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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
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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great stuff
Review: John Colicos returns as Kor again to find "The Sword of Kahless". This season also contains "Rejoined"..the most controversial Star Trek episode ever. Worf from "Star Trek-The Next Generation" comes aboard.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great stuff
Review: John Colicos returns as Kor again to find "The Sword of Kahless". This season also contains "Rejoined"..the most controversial Star Trek episode ever. Worf from "Star Trek-The Next Generation" comes aboard.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Worf Factor
Review: Producers of Deep Space Nine felt that the show needed a lift. Ratings for the series were solid, but it didn't have the same "buzz" or excitement, as TNG or UPN's Voyager In order to woo TNG fans who had stayed away, Lt. Commander Worf (Michael Dorn) was called back for weekly duty.

As the fourth season opens, Captain Sisko (Avery Brooks) and his crew, try to combat the changeling/dominion threat. In the midst of this challenge, relations between the Klingons and the Federation are turned upside down. Treaties signed after The Undiscovered Country feature film, are declared null and void, so Sisko calls on the former Security Chief of the late Enterprise D to help out. With no where else to go, he reluctantly decides to stay aboard the station. I have to admit that at the time, while I like Worf very much, I didn't think having him around was necessary. DS9 wasn't broken. As the season rolled along though, Worf became a welcomed addition, and meshed quite nicely. The season also saw a new opening sequence, Dax (Terry Farrell) gets an off screen promotion, and 2 cast members (Nana Visitor and Alexander Siddig) began dating off camera. This becomes important in "Body Parts".

Some of my other favorite episodes: The Visitor, a wonderful father and son show, Little Green Men, when Quark (Armin Shimmerman)goes back in time; The Sword of Kahless, brings back Kor (John Colicos) who bonds with Worf; Homefront and Paradise Lost make up a great two parter, where we meet Sisko's father Joseph (Trek film vet Brock Peters) Sons of Mogh reunites Worf and his brother Kurn (Tony Todd last seen in TNG) Shattered Mirror takes us back to the Mirror Universe; Broken Link is another great season-ender.

The extras in the set are laid out the same way as they have been before. The featurette "Charting New Territory: Season Four" gives a good overview. As one might expect, Worf is focus of the set's crew dossier, and make up guru gives us a look at his team's work on the different aliens of the year. Series sketch artist John Eaves, lets us look at his pad, brimming with ideas, that became the look of year 4. Last but not least, the usual "Section 31" hidden files, contain a few gems. The extras may not seem as extensive on this set, as opposed to the other sets of the series, but what is there is put together well.

Another top flight season of DS9 that is not to be missed on DVD.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Incredibly Strong Season
Review: Season 4 of Deep Space Nine was a pivotal one in the show for many reasons. The Dominion takes a far more prominent role in the storytelling, which becomes far more sophisticated in this season. There is great character development across the board, including the addition of fan favorite Worf, which once again alters the show's dynamic. The season has it all: human drama, great space opera, and wonderful continuing storylines. Put simply, this is a complete season that just begins to show the show's full potential.

Worf's welcome to the show in "The Way of the Warrior" introduced the static between the Klingons and Federation that would last for a little more than a season. Several other klingon characters, including General Martok, were introduced here who, although they didn't factor in much here, would eventually become prominent players later on. The episode is one of the show's most action-packed, and it also carries on the tradition of the show having strong first episodes to start out the season. After this episode comes the emotionally-packed "The Visitor," which is, without a doubt, the most poignant episode of the show, perhaps of any show ever. Jake Sisko spends his whole life trying to find a way to bring his father back to life after Benjamin is killed in an engine room accident. Brilliant and provocative acting from Tony Todd as old Jake. After this strong start the show kicked into high gear. "Hippocratic Oath" explores the nature of the Jem'Hadar, "Starship Down" is a tribute to submarine movies, "Little Green Men" is the show's most tongue-in-cheek episode, which is as funny as it is provocative. The episode has Quark, Rom and Nog being stranded in Roswell circa 1947 after a time-travel accident. It is the most funny Star Trek experience since the fourth feature film. "Our Man Bashir" is a combination good, whimsical spy story and people-working-against-time-to-save-people story with some precious lines from Garak, a real spy. After he sees the opulent life of spies in 20th-century Earth, he comments, "All these years I've been working for the wrong government." Good stuff. There is a magnificent two-part episode, "Homefront" and "Paradise Lost", which explores the intricacies of Federation Politics, the Starfleet/Federation situation, and civil liberties. The episode features some powerful dialogue, as well as some intense fight scenes. "Bar Association" has Rom standing up to his brother and creating a union, "Rules of Engagement" makes Worf face his deep-seeded resentment against his race. Yet another trip to the mirror universe in "Shattered Mirror", Michael Eddington's defection in "For the Cause", and more encounters with the Dominion in "To The Death" and "Broken Link" round out this season with a final development that shows just how sophisticated the plot structure became.

