Star Trek Deep Space Nine - The Complete Seventh Season

Oh yes, and don't forget the War! There was an early announcement that the show would attempt a 10-part resolution to the Dominion War, but viewers could be forgiven for forgetting all about it with so much sentimental distraction. When the horrors of war did resurface, they at least injected a few surprises into the mix. Odo and his ambiguously "evil" Founders were hit with a melting disease, prompting a backstabbing race for the power of developing and owning a cure. The original baddie Cardassians finally settled on the Federation's side. Contrary to these interesting twists, however, were the unexpected turns taken by matters relating to Sisko's spiritual destiny. Suddenly the mystery of the wormhole and an entire religious belief system was reduced to the problem of correctly translating the words of a sacred book. The struggle to join with some evil aliens significantly diluted the attempt at resolving what had begun seven years before in the show's pilot episode. Ultimately, Sisko's destiny, as with all those who'd followed him to the open-ended climax, was to be decided elsewhere. In a move that was either bold and daring--or possibly born of desperation for not having thought things through properly--the show's storylines were to be continued in a series of spin-off books. --Paul Tonks

Never before and not since in the history of Star Trek has a series serialized so many portions of its run and from the very early beginnings of the rumors of the Dominion all the way through the final episode in the epic, the entire arc with the Dominion war was prophetic and superior in how it was all set up and concluded.

This incomparable seventh season also brought to the series and the fans the addition of a new character in Ezri Dax. Given that the shows writers had a whole new character to play with and the fact that Ezri turned into such a unusual and wonderful character, many of the seasons early episodes were devoted to her and they were very good shows. High praise goes to Nicole deBoer for her performances during this season.

To make things even better for this season of wrapping up character and plot arcs, the shows producers decided upon and carried out some very different things for the Star Trek universe. From a brilliant and unprecedented ten episode arc to conclude the series to the extraordinary things they did with many of the characters to conclude the series; such as Captain Sisko's destiny, Rom's gift from Zek, Worf and Martok's intertwined destinies, the ultimate relationship between Bashir and Ezri, O'Brien's new assignment and Odo's return to the great link carrying the message of humanity, all of which wrapped up these characters perfectly.

For those that wish to find out what many of Star Trek fiction's finest authors and Pocket Books with approval through Paramount Studios believes what happens after the conclusion of "What You Leave Behind," there is a whole new re-launch series available and most of these rich stories have received very high praise from fans and critics alike.

The episodes:

Image in the Sand & Shadows and Symbols- These two episodes pick up beautifully where the sixth season left off and starts the character of Benjamin Sisko down the path of the prophets through an unexpected new character introduced in these shows. Ezri Dax is also introduced here in a funny and surprising way.

Afterimage - Ezri is finding out what it is to be a joined Trill and Garak, played perfectly by Andrew Robinson, and becomes her new patient as he finds "he" is a suffering from a moral dilemma.

Take Me Out to the Holosuite - Simply put, this is one of the series funniest and most cherished episodes ever produced.

Chrysalis - Bashir's genetically enhanced friends make a return in this beautiful yet heart wrenching episode.

Treachery, Faith and the Great River - It is episodes like this one that carried DS9 due to its rich script and superb acting as a Weyoun clone is found to be "defective" and seeks the aid of Odo while at the same time Nog may be in Starfleet but he proves he is still a Ferengi.

Once More Unto the Breach - John Colicos returns as Kor in this last amazing Klingon devoted episode of the series.

The Siege of AR-558 - The true effects of war come face to face with several of the characters in this episode.

Covenant - The final arc of Dukat and his covenant with the Pah-Wraiths begins in earnest in this extremely well written episode.

It's Only a Paper Moon - Vic Fontaine and Nog lead in this episode as Nog retreats to the holosuite to deal with his loss during his time on AR-558.

Prodigal Daughter - This beautiful episode introduces us to Ezri's family and a return for O'Brien as an intelligence operative dealing with the Orion syndicate.

The Emperor's New Cloak - This is the last brilliant mirror universe episode and at the same time the last great Ferengi episode.

Field of Fire - Ezri finds herself dealing with Joran, one of Dax's previous hosts that was a murderer and a series of murders takes place on the station.

Chimera - This is one story that I'd always hoped would come along, what if another changeling that was sent out like Odo showed up. The character of Laas is played to perfection by J.G. Hertzler's brother, Garman.

Badda-Bing Badda-Bang - You knew it would have to happen; a show devoted to Vic Fontaine and despite some misgivings with this character and its place in Star Trek, the overall story is very good.

Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges - Sloan from Section 31 returns in this brilliantly written episode which is heavily laden with mystery and intrigue involving the Romulans.

Penumbra thru What You Leave Behind - "Penumbra" is where the extraordinary ten episode arc begins and the conclusion of the Dominion War and the series starts. From gripping character driven scenes to extraordinary space battles between Federation, Klingon, Romulan, Dominion, Cardassian and Breen starships, every scene in these last ten episodes of the 176 hour saga is absolutely brilliant, leaving us, the fans longing for more yet remembering them fondly... {ssintrepid}

Episode list:

Image in the Sand
Shadows and Symbols
Afterimage
Take Me Out to the Holosuite
Chrysalis
Treachery, Faith and the Great River
Once More Unto the Breach
The Siege of AR-558
Covenant
It's Only a Paper Moon
Prodigal Daughter
The Emperor's New Cloak
Field of Fire
Chimera
Badda-Bing Badda-Bang
Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges
Penumbra
'Til Death Do Us Part
Strange Bedfellows
The Changing Face of Evil
When it Rains...
Tacking Into the Wind
Extreme Measures
The Dogs of War
What You Leave Behind

Special Features:
-Ending An Era
-Crew Dossier: Benjamin Sisko
-Crew Dossier: Jake Sisko
-The Last Goodbyes
-Photo Gallery
-9 Section 31 "Hidden" files


The Final Chapter   April 23, 2003
Adam Dukovich
15 out of 17 found this review helpful

Deep Space Nine's Seventh Season is basically a highlight reel. One show after another sparkles, there are plenty of twists, and, most importantly, the show ends so well. The final arc is truly amazing and makes us remember why we liked the show in the first place.

First off, there is a new Dax host in the last season. Nicole DeBoer plays Ezri Dax in the final season, taking over for Terry Farrell. I always liked the idea of having a new regular character come in before the end to mix things up, and there are a few good episodes devoted to her. "Afterimage" has Ezri trying to get her old friends to accept her; and "Field of Fire" has her enlisting the help of psychopath Joran Dax to catch a clever killer. It was in this episode where we learned how different she was to be from the previous Dax: her readiness to access the twisted Joran part of herself. Also, "Prodigal Daughter" explores her backstory.
All the characters receive a fitting coda. Sisko begins the season confused about his purpose, but wraps up the season fulfilling his destiny. Kira is promoted to Colonel, but finishes up the season as a freedom fighter once again, and ends up in command of the station. Worf has an eventful season, which includes depression after Jadzia's death, nonacceptance of Ezri leading to romance, as well as indignation at Gowron for his purely personal motives in the war. Julian has a couple of run-ins with Section 31 and overall becomes a wiser, more mature person. Garak ends up finally ending his exile, Quark still runs the bar, and Rom becomes the Grand Nagus. All in all, the denouement of the show was perfect.

Some of this season's highlights are "Take me Out to the Holosuite", a whimsical break from the war which pits Sisko against an academy nemesis in baseball, "Once More Unto the Breach" and "The Siege of AR-558", a pair of war stories, "Treachery, Faith and the Great River" with Weyoun defecting from the Dominion, "It's Only a Paper Moon" and "Badda-Bing Badda-Bang", both Vic Fontaine episodes, the first dealing with Rom's injury, the second is a tribute to heist films. The aforementioned "Field of Fire" is a great mystery story, but my favorite episode of the season is "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges". This is the best Section 31 episode of all of them, a complicated morality play/spy story where nothing is as it seems. "The Changing Face of Evil" has more twists than Lombard Street, including Damar finally breaking off and starting his resistance movement. "Tacking into the Wind" finally has Gowron getting his just dessert, and "What You Leave Behind" concludes the series well by ending the Dominion war and having the characters go their separate ways.

It is easy to say that Season 7 is among the show's best. It is definitely worth purchasing.


Saying Goodbye   February 3, 2004
Daniel J. Delawter (Worth IL USA)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

I said goodbye to some friends tonight, after spending the last six months purchasing and watching the entire DS9 series on DVD. There are few TV shows that can compare with DS9, forget Star Trek comparisons. This was an epic set in the Star Trek universe and it was not primarily episodic, like its sibling shows. I can think of other shows I have seen, such as Hill Street Blues, that depend on your emotional investment to the development of the characters, and this one is similarly well-written. DS9 makes you care.

This seventh season wrapped up most of the story lines neatly, some not so neat.

