121: A Totally Different Type of Normal

“Vortex” 30th-anniversary reflections

When Miradorn twins arrive on the station and offer to sell a Tamagotchi to Quark, things get weird, and soon two become one. An alien named Croden enters and wants the item for himself. A firefight ensues, but glass Odo intervenes; only not in time. Odo’s subsequent investigation into the matter leads him down an unexpected path, one that reveals tantalizing clues to his origins.

In this episode of The Orb, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “Vortex,” revelations about Odo's people and how the story sets up the Dominion, meeting Morn, validating Vulcans, and why it's important to always keep an extra glass around.

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
Double Double Your Degra (00:03:17)
Digging into Odo (00:06:27)
Still Figuring It Out (00:10:46)
Armin's Reservations (00:14:41)
An Odo Story (00:20:46)
Morn Is in the House! (00:23:05)
And So Are Vulcans! (00:25:31)
Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:29:57)
Closing (00:32:36)

Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

“The Nagus” 30th-anniversary reflections

Having heard that some of Quark’s holosuite programs are quite alluring, Grand Nagus Zek, leader of the Ferengi Alliance, pays an unexpected visit to the station. As he shares his plans for Ferengi business expansion into the Gamma Quadrant, he also reveals that it’s time to retire and pass the golden staff to the next Grand Nagus: Quark.

Zek’s sudden death puts a target on Quark’s back as Zek’s son, Krax, teams up with Rom for a power grab. In the end, Zek returns from the dead at just the right moment to save Quark’s life and teach Krax a lesson. And Rom, who understands that a Ferengi should never allow family to stand in the way of opportunity, gets a promotion to assistant manager for policy and clientele as a reward for his treachery.

In this episode of The Orb, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “The Nagus,” the way in which the DS9 writers reset the Ferengi as tool for telling Star Trek stories at their best, the absurdity of the main story, and the important messages about fatherhood that drive the secondary plot.

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
Redeeming the Ferengi (00:03:11)
DS9 Does the Best Comedy and Commentary (00:06:49)
Culture Clash (00:09:12)
Subtle Morality (00:14:05)
Benjamin Sisko the Father (00:16:31)
Zek the Father (00:26:32)
Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:32:42)
Closing (00:34:29)

Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

“Move Along Home” 30th-anniversary reflections

First contact with a race from the Gamer Quadrant … uhm … Gamma Quadrant doesn't go quite as Sisko had hope when it turns out that they obsessed with, you guessed it, games. And also stick tapping. And tatoos. It's all enough to make you want to move along! Move along!

In this episode of The Orb, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one episode at a time. In this installment, we reach that monumental signpost of Season 1, “Move Along Home,” and discuss the Wadi, whether budget was really the problem, why the crew should have played more Legend of Zelda, and more. Shap 6!

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
Sisko and Jake (00:03:30)
Characterizations (00:06:59)
Could Have Been Better (00:12:06)
Original Higher Stakes (00:15:37)
Blown Budget Matters? (00:21:27)
Play More Legend of Zelda! (00:26:48)  
Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:32:57)
Closing (00:35:07)

Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

“The Passenger” 30th-anniversary reflections

Doctor Bashir’s arrogance is interrupted when the runabout Rio Grande receives a distress call from a Kobliad transport. They find a fire aboard the ship and two people in distress. They rescue one and fail to save the other, or so it seems. When they return to Deep Space 9 with the surviving Kobliad, a security officer named Ty Kajada, they find themselves caught up in a mystery as strange things begin happening aboard the station. Kajada believes the other passenger on her ship, the criminal scientist Rao Vantika, is still alive and responsible.

In this episode of The Orb, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss “The Passenger,” how it works as a Bashir story, the introduction of Primmin, the Odo connection, the original concept, and more.

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
Obnoxious Arrogance (00:03:29)
Dead Giveaways (00:08:36)
The Original Concept (00:12:13)
Primmin Proper (00:17:20)
The Ending (00:30:15)
Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:34:23)
Closing (00:37:29)

Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

“Dax” 30th-anniversary reflections

Aliens with an uncanny knowledge of the station and its systems attempt to abduct Jadzia and take her back to Klaestron IV to stand trial. Only it’s Dax they really want, and the crimes were committed 30 years earlier by Curzon. When her crewmates successfully stop the kidnappers from leaving Bajoran space, the accuser, Ilon Tandro, is forced to make his case for extradition. During the ensuing hearing, presided over by Bajoran grouchmaster Els Renora, Sisko must do what Jadzia refuses to do: fight for her life. In the end, he succeeds with the help of Odo, who discovers that the real killer was not Curzon, because at the time of the murder he was in bed with victim’s wife.

In this episode of The Orb, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss, “Dax,” the complex matter of where the line between host and symbiont begins and ends, how the story helps build the mythos of the Trill, some potential inspiration from Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges, and much more.