As can be plainly seen, the season is replete with highlights. In fact, substandard episodes are few and far between. "Rejoined" is one such episode. An interesting concept foiled by improbable characterization, predictable plotting, and wholly unsatisfying storytelling. The show must have been filmed during sweeps, because the inevitable lesbian kiss is performed without any passion. Come on, people, Dax just isn't the impulsive, driven by hormones type. With all that wisdom she should have an evolved view on romance. Alas. "The Muse" also is hardly stellar, with trite plotting and yet another visit from Lwaxana Troi, who had already overstayed her welcome.

Although not perfect, one can see that the sub-standard episodes were becoming fewer and farther between by this time, and there was a much greater proportion of hits than misses than before. This season is an incredible dramatic accomplishment and sets up the extremely prodigious later seasons. This is a must-buy for all fans of dramatic achievement or science fiction.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: DS9-4
Review: Season 4

1) The Way of the Warrior - Klingons arrive at the station and want to take shore leave. Worf is called in to help.

2) The Visitor - Sisko is killed by a plasma leak from the warp core.

3) Hippocratic Oath - Bashir and O'Brien are captured by the Jem'Hadar and held prisoner.

4) Indiscretion - Kira and Dukat go together on a mission.

5) Rejoined - Dax is faced with a choice and must chose between the Trill society and one of her previous hosts.

6) Little Green Men - Quark, Nog and Rom travel back to Earth of 1947 in Roswell.

7) Starship Down - The Defiant get trapped in a planet's atmosphere after a battle with the Jem'Hadar.

8) The Sword of Kahless - Worf, Dax and a Klingon warrior setout and search of an artifact that they believe will unite the Klingon Empire.

9) Our Man Bashir - Bashir is a 1960s secret agent, in holosuite, and is the only one that can save his friends.

10) Home Front - Sisko and Odo travel to Earth and investigate a possible war between the Changelings and the Dominion.

11) Paradise Lost - Sisko and Odo discover that Starfleet plans to seize control of a planet.

12) Crossfire - Odo finds that his feelings for Kira are interfering with his work while trying to deal with [danger] to a station visitor.

13) Return To Grace - Kira is recruited by Dukat to help him regain is former status in the Cardassian Empire.

14) The Sons of Mogh - Worf's brother want him to [destroy] him, because of his dishonor.

15) The Bar Association - Rom organizes all of Quark's employees into a union and goes on strike.

16) Accession - After 200 years, a legendary Bajoran appears and w9uld like to see things return to the "old" ways.

17) Rules of Engagement - Worf goes on trial after destroying a Klingon ship carrying 400 civilians.

18) Hard Time - O'Brien is sentenced to prison for a crime he did not do.

19) Shattered Mirror - Sisko goes after Jake into an alternate universe.

20) The Muse - Jake falls under the spell of a mysterious woman.

21) For the Cause - Sisko learns that his girlfriend maybe a Maguis smuggler.

22) To the Death - In order to stop a bunch of renegades, Sisko must join forces with the Jem'Hadar.

23) The Quickening - Dr. Bashir attempts to save the Gamma Quadrant society from a terminal disease.

24) Body Parts - Quark sells off his body parts to pay off his debts.

25) Broken Link - Odo is put on "trial" for killing a Changelings.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Ahead -- Maximum Worf!
Review: Season four saw a lot of changes on Deep Space Nine, both in front of and behind the camera. The show underwent its first major cast change in the addition of Michael Dorn's Worf to the lineup, and the storyline accommodated this accordingly. The twists and turns delighted me, and I raced through this season quickly, eager to find out exactly what was going to happen next.

After the Dominion-related adventures of seasons two and three, one would expect season four to continue building up those storylines. But the writers and producers neatly subverted expectations by throwing the emphasis in other directions. While there certainly are some stories which keep hyping the threat of the Dominion, the bulk of the uber-story is focused upon what effect the Dominion has had on the Alpha Quadrant. We therefore see huge changes for the Cardassians, the Klingons and the Federation. The Dominion, the Jem'Hadar and the Founders do pop up from time to time, but they're kept to the shadows -- a menacing presence quietly trying to manipulate events for their own agenda.

Adding Worf to the cast was an interesting and successful evolution. I think what I enjoyed the most about it was the fact that after being thrown into the middle of this ongoing storyline at the beginning of the season, Worf doesn't immediately find himself at home. Given that this is Star Trek we're talking about, I was half expecting Worf to become "part of the family" within a couple of weeks. But he doesn't. In fact, he is continually irritated by this new crew, and is nostalgic for the calm ordered structure that existed on the Enterprise. By the middle of the season, he's become so fed up that he moves his living quarters onto the normally empty USS Defiant. It was great to see a new face on board the station, and it was satisfying to see the creators not violate the individual characters to ease the transition.

