#so we're back on ds9

[vaguely-concerned]

the way garak looks at bashir as he puts all the clues together at the end of cardassians. the sheer 'look at that little twink go (affectionate, sexual overtones)' energy he manages to convey in the background there as bashir passionately does the presentation of their group project that garak did 80% of the actual work on. immaculate

[youngpettyqueen]

I wish Julian and Martok would interact more cause I think they could have the funniest possible dynamic. they spent 5 weeks together in a Jem'Hadar prison I just know they have a friendship that looks fucking INSANE from the outside looking in

[simptasia]

mum wasn't much into DS9, she didnt like it when it was airing, and only really started to get into it in the later years of her life. she loved quark. but still, i'm glad she got to see "dr. bashir i presume?" before she died

and she loved it

[mellotronmkll]

This is not a new thought cos the whole autism allegory thing is all anyone talks about when it comes to data of star trek fame but it's so crazyyy how his whole thing is that he says he doesn't have emotions just because everyone has always told him he doesn't have emotions and because he doesn't have the ability to outwardly express emotions other than trying to mimick the way other people express their emotions and so that's just led him to convince himself he doesn't have emotions whole time he's feeling things deeply 😂 ummm it is just Crazy

[godgavemenoname]

im refraining from really posting about it until ive watched enough that i cant really be spoiled by fan content, but expect my blog to be overtaken by star trek sooner or later 👍🏻

[andyoullhearitagain]

Every Starfleet Uniform Ranked By How Annoying The Sleeve Is To Sew, Part 2

Part 1

6. TOS Men's Uniform:

Here we have 1. Quite a severe curve 2. with a zipper in it 3. an invisible zipper at that 4. with pattern matching through the zipper at the collar

5. in velour (slippery). Woof.

7. Disco:

OK we've got two points of pattern matching, but they don't have to be too precise because they've got this round shiny striped piece between them. Of course that piecing means we're basically setting a sleeve in twice, but I will concede that the stretch will be more forgiving than a woven would be. Add in the piecing on the bicep and two different sticky rubber-y fabrics for further difficulty. 

8. TNG Version 2B and Voyager:

All the work of a tailored sleeve with an added inverse corner in an intersection of four seams.

PLUS two points of pattern matching, which is very tricky in an armsyce because you're trying to get the pitch right. You can see in TNG they often have trouble with it and have either a jog in the pattern matching

or too much ease in the wrong place to force the pattern to match.

They seem to have figured it out by Voyager though. I'm also fairly certain they have raglan shoulder pads in them instead of regular ones, which isn't really harder I guess but is a bit odd (no shade, they're incredibly flattering).

9. DS9/ TNG Movies:

All the difficulties of the TNG armscye and now we've added trim, meaning we really have four points of pattern matching instead of two. I could be persuaded that the contrast pieces are applied over the upper sleeve piece instead of pieced, which is easier than what TNG is doing.

10. Enterprise:

I think this is regular raglan sleeve and not some kind of half raglan/half set in sleeve like we see in TNG. Either way it's a bit easier than the TNG sleeve because the trim and yoke are applied on top and top stitched. But we've still got that mitered corner in our bias trim and our four points of pattern matching on the shoulder seam. And then we've also added like four zippers!!!

11. Picard:

What did the stitchers do to this designer? FOUR inverse corners (I guess at least it doesn't intersect a seam this time) PLUS the piecing at the cuff, PLUS all the pattern matching at the armscye, and all in stretch (I think). The only reason it's not the most difficult sleeve is because it looks fairly flat and I bet if you do a nice tight hand baste you can get everything lined up on the first try. Also this is not strictly speaking part of the sleeve but those little corners in the yoke? Good grief.

12. TNG Version 2A:

Never in my life have I seen an armscye like this. What is this even called? How do you construct it? I suppose I would sew the sleeve pieces together, set them in the armscye, then sew the raglan/yoke pieces together at the shoulder seam and then stitch them all the way across the front and then all the way across the back. But good grief. The ONLY other sleeve I could find remotely like this is this 1940s Simplicity pattern (it's on ebay if you want it).

With a few added seams you can imagine what these pattern pieces must look like.

13. TNG Version 1:

All the malarkey of 2A except you've got to do it in spandex. I'd pick wool any day. We also have a second yoke (?!) so now we have to do that little inverse corner TWICE and also add piping. Never in my life have I done an intersection of piping correctly the first time.

