no need to do this for their survival - they were selfish and exerting undue power over weaker life forms. The comparison Sisko makes is ridiculous and false from its' conception. The DS9 crew wants only to save their universe and the billions of inhabitants in it.
2- Final Reflection and Grade....
*Jadzia Dax is a fascinating character. Because she has so many previous lives still existing inside of her (from a string of previous hosts) she has an extensive library of experiences and knowledge to draw from. Jadzia, at around 35-years-of-age, is still a young woman and a young woman who passionately embraces all life has to offer. I think one of the reasons I've always found her a compelling character is because she sees living as fun and is constantly pursuing all things that will enrich and enhance her life experience. She is a multi-cultural and multi-racial lover and her exuberance in grabbing each day by the horns and seeing what she can glean from it is very contagious. If I'm being honest in my review, I have a bit of a crush on Farrell with the leopard-like spots running up and down her neck. There's just something about a tall, smoking hot brunette that is in to science, using her brain and has a worm-like creature that is centuries-old living inside of her.
The episodes are getting stronger as time goes on. The character development of everyone is fascinating to watch and the writers are involving all of the characters in an egalitarian way. This will lead to strength in the series later on. Some series on TV focus on one or two actors in the ensemble cast because they like writing for them or because they are popular. The writers here resist that temptation.
Final Grade: A.
The Streets of San Francisco: Death and the Favored Few (1974)
A Murder of A Blackmailing Publisher Engenders Few Tears In The San Francisco Elite Society
1- VIEWERS CHECK THIS OUT...............
* A SLAP RESPONSE FOR THE AGES.......
At 2:30 into the first act, one of the greatest reactions to a staged slap I've ever seen happens. Usually when men take each other on in combat at a party or gathering such as this one, a slap is not the device used to show you are itching for a fight. Most of the time it's a punch or a shove or something "manly" like that to assert your manhood. A slap is usually what women do to men or to each other. But one man slapping another man across the face is rather unusual. The man doing the slapping is Roger Maxwell (played by actor Frank Martin. Martin was a familiar presence in just about every major American prime time show in the 1960's and 1970's. He died in 2014 at the age of 91). The man getting slapped was Terence Aubrey (acted by Welshman Lester Fletcher. He was a well known character actor in the UK and USA until his death in 1989 at 67 years of age). The woman between the two guys is Louise Maxwell (played by Judy Lewis. Lewis was the love child of actors Loretta Young and Clark Gable. Young was born in 1935 and died in 2011 at the age of 76). The slap leads to the fairly intoxicated Aubrey, a publisher of a ridiculous high society paper, to leave the party assisted into a taxi by Joseph (the butler of the house played by Harold Gould). When Aubrey arrives at his place at approximately 2:30 AM he is confronted by a gunman who was already in Aubrey's place. Aubrey is shot and killed by the gunman (who is not revealed to viewers). This is the setting for the entrance of Inspectors Stone and Keller.
*DOUGLAS GETS BUMPED WHILE GAWKING......
While gathering information and doing interviews of potential suspects, Stone and Keller enter the palatial mansion of Etta Morris Randolph - a blue-blood socialite in San Francisco upper society. Joseph (the man who assisted Aubrey into the taxi the night before) is leading them to her area in the mansion. As the inspectors are following Joseph, Michael Douglas is staring at the real (not a sound stage) mansion and not paying attention to where he is walking. Douglas inadvertently bumps his leg into a huge chair (9:45) and the actor reacts in a very non-acting way.
2- Final Thoughts and Reflective Analysis and Final Grade........
*This was an interesting episode with Rosemary Murphy (playing Etta Morris Randolph) turning in the character of the episode. She moved us from the early scenes, along with Stone, to feel like she was just a rich witch of a person and only used her power and influence to further her own personal gain. As the episode rambled on toward a conclusion we, along with Stone again, began to formulate a completely different opinion of this strong willed woman. She loved her heroin addicted daughter. She loved her granddaughter. She really loved her butler, Joseph. She was everything a powerful matriarch can and should be.
This last episode of season 2 ends with solid performances, good writing and good direction. Michael Douglas bumps his leg into a chair, gets bonked on the back of the head, crashes his police car in pursuit of a suspect and ends up in the emergency room. This was a tough episode for him. Lol.
Karl Malden, who taught us to actually like Etta Randolph, is as steady of an actor as there is in the Hollywood business. He brings a gravitas and experience to TSOSF which allows the show to thrive and grow.
