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Star Trek Deep Space Nine - The Complete Fourth Season

Star Trek Deep Space Nine - The Complete Fourth Season

List Price: $129.99
Your Price: $116.99
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Crossing over
Review: After three solid seasons, Star Trek Deep Space Nine truly became a landmark television series in the fourth season. The season premier two-parter: 'The Way of the Warrior' was as exciting as television action action gets, in addition to continuing DS9's signature 'sereial' storytelling style. Season highlights such as 'The Visitor' and 'The Quickening' are devistatingly emotional in their impact, and expamples of some of the finest drama television has to offer. The Dominion arc continues as the season takes a brief detour into the short lived Klingon war (hey, it was worth a shot, right?) and the show welcomed Michael Dorn's Worf into it's ranks of capable performers.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great, great season
Review: As a set, this season ranks highly not only against any other Star Trek season, but any other season of science fiction on TV. I think "The Visitor", "Hard Time" and "The Quickening" are in the top 5 episodes of all Star Trek. "Homefront" and "For the Cause" (and the absolutely brilliant root beer scene in "Way of the Warrior") bring complexity and conflict to the ideals of the Federation, which were not adequately examined before in DS9 (and totally unquestioned in TNG). "Indiscretion" and "Return to Grace" give tremendous depth and understanding to Ducat, one of my favorite characters. "Crossfire" does the same to Odo - I love how the terrorist plotline becomes less important as the episode sinks into Odo's turmoil, and it's anti-climactic ending becoming something of a surprise to the viewer (and Odo). Klingons tend to be very boring characters, but Worf shows some un-Klingon attributes by being both unprepared, but willing to learn from mistakes in "Rules of Engagement" and "Starship Down". Even the Ferengi and Dax episodes were good. I think there was only one sub-par episode ("The Muse").

Getting every season of every Star Trek series is expensive. For those that pick and choose, make sure this set is one you buy.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great, great season
Review: As a set, this season ranks highly not only against any other Star Trek season, but any other season of science fiction on TV. I think "The Visitor", "Hard Time" and "The Quickening" are in the top 5 episodes of all Star Trek. "Homefront" and "For the Cause" (and the absolutely brilliant root beer scene in "Way of the Warrior") bring complexity and conflict to the ideals of the Federation, which were not adequately examined before in DS9 (and totally unquestioned in TNG). "Indiscretion" and "Return to Grace" give tremendous depth and understanding to Ducat, one of my favorite characters. "Crossfire" does the same to Odo - I love how the terrorist plotline becomes less important as the episode sinks into Odo's turmoil, and it's anti-climactic ending becoming something of a surprise to the viewer (and Odo). Klingons tend to be very boring characters, but Worf shows some un-Klingon attributes by being both unprepared, but willing to learn from mistakes in "Rules of Engagement" and "Starship Down". Even the Ferengi and Dax episodes were good. I think there was only one sub-par episode ("The Muse").

Getting every season of every Star Trek series is expensive. For those that pick and choose, make sure this set is one you buy.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: DS9 Season Four - A season fit for a warrior!
Review: DS9's fourth season can arguably be titled the series best season! As the first three seasons easily proved that they could reach the entire range of emotions and touchstones from the various episodes; the fourth season proved that they could take an excellent series and make it even better.

Between the third and fourth seasons Paramount prompted the producers to "shake up the series" but didn't tell them how they wanted them to do it. This initially left them shaking their heads until they touched upon a quote from "The Die is Cast" in which a Changeling stated that in the future all they had to worry about was the Klingons and the Federation and that wouldn't be for much longer. As time would prove, this quote set them on the path to an outstanding story arc that would carry the series all the way through to the final episode of the seventh season.

The addition of Michael Dorn and his character Worf was pure brilliance. Of all of the STNG characters, his was the most beloved by a majority of the fans and despite the character feeling that he didn't fit in too well with those around him on the space station, he fit in perfectly!

One extremely important change is Sisko's promotion to Captain which should've happened previously. Also shaking up the series was the addition of a much more powerful defensive system on DS9 itself as the Klingons would soon find out in the season opener. We're also introduced to Martok, played brilliantly by J.G. Hertzler, which was unknown at the time but his character turned into to one of the most popular recurring characters of the series.