And then on top of all that it's ugly. Terrible sewing experience. Worst sleeve in Star Trek *bangs gavel*.

[animentality]

the main reason ds9 isn't remembered as well as the original series or tng by the general populace is not just because it wasn't the very first trek or the most popular trek (tng's popularity was what really brought trek into the mainstream).

it was hated by Rick Berman, who was the head of the franchise at its height, and who deliberately spited it by never including its canon in other treks.

and that effect has lasted to this day, as modern writers who only bother to watch Star Trek movies never seem to remember ds9 even exists. the way the Pine-Quinto movies mention Archer and his beagle, and trek movies and shows make multiple references to TOS, and newer treks center entirely around tng plots or the Borg.

the way they brought back seven of nine before literally anyone on the cast of ds9.

there's a reason that the damn tng movies had a million references to Voyager, with Janeway and the EMH actually having cameos, but ds9 never even got a passing reference, even where it actually would've been appropriate.

Berman hated ds9 for its focus on serialization, i. e., connected storytelling, rather than syndication, i. e. episodic storytelling, because he was a money grubbing misogynist and homophobe, who thought all the money was in syndication. he hated the writers/other producers of ds9 for going behind his back and doing their damnedest to make quality star trek.

one of my favorite spiteful Berman stories is that in star trek first contact, the 2nd tng movie, he wanted to blow up the defiant and destroy it permanently, just for no reason at all.

and the ds9 writers were upset because no one had asked them about it. so they said you can destroy the defiant, but we're just gonna keep using the defiant and pretending it didn't blow up if you do.

which is why Worf asks Picard, in a completely thrown in line, what's the status of the defiant, and Picard says adrift, but salvageable.

and this particular movie is funny to me also because in that period, Worf is technically supposed to still be serving on ds9, and bringing him into the movie was basically justified as something of a side quest for him, being dragged off the station for a little tng romp.

so you see the crew of the defiant, but... again. Berman spite. rather than letting ANYONE on ds9 cameo in the first contact movie, even though that might've been cool... they just have some randos. one might be Adam Scott.

and remember that JANEWAY AND THE EMH are in that movie.

so berman deliberately wanted to spite ds9 by destroying the defiant, stealing worf (even making fun of him for his role on ds9 in another thrown in riker line) AND snub the entire crew of ds9 by having none of them anywhere in the movie, even though they COULD HAVE CAMEOED TOO, or at least been mentioned...

and to me that's pretty funny, because Rick Berman could have as many tantrums as he wanted behind closed doors, and hate the staff of ds9.

didn't make a difference. they'd still keep defying him, and you know...

not to be a total prick but... ds9 still has a thriving fanbase to this day. tng does too, and so does tos, and star trek in general is doing pretty well...

but out of all the old treks, ds9 has aged the best, not just in how it looks, but also in how it bridges the gap between, old world optimistic charm and more gritty, humanistic sci fi story telling.

it balanced syndication and serialization really well, and had great standalone episodes AND a fun connecting overarching narrative that made the world of star trek feel richer and more lived in. I also want to say that for modern audiences, who are accustomed to serialization more than syndication, ds9 is a far easier entry point into the world of star trek than any other trek.

Rick Berman can go fuck himself, is what I'm saying, in summation.

ds9 will stand the test of time.

and you know what?

both tng and voy succeeded in spite of Berman. not because of him. everything that makes those two shows work, is in defiance of the Roddenberry mandates that both Roddenberry and Berman constantly tried to uphold, even though it was to the detriment of the stories.

[space-morningstar]

In Star Trek almost all the captains after Kirk are paternal.

Janeway? She saw her crew and said "Yes, we're going to be together for 70 years, so I'm your mother until we get back to Earth" and then spends the whole series protecting her crew, swapping stories and spending time with them as a family.

Sisko? literally a father, he looks out for them, takes care of them, takes them to baseball games, they play on the holodeck and everything, Sisko adopted his crew even though he has a son already, so he's definitely the father of DS9.

Pike? HE IS THE DEFINITION OF DADDY I mean, he doesn't just make silly puns, he spends time with them every weekend, dude! he meets his crew for dinner as a family, he jokes with them, he sticks up for them over anything, he asks if everything is alright, he makes sure everyone feels good and comfortable, he is the father of the entreprise and everyone knows it.