I'm looking forward to watching and reflecting on season 3!
Final Grade For Episode: B
Final Grade For Season Two: B.
The Streets of San Francisco: Rampage (1974)
A Motivated Group of Vigilantes Gather To Try To Initiate Change In Their Neighborhood
1- VIEWERS CHECK THIS OUT..............
*This story ties into everything people who are frustrated with the evolution of society believe. Across the racial and economic spectrum, citizens who go to work and raise families. People who see their neighborhoods riddled with crime and victims of crime. These citizens believe the police forces and security agencies are overworked and overwhelmed. These citizens feel let down by government of all types: federal, state, county and local. The education system in most of the nation is in shambles. The police forces are under attack and officers mostly feel betrayed by the communities they've been hired to protect and to serve. I am concerned as time rambles on there will be more vigilante groups who roam our streets taking the law into their hands, acting as police, judge and jury for the people they target. In a lot of cases we, as citizens who respect law and order, may even actually applaud or at least approve of their actions. But these groups won't be roaming with baseball bats and crow bars such as in this episode. These groups will be well armed and have guns that shoot bullets which don't have a conscience or respect for the innocent.
In this episode Michael Douglas (Steve Keller) does some of the best acting of his character.....thus far. He is passionate, entirely believable and throws himself into his Keller persona with all he's got. His friend from college days, Robert Hooks (played by Joe Joplin, an African American theatre, TV and film actor) whom Keller went to Berkeley with and rode in Freedom Rides with (to draw attention to the civil rights struggle for black men and women) is one of the key suspects in a band of 4 vigilantes - 2 black men and 2 white men - attacking bars known for drug dealing and massage parlors known for prostitution, drug use and selling.
*IGNORE the crowds on the streets and in the subway who are obviously observing a TV show being filmed. There are people gathering with standing room only and it appears the director isn't trying at all to hide or work around the smiling and pointing massive crowds. As the series had grown in popularity so had the massive crowds watching the action. A hilarious moment occurs when Keller, bleeding through his shirt onto his arms which have been cut by the knife-wielding bad guy, throws the bad guy onto the hood of a car and manages to put hand cuffs on him. As he makes the arrest he is approached by a nicely dressed young man who says to Keller, "Need any help?" Keller, breathless and bleeding looks at the young man, and then disgustedly looks away and continues controlling the bad guy. In today's American culture Keller may have been attacked by people as he was making the arrest. I was a little disappointed in Keller's reaction to the young man who offered him help. He certainly didn't need to gush all over the guy but he could've responded somehow.
*IGNORE the "drop the gun cop...." while the bad guy has a knife held to the throat of a lady on an escalator - and Keller complies which leads to..... A-his gun bouncing around on the tile floor of the subway station (who knows where and in whose hands his service weapon will end up?) and....... B- almost to him being killed - 1st by a car in traffic (A VERY close call for Douglas. It doesn't appear a stunt man was used for this scene) and 2nd by the bad guy wielding a knife in a hand-to-knife battle fought moments later. Hopefully the SOSF will be advised by any officers helping out with the show to stop this VERY un-police-like behavior (of dropping the gun as I've detailed three episodes back in a review for "A String Of Puppets") for reasons such as these!
*The way this episode resolves is for you to see without me releasing spoilers to dampen your viewing pleasure! However, I will testify to the fact I enjoyed this episode and thought the resolution was solid and well thought out as well as pretty darn realistic!
Kudos to the writer and director. Kudos to Michael Douglas for reaching inside himself and giving the viewers a performance which was excellent and memorable.
BTW: Karl Malden has stopped calling Michael Douglas "buddy boy". I kind of miss that term of endearment but understand when the evolution of character development happens, certain things change with the growth. Maybe Douglas requested this and it happened?
Final Grade For Episode: A-
The Streets of San Francisco: The Hard Breed (1974)
Bulls, Horses, Hard Drinks and Living and Lovin On The Rodeo Circuit. This Is About As Un-San Francisco-Like As You Will Ever See
1- VIEWERS CHECK THIS OUT.......
*The writers for this episode are from the thoroughly westernized and countrified world of the TV series, Gunsmoke. The cast is filled with western show stars and the whole thing takes place in the very un-San Francisco- like culture of the Rodeo circuit.