A brief synopsis of the more outstanding episodes, (Every episode of the season was outstanding but unfortunately there's a 1k word cutoff):

Way of the Warrior - In this extraordinarily exciting season opener the Klingons have decided that the Cardassian government has been taken over by Changelings and stage an invasion fleet at DS9. In order to help deal with the issue, Sisko sends for Worf, after all, who better to deal with Klingons than a Klingon. This episode was but the first of many huge space battles involving countless ships that the series produced so beautifully.

The Visitor - In this emotionally charged episode that is one of DS9's most popular episodes, Tony Todd guest stars as an older Jake Sisko that witnessed the death of his father! Captain Sisko would periodically show up for a few minutes leaving Jake to try and figure out how to get his father back!

Rejoined - Dubbed one of the series and Star Trek's most controversial episodes, this episode highlights what one would think would be a prominent thing among Trill, two symbionts who were previously married when they were with two different hosts. Directed admirably by Avery Brooks, this episode highlights what Star Trek is all about!

Little Green Men - In this hilarious Ferengi episode Quark's cousin Gaila has given him a shuttle and he decides to use it to take Nog to Starfleet Academy on Earth. Unbeknownst to him, the shuttle isn't exactly in the best working condition and an accident occurs. Quark, Rom and Nog wake up to find themselves in Roswell, New Mexico in the 1940's being interrogated by the military.

Our Man Bashir - This is the first of the exceptionally entertaining episodes where we visit Bashir in the holosuite as he's playing out his fantasy of being a 1960's spy for her majesty's government! Unfortunately for the rest of the crew, there's been an accident on a runabout and they've been integrated into the running program. Along for the fun is the real spy, Garak.

Homefront & Paradise Lost - Originally set to be the season three cliffhanger and season four opener, these pivotal episodes show exactly how much chaos the Founders can create when they blow up a conference on Earth, prompting a recall to Earth of Captain Sisko. We meet his father who had previously been intimated to have died.

Sons of Mogh - Tony Todd makes a return as Kurn, Worf's brother! Due to Worf's disgrace in the Empire, Kurn requests that Worf kill him which would make his death an honorable one.

Hard Time - This is a superb O'Brien episode as we see him deal with the after effect of being convicted of a crime on another planet and sentenced to twenty years in prison. He was hooked up to a machine and did these twenty years in his head in a relatively short period of time.

The Quickening - This is an extraordinary episode in which Bashir finds himself on a planet in the Gamma Quadrant that had defied the Dominion. As punishment, they've been suffering the "blight" for nearly two centuries. Bashir does everything he can to come up with a cure.

Broken Link - In this pivotal episode, Odo becomes sick and must be taken to Founders who seem to be the only ones who can save him. Upon arrival in Dominion space, the Founder leader shows up and tells him that his sickness was no accident and that he must come to their new homeworld to be judged for his crime of being the first Changeling to ever harm another. The conclusion of the episode is astonishing to say the least and sets up the fifth season beautifully as we learn that Chancellor Gowron has been replaced by a Changeling.

Special Features:

Charting New Territory: DS9 Season Four
Crew Dossier: Worf
Michael Westmore's Aliens: Season Four
DS9 Sketchbook: John Eaves
Photo Gallery
Ten "hidden" Section 31 files

Episode list:

The Way of the Warrior
The Visitor
Hippocratic Oath
Indiscretion
Rejoined
Starship Down
Little Green Men
The Sword of Kahless
Our Man Bashir
Homefront
Paradise Lost
Crossfire
Return to Grace
Sons of Mogh
Bar Association
Accession
Rules of Engagement
Hard Time
Shattered Mirror
The Muse
For the Cause
Tot the Death
The Quickening
Body Parts
Broken Link

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: excellent episodes, poor dvd quality
Review: First, I'd like to say I have at least two HUGE Star Trek fans in my household. Season 4 was when DS9 really came into it's own as a series. The stories were excellent, and the characters had finally rounded out. We own almost all of Next Generation and DS9 sets, and DS9 season 4 was especially good.

My review here has to do with the quality of the DVD itself.
I've recieved two different copies of the season 4 disk set from Amazon.com, and both of the disk sets have had defective disks.
One of the disks in season 4 was unplayable on two of my DVD players, and skipped badly in a third brand new top-of-the-line
third DVD player. I only mention this because both times I ordered DS9 season 4 from Amazon, I recieved a defective disk set. I was left to wonder exactly how many of their stock includes similarly defective disks...

