When We Talked to Marc

With all our technical obstacles overcome we can finally post our interview with author, Marc Cushman.

For those of you in the know, it's also a pretty time to post this as July 13th marks 45 years since Star Trek was originally broadcast in the UK. For me in particular this is massively significant since without my Dad ever watching those airings I would never have caught the bug in the mid-80's and watched the BBC2 repeats then.

Shortly before the release of These are the Voyages season two we were granted a hour to chat to the man behind the three-volume series - but it went over by some time.

Which is why we've edited the interview into "bitesize" segments running from the introduction right through to our little test for Marc - but we'd recommend you listen in order.

So without anymore waffle, drop in and join us as we talk to Marc about all things Star Trek and importantly, the arrival of the second book in the series....and there are a few gems of info dotted here and there too....

Introduction

Back to the 80's

So how did Marc get into all this and where did it stem from?

Getting into the Voyages

It took a few years to get started but now it's in full flow...

Compiling the Volumes

Marc talks about his expectations for the series.

Printing Up

Working with the publishers, producing the covers and the differences in the stills used and others out there.

Talking Research

Getting those key interviews and sources before it's too late; and what was going on with Spock's Brain???

Six from SKoST

And just to test Marc's substantial knowledge of The Original Series...

Wrapping Up

Thanks to Marc and signing off...

These are the Voyages is available right now from Jacobs Brown priced $29.95. You can purchase your copy by dropping over to the site HERE.

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Old Baldy and Draping the St George on the Enterprise

Here at SKoST, we like to be concise. We also like to be punctual, factual, comical and slightly unique. So let me start off by apologising - to you our readers, to our reputation but especially to Sir Patrick Stewart.

We have been remiss in our duties. We debate our common interest, deliver our appraising or scathing remarks like a self-professed food critic or music mogul. Yet I find my proverbial tail between my legs to think we have completely missed such an important event - the Shakespearian actor's birthday! Like a champagne critic ordering up a 1988 Vintage Krug Brut by asking "I'll have the Lambrini". Paux Pas? We're way beyond it.

So in celebration, we'll quite happily break out the patriotism and gloat for having home-grown talent leading a series one of science-fiction's most popular TV shows...

A Yorkshireman, a countryman, a British classically trained actor in a sci-fi show??? Not since you Americans considered peanut-butter and jelly an amicable combination has there been such a juxtaposition. From delving into Sir Patrick's bio, the man himself recognised the oddity, refusing to unpack for six weeks, expecting to be on the next flight back to the land of hope and glory! Twenty-seven years later, we can look back on his contribution. Yes, in the first season of The Next Generation, I often believe I can sense the unease in his character and acting. I'm trying to convey a feeling I've never been able to shake in his first season - it's just a personal belief he was unsure of quite what he was doing there.

Years later however, we see him launch into such a tirade against the Borg, it would have left Shakespeare himself in awe! "This far; NO FURTHER!!! And I, will make them pay for what they've done!!" If you imagine someone who risks losing everything to an entity as brutal, cold and efficient as the Borg, you have been tortured and abused by them, they have threatened your home, your loved ones, everything you hold dear. All of that accumulating into one chance at revenge. I'd say this film housed his best dramatisation of these events, truly his best performance.

Besides the first season of The Next Generation, I don't think I'm alone here, I honestly feel Nemesis was far from his (and the rest of the cast's) best performance. There was a tired look about them, as if they had done one too many encores? I would love to get a personal account from him on what went on behind the scenes. Was that the case? Or perhaps it was the plot, or the director, or the general conditions? I wouldn't be surprised to find he's been asked this, ad nausea. Oh, and the Argo scene? Clearly Sir Patrick's idea for his love of cars I'm guessing!

Before this, there was high praise for sticking up for the little guy in Insurrection. I'm not going to go into each individual piece by him. Merely as a point of speculation, I've often believed Sir Patrick's performance and possibly his involvement as associate producer, were directly or indirectly as a result of his deep-seated humanitarian beliefs.