A cowboy (who likes to take a shot of strong alcohol before a bull ride - wth???) doesn't finish his bull ride and, instead, the bull finishes him. Apparently though, the rope the bull riders use during the dangerous sport was sliced almost all the way through - manually and intentionally - and this led to the riders untimely death thus bringing in the heroes of the streets, Mike Stone and Steve Keller to solve the crime and bring to justice a bad guy before the dead cowboys' father uses a rope and a tall tree somewhere for a good ol fashioned hangin.
It's interesting enough to note with only a few episodes left in the second season TSOSF is already having a hard time with sufficient stories about crimes on the streets and therefore they venture into scenarios which are mostly outside their purview. The last episode involved the world of firefighters and arson. This episode involves the entirely off-the-streets world of the rodeo. So Stone and Keller go with guns on their hips into the world of sawdust, cowboy hats, hard drinkin women and honkey tonk lovers.
*The cast for this episode has iconic actors very familiar with the landscape of the rodeo and cowboys:
+Noah Beery Jr. (Jim Rockford's dad from the Rockford Files TV show starring James Garner) plays a rodeo clown who didn't quite move fast enough when the bull rider hit the dust.
+Sam Elliott brings his deep voice, southern twang and huge belt buckle into the arena. He plays the dead bull riders brother and sometimes lothario to his brothers wife.
+Lane Bradbury brings her southern accent, beautiful long red hair and horse riding skills to the rodeo - she plays the dead mans wife.
+Jim Davis brings one of the most distinctive voices in all of Hollywood and his countless movies and TV shows where he's a southern guy with a southern drawl into the episode as the dead riders father. Jim starred for years as the patriarch in the Dallas TV show and was in a few movie westerns including at least 5 films with the king of cowboys, John Wayne.
+Harry Carey Jr. Is about one of the most distinctive cowboy actors this side of the Rio Grande. His countiess movie and TV show credits are rampant with cowboys, six shooters, horses and ranches. He was born on his parents 1000 acre ranch and the lifestyle never left him. He worked with the godfather director of westerns, John Ford and with the King of the Cowboys, John Wayne on several projects and films.
*The cast, writers and rodeo venue of this episode are almost the story itself. This easily could have been a 2 hour movie and it's really a shame they made only a 50 minute episode when they had assembled a cast and a script such as this one. The lack of time to develop the story in a longer format led to, I believe, an astoundingly weak and uninspired ending.
Final Grade: B.
The Streets of San Francisco: Inferno (1974)
An Arsonist Is On The Loose In San Francisco And It's Up To Stone And Keller To Catch Him
1- VIEWERS CHECK THIS OUT...........
*Two of the guest stars play a father and son with a business partnership. Marty Wallach (played by long-time character actor Barry Sullivan) is the dad and his son, Paul (played by Glenn Corbett), has run into gambling and extensive debt problems. Paul's wife (played by Katherine Justice) is pregnant with their first child. Paul is having a horrible time being hunted down by bookies for the gambling debts he has built up. The arsonist (played by Lithuanian actor Kaz Garas) Paul has hired to take down the warehouse he and his father own, is being wanted for murder and wants to get out of town as soon as possible. The fire the arsonist started for Paul resulted in the death of two fire fighters - one of them a friend of Mike Stone.
If this sounds like a tangled web, it actually is. The interviews conducted by Stone and Keller result in the viewer being briefed and educated on arson and the insurance connection. The actor John Larch plays another firefighter friend of Stone. Larch was very popular on TV as the dad of Gidget with Sally Field.
Corbett does not play a sniveling, whimpering, gambling addicted guy who has devastated his daddy with his gambling and arson-ing ways very well. Corbett co-starred in several Hollywood western films (with Jimmy Stewart and at least 3 with John Wayne). This part on TSOSF was not really a good work of casting for the very tough-looking and macho Corbett. When his father goes off on him and yells at him on how angry he is, Paul (Corbett) stands with slumped shoulders and furrowed brow and a whiny defensive tone.
Sullivan plays the disappointed father very convincingly. He will do anything for his son.....maybe this has been part of the problem? Sullivan was well-known in Hollywood for his starring and co-starring roles. He is one of the few Hollywood actors with stars on the walk of fame for movies and television.
There is an awkward scene at approximately 39:45 where Keller is trapped under some porn magazines with a fire beginning to consume the warehouse he is in. He calls out to Stone for rescue and it just feels awkwardly played and staged.
In Act IV, the episode wraps up with a chase, gun shots and fisticuffs jammed in to make it a whirl of a finish.