Although reviews of Deep Space Nine seasons will tend to talk about what big galaxy-shattering events were going on in that year, I would be neglectful if I didn't also praise the standout standalone episodes. Of particular note is "The Visitor", a story rightly hailed as one of the best of all Star Trek series. And "Little Green Men" is a hilarious romp concerning the real story behind Area 51; it was the Ferengi.

The extras on this DVD are focused towards the events of this season, and most of it concerns itself with how the addition of Worf to the cast affected things behind the scenes. The writing/producing crew explain how it changed the dynamics among the characters. Michael Dorn appears in a handful of interviews (taken from various points during the filming of the series and beyond) talking about how he enjoyed playing the character and what directions he wanted to go in. The producers also mention the freedom they had with Star Trek: The Next Generation being off the air, and Voyager set in a distant corner of the galaxy. Now the Federation, the Klingons and the Cardassians were theirs alone to play with. Also included among the extras is the requisite look at the special effects and the alien makeup featured during this year.

I feel like I'm getting into a rut describing these Deep Space Nine season box sets, but yet again we are left with a year that takes the show in bold new directions while also dropping plotlines to be developed later. I had gradually faded away from the show around this season when the episodes were originally airing, but I'm very glad that I have finally decided to get back into the show now through its release on DVD.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Ahead -- Maximum Worf!
Review: Season four saw a lot of changes on Deep Space Nine, both in front of and behind the camera. The show underwent its first major cast change in the addition of Michael Dorn's Worf to the lineup, and the storyline accommodated this accordingly. The twists and turns delighted me, and I raced through this season quickly, eager to find out exactly what was going to happen next.

After the Dominion-related adventures of seasons two and three, one would expect season four to continue building up those storylines. But the writers and producers neatly subverted expectations by throwing the emphasis in other directions. While there certainly are some stories which keep hyping the threat of the Dominion, the bulk of the uber-story is focused upon what effect the Dominion has had on the Alpha Quadrant. We therefore see huge changes for the Cardassians, the Klingons and the Federation. The Dominion, the Jem'Hadar and the Founders do pop up from time to time, but they're kept to the shadows -- a menacing presence quietly trying to manipulate events for their own agenda.

Adding Worf to the cast was an interesting and successful evolution. I think what I enjoyed the most about it was the fact that after being thrown into the middle of this ongoing storyline at the beginning of the season, Worf doesn't immediately find himself at home. Given that this is Star Trek we're talking about, I was half expecting Worf to become "part of the family" within a couple of weeks. But he doesn't. In fact, he is continually irritated by this new crew, and is nostalgic for the calm ordered structure that existed on the Enterprise. By the middle of the season, he's become so fed up that he moves his living quarters onto the normally empty USS Defiant. It was great to see a new face on board the station, and it was satisfying to see the creators not violate the individual characters to ease the transition.

Although reviews of Deep Space Nine seasons will tend to talk about what big galaxy-shattering events were going on in that year, I would be neglectful if I didn't also praise the standout standalone episodes. Of particular note is "The Visitor", a story rightly hailed as one of the best of all Star Trek series. And "Little Green Men" is a hilarious romp concerning the real story behind Area 51; it was the Ferengi.

The extras on this DVD are focused towards the events of this season, and most of it concerns itself with how the addition of Worf to the cast affected things behind the scenes. The writing/producing crew explain how it changed the dynamics among the characters. Michael Dorn appears in a handful of interviews (taken from various points during the filming of the series and beyond) talking about how he enjoyed playing the character and what directions he wanted to go in. The producers also mention the freedom they had with Star Trek: The Next Generation being off the air, and Voyager set in a distant corner of the galaxy. Now the Federation, the Klingons and the Cardassians were theirs alone to play with. Also included among the extras is the requisite look at the special effects and the alien makeup featured during this year.

I feel like I'm getting into a rut describing these Deep Space Nine season box sets, but yet again we are left with a year that takes the show in bold new directions while also dropping plotlines to be developed later. I had gradually faded away from the show around this season when the episodes were originally airing, but I'm very glad that I have finally decided to get back into the show now through its release on DVD.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great Season
Review: The fact that the Klingons and Worf most notably came back into the fold makes this worthwhile but the action did not stop with the Klingons. This season had many fine episodes, some dealing with the Dominion, the Bajorans, the Maquis, and some that were just funny. This was the season that also had The visitor, one of DS9's most acclaimed episodes.