Too much praise? You may think so, I don't. I could digress into all aspects of his life, his achievements, beliefs, awards and honours, but this would be nothing more than what can be read up on Wikipedia, IMDB and so on. In addition, there are far too many events and years to cover - more than a single article could cover. What I'd REALLY love to do, is sit down with the man himself, let my wife grill him first over his love of Dr Who and Red Dwarf, then she would likely beg him to introduce her to Brian Blessed and then she would chat endlessly about Monty Python. By his next birthday, she may allow me 60 seconds to interview the poor man and get his thoughts! Imagine that... 60 second memoirs!

So, if anyone does happen to know where he is, his whereabouts, his schedule, when he'll next be in Scholar Green - Staffordshire, or if he entertains Skype? Please could you let him know I'm willing to battle his brains against the walnut I have in the space between my ears. If he really wants to feel at home, I actually drink Earl Grey. No, you didn't get me on it, my Grandma (bless her) did.

From a fellow countryman, I say happy birthday! Eat, drink and be merry! And in the spirit of our forefathers... Jolly good show old chap!

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From Start to Finish: Official Starships Collection Issues 24 and 25: Xindi Insectoid Ship and USS Prometheus

A different slant to this month.

For a start it's Saturday morning as I'm writing this and occasionally the month's releases are dropped off by the postal service ahead of the shelf release on the following Thursday so why not have a quick forward think before they (might) arrive?

We got a preview of the two latest releases this week on startrek.com and we've seen the ships ever so briefly in the recent Behind the Scenes video we discussed but aside from that and the usual slot on Entertainment Earth, these two have been kept fairly secret.

Going on the sole Enterprise release thus far, the NX-01, I'm expecting the Xindi vessel to be particularly impressive. It was a later CGI creation from the final televised show and should reflect the later advances in computer construction. I love the design of this craft - it's different, quirky and betrays a very different approach to design than anything so far in the series.

The USS Prometheus on the other hand is likely to be one of the more fiercely debated releases. A massive fan favourite since it's appearance in Voyager's Message in a Bottle, the prototype starship has to be a winner due to it's prominence and unique features. Taking a look at the early shots on startrek.com you can see the good level of detail but I hold out until I've got the ship in hand. Notably it doesn't look that big which does concern me but again, might look totally different in reality.

And on the following Wednesday they arrived...

Let's tackle issue 24 and the larger of the two ships first. The Xindi Insectoid ship comes in one of the biggest boxes to date alongside the Bajoran solar sailor. I was gutted to find mine arrived in two sections but a blob of glue easily solved that and you'd never tell it came in a less than totally assembled form. As we saw in that behind the scenes video, this one is BIG and it does benefit greatly from having a larger surface area to play with which has a great deal of lined hull detail marked out but that's just the start.

There's some weight behind this triple-pronged warship which is, unbelievably, only the second full release from Enterprise and every bit as detailed as the first. The NX-01 from issue 5 is one of the best and this new starship is raising the bar on the level of detail found on alien craft. I may go as far as saying that it's in my top three.

Designed with a crab-like structure in mind, there's no official up or down with the Insectoid vessel which is emphasised by its near multiple lines of symmetry also meaning it was viewed in just about every angle possible during flight.  She does benefit from being one of the later craft committed to screen and thus more advanced CGI development which is displayed here in the Eaglemoss miniature. 

The hull itself is deep grey in colour,  the surface is punctuated with clear blue engine segments and lighter grey and blue panels with an overall deadly and striking appearance from bow to stern. There are minimal clear segments, only in the nose pieces and a touch on the arms. She is reassuringly solid and one of the less bendy products which always eases your tensions when first dropping them onto the display stand. Even more satisfying is the fact she sits well on the stand which attaches to the rear of the hull and lower two fins. 

Remember though there's no fixed up or down here and even in the magazine the vessel is shown sitting in in a variety of angles.The rear of the Insectoid craft is marvellously detailed with a lot of intricate angles and appendages which all fit closely together and mirror the CGI images in the accompanying literature perfectly. 

I love all the curves, line and edges here from both John Eaves design and Pierre Drolet's CGI model which was a slight evolution from what was signed off. I'd recommend dropping by Pierre's site to check out the "real"  article alongside his rendering of the NX-01 and Borg cube among other Star Trek and sci-fi creations. 

Sticking with the Xindi though and although not a big fan of that adversary or the show,  I'm mightily impressed with the result from Eaglemoss and look forward to issue 26 which will feature their third Enterprise release,  the 22nd Century Tholian warship. I already have high expectations for this one.