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Deep Space Nine - Set on Stun
Review: First, let me make a small admission. I am not what you would call a Star Trek fan, or trekkie. I watched a little bit of the original show with Captain Kirk, and a few of the ones with Patrick Stewart, but had never seen any of the Deep Space Nine episodes. A colleague at the lab brought me the DVD of season 4 when he heard I had gotten a DVD player. I watched the tape, thinking I'd be mildly entertained. Well let me tell you, I was absolutely BLOWN AWAY!!!! The story-telling, the conflicts, the characters were some of the finest I have ever seen in any genre, not just space opera. I know my Star Trek reference set is limited, but I promise I've been watching as much of the episodes as I can. I've just about got my TiVo figured out, and when I do, I will be officially hooked. Having seen some episodes from earlier and later seasons now, I still find the overarching season 4 storyline to be the most engaging. Plus, I just really like the Klingons. Really great.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Did we REALLY need Klingons?
Review: I guess I'm one of the few people out there who think that Season Four was a strong season not because of the introduction of Worf and the Klingons, but in spite of it. I loved the intrigue of Bajoran politics and the fascinating developments with Odo's people and felt no deep need for the Klingon invasion. On the other hand, the folks at DS9 knew how to finally put the character of Worf to good use, as he made for some wonderful comic relief.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: It's On in season 4!!
Review: I may not know what a well-used sneaker smells like, and I may not know how to safely and competently operate a jig saw, and I may never know the touch of a woman, but I know this:

SEASON FOUR OF DEEP SPACE NINE IS THE GREATEST THING EVER.

Better than cactus guacamole on homemade chips of corn tortilla distinction.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Good Effect and Story line
Review: I've found that Deep Space Nine to have the best story line ever. Especially the "Dominion War". I have only manage to collect up to season 3. To bad my country has banned Season 4 because of violance. Hopefully theres someone out there who could help me bring it in to Singapore. contact me at "xeostyle@pacific.net.sg"

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Dominion, Klingons, Worf, oh my...
Review: It's all about ratings. And Paramount wanted them higher. So what do you do? Why, you bring one of the most popular characters ever in the Trek canon to help boost those sagging ratings. Will it work, or will it fail?

That was up to the fans...

While season three ended with idea that the Changelings were already in the Alpha Quadrant and possibly on Earth, it would nearly half way through the fourth year before these story threads would be picked up again.

It appeared, as the third season was coming to a close, Paramount was already thinking toward the fourth year and was in active -if secret - negotiations with Michael Dorn to bring one of the most popular characters on The Next Generation to Deep Space Nine. Once it was decided, the plot lines from "The Adversary" would be pushed aside and a new direction would have to take center stage.

With Worf now coming to DS9, the writers had to figure out how too not only get him on the station, but also keep him there. The writers hatched onto the idea that Klingons, long now the friends of the Federation, were growing restless due to pending invasion of the Dominion and Federations lack of action. Discourse was brewing and as Ben quoted his old friend Curzon Dax, the best people to deal with the Klingons, was a Klingon.

The two-hour opener, "The Way of the Warrior", reintroduced the Klingons as bad guys and series was off in a new direction. And that was a good thing.

Over all, the fourth season would see the series really grow stronger, building on what was delivered during the previous season. There was "Hippocratic Oath", the brilliant acted and directed episode "The Visitor", "Indiscretion", the controversial, same-sex kissing of "Rejoined", the cat mouse and mouse game of "Starship Down", the comedic "Little Green Men", the James Bond take off "Our Man Bashir", the paranoia two-parter "Homefront" and "Paradise Lost", the silly "Bar Association", the next chapter in the Mirror Universe saga, "Shattered Mirror" and another brilliant, if quiet season finale, "Broken Link".

Yes, there were a few stinkers, but overall, it was a strong season that would lead into an ever-stronger fifth, sixth and seventh year.

And once again, we are left with disturbing news. As Odo was being judged by his people for the actions in last season's "The Adversary", he believes that one of his own people -a Changeling -may be in command of the entire Klingon Empire; an Empire on the brink of war with the Federation...


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