PATRON TAKES - DS9 S1E5
Added 2025-03-31 12:45:01 +0000 UTCTAKES WILL BE READ 4/22
Comments
A lot of funny lines, especially out of context. I really just don't have too much to say about a lot of early DS9 episodes. I enjoy them and the characters. The tone's really cool too to everyone. Definitely not as good as the other Star Trek episode with Babel in it's name. 7.1/10, C Tier, Good. Below TNG's Rascals and above TNG's Booby Trap.
Steven Cressler
2025-04-21 22:47:12 +0000 UTC"Rom's an idiot" made me literally rofl, when i heard it for the first time
JHVJ
2025-04-21 12:48:41 +0000 UTCYou can really tell that this was adapted from an unused TNG script, and it's pretty obvious why TNG didn't use it. Not a terrible episode, but it doesn't have much going for it either. 4/10 (low C)
awktopus
2025-04-21 11:07:39 +0000 UTCJust a strange fun episode with people talking stupid .
DataL0re
2025-04-19 23:03:24 +0000 UTCBeing the victim of a terrorist attack planted during a now ended war reminds me of all the landmines that are still around from wars long past.
David Clamage
2025-04-19 22:50:54 +0000 UTCObviously the disease didn't affect Odo his biology is way to alien. Not sure why it didn't affect Quark.
Keith S
2025-04-19 19:53:18 +0000 UTC“Double strong, double sweet.”
Aramis Calcutt
2025-04-19 19:37:52 +0000 UTCExecution: BREAD!
Evan Guthrie
2025-04-18 16:36:29 +0000 UTCSee, I agree that it feels like it could be done by any Star Trek series, but I think that's the weak point of the episode. DS9 is at it's strongest when it's telling a story that would only work on DS9. This episode just feels like they haven't really figured out DS9 yet, so let's do something generic that we could have done for any series.
JStrong
2025-04-18 03:00:33 +0000 UTCSome of the actors do the gibberish speech better than others here. Love Quark seemingly being infected, but he's just being an ass over bar debts. YOU!! PAY ME!! Largely a forgettable episode, textbook contract filler. C. Don't particularly love that it's the first episode with much medical to do, and Julian just stresses out looking at a computer the whole time. Then, as if to overcompensate for how useless he was, they give the other doctor a throwaway line of "Ah, your brilliant doctor almost cracked it, I just need to tweak this."
JStrong
2025-04-18 02:57:06 +0000 UTCSiddig is such a great actor I wish game of thrones would have used him more.
Bruce Knapp
2025-04-17 14:33:21 +0000 UTCTriple-A for Aphasia Affliction Anomaly. After several episodes dedicated to character introductions and world building, it is nice to see DS9 also does pretty good traditional desk and more light sky pepper training or chicken ropes. Josh twice roast maybe Darmok?
TinMan_7B9
2025-04-17 14:18:12 +0000 UTCA little adventure story, similar to TNG's Disaster. I like Odo and Quark here. The rogue and the police officer forced to work together :) The two people not in star fleet saving the day. Having a good portion of the regular and recurring cast NOT be in Starfleet is what makes DS9 special.
Andreas Schmitt
2025-04-16 13:46:59 +0000 UTCIf it has to be one… wouldn’t be season 1-5 Worf lol
Sixto
2025-04-08 14:06:35 +0000 UTCLol, I'm imagining Chuck Norris memes about Kira now. Honestly out of any character in Trek, she's the one they fit best for?
Jen A. Blue
2025-04-08 04:45:12 +0000 UTCOriginally, they weren't even going to have a doctor character, and Siddig was going to play the captain. After they realized he was a lot younger than they thought, they decided to go with someone older but hired him to play the doctor character that didn't exist. It kinda shows here, this is a very by-the-book TOS/TNG plot that you could slot any of the past three doctors into (and they have). C+, the + being for Kira and Quark's bits.
Jen A. Blue
2025-04-08 04:43:34 +0000 UTCIt's the sort of thing you'd be content with sitting down on the couch and watching on the television after hard day's work, before going to bed and doing it all again tomorrow.
Kristopher
2025-04-06 14:19:29 +0000 UTCUnexpectedly timely. This was pretty good and had stakes, things got worse with every commercial break, and by the end it was a matter of life and death. It probably needed a red shirt to die to drive the point home though. Of the four episodes the pilot was ok, the one with the Bajor underground was good, the next one was dull and this one was good. So, more good than bad so far.