Final Grade: B.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Shadowplay (1994)
3 Subplots and All Are Superbly Written, Acted and Directed
1- VIEWERS CHECK THIS OUT..............
*HILARIOUS!....................
The opening 2 minutes of this episode between Dax and Odo is so funny I literally was laughing out loud. The non-verbal expressions by Odo are hilarious. Dax gives in to her feminine side and Odo is beside himself! As an aside: I wonder if Odo could really BE beside himself?
*AWAY TO THE WINDOW I FLEW LIKE A FLASH......
At approximately 9:00 Colyus the village Protector (played by excellent character actor Kenneth Mars) is questioning Dax and Odo about the 22 individuals who have gone missing from his village. Colyus is frustrated because he has no clues as to why so many people would just be gone without a trace. BTW: What is the deal with the wood ball decorations circling Colyus' head? He almost looks like he could be the dad in The Night Before Christmas - going to bed for a long winters nap in his nightcap.....(or something like that).
*I DIG YOU BUT I HAVE TO GO AND PRETEND TO DIG HIM - NO WONDER ACTORS HAVE HORRIBLE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS...........
Major Kira (Nana Visitor) and Doc Bashir (Alexander Siddig) are talking (14:27) about keeping a close eye on Quark while Odo is off with Dax. I noticed in the few moments Bashir and Kira are talking with one another there is real chemistry sparkling between them. I also remembered that Visitor and Siddig were dating and married (1997-2001) and actually had a son together. It is a little ironic Kira cuts off her conversation with the Doc to run to a docking station to meet her infatuation - Vedek Bareil (played by Philip Anglim). Leaving someone she was truly infatuated with to go to meet someone she pretends to be infatuated with.
*IF YOU COULD ASK A SHAPE SHIFTER ANYTHING YOU WANT.............
11-year-old actress Noley Thornton (She played the little girl, "Clara" who had an imaginary friend on the Enterprise in The Next Generation) plays the girl Taya and becomes a fast friend of Odo while he and Dax are in the village. Odo originally questioned Taya in relation to her mom being one of those missing but as he and the girl converse the walls come down and they become friends. I think the main reason they become friends is because of her pointed and unusually personal questions to Odo about his personal and private life. Kids tend to sometimes be like that. They cut through all of the walls and fluff we adults put in conversations to protect ourselves from personal revelations. "Can you change into whatever you want?" Were you parents changelings too?"
*WHAT IS REALLY REAL???...........
At approximately 37:00 a cosmic principle discussion begins. The whole "what is real?" discussion which has been dealt with on TNG with the Data question and other episodes. This is almost a laughable debate or discussion. Is a hologram real? The really sad part of the story is when the old man - the grandfather - asks Odo and Dax to take him back to his really real planet - he is talked out of it to hang out with a bunch of computer images. This is disturbing and ethically troubling. If I think something is real - does it make it really real? This is where we all start losing the foundation for reality and moral absolutes. If I delete a character in a hologram have I committed murder? Geeminny Christmas.
2- Final Thoughts and Reflective Analysis and Final Grade............
*A supreme ethical question remains after this episode is long over. What makes something real?
This is the cool thing about a lot of Star Trek episodes. They intentionally make you wonder and question and inquire.
This episode had 3 subplots and each were compelling and interesting in their own right. The acting, writing and presenting of the stories were done in an excellent way. We definitely learned more about the characters involved and the development of the characters seems to be on a growing phase - kudos to the writers.
Final Grade: A-
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Paradise (1994)
Sisko and O'Brien Run Into One of Star Treks Most Devious Villains
1- VIEWERS CHECK THIS OUT.........................
*DANG PLOT HOLES. VERY ANNOYING AAARRRGGG!
At the very beginning of the episode O'Brien and Sisko are out in the Gamma Quadrant on a mission for Starfleet looking for M class planets with the possibility of colonization. O'Brien tells Sisko that sensors are picking up human lifeforms on a planet close to their location. What follows are two logical fallacies which set the stage for the entire episode:
A: Sisko and O'Brien beam onto the planet knowing there are strange sensor readings. They beam down leaving their runabout completely unmanned. When they get to the planet, Sisko is disturbed by the sensor readings and immediately suggests they beam back onto the runabout. As he tries to contact the craft those weird sensor readings also prohibit him and O'Brien from contacting their computer -which means they can't beam back onto their only lifeline in space.
