 |
||
 EPISODE REVIEWS | ||
 |
In The Cards Airdate: Week of
June 8th to June 13th, 1997
Written by: Truly
Barr Clark & Scott J. Neal (story); Ronald D. Moore
(teleplay)
Directed by:
Michael Dorn
In-Short: A
light-hearted and fun story appropriate for Father's
Day while setting the stage for Call to Arms
with a brilliant sub-plot and character insight.
Brief Summary:
With ominous signs of a nearing war with the Dominion, Sisko and
the crew are increasingly depressed and weary. Jake decides to
procure an antique baseball card for his father in an attempt to
lift his spirits, but gets more than he bargained for when trying
to get the card.
Review
The more I see
Jake and Nog, the more I like them. This episode put them in the
lead roles, and it really worked well. The primary plot of the
wasn't really what made the episode, but as in so many shows it
was the little nuances that made In The Cards a very
fun show to watch. The conversation between Nog and Jake
regarding the economic system is a perfect example. This issue
was finally addressed directly and now we see that Picard's
one-line explanation of the new economic system is also its'
official description: We work to better ourselves and the
rest of humanity. The way in which Jake said it also made
it seem like something drilled into heads of
human-Federation children. It was the little things like this
that made this episode so intriguing.
An integral
element to the story to say the least, Dr. Geiger, seemed to me
(as some on the Internet have also suggested) to be a
play on the gross use of technobabble in some Trek
episodes- depicting a man who revels in it, yet is obviously
paranoid. Geiger's souless minions of orthodoxy were
very amusing, and I've found myself using the term in ordinary
conversation! I don't know where the writers (apparently
freelance this time, anyone?) came up with this one, but it was a
little thing within another little thing that just contributed to
the fun.
The other thing
that brought out the fun was Nog's and Jake's
finagling of the crew to acquire certain items. We
learned a little about each character (Bashir's teddy bear was
hilarious) and Sisko's log entry at the end evoked the
warm-fuzzy feeling that it was intended to. Let's not
forget the way it ended up- with Jake implicating the Kai, in
turn seeming to confirm the suspicions of the always-entertaining
Dominion representative Weyoun, who then believed Jake and Nog to
be of some threat. This turn of events played out in an almost
Seinfeld-like manner. That is, where genuinely unrelated events
relate back to the players who themselves are uninvolved directly
but all end up contributing to some greater outcome. Albeit a
method not at all new or unique to Seinfeld mind you, but I think
that this comedy does the VERY BEST job of it and provides the
best example.
Jake's story to
Weyoun was another well-received mockery of the overuse of
certain things in the Trek universe (here being time-travel and
temporal-related issues). Weyoun's reaction to it was equally as
mocking, flaunting a type of yeah right, I'll believe
that... attitude. I really like Weyoun more and more each
time I see him, and I actually like the way in which his
character has taken a Q-like direction- humorously
sinister. The perfect example of this being his discussion with
Sisko upon arriving to DS9.
Which brings me
into the sub-plot which in itself was not only VERY important as
a stage setter for Call to Arms, but just a good
serious dealing with Dominion issues within the confines of a 'B'
plot. The first scene of the show was extremely effective in not
only paving the way for Jake's actions in the 'A' plot, but for
expressing the frank feelings of the crew. Odo's comment
foreshadowing the Federation abandonment of DS9 was very
chilling, as was Bashir's reaction. Julian's prior comments
regarding the loss of Starfleet ships and the Dominion threat was
something that finally seemed to express my feelings as a viewer,
always wondering when are they gonna take the Dominion
threat seriously and start sending in the firepower?
After the events
in Rapture it was refreshing to see the relationship
development between Kai Winn and Captain Sisko here. The Kai has
truly begun to respect him and perhaps understand him. Although
she never really told Weyoun exactly what Sisko advised (stalling
for time), so we may see her make that alliance in Call to
Arms (as has been rumored).
The issue of Bajor
was something that needed to be addressed, and was so very well.
The situation was pointed out plainly enough, and the
repercussions adequately touched upon. I am wondering though if
it is common procedure for a representative of an
unfriendly power to schedule a meeting with a current
neutral power, which might have dramatic effects, on the station
of the opposing power without notification. I was a little
annoyed that Sisko showed little discomfort when the Kai told him
she was there to meet a Dominion rep.
Some Shorter
Takes:
- Anyone notice
that the Vorta have become more like the Cardassians since
absorbing them?
- It was never
explained to my satisfaction why Geiger was so interested in the
card so as to purchase it for ten bars of Latinum. And then in a
hysteria of paranoia and suspiciousness leave the auction as if
he had completed some secret mission. Why? What did he NEED it
for so badly?
Writing:
Fresh, entertaining, no complanints.
Acting:
Jeffery Combs delivers Weyoun brilliantly again, definitely a
highlight.
Directing:
nothing extraordinary, but no complaints.
Rating: 7
out of 10 (no flaws, solid fun, certainly a great episode, but
wasn't blown away by it)
Quote
...lions.....and
Geigers....and bears....
...oh
my...
-Nog and Jake on
their strange predicament.
Next Week:
Well folks we've waited long enough.....the Federation/Dominion
war begins! From what we KNOW, have seen, and have heard, Call to
Arms promises to
blow us away! Let's hope so!
| |
|
|
||
|
NAVIGATION PADD | ||
| ||