Ken R
2025-04-04 06:24:19 +0000 UTCThe DS9 crew has the virus. TNG crew had the virus couple of times is season one. TOS crew had the virus in the naked time in season one. I am seeing a pattern forming. What are the odds the next couple of shows will have the virus? Dr. Bashir says: "I'm a doctor, not a..." just like Dr. McCoy did frequently in Star Trek (1966). The title is based on the biblical story of the The Tower of Babel in the Book of Genesis. Man wanted to be closer to God so they built this extremely high tower. God was angered, destroyed the tower and punished the men by making them speak many different languages (everyone was babbling), thus beginning the various nations and cultures after all of man had descended from the same tribe since he was driven out of the Garden of Eden. Quark said a Ferengi rule is "Never ask when you can take".
empirejeff
2025-04-04 00:32:00 +0000 UTCC tier. A lot of fun moments keep it from falling further.
JoeCensored
2025-04-03 19:41:24 +0000 UTCI simple hesitation when let it Babel. Replay Morning! Quark: You watch! Me watch you watch! Gold you!
Nathan Walker
2025-04-02 03:54:59 +0000 UTCI'm flower units about the episode myself
GreenCauldron08
2025-04-01 22:05:16 +0000 UTCThis is a definite "TNG script repurposed" episode, but good character moments carry it through, especially Quark. Enjoyable C.
cricketlenny
2025-04-01 20:50:34 +0000 UTCI liked this episode. It was different. Yes it’s a contagious plague story, but the type of plague being what prevents you working as a team to solve it was cool. This was an example of what you can do with an ensemble cast.
Crankygrandma
2025-04-01 03:58:14 +0000 UTCThis is a very meh episode maybe, but Kira Noris! I love her! She put this from a C to a B for me ! ( also for such an episode, everyone is acting their asses off ) and can we give it up for the chemistry between Quark and Odo? I know… I’m pushing it hard but they’re GREAT to me in these last 2 episodes.
Sixto
2025-04-01 02:21:30 +0000 UTCBREAD!
Evan Guthrie
2025-04-01 02:10:55 +0000 UTCThe basic concept feels very TNG but thankfully Kira’s uh creative collusion, Quark’s presence in Ops and the possibility of there being other nasty surprises hidden in on their station manage to distinguish it.
Matthew McKinnon-Gray
2025-04-01 02:06:29 +0000 UTCThis one is a pretty big miss for me. It's an episode that feels much, much longer than it is due to the sheer boredom it inspires. However, what saves it a little bit from being the bottom of the barrel is the little bit of worldbuilding that is done with regard to the Cardassians, the station, etc.
Shane Coombs
2025-04-01 01:34:08 +0000 UTCBashir doesn't finish in time and Kira saves the day through kidnapping. DS9 is crewed by the B-tier, but that's part of the charm. I don't care that Bashir graduated second in his class, he's still a first year straight out of med school. I don't care that Dax has lifetimes of experience, she's no match for Data or Spock. And I don't care that Miles is THE CHIEF, he's still a non commissioned regular joe with a patchwork staff. Not every ship has a Picard, but they still have to get it done, and this is what that looks like. It's different, and it's refreshing.
#MaxwellDidNothingWrong
2025-03-31 23:00:08 +0000 UTCWhat's refreshing about this show compared to the other Treks is they don't often tech the tech to get the episode's solution. There's usually some character choice involved. (Teching the tech was the other thing I disliked about the last act of Schisms)
Loot Narsbaar
2025-03-31 22:54:22 +0000 UTCWhen I wanna show people an episode of Deep Space Nine to give them an idea of the series and what's good about it, I show them this episode. The reason for that is twofold: For One, DS9 is best watched in its entirety in serialized order, so I consider this the first "superb" S1 episode and recommending it doesn't spoil continuity. For Another, I just think this episode really shows the strength of DS9's entire cast. Everyone is doing something to deal with a rapid escalation of challenges, and we even get Quark being useful at the end instead of just being scene dressing. While this might be an "average" episode on the whole, it's a very good "introductory" episode to showcase how great DS9 can be this early on... or at least I believe so.
Shortskirtsandexplosions
2025-03-31 22:49:07 +0000 UTCThis episode sort of personifies the 'meh' quality of a lot of season 1 episodes. Not bad, but not very good either. Just okay.
