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Is INTO DARKNESS better than STAR TREK (2009)?. Is INTO DARKNESS better than STAR TREK (2009)?
By Steve Krutzler / 00:01, 28 October 2003 / Reviews - Products
Another month, another collection of 26 nearly perfect episodes of STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE. In my last review I called DEEP SPACE NINE's fifth season the show's undisputed best. I stand by that declaration, but as intimated in the closing lines of that analysis, season six sure gives it a run for its latinum (and yours).
The sixth season of DS9 is unique for several reasons. The first and most obvious is that it was the first time in STAR TREK history that a series had embarked on an extended story arc for more than two or three episodes, and while the summer hype about ENTERPRISE's decision to put Earth in jeopardy tried to make us forget DS9, the arrival of its sixth season on DVD quashes any doubts. This was the STAR TREK show that pushed the envelope long before any other, the show that broke outside the bounds of the nice round hole that many insisted this STAR TREK's square peg squish into.
Season six was controversial in various regards. The six-episode opening barrage of episodes annoyed suits nervous about selling episodes so reliant on each other in syndication. The decision to focus so much energy on an interstellar war seemed anathema to many--and still does. Toward the middle of the season, a well-loved villain took a startling turn into madness and mysticism unlike anything many TREK fans and their staunchly scientific worldview (people like me) had ever wanted to see. DS9 also became the first TREK show to kill off a beloved regular character after she had almost seen the series through its entirety. But as with the previous seasons of TREK's underappreciated third child, this adversity just made for more creativity and more willingness to break the rules.
Some say STAR TREK isn't, shouldn't, and wasn't intended to be about war. Some even say Gene Roddenberry himself decreed that a war never be shown in the STAR TREK universe (this from the same man who told Brannon Braga he didn't mind that the upstart writer hadn't seen all the original series episodes because it would help keep his ideas fresh). But DS9's sixth season probably illuminated what TREK does best more so than any other incarnation. Earlier series welcomed external conflict to illuminate the human condition, even using aliens as surrogates for the problems of the present day that couldn't be directly addressed in the show's differing eras. But in the war stories of DS9 season six, we see a cast of characters confronted with one of the most devastating scourges of civilization and in the end, whatever their actions, the ideals of Gene Roddenberry's utopian hope for our future was maintained.
The issue isn't whether Sisko committed immoral actions in "In the Pale Moonlight," quite possibly one of the best STAR TREK episodes of all time. What matters is the journey that the character goes through, weighing his enlightened sensibilities against the desperation of a hopeless conflict destroying that very way of life. This idea was further developed in the introduction of Section 31 in "Inquisition," the super-secret intelligence organization that would stop at nothing to protect Federation security--the dirty progeny of our CIA and NSA, a necessary evil in an unnecessarily evil time. The way the STAR TREK characters struggle to maintain their humanity in the face of these awesome forces is a testament to everything Gene Roddenberry could've hoped his fantastic television creation could be.
The dilemma of a man forgoing the mission to save his wife in "Change of Heart"; the choice of a hero appealing to higher beings for justice in "Sacrifice of Angels"; the depths of madness twirled in a "Waltz"; the vagaries of racism and pure evil in "Wrongs Darker than Death or Night." These are the tales of extraordinary people surviving and aspiring to more than the sum of their horrid surroundings. The distinction between the code of war of the humans and the Dominion in "Rocks and Shoals" is probably one of the best illustrations of what STAR TREK is all about.
Even amongst all these heavy installments, DS9 manages to instill genuine humor and even romance. The key with an episode like "His Way"--the best romantic episode of STAR TREK ever--is that the characters have so much back story. Both Kira and Odo are two of the most developed characters ever to grace a STAR TREK stage, certainly more so than any of the NEXT GENERATION crew and most of the original cast. An episode like this can only ring true when you can forget that you're watching two actors in silly makeup doing silly things out of the context we're used to seeing them in. This isn't like one of those out-of-the-blue shows like TNG's "Attached" or the VOY romance with Paris and B'Elanna, or the strange flirtations between Scotty and Uhura in STAR TREK V. The reason "His Way" works is that both characters have gone through so much at this point in the series that their kiss is as close to euphoria as you can probably get while watching science fiction--yeah, it even beats the orgasmic special effects extravaganza of "Sacrifice of Angels."
You also can't talk about DS9's sixth season without talking about "Far Beyond the Stars," another one of those best-of installments rife with inspiration. The idea itself is just creative to the max, allowing so many of the actors to play completely different people and at the same time toy with what makes STAR TREK endure so much. The hope of a better tomorrow is at the crux of Benny Russell's stories in a race-torn 1950s America--a place not too different from today, make no mistake--and the willingness to go on such a philosophical journey is another reason why I defiantly say DEEP SPACE NINE is the best STAR TREK of them all, and Gene Roddenberry would've been damned proud.
The Technicalities
The picture looks great on the episodes sampled but as we've seen, any episode may hold a momentary skip and this probably varies from item to item. Mine arrived with slight damage to one of the plastic flaps, but that's just a shipping thing. The speakers on my TV sure sound like they're blown, which really sucks because I like to watch the show at full volume to take in all the sounds of battle and action (probably the reason they're blown), but after a while the rattling caused by the Defiant rumbling through spoace becomes distracting. If you're a sound aficianado with a hi-fi system, wait for DVD File's infinitely more informed write-up. For those of us without genetically-enhanced sensitivity to sound or picture, no worries to speak of.