And I'm not going to mention Archer because I'm not done with ENT yet, the point is that any of the captains will see someone slightly lost and say "That's it, I'm adopting you, you need a father figure and I'm here" their first instinct is to care and help those who need it.

Everyone… except Picard

Which is deeply funny to me, because everyone in the enterprise will just say "Oh yeah, that's my dad, I'll be great and he'll be so proud of me" whereas Picard literally one of the first things he said to Riker (his number one) was "Hey, I don't get along with kids, you take care of anyone who comes near me."

He doesn't hate them, in fact he's shown that he can be very kind and understanding with them, giving them advice or trying to cheer them up when things aren't going well, he does his best, but he runs away from them like the plague. With Wesley he does his best and yet he still yells at him and treats him very badly at first.

Sometimes I think part of it might just be his bad childhood, he never really had a chance to behave like a child, it might also be the fact that in general he doesn't like to be around people beyond professional treatment given how introverted he is.

But it's still an aspect of Star Trek that I like, how most of the adults aren't idiots with children, they treat them with care and do their best to explain things to them and protect them, they are willing to explain and help, and I will always hold that in my heart.

[walkingstackofbooks]

Julian-is-pregnant-with-Yoshi AU but the timeline is squidged a bit so he's one month due when he goes to his medical conference.

(Miles protests, of course, but Julian has a pretty solid argument with "I'll be literally surrounded by doctors, even on the shuttle there'll be at least five, it will be absolutely fine.")

The Founders still plan to impersonate Julian, but they've done their research, so while kidnapping Julian they also deliver Yoshi and return to the station pretending to have given birth at the conference.

("Unbelievable!" says Miles. "I knew I shouldn't have let you gone." "I'm sorry you weren't there," replies the changeling, "but we were in the best hands. Dr Girani says we're both in excellent health.")

Julian wakes up at the Internment Camp, no longer pregnant. He assumes the worst. When Worf and Garak turn up, none of them mention the baby. Even Garak is too distracted by Tain to remember that Julian wouldn't know his child was safe. Or maybe he does, but chooses not to bring it up, fearing what the baby might actually be.

They escape. The irony is, if the baby hadn't been taken, he might actually have survived the camp, safe inside Julian. It's 37 days after his kidnapping. 5 months since he decided he was a more viable surrogate than Kira. He would have been due tomorrow.

Back on DS9, he does his best for Worf - always a doctor first - and waves off the concerns about his own health until later. There's something he needs to do first. He's dreading seeing Keiko and Miles, but apologising is the only thing on his mind right now.

("But what if it's not fine?" Miles had protested. "It's a medical conference, Miles," Keiko had laughed. "How much trouble could Julian really get into?" "I'll look after him," Julian had promised. "I'll keep him safe, you know I will." He should have listened to Miles.)

And he gets to the O'Brien's quarters and Miles answers the door like they've been expecting him and he doesn't even know where to start because somehow Miles is smiling at him and Keiko is smiling at him from the sofa and-

And Keiko-

And Keiko is holding a baby.

Julian looks at Miles, demanding answers to questions he can't even begin to formulate. And Miles gently asks him "Do you want to hold Yoshiro?" as if it's the most normal thing in the world.

---

(So this was meant to be very small "fic I'll never write but I want to share the premise" post but it kind of got away from me.... And now I want to write the actual fic, the worst XD )

[hvezdnastreka]

I haven't been posting most of my klauzuras lately, but here are the figurines for the DS9 board game I'm making for school! Deadline is approaching! Haha! Send help! Haha!

OKAY I ADMIT IT! They all look kind of shitty, BUT we're running on a time limit, people! All we've done so far in school is boxes and chess pieces, people!! Do not called it paint-3D-looking-ass models, I will cry (not really dw)!!! I swear I'm better at blender at this, but these are just sculpts, not models, so they lack that refinement (don't examine them too closely). Anyway, I want to get it over with soon, so I can get back to creating stuff I care about (more DS9 art)

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[startrekpotluck]

It’s already time for our second Sign Up Round Up, and all we can say is... WHAT 👏 A 👏 TURNOUT! 👏🩵🤩

Back in 2020, our first Potluck filled its 14 slots over 43 days, last year it was in 72 hours, but this year... you're filled a WHOPPING 23 slots in under 8 hours! We're beyond excited that so many people want to celebrate food, drink, community, and Star Trek! 🖖

A warm welcome to the kitchen to:

@scriptrix-eclectica TOS fanfic, 1st August

@green-mug-tomato-juice TNG fanart, 2nd August

@iwritesometimes PIC fanfic, 4th August

@astrotrek86 SNW fanfic, 5th August

@starry-bite PIC fanfic, 7th August

@celestialvoyeur (fandom tbd) (fanwork tbd), 10th August

@curator-on-ao3 & @fiadorable AOS/SNW fanfic, 11th August

@enterprise-come-in SNW fanfic, 12th August

@pc-corner SNW fanart/fanfic, 13th August

@northstarfan PIC fanfic, 14th August

Who join our existing chefs:

@regionalpancake VOY fanfic, 1st August

@jazzfic PIC fanfic, 2nd August

@the-willow-tree DS9/DS9-TNG-mashup (tbd) fanfic, 3rd August

@wonderofasunrise VOY fanfic, 4th August

@kejsarinna DSC fanfic, 5th August

@beautyofsorrow SNW fanfic, 6th August

@onmytallesttiptoesspinning SNW/LWD (tbd) fanfic, 7th August

@ussjellyfish DSC fanfic, 8th August

@divinemissem13 (fandom tbd) fanfic, 9th August

@lipstickonmylabcoat SNW/VOY/LWD/DS9 (tbd) fanfic, 10th August

@curator-on-ao3 & @fiadorable AOS/SNW fanfic, 11th August

@sun-lit-roses SNW fanfic, 12th August

@robosexualunderground LWD fanfic, 13th August

@android-and-ale SNW/TOS/AOS (tbd) fanfic, 14th August

Remember StarTrekPotluck2024 welcomes fan creators of all types, from across all the Trek fandoms. Want to crochet Toby the (roasted) Targ? Could you make the ultimate Tom-Paris-Gets-Spaghettied gifset? Fancy writing a Klingon drinking song?

If so, put on your aprons and send us an ask to book a date between the 1st and 14th of August! (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th) (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th)

Remember: any Star Trek fandom, any media. For more info, see here.

[youngpettyqueen]

alright as promised- Julian and Garak and Garashir thoughts on A Stitch in Time!

also, I am going to note before I even begin. yes, I ship Garashir, but im also going to focus on not viewing their dynamic entirely through a shipping lens. Garashir as a ship will be brought up, yes, but im making a concentrated effort to also discuss their relationship as presented because them as a duo compels me even without my shipping goggles on

without further ado, lets get into it-

I think the most important thing to take from how Julian and Garak are presented in A Stitch in Time is that Garak cares about Julian very, very deeply. whether you interpret that as romantic or not is up to you, but its at least made very clear that Garak cares about Julian. a lot. which, yes, we know from the show that Garak cares, but the depth of his care is truly revealed in this book

I think its safe to say that this book is the most open we see Garak be with Julian. and im not just saying in their scenes together- this entire book was written by Garak, for Julian to read. a chronicle of his history, entries made during their time on DS9, and letters written about what he's doing now on Cardassia, all written for Julian to read. this book is, quite literally, Garak showing everything he is to Julian. which is fucking incredible. we know Garak is a closed-off person and very defensive of himself, we see exactly WHY he's that way, and we're seeing that only because he's spelling it all out to give to Julian. this is an openness that Garak hasn't ever afforded himself in a relationship. and I think its for good reason that the first time he is this open and this honest, its with Julian

I was deeply compelled by Garak's point of view on his and Julian's relationship in the entries that took place during DS9. I love how distant they became from each other, and how strained things got. I never would've read it that way with just the show, and now I cant wait to do a rewatch with this new information in mind. Garak thinks Julian has ended their relationship, he thinks Julian doesnt want to learn any more from him, and he doesnt understand why. he's upset about it- he's mad! his feelings are hurt! but he cant let go. and that ties in with the sentimentality we see in Garak throughout the rest of the book. Garak could no more let go of his connection with Julian than he could his connection with Paladine when he was still on Cardassia. he still answers when Julian calls. he still calls Julian himself. even drifted apart, theyre still connected. they still care. and thats why they come back together before the end of the series- they still love each other. platonically, romantically, however you want to interpret it, you cannot deny that these two love each other

as for Julian's side of this rift. I dont think Julian sees their relationship as over, but I think he can tell something's off. Julian is very awkward in many of his scenes with Garak, and doesnt seem to know how to approach him, or even how to talk to him sometimes. whatever Julian believes is going on here, he knows something's wrong. so, in true Julian fashion, even though he doesnt know what to do or say, he reaches out. he keeps reaching out. he goes out of his way to get Garak's favourite food hand-made. he answers when Garak calls. he calls Garak. he tries to apologize. he tries, he tries, he tries. because he knows, whatever's going on, that he wants to be there for Garak. he wants to help. such is the nature of Julian Bashir- he always just wants to help