Forbidden Donut
2025-03-31 22:47:44 +0000 UTCDude went from standing around bored all day just waiting for someone to be 6 seconds away from their shuttle exploding, to never having a moment of peace. Careful what you wish for Chief
#MaxwellDidNothingWrong
2025-03-31 22:46:12 +0000 UTCDeserves more attention. They are retreading ideas, but NOT episodes because things play out completely differently. On TNG this is a 'Beverley finds a cure' episode, but in DS9 this is a 'Kira beats the solution out of someone' episode.
#MaxwellDidNothingWrong
2025-03-31 22:44:23 +0000 UTCIf ever an episode that shows DS9 hasn’t found its legs, here it is. I’m sure it was a fine episode on paper, but the “dilemma of the week” format really belongs on TOS or TNG. And watching Siddig El Fadil struggle through the aphasia dialogue is a little cringy. This isn’t bad, it’s just meh. C for “Chief is a super spreader”
Column Meanie
2025-03-31 22:43:00 +0000 UTCAh, the most beautiful friendship in the history of ever.
Cobheran
2025-03-31 21:59:50 +0000 UTCThis is the first of many “O’Brian must suffer” episodes. Something happens to the chief we now have to figure out how to help him he gets treated like a punching bag then recovers. Rinse wash repeat
Jason Biggs
2025-03-31 21:51:28 +0000 UTCEvery 90s sci-fi show did a “crew gets sick and almost dies” episode in the first season.
tyranusfan
2025-03-31 21:38:37 +0000 UTCoops, fingers hit the wrong button, sorry - this is not anyone's favorite episode, and i understand why - but i was a language major and find the silliness of the words delightful - then suddenly turns dangerous - and back in the day, we all had thoughts about the virus that could infect us all - lol - and as always, love the interaction between Ben and Jake
jan
2025-03-31 21:21:09 +0000 UTCthis is not everyone
jan
2025-03-31 21:18:53 +0000 UTCI really like this one for the first season, everyone helps in their own way, I really love how panicked and uncomfortable Odo is when he's the last one left and his teamwork with Quark is hilarious. I like seeing overworked O'brien and Kira coming in clutch at the end is great too.
Groovybaboon
2025-03-31 20:42:03 +0000 UTCThis is definitely one of the most forgettable episodes of season 1 for DS9. Meh
Ron Hubbard Jr
2025-03-31 20:40:59 +0000 UTCThis is full on DS9 does TNG, and the results are mixed. It's good to see Kira in action and how she solves problems in ways Starfleet officers wouldn't.
Loot Narsbaar
2025-03-31 18:56:43 +0000 UTCI got a little screwed up too, forgetting that 1&2 were one episode and Man Alone and Past Prologue were shown in the wrong order in my market originally.
THE LORE!!!
2025-03-31 18:50:45 +0000 UTCIt's hard to not compare this to later DS9 or concurrent TNG, which suffers against both metrics
The Ninth Doctor
2025-03-31 18:38:48 +0000 UTCThey *sort of* getting around the aphasia writing inaccuracies though by saying that it is not aphasia but a virus that mimics some of the effects. I think it works as a storytelling obstacle to overcome in the plot.
Kristopher
2025-03-31 18:23:48 +0000 UTCThis definitely comes off more like a scrapped TNG episode. This isn't exactly a bad thing, but it feels weird seeing it again. I can't really describe why, but like the episode before this, we haven't learned enough about each of the characters to really know them. And perhaps the writers and actors also being in the same place and "not getting it yet" makes it a weird episode. It's a cool story idea, but similar to how the Naked Now in TNG felt too early to tell the story, this one has a similar energy to me.
Kristopher
2025-03-31 18:19:43 +0000 UTCConcept: Fantastic Execution: Ehhhhh.
James Knight
2025-03-31 18:14:13 +0000 UTCThis feels more like a season one TNG episode. It definitely isn't the show's finest hour. I won't say it is one of the show's worst but it definitely doesn't measure up to what comes later.
Spencer Loften
2025-03-31 17:59:38 +0000 UTCThis may be a minor point but I never believed for a minute there was any coffee in Siskos mug.
Jon1701
2025-03-31 17:53:16 +0000 UTCA more typical Trek-like episode here, but it shows off Bashir as a Doctor, how the Chief is handling his new job,the way Kira cuts through nonsense and allows for more comedic moments that have been a little rarer, or at least more subdued on TNG. It's not a huge stand out in terms of being different, but I like it, and it's well performed.