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
Two of One (00:03:10)
Struggling to Integrate (00:13:29)
Defending a Friend (00:18:38)
Justice in Quark’s (00:25:25)
Theme of the Traitor and the Hero (00:28:33)
Flanagan and Itzin (00:34:23)
Raktajino Debut (00:37:39)
Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:40:00)
Closing (00:42:28)

Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

“Q-Less” 30th-anniversary reflections

The arrival of Vash, whom Dax found in the Gamma Quadrant, brings incredible profit potential to Quark, but great danger to the station. Tagging along with her is none other than Q, seemingly there to deliver his usual brand of havoc. He doesn't hit it off well with Sisko, and that might be why he is blamed for the mysterious graviton pulses that threaten to tear the station apart. Only it turns out that the danger comes not from Q but rather a baby alien being auctioned off by new business partners Quark and Vash—a realization that comes just in time.

In this episode of The Orb, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss, “Q-Less,” the appearance of John de Lancie’s fan favorite on DS9, the original premise compared with what we got, why it does (and doesn’t) make sense, and how the story makes more sense if you shift how you look at it.

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
The Original Premise (00:03:06)
Vash and Quark: The Perfect Pairing? (00:08:31)
She's Got Julian's Attention (00:10:07)
A Deeper Purpose for Q? (00:12:42)
Like Oil and Water (00:17:47)
The Unethical Collector (00:24:52)
A Logical Explanation (00:28:12)
Welcome to Robert Hewitt Wolfe! (00:29:58)
Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:33:26)
Closing (00:36:54)

Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

“Captive Pursuit” 30th-anniversary reflections

The arrival of an alien from the Gamma Quadrant puts Chief O’Brien at the center of first contact when Tosk, as the reptilian calls itself, requires ship repair. As the mystery of Tosk unfolds, and alien hunters arrive seeking to take O’Brien’s new friend back to be publicly humiliated, the chief finds himself questioning the Starfleet rule of non-interference.

In this episode of The Orb, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss, “Captive Pursuit,” the first visit by an alien from the Gamma Quadrant, Sisko’s different approach to leadership, O’Brien’s awakening, and how the story challenges the idea of IDIC and Starfleet’s rule of non-interference. 

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
First Visitor from the Gamma Quadrant (00:03:13)
Tosk and the Jem’Hadar: Common Origins? (00:07:03)
Wild West Town (00:10:16)
Challenging IDIC (00:18:17)
Rules of the Game (00:27:03)
Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:38:58)
Closing (00:41:17)

Host
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

“Babel” 30th-anniversary reflections

When lazy Chief O'Brien gets a hankering for a cup of coffee and triggers a booby trap left behind from the Cardassian Occupation, the crew and residents of Deep Space 9 begin losing their ability to make sense one by one. As aphasia sweeps the station, Kira must find a Bajoran scientists who may hold the key to an antidote and saving everyone before cross barrels, all job appalled, bread … the arrive … seen earlier!

In this episode of The Orb, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss, “Babel,” how the story long kicked around for The Next Generation found a home on DS9, how it sets the series apart from its predecessor, and how it tests the limits of the Star Trek formula. 

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
A Lingering Premise (00:02:57)
A (Not So Well) Thought-Out Plan? (00:06:25)
Testing the Limits (00:10:17)
Depicting Aphasia (00:14:44)
Developing Dax (00:18:54)
Finding Quark (00:25:19)
Life on the Station (00:29:47)
The First Black Captain (00:32:55)
Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:39:32)
Closing (00:42:36)

Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

“A Man Alone” 30th-anniversary reflections

When a man is murdered aboard the station, Odo becomes the prime suspect. Kira is certain he couldn't have done it, but Sisko is not so sure. Odo sees that he is being framed, but convinving his new crewmates and unraveling the mystery won't be easy. The only more difficult task might be Julian getting Dax to go out to dinner with him.

In this episode of The Orb, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss, “A Man Alone,” how the story subverts expectations and charts new paths for Star Trek, the attempt to avoid serialization, and the choice to reverse the airing of the episode with “Past Prologue.”

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
Julian and Jadzia (00:02:51)
Alien Perspectives (00:08:19)
Digging into Characters (00:12:37)
Different Views of Justice (00:20:02)
Subverting Expectations (00:26:19)
Narrative Hat Trick (00:31:34)
A TNG Mystery? (00:37:53)
Keiko Starts School (00:40:54)  
Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:46:16)
Closing (00:49:26)

Host
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

“Past Prologue” 30th-anniversary reflections

As the Federation begins to settle into its presence aboard the former Cardassian station, now dubbed Deep Space Nine, the arrival of a former Bajoran freedom fighter named Tahna Los puts Major Kira in the uncomfortable situation of protecting an old friend and supporting the new alliance between Bajor and the Federation. When she learns that Tahna has not given up his terrorist ways, she must choose between her past and future. Either way, she says, she must betray someone.

In this episode of The Orb, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss, “Past Prologue,” the introduction of Garak, ties to TNG, and how the story showers viewers with character development.

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
Meeting Garak (00:03:06)
The Struggle Continues (00:13:51)
We Have to Evolve (00:22:25)
The Nuance of Resistance (00:26:48)
Kira, Sisko, and the Federation (00:29:37)
Lursa and B’Etor (00:34:09)
THERE'S Your Vaughn Armstrong! (00:40:38)
Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:42:33)
Closing (00:44:46)

Host
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)