B-What about the freaking Prime Directive? Why are some Star Trek movies and episodes almost cult-like in their worship of the PD yet in this episode Sisko and O'Brien beam down in full contemporary (25th century) garb and equipment knowing only they are about to encounter a humanoid population and not knowing, at all, where this population is in societal evolution or human progression???
Why is it that Star Trek series can be so progressive and in pop culture - almost an icon of forward thinking but can't, sometimes, get plot holes out of their way fast enough?
*I CAN'T HELP IT, THE SIMILARITIES ARE UNCANNY!
The actor who plays Joseph (Steve Vinovich) and the actress who plays Alixus (Gail Strickland) remind me of The Skipper from Gilligan's Island and Hillary Clinton from my political nightmares, respectfully. The way Joseph talks I expect him to say, "What do you think little buddy?" at any second. The way Alixus talks I expect her to be condescending and pretentious with whomever she is speaking to.
*SISKO IS NO CAPTAIN KIRK.........
At 21:14 Sisko does what Captain Kirk NEVER would have done: Resist the charms of an attractive lady (Cassandra played by Julie Nickson) who was coming onto him. Lol.
2- Final Reflective Analysis and Final Grade:
*Interesting episode. How easily people are misled and taken advantage of is one take-away from this story. Down through history there have been those who are usually type A personalities who are strong willed and have passionate beliefs. Sometimes those beliefs are wrong, societally not accepted or border on the insane. Yet if the person has a strong enough personality and strength of will, they can usually find a vulnerable person or two they can overcome. The end of this episode shows how good people can be deceived and sometimes even when the deception is uncovered the vulnerable will go along with the deception as a new reality. This is a sad fact of human nature. Alixus has abused for so long that the abused individuals actually end up finding solace in the perimeters of consistency the abuse created.
Final Grade: B-
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Whispers (1994)
Chief O'Brien Discovers a DS9 Conspiracy and he Tries to Expose and Overcome the Infiltrators
1- VIEWERS CHECK THIS OUT!.......................
*CHIEF O'BRIEN AND HIS IRISH TEMPER..............
One of Chief O'Brien's most endearing qualities is when he gets testy or annoyed and begins losing that Irish temper of his. At 12:25 he is in Bashir's office for a "mandatory and routine" physical. He mentions getting poked into every "orifice" of his body. The doc asks several physical-type questions of the chief. "Have you been eating right? Do you get enough sleep at night? Have you been feeling depressed? Have you been having feelings of euphoria?" With the last....the chief goes off, "EUPHORIA! That's what I've been feeling - lots and lots of euphoria! (sarcasm dripping off his tongue)". When the chief goes over the top with sarcasm it always makes me laugh out loud!
*TIME MARCHES ON.......
As the series progressed through its' 7 seasons it was fascinating to watch the youngsters mature physically and in general. When Cirroc Lofton (Jake Sisko) calls out to the chief and walks next to him (14:17) through the promenade, it is startling how much Lofton has grown from a little boy viewers were introduced to 2-years earlier to the young man now on the screen.
*I LOVE THESE TYPE OF STORIES IN TREK LORE....
As this episode unfurls I realize the plot and story are similar to other Trek episodes in different settings and shows. I also realize this story line is one I REALLY enjoy as a Trek fan. I'm not sure why but these type of stories always have my full and undivided attention and I'm especially intrigued how the protagonist finds out what is going on by the end. These are excellent story-telling scenarios and it allows for character development like few other stories can offer. As a viewer you realize the issue must be resolved but how the writing and actors get you there is what make these particular stories favorites of mine. Do you notice how many times I used the word "story" in my analysis? We love "stories" don't we? As children we beg our parents to read us bed-time stories. We beg our grandparents to tell us stories both real and made up. In school we enjoy the story time part of the day and often Lit class is the most interesting and favorite class of the day for high schoolers. As adults we beg or insist on creative institutions (Disney, Paramount, Fox, etc) to create and develop good stories. We are willing to pay to go watch stories in movie cinema and stage productions. I believe our love of stories follows us from the time we are barely able to understand the language we speak to the last days of our existence on earth. Fascinating isn't it??? Tell me a story!
*CREEPY ALERT!
At 16:30 of this episode is when we find out something creepy is going on. Check it out! What was a tingling up our spine, until this point, becomes a full on alert in our mind and body! Something just isn't right on DS9 baby!
*IF WE HAD NO VOCAL CHORDS......