I love that his attempts to help are clumsy. the argument Julian and Garak have about Federation vs Cardassian politics is great! because we know Julian is trying to help, but Julian has a habit of being a bit condescending and even arrogant in assuming his way is the right way, and I love that Garak actually gets mad about it here. this argument really highlights just how different Julian and Garak are, but it also serves to point out just how strained Garak is with everything going on with the Dominion and Cardassia at this point. Garak is surprised at his own outburst, and I think part of it is because he's typically better at hiding his feelings, but I also think part of it is that he's this mad towards Julian. I dont think its a stretch to say that this might be reminding Garak of the events of Our Man Bashir. that episode comes up multiple times throughout the DS9 entries, and is an event that Garak associates with him and Julian drifting apart. its also the episode where we see Garak get mad at Julian about these same things- namely his arrogance, in assuming he can save everyone and that things will work out. while at first it surprised me that Garak saw these events as driving a wedge between him and Julian, in hindsight, I think it makes total sense

the idea of Julian pulling away from Garak after Our Man Bashir is what makes it make complete sense. Julian trying to apologize in the last entry for DS9 is what really makes it- he feels bad for hurting Garak. and he avoids talking about it, but he pointedly doesnt deny that he would've killed Garak if he had to, to save the others. of course the guilt of that's been eating him. of course he pulled away. because after Our Man Bashir, as we get into s5 and beyond, we see Julian start to go down a darker path. we see Julian kill. we see him lie, and manipulate, and do harm. we see him forced to compromise his morals, or compromise them by his own choice. so, yeah, it makes sense that he's pulling away from Garak

on the topic of episodes that get brought up- I love that Julian only pulls away further after the events of Doctor Bashir, I Presume? I'd wondered how that episode might've impacted his relationship with Garak, since we dont see it at all in the show besides Garak starting to make cracks at Julian about being augmented. I love that Julian being outed as being augmented played a part in him and Garak drifting apart. if theres one thing I wish would've been included in the DS9 entries, I wish we could've seen if Garak and Julian talked either during or right after the events of that episode. I think it'd be interesting, though, if they didnt. I think it'd be interesting if they never talked about it. I honestly think that could track with how they've drifted apart at this point. it'll be left up to me to wonder, I think, but its all very fascinating

I love that despite everything, Garak's respect and admiration for Julian is always clear- especially when it comes to traits like his kindness. its nice to see that, despite how Garak always gets on Julian's case about his naivety and optimism, he actually does love these so-called "soft things" about Julian. he loves his kindness. he loves his selflessness. he loves that desire Julian has to just help everybody around him. I think this kindness is what really helps pull their relationship back together, in more ways than one

for one thing, I think if Julian wasn't his kind and loving and open self, I dont think Garak would be able to be as open as he is with him. Garak is very much used to people having multiple agendas, and Julian is just not like that. Julian is open and honest to a fault, with his only big secret being that he was augmented, and once thats out in the open, he doesnt have anything left to hide. Julian and Garak's relationship might've started with Julian clumsily trying to be a spy, but it quickly became just... a friendship. Julian doesnt want anything from Garak besides a relationship. he just wants Garak. and its this honest, open approach to that that reminds Garak that this is Julian, who he can trust, and thats what lets them mend this thing between them

I also think its crucial that Garak's respect and admiration for Julian's kindness ultimately overpowers his desire to teach Julian his ways. Garak sees their relationship as over because he believes that Julian doesnt want to learn from him. the hurdle that Garak has to overcome here is that he needs to see that Julian can still learn from him, but not in the way he thinks. Garak has to learn that Julian doesnt need to learn how to be a hardened spy from him. he doesnt need to learn how to close himself off, or be more cynical- what he gets from Garak, what he learns from Garak, is how to be challenged. Garak challenges Julian constantly, forces him to think about things from different perspectives he otherwise wouldnt have considered. Julian gets caught up in believing his way is the right way, he cant always see the other side of things, and Garak is the one who will make him see it. thats why their relationship, even when its distanced, is never over- because Julian is still learning from Garak as he continues to challenge him, and Garak is still learning from Julian as he learns that sentimentality isnt a weakness after all