The Extras
Now let me come down from my cloud a bit. As with season five, the extra features on this DVD just do not measure up to the quality of the work they document. These DVD sets are more than just a reliable recording of your favorite episodes. You're willing to pay the price because they promise something more, a niche product that delivers behind the scenes and after-the-fact reflections on the genesis of those episodes. We can't forget that the majority of the viewing will take place with the 26 stories themselves, but the half-hearted bonus materials just doesn't do the show justice. They provide enough to be competent, and that alone is a sorry goal.
First up is a perfectly fine program, MISSION INQUIRY, a nine minute affair devoted to "Far Beyond the Stars." What really makes this sizzle is that most of the interview footage is brand new (well, it's already a good year and a half since early 2002, when most of these were recorded) and covers a large smattering of the cast. From director/actor Avery Brooks, to the thoughtful Armin Shimerman, Rene Auberjoinois, Michael Dorn, Penny Johnson Jerald, Jeffery Combs, Herman Zimmerman, and Ira Steven Behr, this piece does justice to the landmark episode and feels like they got it right. You still miss the insight of Colm Meaney, Cirroc Lofton, and others, but at least most of the footage is new and several years removed from the episode's production.
24TH CENTURY WEDDING focuses on "You Are Cordially Invited...," the historic Klingon wedding episode of Jadzia Dax and Worf. Listen to Terry Farrell and writer Ronald D. Moore recall the episode in new interviews, along with director David Livington, and a surprisingly unmasked Aron Eisenberg ('Nog'). The only crime here is that this light-hearted episode gets more time than the "Far Beyond the Stars" featurette (10:30).
Two of the more satisfying CREW DOSSIERS reside in the second batch of menu items, focusing on Julian Bashir and Quark. Both are about fifteen minutes in length and provide well-rounded looks at the characters with brand new footage of the actors who brought them to life. Alexander Siddig is particularly delightful to hear from due to his candor, as well as discussion of a blooper you've probably never noticed and some philosophical STAR TREK-type discussion toward the end. Shimerman is no less wonderful in his thoughtful interrogation of Quark, one of the best characters TREK ever produced, and his interesting motivation about making amends for a one-dimensional performance of his that the actor felt unfairly boxed the Ferengi ever since the early days of TNG.
The final program, DS9 SKETCHBOOK with illustrator John Eaves blends conceptual artwork with final footage and the artist's commentary to make a competent nine minute segment. But for a season that literally broke new ground in terms of the amount of visual effects ever seen in a STAR TREK series, there is zero discussion of accomplishing the battle sequences in "Sacrifice of Angels."
If you think I overstated the limitations of these bonus materials earlier, the reason is that they simply omit a plethora of material the die hard fans have been waiting for. As with the previous set, there is very little time spent with the writing staff. For a season that started off with a huge arc, the only mention of it comes from Behr in a couple-minute long SECTION 31 HIDDEN FILE (04). We don't hear from Moore, Beimler, Weddle, Thompson, Echevarria, or Rick Berman himself. In fact, the head honcho is completely in absentia this time around. The decision to take Dukat down a road of demonic possession has often been the subject of tense debate within fan circles, so you'd think there might be some discussion of it here--nope.
Terry Farrell's decision to leave the show with just one year left, putting the staff in a last-minute bind as to how to resolve her arc(s), also gets no mention whatsoever. The actress makes passing reference to it in a hidden file about her last day on set. Vic Fontaine came aboard this year, another decision that has drawn criticism not so much for its wonderful use in "His Way," but its possible overuse in subsequent episodes. Again, nothing from anyone, not even Behr, who has in the past said Fontaine was love letter to his fascination with the Rat Pack. As has been the biggest flaw with all the TREK television series DVD sets, the bonus materials go out of their way to avoid controversy and provide a happy picture of a series served up for your willing wallet.
The hidden files have evolved from an early treat of episode-specific commentaries, to a ritual of careful avoidance and strategic topic-dropping to give the illusion of completeness. You'll find Nana Visitor commenting on "His Way" and the Kira/Dukat relationship; Behr gushing on Iggy Pop's guest spot; Auberjonois on the kissing scene; Mark Allen Shepherd on the silent Morn; and even a cursory few quips from Marc Alaimo on "Waltz." It all adds up to what looks like a well-rounded slate of extra features but in reality just covers up another group of extras that plays more like a Paramount brochure than anything else.
Final Thoughts
After all that you're probably wondering how in the hell I've awarded the set four out of five stars. It really comes down to the fact that I refuse to believe storytelling of this level is belied by poor bonus features that you would only watch once or twice anyway. Even if the features were absolutely spellbinding and introspective, you'd still probably never venture into them after an initial viewing. Maybe if they were better there'd be more rewatchability. Personally, even DVDs with great featurettes can only stand as tall as the work they accompany and if dung dressed in diamonds is still dung, a diamond in the rough is still priceless.
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