Highlights:

Way of the Warrior: Worf comes to DS9 as relations with the Klingons erode. This had some of the best battle sequences and we see the stations weapons kick ass for the first time. It is almost interesting to note that this is where Dukat starts to look like he might be a good guy even though he is not.

The Visitor: A sad and very well recieved episode. Jake loses his Dad and tries his whole life to get him back. This was truly one of Avery's best performances. Tony Todd was also great.

Little Green Men: Quark, Rom, Nog and Odo, at Roswell, 1947. THis was just hilarious, especially when Quark, Rom and Nog were banging their heads to get the universal translators to work.

The Sword of Kahless: Kor, Worf and Dax go to the gamma quadrant to look for the lost sword. Not only do they have to battle Toral, but also each other.

Our Man Bashir: Dr. Bashir plays James Bond in the Hollow Suite. Then the characters take the form of his crewmates. Sisko as Dr. Noah is funny and crazy all in one.

Crossfire: Odo has feelings for Kira, but she gets involved with Shakaar. Anybody who has lived through adolescence should be able to relate to this story.

Return to Grace: Dukat is commanding a freighter after being disgraced, and plans to go after the Klingons, with a little help from Kira.

Sons of Mogh: Worf's brother Kurn is dishonored and wants Worf to kill him. Worf has to come to grips with the fact that he has lost his Klingon instincts and values.

Rules of Engagement: Worf is on trial for destroying a civilian transport. The Klingons want to extradite him and try him on the homeworld.

Shattered Mirror: Another Parallel Universe episode. The alliance under the command of Worf want to retake Terok Nor after loosing it to the human rebels. This was another episode with some great battle footage.

For the Cause: Michael Eddington defects to the Maquis. Cassidy Yates is a smuggler.

To the Death: The Federation and Dominion join forces to fight rebel Jem Hadar.

Broken Link: Odo is on trial for killing a changeling. The Dominion is found to be responsible for the hostilities between the Klingons and Federation.

These are not the only highlights. The whole season was a highlight. This was the second best season behind the sixth season, but these are my favorites from DS9 season 4.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: DS9 Season Four-No Deep Space Worf !!!
Review: The final ingredient that was needed in DS9,Worf becomes a member of the crew,and it will never be the same again.
Not only it was Starfleet's Klingon officer's introduction,but Way of the Warrior was DS9's most exciting episode(it's equivelent of TNG's Best Of Both Worlds),dealing with the Federation-Klingon Empire relation being strained and underminded by the Dominion,which concluded with the greatest battle scenes ever seen on televised Trek.
Sisko ,promoted to Captain in the previous season,finally emerges as a commanding presence,in part to his image makover including a bald head & goatee.
Many classic episodes including WOTW,The Visitor,Little Green Men,Our Man Bashir,Rejoined,The Sons Of Mogh,Bar Association,Hard Time,and Broken Link which concludes with a surprise ending for the season.
This is the season where the writers & producers realise that the show will never come close to being the success that TNG was,and decided to make the show something to be proud of.With that underdog clout,DS9 finally found it's footing and made it's place be known in the Star Trek Universe

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great viewing
Review: The fourth season of DS9 sees Worf returning to the Star Trek family. Overall this season is great, with only one mediocre episode (The Muse).

My favourite episode are (in no particular order):
- THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR (great double-length episode with plenty of action)
- THE VISITOR (the best episode of this season, if not the whole series, great acting from Tony Todd, Avery Brooks and Cirroc Lofton)
- INDISCRETION (any episode with Kira and Dukat is good)
- LITTLE GREEN MEN (the head-banging scene is hilarious)
- OUR MAN BASHIR (A brilliant, deliberately over-the-top episode with a great musical score. Watch out for Garak's comments!)
- CROSSFIRE (the second best episode of this season. René Auberjonois is brilliant in portraying a man torn between his duty and his feelings)
- RETURN TO GRACE (another great Kira/Dukat episode)
- SONS OF MOGH (a terrific episode with Tony Todd, this time as Worf's brother Kurn)
- RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (A courtroom drama. I love the way this was filmed, with the characters speaking directly into the camera)
- HARD TIME (extraordinary acting by Colm Meaney)
- SHATTERED MIRROR (another visit to the mirror-universe. The scenes with Garak and Worf are very funny)
- TO THE DEATH (introduces Weyoun, played by the great Jeffrey Combs)
- THE QUICKENING (Bashir is taken down a peg or two)
- BROKEN LINK (the ending makes you beg for more, more, more)

The special features are good, especially MICHAEL WESTMORE'S ALIENS. watch WORF''S CREW DOSSIER carefully and you will notice that Michael Dorn does not have the same build as Worf (in a behind the scenes clip you see him wearing padding on his chest, arms and back!).

If you are a DS9 fan you will already have bought this season. If you are not, buy it now and you will be amazed.


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