I'm also going to stop second guessing what will be in the magazines from this month on. I anticipated pages of Xindi general background but instead the content is more refreshingly focused on the Insectoid sub-species. My relatively inferior knowledge of Enterprise meant this was a good,  concise reminder and a kick to rewatch those later years at the very least. 

The monthly ritual of giving the in-universe blurb and exclusive artwork might not lead into aspects of filming since this ship was only ever real on a computer screen but instead covers the story of its digital evolution and also the origins of the Insectoids and how they were brought to the show. A lot is given over to the episode Hatchery which focused on both the race and the ship but as I've not watched it for some time I didn't mind - it's one of the best canon sources for the Xindi. One issue with this issue(!) is the lack of labelling on the plan views of the vessel. I'd suggest this is an oversight but for casual fans they may be wondering where all the advanced engine tech is housed or the weapons ports are fixed.

Moving on, issue 25 is one of those big payouts; USS Prometheus. Easily winning award for biggest gimmick in Star Trek history with the fantastical multi-vector assault mode,  it's sure to be out of stock for some time. 

The Facebook page reviews of both the Xindi and Starfleet vessels have been high on praise and it's well founded. We've already said that the Insectoid vessel was a winner and this prototype is also superb. I was concerned that after seeing the shots in promo photos and on the behind the scenes video that this would be small and far from up to standard. As you can see this was totally unfounded. 

The upper primary hull is metal while the rest is in plastic. With the nacelles being shorter than other Starfleet ships in the series they are less pliable and for once they are all evenly spaced and we'll constructed. Every issue is getting better and better but here we have one of those ships that really got the fans talking. Aside from Voyager this was the first time we'd seen another Federation starship and was our first glimpse back into the Alpha Quadrant proper. 

The design and features blew up away and while we can't separate this model into its three distinct sections without hefting her out of a first storey window, the result will satisfy any collector or casual fan of the show. Don't be worried about there being any possibility of the Prometheus doing a midnight swan dive as the stand is a mid-body fit and snug enough that she won't be going anywhere.

Hull detail is spot on with all windows, hatches, shuttle bay and phaser strips in their right place. In fact there are a lot of windows marked out on both hulls. If we look back at previous models there has been a bit of a disconnect between the detail on plastic and metal but again, over time, this seems to have been addressed and here the whole ship comes together as one piece rather than the metal being a higher quality finish as with the movie refit USS Enterprise for one.

The only grumble might be in the lack of detail on the underside of the primary hull but then this will be a CGI accurate recreation so I'll pass over that pretty quickly. As with the Insectoid ship, the marked out hull plating is excellent and looks superior to the images in the magazine - and that has to be a first. 

The hull detail including the "docked" nacelle atop the primary hull, is exceptional and definitely rivals Eaglemoss' best work from the preceding issues. The joint lines are clean between metal and plastic, everything is properly sealed together which  should negate any negative reactions from fans.  I suspect Eaglemoss are always a little cautious when the big name ships are released -  any of the Enterprise variants or the Thunderchild for instance - but with the USS Prometheus they have created one that will be sought after. I might even suggest a three-piece special would be a winner for the future but for now this is just awesome and I can't enforce how important it is that you go and buy this one when it hits shelves in a couple of weeks. To check the UK release dates, drop by our post here.


Ok - so to wrap up let's skip through the magazine for regular issue 25. It's great - again. There's lots of pics of the ship separated both from Message in a Bottle and newly created for the collection. Bot only that but there's also Rick Sternbach's detailed drawings of the three components and the fully assembled ship which were used to create the CGI model. 

The background on the Prometheus is a bit limited to it's one major appearance (yes, I know it was in Endgame) but that hasn't stopped Eaglemoss before with ships such as Dauntless or the Bajoran Solar Sailor, nor has it here. The special feature is, as you would expect, the multi-vector assault mode (titled as Ship Separation) which also briefly covers some of the internal features we didn't get to see on screen but were indicated by designer Sternbach. In fact those design details take over six pages of the slim magazine but they are worth it. 

Rick Sternbach's work is stunningly drawn, revealing the way in which the prototype was intended to be five composite sections and accompanied by the thought processes of how the Prometheus was just about the most advanced and experimental ship we ever got to see. In a way it's a clever thing we have with this month's releases since one is almost from the earliest era we saw on TV and the second from one of the latest. 

