From: wombat@eng.umd.edu (Jose Gonzalez)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.current
Subject: Re: *** Spoiler Comments *** on "Emissary"
Date: 10 Jan 93 17:01:00 GMT
Organization: Project GLUE, University of Maryland, College Park
Originator: wombat@coke.eng.umd.edu

In article <1iktteINN7s7@leela.CS.ORST.EDU> petersm@jacobs.CS.ORST.EDU (Marguerite Petersen) writes:
>In article <1993Jan07.203340.10410@eng.umd.edu> wombat@eng.umd.edu (Jose Gonzalez) writes:
>
>>
>>*** Spoilers ***

>>
>>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.

In some parts, yes.  I still *hate* that first beach scene with Sisco and 
his wife, however.  

>
>>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.

I've seen this complaint from a lot of people (my brother included, gotta
listen to family, you know (-:) about the wormhole part being to long, but
I just don't see it.  In my opinion, this was the best part of the entire
pilot.  I was riveted the entire time.  We don't often get this in depth 
with a personality of a major character on Star Trek.  It worked so well, the
minute the aliens asked, "Why do you exist here?" I knew exactly what they
meant.  (Even my brother admitted he liked these bits the second time
around.  Family.  Sheesh.)
 

>
>>- 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.

I happen to *love* space battles.  In this case, not only were the battle
scenes incredible, but we also had a strong connection to it through
Sisko's character.

>>- 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.

I think it will grow on people, although I'm not humming it in the shower,
yet, I must admit. (:

>
>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.

I got *some* of those feelings from Sisko, but not enough.  The average actor
who played Sisko's wife didn't help matters any.  Good thing she's dead. (:

>>- 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.

No surprise there.  I like Kira, she's just a bit cliched right now.  
Hopefully, the writing and acting of her will bring the character beyond
that.


-- 
Jose Gonzalez