When Colm Meaney (Chief O'Brien) does his acting schtick, he is VERY expressive with his facial expressions. Some actors are distinct with their vocal inflections (Avery Brooks as Sisko and Rene Auberjonois as Odo), some with their physical presence and movement on screen (Nana Visitor as Major Kira and Armin Shimerman as Quark). With Meaney it is all about his facial expressions. Take a look at 17:30 when O'Brien responds to a Kira question. Watch the interaction with just the voices saying the dialogue and then re-watch the moment without sound and just watching Meaney's face and expressions. COOL, isn't it?
*GRABBING AND JERKING QUARK AROUND BY THE NECK SEEMS LIKE SPACE STATION RECREATION.........
I wonder if Quark ever gets tired of people grabbing him around the neck area? He should start charging for the opportunity! It seems like he is always being grabbed or thrown from around the neck. Kira, Odo, Sisko and O'Brien have all been the perpetrators of doing this to him - not to mention the plethora of guest stars who have done this as well. At 29:38 O'Brien becomes the most recent person to assault the lovable pirate.
2- Final Reflective Analysis and Final Grade:
*As I stated before, I love these types of stories. I had seen enough of this genre to realize what was going on with about 15 minutes left in the episode. The only negative I can expound on for "Whispers" is the rushed ending. With only 2-3 minutes left in the episode Kira and Sisko rush through a few lines of dialogue in the script to brief the audience (through the characters in the scene) on what has happened. Other than this minor complaint, "Whispers" is one of my favorites for the first two seasons. The closing concern displayed by the "replicant" is touching and fairly unexpected and surprising. As with the previous episode, there is certainly food for thought and discussion with those who care about this science fiction principle (replicants and their use) which, in our modern era of science and medicine, may not be entirely science fiction any longer.
Final Grade: A-
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Armageddon Game (1994)
Doctor Bashir and Chief O'Brien assist two planets, engaged in war, destroy their biological and chemical weapons.
1- VIEWERS CHECK THIS OUT!..................
*THANK GOODNESS FOR THAT STARFLEET HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT TRAINING........
When the lab Dr. Bashir and Chief O'Brien are in is attacked by two gunmen (7:27), O'Brien disarms one of the gunmen (and by so doing, saves Bashir) and the doc disarms the other.
*HAVING EACH OTHER'S BACK CAUSES CASUAL ACQUAINTANCES TO BECOME FAST FRIENDS.....
As O'Brien and Bashir relocate to the planet to escape the assassins on the space station above, they begin to talk to one another about the deeper things in life (17:28). They begin to discuss what it means to fall in love and to get married. This time together on the planet's surface, hiding for their lives and awaiting rescue is a pivotal point in the relationship of the two characters. From this moment on they will remain the best of friends.
*The crew on DS9 are notified by emissaries from the space station that O'Brien and Bashir have perished. However, they are told a lie that O'Brien made a mistake and set off a security laser that killed everyone on the station - vaporizing everyone without a trace. Meanwhile, O'Brien and Bashir are struggling to survive on the surface of the planet.
2- Final Reflective Analysis and Final Grade:
*The character development of Bashir and O'Brien take massive leaps forward with this episode. Keiko, O'Brien's wife has an interesting role in this episode as well. The pacing is swift and the action non-stop. A question of Cosmic Ethics is raised: Is it ok or prudent to murder a small number of people for the greater good. The communist party in 1917 created the "Dialectic: Performing a variety of unsavory tasks (allowing people to starve, children to die) to accomplish the greater good for the greater number of people." In the wrath of Khan when Spock sacrifices his life to save the Enterprise crew from destruction he quotes a paraphrase of this concept: "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few" - or the one in his case. Representatives from both planets are willing to murder their own people (and in turn people from DS9) in order that those who knew the chemical warfare recipe would all be dead so the remainder of both worlds could live in peace. These ethical viewpoints have been debated, argued and applied down through the 20th century and beyond.
Final Grade: B.
The Streets of San Francisco: A String of Puppets (1974)
Powerful People Should Wear Their Power Lightly
1- VIEWERS CHECK THIS OUT.....................
*I WOULD RATHER BE IN HAWAII WITH TOM SELLECK!!!
19:53 Roger Mosley appears as a car wash attendant. He only has a few lines of dialogue and he doesn't last an entire scene before tragedy strikes. Mosley would go on to co-star for 8 seasons as T. C. on the original Magnum P. I. with Tom Selleck. In this episode of TSOSF check out Mosley's afro and his nose ring capturing the 70's vibe.
*MICHAEL DOUGLAS WEARS A PERM AND TRIES OUT FOR LOLA FALANA'S JAZZ BAND!
Michael Douglas dons a tweed wool hat, grows a thick mustache and gets his hair all curled in a permanent style to go undercover to root out corruption in the probation office. Every time he is on the screen I try to contain my laughter. When he tries out for Lola Falana's jazz band by playing the trumpet, I was not expecting the result at all!
*HERE COMES AKINS! GET OUT OF SIGHT!
At 47:01 when Bob Mason (Claude Akins) pulls up to Lola Falana's apartment you can see at least 3 members of the film crew in the reflection of the door try to duck out of the camera's view.
*POLICE OFFICERS IN REAL LIFE HATE THIS SCENE....
At 49:12 one of the worst "creative license" moves that Hollywood has used down through the years is when the bad guy has a hostage or otherwise has what appears to be upper hand and he tells the police officers on the scene to drop their guns. This would never happen in the real world as officers are trained to never drop their weapons or give up their guns under ANY circumstances. The twisted aspect of this particular scene is 5 officers (including Keller) simultaneously drop their guns on the ground. If it wasn't such a distortion of the real world it would be absolutely hilarious to see 5 police officers disarm so quickly and easily.
*STONE ATTEMPTS TO DO THE BLM SYMBOL WITH HIS FIST......
At 50:54 Roger Mosley gives Karl Malden the "solid" symbol - one fist raised in the air - for helping him out. When Mosley says, "thanks", Stone (Malden) does the symbol (makes an attempt anyway) and says, "What's with this thanks?" The solidarity symbol Mosley and Malden used has been adopted by BLM as part of their logo.
2- A One Sentence Plot Synopsis:
*A corrupt parole officer uses his authority to put together a jewel heist team to make several scores.
3- Final Reflective Analysis and Final Grade:
*This is a well-thought-out and acted episode. The director of this episode (Richard Donner) goes on to make a mark for himself in Hollywood directing big budget action movies. There are several good guest star performances but the one who stood out above the rest is Lola Falana. Not only can she sing (which she does a couple of times in the episode) but she can act as well.
Final Grade: A-
The Streets of San Francisco: Crossfire (1974)
Hell Hath No Fury Like A Woman Scorned.........
1- VIEWERS CHECK THIS OUT......................
*LOOK! IT'S KARL MALDEN!!!..................
At 3:48 a sniper on top of a roof at a local college (University of San Francisco) has taken several shots into students walking on the campus below. One of the shots grazes a young lady and Stone goes to her aid. Keller, using a long rifle, runs into the building where the sniper is located. When Stone leaves the girl with other officers he runs toward the building Keller has entered. As he does several students (4-5 deep) presumably there to watch the filming, watch Karl Malden run by. As the actor runs by the group several students can be seen with ear-to-ear smiles.
*At 4:42, Stone exits the building and begins to run where he hears other shots fired. There are several students running in front of him (extras for the production) but as he clears the building and begins to run across the yard another group of students can be seen on the right side of the screen standing and watching the action/filming.
*THE ENTERTAINMENT WORLD IN THE 1970'S FELT COMPELLED TO DEAL WITH THE WAR IN SOUTHEAST ASIA...........
The Vietnam War and the effect it had on those who were a part of it had a huge impact on the TV stories in the 1970's. Nick Nolte has a small part as a Marine captain coming home injured from the war. In real life Nolte had a criminal record and was prohibited from serving in the war when a lot of his friends were drafted. He has stated in interviews he felt incomplete as a young man in the 1960's because he didn't serve in Vietnam.
2- A One Sentence Plot Synopsis:
*A college professors wife is tired of being powerless in her husband's never-ending pursuit of young women.
3- Final Reflective Analysis and Final Grade:
*This episode of TSOSF makes use of a clever enough script to delve into some of the issues affecting people impacted by the war in Vietnam. There are times, however, when Malden and Douglas seem uninterested in the plot and appears as if they are going through the motions of completing scene after scene just to get it over with. Their performances are uninspired and seem to just trickle out with the dialogue they are required to deliver. Celeste Holm, in contrast, does a pretty good job of bringing gravitas to the cast and she plays the scorned woman very well. With a crazy man on roof tops sniping at students and faculty you would think the script wouldn't call for Stone and Keller to banter about pizza toppings and (right after leaving the scene of the college professor being killed) joking about who should go first out of their respective parking spots using two separate vehicles. "You go"....."No you go...." -smiling and gesturing playfully.... The music in the background brought a playful tone to the whole interchange. I was watching and thinking, "with? What am I seeing?"
