From: petersm@jacobs.CS.ORST.EDU (Marguerite Petersen)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.current
Subject: Re: *** Spoiler Comments *** on "Emissary"
Date: 8 Jan 93 22:06:38 GMT
Article-I.D.: leela.1iktteINN7s7
Organization: Computer Science Outreach Services - Oregon State University
NNTP-Posting-Host: jacobs.cs.orst.edu

In article <1993Jan07.203340.10410@eng.umd.edu> wombat@eng.umd.edu (Jose Gonzalez) writes:
>What, *another* review?  Ack! (-:

No problem.  The more the merrier.  :-)

>
>*** Spoilers ***

>
>Well, that was pretty darn fantastic.  Although "Emissary" wasn't perfect,
>DS9 is ripe with potential.

I *definitely* agree!!

>
>Considering I've seen the premiere in its entirety four times, for various
>reasons, and I'm *still* enjoying it, says something to me.  Wow. 

I've seen it 3 times so far and it just gets better, IMHO.

>Some Random Comments:
>
>- The story was very solid, although the second half was faster-paced and
>better than the first.  The best part by far were the bits inside the
>wormhole with Sisko.  Both the acting and directing were extraordinary here.
>The battle with the Cardassians was by the numbers but it was really 
>entertaining.  

I thought the part inside the wormhole was a *bit* long, however if they
had made it shorter we might not have understood the point the entities
were trying to make.  i.e.  "Why do you exist *here*?", if indeed life
is linear, and Sisko's revelation that he was indeed living in the past
and not going forward.

>- There aren't a whole lot of words to describe just how amazing the 
>opening with the Borg was.  "Emissary" had, without a doubt, the *best*
>speical effects that I've ever seen on television.  The wormhole was
>amazing, and I know it cost them some bucks to use the same "morphing"
>technique we saw in T2.  The gold metallic look makes the effect even
>*more* gorgeous than it was there.  I hope they can maintain this quality
>in future episodes. 

Agreed.  I don't have to have space battles to make SF interesting to
me but *some* battles are necessary now and then and this was done well.

>- Believe it or not, the opening music is growing on me. (-:  Yeah, some
>elevator music is more exciting, but the theme is easy on the ears and
>it's got a kind of "heroic" quality to it.  I can live with it.  I definately
>wouldn't mind if if they added a voiceover to it, though.  I'm sure they
>could think of something appropiate as the piece of popcorn floats by. (-:

I like the opening music.  It has a somewhat *grand* sound to it without
being pretentious.  It also sounds somewhat mysterious which is certainly
revelant considering the position of the station.

Mistakes deleted.  

>
>Characters:
>
>
>- Commander Sisko: I forget who said this, forgive me, a prior reviewer put
>Avery Brooks' performance best:  He was very good overall, with some lapses
>and some flashes of brilliance.  Brooks had an incredibly difficult task here.
>Patrick Stewart didn't exactly have to stretch his range on "Encounter at 
>Farpoint," not so with Brooks here.  Brooks probably had little time to
>rehearse and find his character before he had to perform a script that called
>for a very *dynamic* character.  It did show a little.  I'd be interested
>to know what order the pilot was shot in, because the first beach scene where
>Sisko meets his wife seemed very forced and unnatural, and it was a little
>difficult to watch, frankly.  But that's the bad news.  The good news is that

This scene was indeed difficult to watch but I think that rather than it 
being "forced and unnatural" it was evidence of Sisko's shock at reliving
his past in such a *real* way.

>- Major Kira:  This was probably my least favorite character, simply because
>the character isn't anything new; the resentful character fighting for her
>people all her life, resentful of the Federation.  Ro, anyone?  For the most
>part I did enjoy Nana Visitor's performance, however, even if she did tend to
>go over the top a little.  The character isn't a bad one, (in fact the women
>I know who watch the show thought she was the best character), she's just
>not as interesting as the rest.  We'll see what "Past Prologue" does with her.

Of course, since the part was originally written for the *Ro* character it
seems reasonable that there would be many similarities.  I'm afraid I would
have to agree with your other women viewers, I *really* liked Major Kira.

>- Odo:  Rene Auberjonois (Rene from now on (-:) did a very nice job as Odo.
>I can tell I'm going to like this character.  He's the counterpart of Spock
>and Data for DS9, but he's not a clone of either.  He's not naive or 
>childlike.  Odo has a lot of potential, and it'll be fascinating to see where
>they take this character.  

I too think this character could be interesting.  

>- Lt. Jadzia Dax:  Dax, I think along with Odo will be the most interesting
>characters to watch develop.  Michael Piller has already said that Dax
>has changed the most in the first ten episodes from what she is now: serene
>and calm.  From what I gather, all these personalities of the bodies she's
>been co-habiting with are going to catch up with her.  There are some
>fascinating possibilities here.  Terry Farrel's performance didn't have any
>weaknesses, although there was nothing too challenging here for her.  Could she
>look a bit *more* like Brooke Shields, though?  At least she can act. (-:  

I agree.  I think this character is a nice counterpoint (her serenity) to
Major Kira's rashness.

>- Dr. Bashir:  Not to much to go on in the pilot.  Siddig El Fadil (Anyone
>know if his last name is "Fadil" or "El Fadil"?)  presents a likable,
>naive character who need a lot a guidance.  I really enjoyed Kira's "you
>can bring your federation medicine to the natives.  You'll find them a nice,
>simple folk."  He *was* being an idiot.  (-:  

Yes.  But a very charming and genuine one.  :-)

>- Chief O'Brien:  O'Brien probably suprised me the most in terms of the
>characters.  He's was an enjoyable character on TNG, but on DS9 he really
>comes *alive*.  Yeah, it was campy when he kicked the transporter to make
>it work, but boy, it's fun.  Colm Meaney can really strut his acting talents
>here.  He's very likable.  (It looks like his first big episode will be

I never really liked the O'Brien character on TNG but here he seems quite
interesting.

>- Quark:  Finally, an intelligent Ferengi who's *not* and idiot.  Nuff Said.
>Shimmeran did a great job.  

I agree.  Most of the Ferengi on TNG were just ridiculous.  Quark is an
interesting character.  He's on the station for his own profit, not as a
do-gooder or with a military agenda.  He makes a nice constrast to the
other characters.

>Overall, this was a great start, with parts of the first hour dragging just
>a bit, but not enough to substantially hurt the premiere.  Great job. 
>
>Grade: 9 (This show just *oozes* potential.)

I give it a 10 for a premiere episode.  I just hope they can continue to
keep up the good work and that they didn't put all their eggs in this one
basket.

>-- 
>Jose Gonzalez                
>
Marg

-- 
*************************************************************************
"Insufficient facts always invites danger, Captain."- Spock in Space Seed
	Marg Petersen	petersm@jacobs.cs.orst.edu
*************************************************************************
Xref: sparky rec.arts.startrek.current:23163 rec.arts.startrek:15130