I enjoyed the ten-part story arc to end the war with the Dominion, which was handled with so much intrigue throughout the series. Weyoun is probably my favorite character and he finally got his time to shine in the best episode in the season, in my opinion, Treachery, Faith and the Great River. I thought he met his fate too abruptly and thoughtlessly at the end, but then again, I also strongly believed the female shapeshifter deserved much worse.
She, and her fellow founders, were directly responsible for the death of billions of Cardassians, Klingons, Breen, Romulans and Federation citizens, not to mention the erradication of the Maquis and the senseless sacrifices of their own bred and cloned slaves, the Jem-hadar and Vorta.
This made me hard to swallow Odo returning to his people at the end, they seemed too brutal to me to deserve any kind of redemption. (I too learned this spoiler early, thanks to the crew dossiers on an earlier season, bad move)

The emissary plot ended about right and in the same tone as the series began, if a bit anti-climatic being scrunched between the goodbyes. I also felt Dukat was better suited in the Dominion Plot than with his extended involvement with the Pah-Wraiths and Kai Wynn (yucky)

The introduction of a new character in Ezri Dax, started out as a disaster in the intial episode, she seemed so annoying. But luckily, they toned her down a bit, and even if I would have like to see Jadzia make it till the end, I enjoyed what the new Dax brought to the table.

And Worf, who tied so much of Star Trek together, showed how cyclical in nature one's life can be, usurping the Chancellor he put in power in TNG for the good of the Klingon Empire.

I wish there was another season after watching this one, and I know I really missed the boat when the show was on the air, but thank God for series' on DVD!


Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Season 7   September 6, 2004
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

I spent the better part of a weekend watching all twenty-six episodes in this box set, and I must tell you that this is a magnificent end to a wonderful show. Nicole deBoer, who is new to the series, does an superb portrayal of Ezri Dax, the new host of the Dax symbiont. Also, the final episode (which is a two-parter) does an excelent job summing up the series. I especially loved the "Farewell/Memories" sequence. This is a must-have for DS9 fans!


Deep Space Nine-unforgettable!   September 6, 2004
Robert Badgley (London,Ontario,Canada)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful

There is no other word for this absolutely fabulous show that falls neatly and wonderfully into the Star Trek universe but......unforgettable.
This shows' creative writing and producing staff wove a tapestry of characters and interwoven plots like master painters.All characters were totally believable,colourful and three dimensional.
The biggest thing I loved about DS9 was its' different take on the Star Trek domain.This was centered around a group of individuals who worked and lived in a deep space federation station.For all fans used to life on the Enterprise this was some departure.It took guts and vision and the gamble paid off handsomely.
One soon found out that this was not going to be a boring series centered around a static and boring way station.It was an incredibly diverse place with a myriad of cultures and races that passed through its' portals,some benevolent but many others quite malevolent.
We learned over time of its' history and saw our favourite characters virtually grow right before our eyes as much inwardly as outwardly.We also sadly,saw some die.
It was a show that I spent seven memorable years with,never missing an episode.Even though it's been off the air for some time now I still miss my "old friends".I know I won't ever forget them.It was an unforgettable journey.
One thing that comes to mind everytime I recall the show is the relationship between Capt.Cisco and his son Jake.To me it was the most natural,heartfelt,positive and powerful role model for father/son relationships extant on TV then,before or since.
I will always consider the original series my favourite of all of them.But STDS9 comes in at almost a virtual tie.It is almost an apples and oranges argument.They were of the same universe but of two very different and original aspects of it.And I treasure both for those very reasons.
"The Next Generation" was just that, a new generation/crew on the newer version of the same ship...same old,same old."Enterprise"is the current prequel to the whole series but with far too little panache or interest to make it worth ones while to watch for too long.And "Voyager",well it was the WORST of the entire series so far and it(the craft and series!) should have remained lost forever.
To anyone who maybe didn't quite get the feel for DS9 the first time around and is a Star Trek fan I can't encourage you enough to try the show again.If you perhaps aren't a Star Trek fan and/or are trying to decide how best to test the Star Trek waters for the first time,I again urge you to view this series.
All of you will marvel not only at the originality and quality of the scripts but the fantastic ensemble acting and character depth that develops practically right from the start.This is NOT a Capt.Kirk or Picard race around the universe shooting up every alien in sight with phasers on kill(with apologies to both series).This series comes at you from day one from a totally different place than all the other series and it is the one thing that drove many in Star Trek fandom to either like it because of that or dislike it because it didn't fit their "mold".
My advice? Make my "old "friends" your NEW ones!!!