the last entry set in DS9 means the entire world to me. Garak immediately calling Julian after a nightmare. Julian going to him. the discussion they have. Garak realizing what he has to do. the apologies Julian tries to make, and how Garak won't let him. the way they come together again at last, and you know theyre going to be ok. Garak calling him Julian... you have to wonder if this is the first time Garak has actually called him by his name, because to my memory he doesnt do so at any point in the show. and of course its Julian who makes Garak see what he needs to do, and where he needs to be. just, that entire scene. its so important to me. you can feel the love, and it feels like a sigh of relief, because they've finally bridged this gap between them

to me, though, the most loving bit is the very end of the novel. Garak inviting Julian to come to his home, and see what he's done. Garak has just documented pretty much his entire life and sent it to Julian so that Julian will know every part of him, and he's ended it by inviting Julian to his home. holy shit. this is where the shipping goggles go on cause oh my god. Garak has just gone "here's my heart. here's my soul. here's my core. here's everything that's made me into me. here's what I was thinking when we weren't talking. here's how much I missed you. here's everything youve ever done for me. nothing would make me happier than you coming to see me. come see my home. come see what ive done. I love you. come to my home." this entire novel is such a massive display of vulnerability and trust, of an openness Garak has never allowed himself to express, and it end it by inviting Julian to come to his home? im going to fucking explode.

Garak wasn't this open with Palandine. he wasn't this open with Pythas. he wasn't this open with Tolan, with Mila, with Tain- there's been nobody he's been this open with. his relationship with Julian is so much different than any other relationship he's had, just for the fact that he can be truly, openly himself. and he knows he can be, because he knows Julian. this novel really highlights how well Garak knows Julian, and understands him- he knows Julian will accept him for who he is, because Julian always has. Julian would never be as harsh on Garak as Garak is on himself, Julian is the kind voice in his head, and its exactly BECAUSE he sees Garak for who he is: a man who's trying his best. nobody else has ever seen that in Garak- I dont think even Palandine saw it. I think she probably got the closest to seeing it, and I think Pythas too might've gotten close had they not been separated for so long, but nobody ever got close to Garak like Julian managed to

I think however you interpret the Julian and Garak dynamic, you can read this book and understand that these two love each other. deeply. whether that means platonically or romantically you can interpret yourself, but however you define it, the love is still undeniably there. do I think its romantic? hell yeah. they make me fucking insane and every interaction between them in this book made me scream out loud. but I think its a testament to how theyre written that the love is there no matter how you read it, and that their relationship is just incredibly solid all around. Andrew Robinson clearly put a lot of work and love and thought into how he portrayed these two, and it shows in every scene, every line where Garak even thinks about Julian

alright gonna wrap up because this is getting. so long. I love that this book wasn't about their relationship, but it also was. because this book is, of course, about Garak. but it was written by Garak, for Julian. and it ends perfectly, with Garak holding a hand out and going "you're always welcome, doctor." so, yeah, this is Garak's story, but it's also Garak's story for Julian, and that makes me, personally, feel a little insane

[vaguely-concerned]

okay so 'meridian' gains the dubious distinction of being the first ds9 ep to get my personal 'absolute dogshit' rating fksdah. (honestly the fact that we're all the way to s3 before it happened is kind of impressive, though. even in the sketchier eps so far I have found something to genuinely love somewhere in there. I'd take twenty alamarains over this any day) interminable hetero bullshit of the worst kind with little to no redeeming quality or merit.* blatant jadzia character assassination (for a while I was completely convinced she was being mind controlled or something. imagine my shock when I realized that no a writer genuinely put this story to page at face value and then had it filmed. I'm so embarrassed on his behalf.). creepy holosuite nonsense handled with the grace and sensitivity of a rampaging rhino. every time I scrolled over the video bar and saw I had more bland blond guy walking across grass to suffer through a part of me died. ds9 baby what happened this isn't you we both know this isn't you come back to me babe

*actually not entirely true -- avery brooks always giving it his all, however little the episode deserves that from him... when no one's got me I know he's got me etc.