While it's not the magazine we buy this for, it is well worth the read and to collect just for the always mesmerising design-and-build sections. Subscribers have already made it clear that this is one of the must-haves of the collection - definitely make it one of yours.

Another brilliant month's worth of additions to the range and so many more to come. With Issue 26 we'll also be exactly ONE YEAR into the collection - hasn't time flown ladies and gents....???

Next month we'll be seeing two Enterprise releases with the Tholian webspinner and the Romulan Bird-of-Prey.

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Back to the Modelling Board; Revell's Original Series USS Enterprise

Back in 2013 we were fortunate to review the Revell Star Trek Into Darkness USS Enterprise.

Now we can bring our sequel of sorts with the completion of the Revell kit for The Original Series' legendary starship. However this time, instead of having a bash at building her, I handed control over to someone with a ton more experience and a far steadier hand (and dare I say it about 200% more patience); my Dad.

A Star Trek fan since the original BBC TV airings back in the early 1970's, Dad is the reason I like the show and can be therefore blamed for me taking it to another level. In the past he's constructed the Enterprise-A from The Final Frontier, Enterprise-D, Klingon Bird-of-Prey (here, left) and the Vor'Cha attack cruiser, USS Excelsior from The Undiscovered Country and USS Defiant (personal favourite) so his credentials at the interview for this article were already enough to guarantee we'd be getting some top-notch material. When I said I'd received this kit for review though he did jump at the chance to tackle the starship since it was the mid-1980's when he completed the classic AMT release.

What I can say ahead of his review is that this is light years ahead of that and I can also be certain that the result will be a good deal better than my attempt on the JJ Abrams USS Enterprise. 

Right, let's get it started....

Opening Up

Saucer section ready for assembly

The Revell kit of the original USS Enterprise comes in an end-tuck carton which is useless for holding parts or sub-assemblies but, from this point, onward to construction. 

The parts come in four packs, one of which contains the clear items. The rest are in a light grey plastic which all look crisply moulded and the etched lines look a little heavy but not unacceptable so no re-scribing should be needed. The instruction booklet is in Revell’s standard format which is very clear and straightforward. I would say, at this point, I do not intend to use the kit windows because this will mean a significant amount of masking when it comes to painting; instead I will fill the apertures with Micro Kristal Klear  after completion.

The Build

Saucer section built and filled

Construction starts with the saucer section into which the navigation lights are inserted first. There is some confusion here because the instruction sheet illustration appears to show the tapered end of the bridge recess at the front of the saucer and it is only by looking at the impulse engine locating holes that the correct orientation is recognised. 

The saucer section went together well with no gaps needing more than a smear of filler. The only complication was the sprue gates which on parts A16, A18, A20 and A21 were rather thick and took some effort in cutting away. This is necessary because the location points in the saucer are inside the gate recesses – now onto the warp engines. 

Hull complete and warp engines attached

The warp engines are quite straightforward from a construction point of view. The complications are in the painting. Parts C29 and C44 were cemented in and the area painted silver. The clear parts A30 and A45 were more problematical because the main is clear orange but the ‘ribs’ in silver were tricky and needed a magnifying light and a steady hand. Parts B32 and B47 were left off until final painting along with A34, A37, A49 and A52 and, because these are the same colour which is a mix, they need to be painted at the same time to avoid shade differences.

Next, the pylons, which are quite ingenious in nature. They consist of a ‘V’ frame and two inner panels. When completed this sub-assembly sits like a saddle across the main hull. Cleverly this performs two functions - it fixes the angle from which the pylons come away from the hull and it means that there is no stress trying to pull the hull halves apart which was the case in earlier versions – well thought out Revell. 

Now I fitted the warp engines to the ‘V’ frame - all was good with just a touch of filler to tidy up the joints. 

Final Construction

Secondary hull complete with engines

Next, the main hull. I fixed the two bracing pieces (D102 and D103) and left them to dry overnight. The following day the shuttle door (E104) was added along with the 90 gm weight. Fortunately there is plenty of room in the hull to accommodate such a large volume. This was super-glued and taped to stop it moving around because there will be no possibility of securing it once the sensor array and the pylons are fitted. The hull went together very well and there seems little need for filler at this stage. This sub-assembly is now taped ready for final assembly.

