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Star Trek Deep Space Nine - The Complete First Season

Star Trek Deep Space Nine - The Complete First Season

List Price: $129.99
Your Price: $103.99
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: It Begins Here
Review: Deep Space Nine was launched to some fanfare in 1993, and initially had a hard time finding an audience. Against all odds, it became one of the more successful series as yet produced. With a fan corps as devoted to show as the fans of the original series, more interpersonal conflict and a greater emphasis on drama than previous series, Deep Space Nine did gather a large group of fans. This was the only series where Star Trek truly departed from the (albeit good) formula of exploration and boldly going where nobody has gone before, and it succeeded admirably, in my opinion.

Both writing and acting were excellent, especially in the first season. The backdrop was perfectly set, giving us the backdrop of a society scarred from brutal occupation from the Cardassians. This show lives in the nuances and always manages to stay intelligent. The writing greatness extended far beyond mere exposition. The actors are given great dialogue, and they are given plenty of opportunity to shine. Avery Brooks is an extraordinary actor who, like Patrick Stuart, is able to state any line with intensity and conviction. Also like Stewart, he manages to add plenty of sophistication and nuance to his character, which makes Sisko the most fascinating character on the show, and perhaps Star Trek's Best Captain. Nana Visitor breaks the first officer trend: she actually presumes to debate some of Sisko's decisions (as opposed to Riker, who only disagreed when he wanted to beam down somewhere). Kira has both ferocity and determination, but also vulnerability and a deeply empathic spirit. Terry Farrell's Dax character remains much a mystery in this first season, but her wisdom and sereneness are appropriately portrayed by the actress. Armin Shimerman gives a particularly pleasant performance as Quark, the incorrigible capitalist. Odo also is an enigma at this point, but his desire to find the truth and search for justice and his displacement at being a changeling in a world of solids are made known early. Rene Auberjonois' best work was still to come, but he still comes off as a tortured soul, even here.

The first season featured only one space battle and a handful of firefights, but it had plenty of fascinating expositional episodes. "Emissary", the pilot, is a great way of beginning the series. Most of the key players are introduced, such as Ben Sisko, Starfleet Station Commander; Kira Nerys, Bajoran First Officer; Jadzia Dax, Science Officer; Julian Bashir, the wet behind the ears doctor who has a tendency to run off with the mouth; Miles O'Brien, the constantly frustrated Chief of Operations; Quark, the owner of the station's bar; and Odo, the enigmatic Security Chief. Others introduced later on were Garak, the spy/tailor; Gul Dukat, former Cardassian Prefect of Bajor; Vedek Bareil, religious leader and Kira's future love interest, and Vedek Winn, the scheming, maniacal religious leader. Other highlights include a hilarious visit from Q in "Q-less" (although it isn't hard to see why he didn't come back), an examination of Dax's past in "Dax", a Ferengi adventure in "The Nagus" where Quark becomes the head of Ferengi state, "Battle Lines", which feels like an episode torn from the original series, "Duet", a powerful episode exploring emotional scarring from the Cardassian Occupation, and "In the Hands of the Prophets", setting up the clash between Bajoran fundamentalists and progressives which would be a major part of storytelling for a long time.

Perhaps the reason that I like this show so much is because of the continual character development. As opposed to The Next Generation, where Data and Wesley and maybe Picard were the only characters that truly underwent any personal metamorphosis during the duration of the show, Deep Space Nine featured characters who were constantly reexamining their selves, relationships, and feelings, and this introspection allowed for plenty of great drama throughout the show. This is evident even in the first season of Deep Space Nine alone. Benjamin Sisko, the station commander, begins the show a weary, emotionally-burdened man who never truly dealt with his wife's death. By the end of the season he has fully immersed himself into his role as the leader of a culturally diverse station, with both Starfleet and Bajorans working hand in hand, and with himself being the bridge between them. Kira, as well, grows in this season. An ex-freedom fighter and fierce patriot, Kira has significant issues to deal with. In "Emissary" she responds to Sisko's statement that they are here to help by saying, "That's just what the Cardassians said forty years ago." By the end of the season however, she admits to Sisko after a speech that he made, "I don't think you're the devil." She goes from an angry, mistrustful fighter to a more balanced, more at peace woman. These are a few of the significant character changes that this season brought about.