[cleoselene]

was watching DS9 with the roommates earlier (first watch-through of the series for one of them) and today we got to "Far Beyond the Stars," unquestionably one of the greatest sci-fi episodes of television ever made, and since we're fresh off all things Twin Peaks, we were delighted when the episode answered Monica Bellucci's question:

turns out it was Captain Sisko all along

seriously tho, the Lynchian-like stuff in this episode is really fun if you pick at it. Sisko is having something of a psychogenic fugue, which is something that is all over the place in Lynch's work. You're left wondering and questioning: who is the real man? Is it Sisko, is it Benny Russell? The metatextuality of it all! Lynch loves to be metatextual, and you literally have Sisko discussing at the end his own questioning of what is the true reality, that last shot of Benny looking back at Sisko in the reflection is haunting, plus there's the very real truth that DS9 actually *is* a dream of the future. Not Benny Russell's, but Gene Roddenberry's, Ira Stephen Behr, Robert Hewitt Wolfe, Ron Moore, et. al

There's been reams written on the excellent social commentary in this episode but the exploration of identity and the self and the reflexivity of the metatextual bits is a little underexplored, I think? The cast being transformed into sci-fi writers to make commentary on sci-writing, as written by actual sci-fi writers.

Benny is the dreamer, Sisko is the dream. We are all dreaming with him. Sometimes you cherish a dream so much you will risk everything to see it through, at great personal cost

anyway, I could ramble on about this show forever. It's so wonderfully textured. What a ride season 6 especially is: today we went from "Waltz" to "Who Mourns For Morn?" to "Far Beyond the Stars" to "One Little Ship." If that sequence doesn't perfectly encapsulate what makes DS9 so multifaceted, I don't know what does! It's such a joy to binge watch a show that changes its tone up week to week while still maintaining a strong serialized story.

David Lynch's work seeks to point out the importance of balance: I can't think of a show that is much better balanced than DS9? It covers every genre, it's comedic, it's intense, it's philosophical, it's artistic, it's spiritual, it's tragic, it's familiar, and it's heartwarming.

Modern tv, especially of the serialized variety, is such a drag.

also as an aside: the sets on this episode are stunning? Benny's apartment is especially wonderful: it's the lived in, chaotic apartment of a bachelor writer. Nothing is arranged but you can feel that Benny knows in his head exactly where everything is.

[fate-motif]

the way star trek picard literally says no one else gets to have fun. if you like lower decks or prodigy fuck you. hell, if you like ds9 or voyager fuck you. these characters' lives don't matter. we're gonna make them work for an apartheid state and when we go back on that at the end of s1 we're gonna make sure they get assimilated so that picard gets to feel bad about the fact he got assimilated. the way picard says literally no one except picard fucking matters.

[dragontamerno3]

DS9 S3 E23 - Family Business (I'm back at it, took a break for mental health and personal stuff but here we go again lol)

I think we might be getting into the part of the show that I actually remember watching as a kid. Admittedly there were only some "deja vu" moments in this so I can't be sure if it wasn't just seeing some things from the internet or if its because I'm remember fragments of when I was a kid but they felt distant and foggy so I'm leaning towards the latter. I'm interested to see what else clicks into place as I continue.

Once again its easy to identify Jeffrey Combs and I always love seeing him in an episode.

Also, I want Moogie to adopt me, she's fucking amazing.

I know we're not at the part where Rom forms a union yet but between Moogie and Nog I'm starting to see where he grows the spine to do so. I mean this with love because Rom has grown on me but he's a bit weak at the moment and while I'm okay with that (aside from him enduring Quarks abuse) I know that he becomes more so I'm tracking that progress.

I am honestly surprised it took as long as it did for Quark to realize he could dip into Moogies profits. I get why he hesitated and all that cause it's Ferengi culture, but he's been a schemer since the day he took his first breath. But Rom, the one thats not supposed to have the lobes for business, knew how to handle these two.

I want to watch the Moogie show.

The B plot with Sisko and the lead up to his potential date was kinda cute. The fact that Jake basically told the whole station and everyone was excited for Sisko was adorable. Even he seemed to be a bit excited. What I love is how Kasidy was aware and rolled with it.

I'm cheating a little cause I am from the future, so to speak, so I know that Kasidy hangs around a bit or at least becomes slightly reoccurring, but if I didn't know that the baseball conversation would have convinced me. He acted like Christmas came early.

Side note, Sisko's facial hair is still bad but it is MUCH better now that its properly trimmed lol

8/10 - More Moogie please