Final assembly consists of the now-completed warp engine/pylon sub-assembly, main sensor and saucer. The warp engines were attached and left to dry overnight. The main sensor inner (D68 and D69) were assembled and fitted. The only difficulty encountered was the fit of part D68 which needed some material shaving from the main hull to let it fit but this was easily accomplished.

The sensor dish was left off to be painted separately to avoid masking. The saucer section was left off at this stage also because the primer will be easier to apply. Dependent upon fit, it may be that it will be given its final paint coat and attached afterwards. This decision is best left until after the next step - onto painting. 

By Numbers

B35 masked up

I painted all of the ‘non hull’ colour areas around the warp engines, impulse engine and main sensor. The main sensor array was painted gloss black because it is the most effective undercoat colour for the copper. When all of these areas have dried, they will be masked off for the overall assembly colour. At this point I painted the stand gloss black (also the most effective undercoat for the gold insignia). 

Having painted all of the supplementary colours the masking can be tricky. A tip in masking recessed areas such as found on parts B35/36 and B50/51 is to run the tip of a cocktail stick around the edge to give a clear area to trim off the tape. 

The final assembly now completes the hull with the warp engine covers and the main sensor being fitted. All good fits with no filler necessary.

I Name This Ship...

Awaiting final assembly

Decal fitting was achieved with no problems. Colour register is very good due to the depth USS Enterprise and NCC-1701 on the saucer, there is virtually no trace of pigment with no ‘show through’.

The carrier film is very clear and, even on the main I used a decal setting solution on the major pieces and the decals reacted very well. For note you do also get the option to mark her up as either USS Constellation or USS Potemkin.

The final step is a coat of satin varnish overall and putting in the windows with Micro Kristal Klear to which a dash of gloss white or gloss black is added (personal preference). The main thing I would emphasise is the benefit of keeping the hull and saucer sections separate until the last task. This has helped tremendously in the handling of the pieces which, due to the awkwardness of the shapes, would have been very difficult to paint easily. This is possible because of the very good fit of the saucer to hull joints which is tight with no remedial work needed on the joint. 

The project has gone together very well and I would thoroughly recommend that any Star Trek fan with a modicum of scale-modelling experience gives it a try.

Many thanks to Revell for their assistance in the production of this model review.

Massive thanks to Dad for the time to build and review the kit.

All build photographs courtesy of SB2014

Final hero model shots by SKoST with exception of starship with box below (top right image) also courtesy of SB2014

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Takei - as in Okay

How have I missed this?

To Be Takei might not be your standard movie offering but I genuinely had no idea that there was a film purely focusing on the diverse life and experiences of Enterprise helmsman and Excelsior captain and all round top guy, George Takei.

Back in the nineties I grabbed a copy of his To the Stars autobiography and was surprised at the diverse ways in which his life had turned. I wasn't as enamored with it as I had been with both of Shatner's Memories books but I still found it to be a great read and full of wonderful anecdotes about George Takei.

Directed by Bill Weber and Jennifer M Kroot, the initial release of this biopic was January 2014 but it will now receive a universal release with the USA opening on (provisionally) August 22nd 2014

To Be Takei looks to place a lot of the material in that book onto the screen as well as more intimate details about Takei's life with partner Brad and more on the events that have taken place since the original publication of the book. George's rise to even greater levels of fame are clearly going to be explored here and I'd say that's the biggest change since he originally put pen to paper. The focus on his sexuality is a major piece here since it had to be "closeted" to ensure his career was a success in the early years while now it is openly and happily acknowledged.

As with Wil Wheaton, the coming of the digital age and the explosion of social media has provided George with a whole new audience as well as the ability for long-time Star Trek fans to follow his tweets, Facebook musings and Google+ highlights - damn it even my step-son follows him and he won't ever be found watching the teaser of a Voyager let alone the titles or anything thereafter. His material on any platform is very accessible to all ages and George has 100% hit the mark and the button which makes people interested in what he has to say whether it's over a weird meme or on gay rights for which he has become a major voice in the USA and dare we say, globally.