In short, every other Star Trek show had crews venturing to new worlds, but this was the first one where one of those worlds was truly explored. The writing, acting, and drama were on a high level throughout the season. This is a collection to add to your DVD library, even if you're a non-trekkie, for this is a show that even a non-trekkie could easily lose him/herself in.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Incredible
Review: What really can I add to what has already been said? I started watching Deep Space Nine in the middle of it's fourth season. So when I found out that they were putting the series out on DVD I was really excited. I'd finally get the chance to see the beginning. I absolutely love the first season and cannot wait for the others. Some of the episodes are a little weak. But others, like Duet, and If Wishes Were Horses, and Progress are some very compelling episodes. Over all, I am very pleased with the work they did with it, and can't wait for the other seasons. If you are a fan of other series. I guarantee you'll like Deep Space Nine. Which makes me wonder if they'll do Voyager like this.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: What We Left Behind...a thrilling opening season
Review: The Star Trek series Deep Space Nine and Voyager all had intriguing and thoughtful opening seasons that kept me watching. However, both failed to keep me going for more then two years. The Next Generation, its TV and Films captivated me more. Then Worf came along and I didn't miss one week of Deep Space Nine except for one episode in Season 7 ("Images in the Sand") for its remaining four years. Sorry Barclay and Troi, a few guest appearances won't get me into Voyager and still hasn't...(though "Pathfinder" is simply wonderful). However, as I looked back at all the pre-Worf days, thanks to the trusty and completely enthralling Companion, I wonder why I wasn't captivated. Perhaps it was my youth or my ignorance to logic as opposed to redundancy (but good TNG redundancy). However, I managed to grab onto some great season 2 and season 3 episodes, perhaps all of them, and was a complete DS9 fan with the exception of season 1. With the exception of "Emissary" and "If Wishes Were Horses", my Season 1 knowledge was very limited. Early on I fell asleep to "Progress" and had only seen the "Forsaken". Now, that DVD is gifting us with the greatest series of all time (and in one package...why Farscape, why?!). The first season is the characters at their most raw and human, in my opinion. Before the producers started fitting Nana Visitor in tighter suits and getting Sisko to beat the hell out of anything that lived (pretty much), the first season offers perhaps (with the exception of season 7) are most human, flawed look at the characters. Kira is just plain mean at times where she is later on a warm, beautiful woman...but in season one...watch out people...mad Bajoran!!!!! Bashir was falsely infatuated with Dax, we get to see a lot of Dax and Sisko as "old friends", O'Brien is mean too and, on top of that, hates Bashir (which would change thankfully into one of my favorite points in the entire show, them being best friends), and odd as it is to say, we get to see a lot of Quark and Odo love-hate closer then we would think. And lets mention Sisko more...the first image we get is a crying, sad man trapped in his own misery...Picard and no one else every did that! Did I forget anyone...oh yeah, there's Jake who is a much better kid then Wesley Crusher (God I hate him) and then there is Rom (who is played out as dumb but eventually becomes Grand Nagus of his people), Nog (who is portrayed a punk but becomes a Starfleet hero more or less), and Garak (who is completely untrusted (and overacted personally) but becomes a hero in his own right and a trusted friend in the end). We get to see the flaws and with this foundation we get to see these flawed, slightly agitated people become loving, beautiful people. This show may start out fairly humorous but more dark but paves the road for a show like no other that gives us characters and not caricatures...DS9 has the best writing, the best acting, and the best serialization of any series in history. It truly gives us a view of what characters are like in the future and though the props may not be realistic, their interactions are. The first season gives us a first bite of flawed characters that eventually reach out and bite us back, with a taste of our own humanity shown through them.
"THIS IS WHERE HEROES ARE MADE"...Bashir
--William Johnson

