Amid all this sturm und drang the writers felt it necessary to inject some levity. In fact, there was so much comedic sidetracking this year it actually seemed sometimes as if they were afraid of the series’ dark tone. Witness: Quark undergoing a temporary sex change, leading a Magnificent Seven-style band of Ferengi (with a cameo from Iggy Pop), Morn's non-speaking character being sorely missed, the blend of Troi and Guinan into 60's crooner Vic Fontaine and, in one fan favourite episode ("Far Beyond the Stars"), Sisko having visions of himself and the crew as 1950s staff writers on pulp magazine Incredible Tales. There were also cute reconciliations amongst Worf's extended family (leading to Trek's first cast wedding), and even the revelation of Bashir's genetically enhanced origins quickly became a subject for easy jokes.

Any of these events would have been satisfactorily cute if the war had ended and the show had moved on. But confusing the viewer, every so often the battle would be rejoined mid-episode. The clinching proof that no grand design was really at work was in the sudden and brutal dispatch of Dax. Actress Terry Farrell gave sufficient forewarning of having had enough of the show, but specifically asked not to be killed off. Despite all the jarring humour scattered about after the strong opening, the show seemed unable to avoid reverting to shock tactics for its finale. All of which hardly made the promised final year seem a particularly enticing prospect. --Paul Tonks

DVD Description
Episode:
A Time to Stand; Rocks and Shoals; Sons and Daughters; Behind the Lines; Favor the Bold; Sacrifice of Angels; You Are Cordially Invited; Resurrection; Statistical Probabilities; The Magnificent Ferengi; Waltz; Who Mourns for Morn?; One Little Ship; Far Beyond the Stars; Honor Among Thieves; Change of Heart; Wrongs Darker Than Death or Night; Inquisition; In the Pale Moonlight; His Way; The Reckoning; Valiant; Profit and Lace; Time's Orphan; The Sound of Her Voice; Tears of the Prophets.

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