This trailer gives a fantastic journey into the original Sulu's life seeingly intercut with interviews from Nichelle Nichols, Leonard Nimoy, Walter Koenig, Bill Shatner and even the current Enterprise helmsman, John Cho, giving their thoughts on the popularity of Takei. Aside from the cast there are critics and journalists who join the fray to talk about his life from internment during the Second World War right up to today.

It looks like a stunning story and much expanded since the commitment to paper a while back and I'm genuinely excited to see the result which looks to hit just about every emotional tick-box you can imagine from pulling at your heart over his formative years through to the possibly comedic interactions we see with his partner, Brad at several points in this two minute trailer. 

Considering George Takei's meteoric rise in popularity in the last decade this could well be as surprise a hit as Star Trek (2009) but with a larger appeal to the general public who have warmed to the former Star Trek actor because of his seemingly endless and tireless activity and ambassadorial nature for gay rights in particular. Also, who can resist any of those memes he posts which reveal a very "smart humour" or some of the more hard hitting material that we see him share on his sites? For those people who aren't familiar with his background, To the Stars autobiography or his life away from Star Trek I guarantee this will be an absolute eye-opener and you'll instantly love the guy and follow his posts on whatever platform you choose to frequent.

Some time back there was a disproved rumour that Takei didn't operate his pages himself. The release of this movie should reinforce that he is behind the keyboard and takes a keen interest in his fans. As it's noted here in the trailer, no-one gets more positive reactions than Mr Sulu and this will be the icing on that very cake.

We'll be hoping to review the full movie as soon as it's released. Until then, here's the trailer...

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The Adversary: The End of the Beginning for Deep Space Nine

Season three of Deep Space Nine closes with one of the show's most famous lines; "You're too late; we're everywhere."

Easily topping Sisko declaring that the station would be ready for a Dominion attack a year earlier in The Jem'Hadar, The Adversary is one of the most significant year-ends of the entire franchise. A lot of fans will now be citing Call to Arms or The Best of Both Worlds as other examples but hear me out on this one - and then give me both barrels.

Let's quickly  place the episode into context first. It's 1995 and Voyager has just launched. First Contact is in production and the franchise is hitting the pinnacle of what I've previously termed it's "Golden Age". Everything is in place and running smoothly. Time to take it up a notch with a stronger presence for the intended Big Bad of the show.

The Adversary is the traditional kick-in-the-teeth story we would expect from a season finale but it's build up was quite muted. The Dominion took something of a backseat for the majority of the third season, popping their heads above water on a couple of occasions to cause a few inconvenient challenges for the crew of Deep Space Nine but nothing more. That conspicuous presence is what helps push this episode into the realms of the show's key moments.

These 44 minutes mark a step up in the activities of the Dominion in the Alpha Quadrant. They barely broke a sweat obliterating the Obsidian Order and Tal'Shiar in The Die is Cast but here we see their first major attempts to destabilise the Federation by starting a war with the Tzenkethi. While they become one of the show's infamous "unseen enemies" (effectively replacing the Breen in this role), it's the importance of this change of tactics which drives the shift that would encompass the whole show from the beginning of the fourth series.

Aside from the magnificent late season two-parter, the Dominion only grace the screen in The Search, The Abandoned and Heart of Stone while the impact of their existence is alluded to several times elsewhere.  The Way of the Warrior just an episode later (opening season four) is a great example of just that - the paranoia of the Dominon soaks every scene however they are never seen. In this sense The Adversary more than paves the way for seasons four through seven, replacing the pioneering, adventurous spirit that we've taken in week after week with a very real sense of concern and impending darkness. We've known this moment would come but it's been an underplayed build up over two years. The tension oozes through the deckplates of the Defiant as suspicion reigns and even Bashir becomes the victim of changeling attentions - not for the last time either. 

While Deep Space Nine has never been a cozy, comfortable place with everyone the best of friends, here the cracks show as the lack of trust increases the nearer they potentially come to war with their unseen foe. The Defiant effectively becomes a microcosm for the Federation and we can see within this handful of characters what the meddling of the Changelings could do to the fabric of all that we know about Star Trek. While the Borg had one singular goal and went on the offensive from Q Who, the Dominion are just as happy to play the long game and use all the tricks in the book and not necessarily using the heavy hand of the Jem'Hadar. In fact in The Adversary blood tests and phaser sweeps play a larger part than blasting away at their shape-shifting enemy. 

