Plotlines

With the frequency I started posting at the beginning, I need to dial it back a bit because I can’t really keep up anymore! Especially since I started writing too late, so I’m now further ahead in watching than in writing, which doesn’t make things any easier. On top of that, I’m not writing directly after finishing a day of watching, like I did with Dr. House, for instance. (To be honest, even though writing here is a lot of fun, the most fun I had was with Dr. House. That flow I had back then was incredible, and sadly, I haven’t been able to replicate it since.)

Let’s pick up where we left off last time—Chief Miles O’Brien. By now, we’ve seen quite a bit of Julian and Miles, and it’s clear their bromance is slowly but surely solidifying. This includes playing darts, Holodeck sessions, and even entire episodes focusing just on the two of them. One particular episode really stands out to me as the one that cements their friendship.

The episode I’m referring to is S2E13, where the two find themselves on an alien planet tasked with destroying a specific substance, only to get caught up in a political conflict. Miles becomes infected by the substance, and Julian must essentially take charge of saving him, all while adapting to Miles’s technical expertise to do so.
Of course, they succeed in the end, but this experience not only strengthens their friendship but also lays a solid foundation for it.

As I write this, I’m struck again by how dense DS9 is. By that, I mean there’s an incredible amount to discover—be it the world itself, new species, the characters and their traits, or even their relationships with one another.

Even the so-called filler episodes, which I’d typically be tempted to skip, haven’t shown up yet. This is because the show’s writers clearly know exactly what story they want to tell and how much time it will take. They also strike a great balance, rarely making it feel like certain characters are being sidelined. In other Star Trek series, it’s relatively easy to tell who the main cast is and who’s more in the background. At first glance, you might think the same applies to DS9, but the longer you think about it, the more you realize that pretty much the entire cast can be considered main cast. Truly everyone! This is because so many characters are so deeply involved, no matter how large or small the story being told at the moment may be.

Let’s briefly jump over to Lower Decks, specifically to the episode titled “Lower Decks.” This episode gives us a glimpse into the lower decks of other Federation ships, including a Klingon ship. There, we see some older Klingons sitting together when a younger Klingon mentions the Battle of Klach D’Kel Brakt. The older Klingons respond with respect because younger Klingons typically don’t know about such stories anymore. That stuck in my mind, and now, in episode S2E19 of DS9, the same battle was mentioned again.

I often thought I had caught most of the DS9 references in Lower Decks, but once again, I was proven wrong. And I love Lower Decks even more for it.

We’ve also now been introduced to the Maquis, whom we know from Voyager. They’re a great contrast to the otherwise polished image of Starfleet. It’s also a necessary contrast, as Starfleet has often been portrayed as too perfect—if that’s the right term. I’m not entirely sure, but yes, it’s a refreshing counterbalance!

One thing I still need to mention is the German translation, which stumbles here and there. For example, a Runabout is often translated as “Shuttle” in German, which sometimes sounds quite odd. There’s also a moment where zucchini, known as eggplant in English, is translated as “Eier-Pflanze” (“egg-plant”), which comes across as strange. Thankfully, these mistranslations are isolated to certain words and aren’t a widespread issue. However, while double-checking, I noticed how incredibly distinct the actors’ voices are in English. I think my next rewatch will be in English!

With this post, I’m wrapping up season two because, in terms of watching, I’m already in the middle of season four. I still have a few gaps to fill, but I’ll manage since I’ve got notes and drafts ready to go.