Final Grade: C.
The Streets of San Francisco: Blockade (1974)
Psycho Rapist Makes Viewers Crave Justice
1- A One Sentence Plot Synopsis:
*A psycho rapist impacts the world around him with as much mayhem and violence as possible before he finally runs into Stone and Keller.
2- VIEWERS CHECK THIS OUT...................
*CHARLIE WON'T BE ABLE TO SAVE YOU THIS TIME.........
A very young (22) Cheryl Ladd is in the beginning of the first act. She doesn't last very long and sets the stage for the ruthless psycho on the loose and terrorizing San Francisco. She would do far better 3 years from the airing of this episode when she replaces Farrah Fawcett on Charlie's Angels.
*SEEMS SO LONG AGO...........
At 7:45 Russell (Charles Martin Smith) is listening to the news on the radio. Part of the newscast mentions 5 English soldiers had requested and received Swedish immigration permission after they deserted their unit in the controversy over Englands fight against Northern Ireland.
*STONE GIVES KELLER THE STARE-DOWN.......
48:15 - Every time Keller is involved in a shooting, Stone fixates on him to clear the scene. I guess the directors are trying to show a paternal attitude or something along those lines? Notice the consternation on Stone's face as the scene (end of Act 4) goes to black. If there is another adjective to describe Stone's intensity - please feel free to disagree with me. I wonder if he will be doing the same thing through all of the seasons or will he evolve away from this? In the epilogue, Stone explains his concern in a little more detail. Keller is the kind of officer that when he uses violence against violent people, wears the emotion heavily. No rationale acts as a panacea for doing what he, by necessity, does as part of the job.
*SAN FRANCISCO MOTORCYCLE OFFICER SECURES THE STREET SO THE SCENE CAN BE FILMED.........
At 50:21 as Stone and Keller leave the scene in their green Ford, a motorcycle cop (a real one) is positioned at the end of a street to (probably) deter traffic from entering the scene. When Keller and Stone begin to drive down the hill, the motorcycle officer clears his post.
3- Final Reflective Analysis and Final Grade:
*This episode is disturbing for its' realism. It is truly tragic we have people in our society who act the way the "bad guys" in this episode act. As parents, we constantly are on guard against the individuals who would choose to act this way toward the innocent in our society. This episode is painful to watch and tragic for the pretend lives who represent the real lives of people who have been forever impacted by horrible people such as these.
Final Grade: B.
The Streets of San Francisco: Chapel of the Damned (1974)
The First 3 Acts Are Great But Act 4 Makes The Whole Thing A Stinker
1- One Sentence Plot Synopsis........
*A young lady is kidnapped and the girls mom trusts her psychic leader just as much as Stone and Keller in bringing her daughter home safely.
2- VIEWERS CHECK IT OUT..........
*BUT MOM - I'M THE STAR- YOU ARE THE GUEST STAR..........
Dianna Douglas is the real life mom of Michael Douglas (Inspector Steve Keller). Michael's mom and dad (actor Kirk Douglas) were divorced in 1951. Dianna was in her early 50's when she did this episode. She died in 2015 at the age of 92.
When Dianna and Michael share the same scenes it is a bit disconcerting because Michael favors his mom genetically and it is obvious to even a casual viewer they are closely related and very close in appearance!
*GOOD COP - BAD COP
At approximately 12:10 Stone and Keller engage in a bit of good cop - bad cop to get information out of a suspect. In 2021, this is a well known police charade used to give the suspect the impression one of the officers is a loose cannon and one is empathetic and caring, etc. The "good cop" will save you from the "bad cop" if you open up and tell him what you know. In the beginning of 1974 this police interview tactic was still mostly unknown but with the avalanche of police procedural shows on every network in prime time during the 70's & 80's the general public quickly became aware. When Stone & Keller do their interrogation- it is still a relatively fresh approach.
3- Final Reflective Analysis and Final Grade.........
* I hate when you watch a show all the way to the end and the writers don't just drop the ball - they lose the ball! Without giving away any spoilers, by the time Stone and Keller reach the airport (based on clues, etc) the story and the resolution is a convoluted mess! The actions of the police officers at the airport are very unrealistic. In fact, I would suggest you don't have anything next to you that you would be tempted to throw in frustration.
Final Grade: C.