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Watch Star Trek til it hurts...
Review: The DVD comes with a cool menu setup, and there is a slight improvement in film quality since its now on DVD. Definitely worth the money.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Great series,dreadful packaging
Review: I have bought many box sets and the Deep Space Nine has the worst packaging that I have ever seen. Series one is enclosed,or should I say sitting between,two thin plastic sidings which fold over it,this is after I had to shake it to remove it from it's thin plastic case.
This thin weak casing will not last too long. I have cancelled the rest of my DS9 region 1 orders and will go for region 2 which is encased in a strong and proper plastic case.
Paramount USA do not seem to have much regard for their customers as the Star Trek:The Next Generation box sets were also inferior to the overseas cases. But the Next Generation cardboard cases were heaven compared to the thin and hopeless DS9 plastic cases. It's overseas Deep Space Nine box sets for this fan.
The series? Great series,lousy packaging.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: My favorite Trek Series Of All Time
Review: Star Trek Deep Space Nine is without question the best Trek ever made. There is no question about that. I believe Nemisis would not have tanked had the characters from DS9 been in that film. They were the best Trek Series ever. It brought a dark element to Star Trek that showed for the first time that Space was a hostile frontier, a series that reflects our own contemporary history and society. Its the coolest and it gets better. The first season you get your feet wet but when the second season hits its like a tidal wave that does not subside.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: YEAH, BUDDY!!!!
Review: This entire collection is awesome and it's only the first season. This is the greatest sci-fi series ever and I still miss it to this day. It is pure joy to see these episodes again; episodes that I haven't seen in years but have never forgotten. It was definitely time DS9 received the dvd treatment. This collection is worth every penny.

My only complaint is with the packaging. Would it kill Paramount to spring for keepcase packaging? The DS9 collections are certainly cooler looking than the Next Gen collections but neither are very sturdy. Keepcase is the way to go for any dvd. I don't understand why the region 2 discs get the better packaging and not region 1.

And can anyone tell me how well this season has sold in comparison to the Next Gen first season. I am hoping this series outsells all the other Treks just to prove that DS9 was THE best of them all. Maybe then people will realize just what they missed.

GO NINERS!!!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Season One of DS9(count to three,Allamaraine...)
Review: It's hard to belive it's been ten years since the first season of DS9 ,and how much in the following seasons that the characters have changed & evolved.
Before The Dominion,The Defiant,Strategic Operations Officer Worf,and Vic Fontaine,we have the humble beginnings of the station formerly known as Terok Nor.Sisko was more of an administrator than the passionate individual he is to become,Kira Nerys is unsettlingly fiesty,Julian Bashir rates high on the arrogent meter,and Jadzia Dax comes off as somewhat aloof.The shakedown season still plays better than any of the following Trek Series(Voyager,Enterprise).The standout episodes include Past Prologue,Captive Pursuit,Progress,In The Hands Of The Prophets,and Duet,which in my opinion is the best ever DS9 episode.
Even after a decade and nearly four years since the final episode,DS9 still manages to be the best Trek ever,and here's where it all started.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Where No One Has Gone Before...
Review: When Deep Space Nine first made its debut on television, I was a young Next Generation fan, firmly entranced in the theory that science fiction adventure could only come from a moving source. Therefore, after giving DS9 a cursory glance its first two seasons, I moved on, only to realize nine years later, how wrong I was.

Deep Space Nine is perhaps the most overlooked drama in television history. I believe I can say that objectively, given the fact my strong loyalty to a starship-based drama series blurred my vision of it for so long. The excitement, drama, character development, and social issues during the most stationary of Star Trek series' has quietly become its best all-around legacy.

By being "limited" to a space station on the edge of an entrance to a new portion of the galaxy, DS9 enables fans to once again feel the thrill of the "final frontier," in a fresh, new format. The action comes to the station, instead of the ship finding the action. A bold and logical step in the evolution of the Star Trek universe. The show's platform enables the story and character development to flow smoothly from one show to the next, a feature lacking in prior Star Trek series.

In addition to a richer, more intimate storyline and detailed character development, political and social issues are examined unlike ever before, giving the series a continuity and reality superior to any sci-fi series to come before or after it. This DVD box set, and all those upcoming have great sound options, along with crystal clear visuals and effects.

Even if you aren't a Star Trek fan, but love intense sci-fi dramas, give DS9 a shot. It's a series that deserves much more credit than it's predecessors.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Begining
Review: This is the first season of what I believe to be the most interesting Star Trek Series created. Unquestionably the most action ever found in a Star Trek series ever. The series that even a non-treky will appreciate.
The first season may not hold the best episodes of DS9, but has the clasics. where you see the characters develope into who they are in the later ones. You get to see how the relationship between the Bajorins and the Federation develops, to see how it all began, and to see how the charactors really work.
The best episodes would have to be Captive Pursuit, The Nagus, Vortex, Battle Lines, The Storyteller, and In the Hands of the Prophets. These are also the most influential to the comming seasons. I hope you enjoy the seasons as much as I do and be sure to make them a part of your collection.


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