DS9 Stories/News: Reason #23 Why I Love DS9 – Rom

Site: http://www.razorfine.com/lists/reason-23-why-i-love-ds9-rom/

There are many reasons why I love Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and why it remains my favorite of the Star Trek franchise.

Reason #23: Rom

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is full of fun characters, but one of the most surprising is Quark‘s (Armin Shimerman) idiot brother Rom. You could argue that on the entire station there was no one with a bigger heart than the shy, unassuming Ferengei with an uncanny talent with machines who managed to marry a dabo girl and eventually rule an empire.

The character of Rom grew and changed over the years. When he was first introduced he was little more than Quark’s dimwitted brother, but his role as Quark’s lackey would be changed by the aspirations of his son Nog (Aron Eisenberg) to join Starfleet. Nog would leave his brother’s bar and became a valued member of the Bajorian engineering crew.

The character of Rom was played by Max Grodénchik who had originally auditioned for the role of Quark. Although Armin Shimerman was given the role, the producers were impressed with Grodénchik and decided to cast him in the role of Quark’s younger brother. Rom wasn’t the only appearance by Grodénchik in the Star Trek universe. He appeared as other Ferengei in Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes “Captain’s Holiday” and “The Perfect Mate.” It’s Rom, however, that most Star Trek fans will remember him mostly fondly for.

DS9 Stories/News: Deep Space Nine Customs

Site: http://www.customfigures.iwarp.com/catalog.html

Dr. Bashir and Ezri Dax
Together at last!

Chief O’Brien and Ensign Nog

Commander Kira and Captain Sisko
Kira is called upon to help train the Cardassian rebels. In an attempt to show greater strengh, she wore a Star Fleet Unifrom on the mission

Transporter Dax
This figure is either how she appeared in the 6th Season on the Tansporter or as a ghost from the 7th Season

Rom in Bajorian Uniform

Ezri Dax as Breen Prisoner

Tain, Head of the Obsidian Order and Garak’s Father

Mila, Garak’s House Keeper

M’Haridu, Zek’s Silent Servant
Coming Soon: Moogie and Zek to go with thier faithful servant

The Female Founder
“The Founder is Wise!”

DS9 Stories/News: The Federation Leaders In the Dominion War (3)

Cont.

Site: http://dominion.tvheaven.com/fedpers.html

Captain Sisko’s adolescent son nurtures journalistic pretensions which have on occasion been used against the Dominion. A junior member of the Federation news service, Jake was the only Federation journalist to report on the Dominion occupation of DS9/Terok Nor from behind Dominion lines. Jake’s close relationship with his father and lack of moral fiber are believed to make him a prime candidate for subversion by the Dominion. Jake currently resides on DS9.

Chancellor Gowron

Former Chancellor of the Klingon Empire, Gowron managed to win the highly contended title of worst Federation Alliance strategist during his brief time at the helm of the Klingon’s forces. Gowron ascended to the Chancellorship when he was determined to be the lesser of two evils in contest against the late Council Member Durass’s illegitimate, Romulan conspirator, teenage son. Gowron met his ignoble end in single combat with the redoubtable Worf and was succeeded by Martok.

Chancellor Martok

Current Chancellor of the Klingon Empire and one of its less humiliating strategists. Martok’s long experience as a military commander has granted him some small measure of intelligence and he is considered one of the Federation Alliance’s most dangerous leaders. Martok succeeded Gowron as Chancellor when this honor was thrust upon him by the shirking Worf. Martok’s plebian heritage leads many in the Dominion to hope that the Klingon Empire will falter under his guidance. Latest reports place Martok on Quo’nos hunting targ.

Grand Nagus Rom

Criminal mastermind and underworld ring leader aboard DS9, Rom posed for years as the bumbling brother of a small time hustler while maintaining an unassuming post in the Bajoran Militia as a technician (second class). Rom’s true capabilities were revealed during the Dominion occupation of Terok Nor/DS9 when his sabotage of first the station’s graviton emitter and later the entire weapons array allowed the Federation to retake the station. With his true capabilities thus revealed, Rom cast off his cover and rose through the ranks of the Ferengi to be named Grand Nagus. His notoriously pro-Federation sympathies could mean an end to Ferengi neutrality in the Alpha Quadrant War.

Lieutenant Nog

Starfleet officer and son of the criminal mastermind, Grand Nagus Rom, this young officer has shot through the ranks of Starfleet in only a handful of years, no doubt due to the extensive connections held by his father. Nog currently serves aboard DS9 and the USS Defiant under Captain Sisko. Nog is unfailingly loyal to Sisko due to Sisko’s part in facilitating Nog’s appointment to Starfleet academy and his long standing friendship with Sisko’s son, Jake. His relationships with both Rom and Sisko indicate that Nog may one day grow to be a formidable adversary for the Dominion.

Quark

The small time hustler brother of Grand Nagus Rom, Quark, though possessing the typical Ferengi drive for profit, has been tamed by extensive contact with Federation personnel. His involvement with Major Kira’s terrorist cell during the Dominion occupation of DS9/Terok Nor indicates his lack of love for the Dominion, though his limited talents make him of little threat. Quark is considered most significant only in the extent to which he can be used to reach his brother.

Colonel Kira Nerys

Second in command of DS9 and believed to be a key agitator in inciting the Cardassian riots against the Dominion on Cardassia Prime, Kira has a long history in participating in terrorist actions, beginning with her part in the Bajoran Resistance which rid Bajor of the Cardassians during the Cardassian occupation of that world. Kira is considered dangerous and unpredictable, entirely lacking in moral fiber, and may be the real force behind the occasionally clever tactics employed by the crew of DS9. Unconfirmed reports place Kira near the Great Link following the Dominion’s strategic withdrawal from Cardassia Prime.

Kai Winn

Spiritual leader of the Bajoran people, Kai Winn ascended to this position following the loss of the beloved Kai Opaka in the Gamma Quadrant. Throughout her tenure as kai, Winn maintained a cordial relationship with the Dominion, the warmth of which was tempered only by her unfailing desire to protect her homeland. During the twilight of her reign as kai, Winn fell in with the unscrupulous Legate Dukat who led her to embrace the pah wraiths in an attempt to facilitate the restoration of Bajor. This unfortunate move resulted in Kai Winn’s death at the hands of Dukat in Bajor’s notorious fire caves.

DS9 Stories/News: So You Want To Watch Star Trek: DS9? – Season 4

Source: http://directgeek.com/2012/01/so-you-want-to-watch-star-trek-ds9-season-4/

Previously: A primer on the series, season 1, season 2, and season 3.

Every season will now come with a “don’t listen to me, just watch it all” disclaimer. These are my personal favorites among a season of favorites.  Seriously, by the time we get to season 7 the whole post is just going to be a video of me sobbing and hugging myself.

And pressing my cheek to this image lovingly.

4×01-2: Way of the Warrior parts 1&2:

These episodes are killer. The tone and drive of the back half of the series sharpens to a knife-point. We learn so much in these episodes, we see so much set up, so much is twisted and turned around.

We learn that “sand peas” are almost definitely watermelon Jelly Bellies. We learn that the spots do go all the way down. That Garak doesn’t bother to fold his tucked napkin when having lunch with Odo. (Perhaps the whole torture thing means those social niceties are beneath them now?)

We learn that, if you have begrudgingly made your home among aliens, if you’re isolated and plodding on through bitterness and regret in a place besieged at every side, if your friends are your enemies, and your hardscrabble pride is your dearest enemy-friend, if you are drunk and afraid, then take heart. The only time you should really start to worry is the moment you begin to like the taste of root beer.

But, most importantly: Worf. Worf Worf Worf. Worf.

WOOOOOOORF.

4×03: The Visitor:

Do you enjoy weeping freely? Has it been too long since you’ve had a good, long, snotty, blotchy, call-everyone-you-love-at-an-inappropriate-hour cry? Well, here you go, buddy. Leave those embarrassing voicemails as the credits roll.

4×05: Rejoined:

Oh, and just go ahead and keep right on weeping. Just segue straight from tragic family story into tragic love story.

See, in addition to questionable psychiatric practices, the majority of Trill society believes it’s taboo-level improper for the new hosts of symbionts who once knew each other to “re-associate”. I’m gonna just translate that to “make out and be in love forever omg”. This is supposedly for the good of the symbiont so that it can have new and various experiences in its ages-long slug life.

Like many people would when confronted with the gorgeous new host of their ex-wife, Jadzia Dax calls bullshit on that.

Oh, does she ever.

And from this we get what’s arguably Star Trek’s most direct treatment of queer relationships. Some argue that the outcome of this episode precludes it from being pro-LGBT. For me, it only made the story hit closer to home. Trill’s taboo against re-association is as dehumanizing and insulting as any modern law that drives people in love apart, that bleeds into society and diminishes the character of any person enforcing or affirming that law. It isn’t Trek as utopia, but it is absolutely Trek as worthwhile and passionate social commentary.

4×06: Starship Down:

Like many geeks, I’m a person who loves stories about teams, about constructed families. Unlikely alliances and unexpected friendships that end up being so, so rewarding. This episode deals with that beautifully. Worf gets his in to begin really gelling with the crew, Jadzia and Julian laugh together at the expense of early-seasons-Julian, Quark makes friends with James Cromwell, and Kira and Sisko are the best.

Kira’s “holy crap I am friends with the Emissary” grin is also the best.

In addition to all these Feelings, this is just a really great spaceship episode in classic submarine storytelling style.

4×07: Little Green Men:

Look at this.

Look at it.

Good, now go watch the episode.

4×10: Our Man Bashir:

It should be clear by now that I’m a woman of offbeat tastes. I’ve always wanted to meet a nice lady with a tapeworm so that I could date someone like Jadzia. I somehow found it in my heart to love early-seasons-Bashir. Bedazzled skintight jumpsuits, disproportionately long limbs, anime eyes and all. But do you want to know what really gets my engine revving?

Oh. Hello, there.

O-o-oh. Oh, I see.

Oh God, what are these feelings inside of me? What witchcraft are you working on me, Star Trek?

OMG now he’s bleeding he’s in a tuxedo and he’s bleeding this is the most amazing thing to ever happen to me in my life what do I do with my hands how do I go on living when this is over OMGOMGOMG

I’m told that some other things happen in this episode, but frankly I never noticed.

4×16: Bar Association:

Rom: labor union organizer.

4×20: Shattered Mirror:

Subtitle: Jake Sisko goes on the Best Vacation Ever! The trend of excellent space-therapy continues as Jake spends the weekend with the body-double of his dead mom. Captain Sisko isn’t entirely convinced of the wisdom of this.

Jake and dead mom double, however, are sure that nothing could possibly go wrong.

In other news, Regent Worf got the cream of the crop from the SPCA.

I’ve had this dream so many times.

There is some subtextual evidence in the dialogue that implies Regent Worf is not a leader of well-considered opinions:

GARAK: The Intendant was bad enough. She was irrational, accusatory, unappreciative. But at least…
WORF: At least what?
GARAK: At least I was able to please her now and then.
WORF: You are not my type.

Worf, how are you even in charge of anything ,what is wrong with you, ye gods.

4×22: For the Cause:

Up until this episode, my opinion of the Maquis was “pfft, boring, they’re humans”. But then this hits and it’s like whaaaat.

Kasidy’s Maquis??! Whaaaat.

And then you’re like okay, okay I can deal with that. The Sisko will persevere. Jake will add this onto the pile of mommy issues and move on. But then!

Whoa whoa wait but Odo totally liked you what whaaaaaaaaat.

The shit: it is real. Oh, and Garak goes on a date with a teenager. To be fair, she’s pretty great.

4×24: The Quickening:

I have had this song stuck in my head since 1996.

This is the episode where I can begin to feel okay about liking Doctor Bashir in all his colonialist glory.  In an apt follow-up to Eddington’s Federation-as-homogenization tirade, Bashir finds himself neck-deep in his beloved ~frontier medicine in a place we’ll call The Planet of the Lepers.

I get the impression that Julian Bashir’s internal monologue sounds a lot like the content of a long series of pulp novels with racy covers and titles like Doctor Bashir And The Girl With Five Breasts, or Doctor Bashir Investigates: Where Are My Socks?, and in this particular instance Doctor Bashir– Among the Lepers! The great thing about our little ball of Starfleet-spiffy sunshine, though, is that he’s not that guy anywhere outside the holosuites. He doesn’t get the girl, and for the moment he’s no master of espionage. Heck, he can’t even cure one measly planet full of lepers. No matter how much he’s sure that he can.

“My bad, lepers.”

There’s a wonderful moment in act four where Bashir comes face-to-face with his own recklessly optimistic arrogance. It’s beautiful stuff.

4×26: Broken Link:

My notes for this episode were just “Worf totally ruins a perfectly good plan to commit genocide.” I stand by that. Another note could be that it’s clear from this that the universe runs on a currency of charm, and Garak is a goddamn billionaire.

No, for real. Why is Garak even on this mission in the first place? There’s every reason to disallow it. But all it takes is Garak reminding Sisko how great he is. The scene goes like this:

“Check it: I’m great.”

“Damn. He’s got a point.”

Season four ends with Garak in the clink, Odo in a meatbody, the Federation and Klingon Empire kinda-sorta tapdancing around open war, Emperor Gowron a suspected pudding-person, and the death of all Cardassia foretold by the Founders.

In the next post: Wacky Emissary hijinks! An episode about Keiko that’s actually fun! The spots go all the way down! Klingons, Klingons, Klingons! Even more genocide! Doctor Bashir becomes an unwilling expert in treating injuries associated with particularly rough interspecies sex!

Plus everything is beautiful and nothing hurts.

DS9 Stories/News: My 6 Favorite Parent-Child TV Relationships – Part II

Source: http://www.tvequals.com/2012/03/06/my-6-favorite-parent-child-tv-relationships-part-ii/

By PT Jackson | March 6, 2012

Last week, I listed my 6 favorite Parent-Child TV Relationships from shows currently airing or in hiatus. This week I would like to list my favorites from programs no longer airing new episodes. This list was a little harder to pin down than the list from last week. However, I was able to come up with some very enjoyable parent-child relationships.

Commander Sisko and Jake – Star Trek: Deep Space 9:

This member of the Star Trek franchise is generally known to be the darkest of all Trek. And yet it had its funny and heartwarming moments. In fact, Commander Sisko, the officer assigned to lead the space station, was a single dad of a young son, having been widowed during the battle with the Borg at Wolf 359. In contrast to Worf and Alexander, who had a very abrasive relationship in the beginning, Jake and his dad were always close. Having his son there brought out a softer side to the battle ready commander.

Probably to give Jake someone to hang around with, Rom, Quark’s brother, also had a son, Nog, and the two boys spent many an hour making mischief as they grew up together on Deep Space 9. This allowed for an exploration of human values seen through the eyes of an alien, and also gave us more insight into the Ferengi way of life.