From: cssam@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu (Scott Minor)
Subject: Re: Thoughts on Emissary *** SPOILERS ***
Organization: Educational Computing Network
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1993 00:05:23 GMT

prp@neb (Paul Peterson) writes:

>***WARNING***
>This post contains spoilers for Emissary, the 2-hour premiere of DS9.
>If you haven't seen it yet, be warned.
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>I watched Emissary last night and I thought it was excellent!   The
>way the characters and situations have been set up, there are plenty
>of real good potential stories based on the characters and situations
>we have seen.  Overall, I think I would give this episode a B+ or 
>maybe even an A-.  There are a few problems which I think still need
>to be worked out (see below), but in general I loved it and can't 
>wait for the next episode.
> 
>A few thoughts and observations about the episode:

	(Stuff deleted)
> 
>3)  How do the producers decide the order of billing on the credits?
>Obviously it is not in order of importance of the character to the
>story.  I was surprised to see the credits in the following order:
>     Avery Brooks as Commander Sisko
>     Rene Aberjonois as Odo
>     Siddig El Fadil as Dr. Bashir
>     Terry Farrell as Lt. Dax
>     Cirroc Lofton as Jake Sisko
>     Colm Meaney as Chief O'Brien
>     Armin Shimerman as Quark
>     Nana Visitor as Major Kira
>I would have expected Major Kira to get second billing and Jake Sisko
>to be last.  I know that in Hollywood billing order has led to many
>disputes and arguments between stars, producers and agents, and there
>must be some formula for working this out based on popularity, name
>recognition, etc., but it looks to me like they just drew the names
>out of a hat.
>



Actually this one I figured out fairly quickly and easily.   Avery
Brooks is "the star" i.e. he plays the lead character.  His name comes
first.     All others are simply listed alphabetically.



 
>4)  Dr. Bashir needs to grow up.  How did this self-centered little
>boy even make it through Star Fleet Academy, let alone graduate
>top in his class?  On one hand he falls all over himself and looks
>like a total idiot trying to get a date with Dax, and on the other
>hand he acts like God's gift to the primitive savages bringing his
>superior knowledge to this remote uncivilized outpost.  I predict
>there will be a lot of "Bashir-bashers" on the net unless his
>character is radically changed.
> 


AGREED!  Although, for some strange reason, I am fond of the character.
Perhaps it's because I remember Mr. El Fadil doing a wonderful acting
job in PBS's "Lawrence After Arabia" which aired several months ago.  I
do hope that the character of Dr. Bashir is "reformed" or at least toned
-down a little bit.

>-- 
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>email to: hellgate.utah.edu!cusa!prp
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>  Paul R. Peterson    |    which causes user input to be transformed into
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Scott A. Minor
cssam@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu