"Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" Battle Lines (1993)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Paul Lynch

Writers:

Gene Roddenberry (creator: "Star Trek")
Rick Berman (creator) ...

TV Series:

"Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (1993)

Original Air Date:

25 April 1993 (Season 1, Episode 12)

Genre:

Action | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Plot:

After showing Bajoran spiritual leader Kai Opaka the wormhole, she, Sisko, Bashir and Kira crash land on a moon. Kai Opaka dies and the three meet the unfriendly locals.

Plot Keywords:

Stabbed In The Chest | Stabbed In Stomach | Satellite | Rebirth | Prophecy

Cast

Avery Brooks	...	Commander Sisko
Rene Auberjonois	...	Odo
Alexander Siddig	...	Doctor Bashir (as Siddig El Fadil)
Terry Farrell	...	Lieutenant Jadzia Dax
Cirroc Lofton	...	Jake Sisko (credit only)
Colm Meaney	...	Chief O'Brien
Armin Shimerman	...	Quark (credit only)
Nana Visitor	...	Major Kira
Camille Saviola	...	Kai Opaka
Paul Collins	...	Zlangco
Jonathan Banks	...	Shel-la
Majel Barrett	...	Federation Computer (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jeff Pruitt	...	Nol-Ennis Warrior

Language:

English

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the opening, Commander Sisko is studying Major Kira's file on a computer view screen. He turns the view screen off, but the very visible outlines of the file text (as well as Major Kira's photo) can easily be discerned on the darkened screen, revealing it to be a transparency illuminated from behind and not a true computer screen image.

Quotes:

Commander Sisko: We'd be willing to transport all of you away from here, if that's what you want.
Shel-la: Away from here? To live one life, to die in peace? To us, this is an ancient prayer that had never been answered, Commander.

Well done but not particularly memorable "warring faction" retread...

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Watching this episode is like visiting your old high school for the millionth time- there are some new faces and a few changes here and there, but, in the end, it's just not terribly exciting or dramatic because you've "been there-done that".

"Battle Lines" is a very sincere first season effort that takes great pains to "dot its I's and cross its T's- a good solid script & directing, consistent action sequences, and strong performances from both regulars and guest stars certainly elevate this installment above the rating of average.

Unfortunately, it never rises much above that, due to the fact that the basic premise of this episode- two cultures locked in a futile, generations old conflict- with a newly arrived Starfleet Captain attempting to miraculously mediate a lasting peace- has been done, re-done, and done to death in the Star Trek Universe. We've seen it all before, this basic story, in TOS, ST:NG, Star Trek:Enterprise, etc.

In all fairness, although the writers are clearly to blame for being repetitious, it's really hard to blame them too harshly. Star Trek has been in almost constant production since the 1960's; after hundreds of hours and story lines, it's inevitable that occasionally they are going to stumble and start repeating themselves. That's exactly what happens here.

A particularly intense performance by Nana Visitor (Major Kira) and excellent character portrayals by Camille Saviola (Kai Opaka) and Paul Collins (Zlangco) help to liven things up a bit, along with a spaceship crash & some excellent hand phaser shoot-outs.

Worth a look, but not a re-look.