The build up to inevitable war here has, significantly, not taken a whole season. Yes there were the suggestions that season three would be the turning point back in The Jem'Hadar and with the arrival of the Defiant in The Search, Part I but the real rolling stone only started gathering moss after The Die is Cast. There were milestones to reach in season three which led to the next tipping point in a cascade style while with the previous season there was one thread in that the Dominion existed and waiting for their appearance was what drove the bulk of that batch of episodes. Perhaps there is one theme which does complete a season-long arc here in that Odo does indeed harm another changeling. That notion was borne in The Search and resurfaced in Heart of Stone as well as from Commander Lovok in the final scenes of The Die is Cast. There's a sense of inevitability that only the security chief could play out with such style.

Nor can we ignore Sisko's promotion in the teaser. It is a huge moment not just in the fact that a commanding officer is given an extra pip but in that it effectively shows the closing of a chapter in the life of the show. All the elements to prep the show for the imminent war are there (except Worf) and the phase of building bridges and preparing Bajor to enter the Federation are coming to a juddering halt. All of the threats that have been faced so far have been done and dusted in one or at least less than a handful of episodes. 

The Adversary emphasises that the two year build up is over and the greatest threat since the Borg is now knocking on the door. The less concerning opposition from the Romulans and Cardassians has been removed and all their attention is now turned to the Federation and, as we get to see shortly hereafter, the Klingons. The comfort blanket of the station too is removed, placing the action in the confines of the Defiant and two new standing sets (mess hall and engineering), heightening the tension to a level we've never experienced. There is a very real terror amongst the characters here with everyone from Sisko down to his Bolian crewman (Jeff Austin) second-guessing each other at every step. I think that Bolian should have come back in season four without a doubt even if it was just to help bump up the psychosis levels for a few episodes.

The usual "make you think" story is totally overridden with the hunt on board the Defiant as everything else takes a backseat to the impending threat of war with the Tzenkethi. There isn't even a "B" story here to allow you a breath outside the confines of the tough little ship. The teaser point of Sisko's promotion is soon forgotten once he starts his captain's log after the titles and Krajensky starts hacking into the Defiant. In the case of the faux ambassador come Changeling infiltrator we can all guess there's going to be something major involving him from the off and once Dax starts scanning crew it's not hard to work out who is responsible for the sabotage. In that respect The Adversary is definitely not a "whodunnit" or leaving anything hanging. The threads of the episode clearly lead from start to finish with action and  suspicion at the forefront.

The removal of the "B" story is a departure from the norm again it does signal the change in tack that we will come to see in the next four seasons as well as the harder edged Sisko who will go all out to keep the peace - or drag another party into a war as we will later experience.

Now I know The Adversary for many is not one of the greater moments of Deep Space Nine especially when you take into account the bulk of seasons five and six which are some of the greatest Star Trek ever committed to the big or small screen but at this time, at this point in the history of the franchise it was a major game-changer. The events here and the notion that all is not well nor has it been well for some time sparks some of the best episodes we would ever see The Way of the Warrior, Call to Arms, Sacrifice of Angels, In the Pale Moonlight and more. OK so it doesn't deal with any of the Bajoran elements raised from Emissary et al but all those have to be placed on a backburner to some degree. This threat actually does help that section of the show in that Sisko has a commitment to defend the Federation and Bajor from the Dominion when (not if) they choose to go on the offensive.

Episode 26 of season three ends the dream and begins the hard reality that the Dominion are no longer confined to their section of the galaxy. Season four in counterpoint is darker and more cynical. The optimism of the first three years as the relationship between the Federation and Bajor grew becomes subdued and guarded while the threat of the Gamma Quadrant's major power grows rapidly. Episodes such as Hippocratic Oath, Homefront, Paradise Lost, To the Death and Broken Link hammer in the nature of the opposition before the main event. If you look through the run of season four in comparison to the previous year the stories are less hopefully, more insightful and a harder take on the crew than before - and it suits. While not a particularly Odo-heavy finale, the big payoff from this episode would take another year to come to fruition and does close the door firmly on the possibility of Odo returning home for the foreseeable future. The Adversary ends the exploration, introduction and establishment of the show and from here on in it's personal.

Did you think The Adversary was key to Deep Space Nine? Is it one of their game-changing episodes? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.