Outstanding achievement, 3 Dec 2005

By	Chris Oldknow - See all my reviews

Best episodes:
The Way of a Warrior 1 & 2
Starship Down
Paradise Lost 1 & 2
Shattered Mirror
Hard Time

Excellent special features make this is a 100% must have.

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Trek: great; Paramount: not so great, 28 Oct 2003

The Way of the Warrior Parts I & II is a great beginning to the season; good plotline, the reintroduction and (thankful) enhancement of Worf's character, and some bold and satisfying battle-scenes. Episodes along this political/beat-em-up line are nicely balanced with more introspective episodes such as The Visitor - a heart-wrenching vignette-esque episode which strengthens emotional ties and ensures Jake Sisko never becomes a Wesley Crusher. Equally, both these types are nicely padded with episodes such as Little Green Men and Our Man Bashir - nice signs that Trek still has a sense of the comic, not to mention the self-ironic.

I still have some reservations about Rejoined, which is a second stab by the writers to 'deal' with the 'problem' of homosexuality. In comparison to TNG's The Outcast, it is far more maturely conceived. The only thing I take issue with is the fact that it is yet another lesbian kiss which, despite Paramount's insistence, is both more acceptable and, potentially, quite titilating for the audience. Something tells me they won't ever have a male kiss... However, the episode is not strictly about homosexuality, and as an episode it is very fine.

Talking of Paramount, the DVD extras are what really let their side down. Considering the self-honed, dedicated abilities of fans to produce websites, magazines and so forth, you would think that the professionals with access to all the material would produce something astounding. What they have done is, sadly, what they always seem to do - produce low-budget humdrum of little interest that, at times, implied that they've never actually watched Trek, let alone taken any interest in it. And this isn't just a case of sad-trekker-thinks-he-knows-best: I doubt any of this would be of interest to a passing viewer. Apart from some of the stuff on Worf, and the really good interview with Leeta (Chase Masterson[?]), I'd rather they hadn't bothered.

General verdict: a fantastic renewal of a slightly problematic series, great for trekkers, trekkies and normal people alike - but only watch the extras if you're REALLY bored.

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