Nolan
2025-03-31 16:54:08 +0000 UTCTOS: Red shirts will die, Kirk will fight through it, Bones will be close to finding the cure, Spock must complete it being mostly immune due to his Vulcan physiology. TNG S1: Everyone succumbs but Riker fights through it, Data inexplicably is also affected. Wesley creates the cure.
Groovybaboon
2025-03-31 16:44:44 +0000 UTCDecently long time patron, first time commenter (DS9 is my favorite series). This episode really feels like it could be done in any Star Trek series which makes it alright in my book. How do you think the TOS and TNG crews would handle this disease?
CobaltCorvid
2025-03-31 15:48:50 +0000 UTCChief O'Brien - The Most Important Man in Starfleet 🖖
The Ninth Doctor
2025-03-31 15:48:46 +0000 UTCI used to be "The Chief" of a hospital where I fixed all of the medical devices, and that opening scene was a typical day for me. I can so relate!
Russell Elledge
2025-03-31 15:41:07 +0000 UTC"Can't have the operations chief sitting around daydreaming when there's work to be done, can we? Oh, ho, ho, I'll get right on it!" O'Brien is the GOAT (before he starts talking like one). You'd *never* have Geordi talking to Picard like that... 😆
The Ninth Doctor
2025-03-31 15:30:48 +0000 UTCI actually really enjoy this episode. It does feel like it could have been a TNG episode though, and this is not how aphasia actually works. But if you disregard those things, it's pretty solid and it keeps you invested.
BN13
2025-03-31 15:15:13 +0000 UTCIt's kinda ok, but not what I'd call great, but been a while since I saw it. I remember the concept more than the execution, so that probably tells you about the quality.
Thomas Cole
2025-03-31 14:44:42 +0000 UTCYOU! GOLD! OWWWEEE! MMMMMEEEEE!!!!
THE LORE!!!
2025-03-31 14:30:36 +0000 UTCDisease-of-the-week episode. This one hits a little harder after Covid than when it aired.
Darin Wagner
2025-03-31 14:25:22 +0000 UTCGuinan will always be the GOAT in my opinion, but I think Quark also makes a pretty good bartender when he wants to be :).
Nina
2025-03-31 14:17:57 +0000 UTCSIMPLE HESITATION
Tony B
2025-03-31 14:16:37 +0000 UTCA trek staple, when I rewatch the show it’s interesting to see how easily a show could be dropped into TNG with very little rewritten and this is one of them. Doesn’t really show case the show at its best but its always watchable and Odo and Quark were becoming faves by this point.
Darren Seal
2025-03-31 14:15:29 +0000 UTCPlease don't overwork the best Federation engineer of 2369. Even the Chief needs a chance to rest.
Mel Primus
2025-03-31 14:08:46 +0000 UTCWhen Bruce Willis had retired from acting because he was suffering from aphasia, a lot of people didn't know what that was. DS9 fans knew what it was
Elway Simpson
2025-03-31 14:02:03 +0000 UTCThis one's crap, people suffering from aphasia do not string sentences of random perfectly enunciated words together. This bothers me because I work with patients suffering from aphasia almost daily and it would have been an easy fix. They could have talked to a speech therapist before writing the dialog, listened too a few examples and it would have been much more believable, that wold have taken two extra hours at most.
Phillip Grischa
2025-03-31 14:00:01 +0000 UTCLike the naked now, but not as cringy
Phil Ken Sebben
2025-03-31 13:46:08 +0000 UTCWhoops! Thank you, sir.
Joe Concepts
2025-03-31 13:23:59 +0000 UTCYou may want to delete this comment and post it under Episode 6. This is Babel, the one where they start speaking nonsense.
Fritz
2025-03-31 13:17:14 +0000 UTCMy dad had a fairly major stroke a few years back, when the doctor tried to explain how aphasia can manifest I just instinctively fell back to this episode and went “got it… he’s inside and fine but it’s not going in or coming out the way he thinks it is” That was such a surreal application of Star Trek
Andrew Duffy
2025-03-31 13:14:48 +0000 UTCYeah, I also enjoyed this episode a LOT more than the common consensus seems to be. I... don't know how you guys will feel. How long will it take before O'Brien focused episodes stop getting an extra bonus? (Because I assume they will, at least at first.)
John
2025-03-31 13:10:52 +0000 UTCThe Chief: "Strike limits. Flame the dark true salt. WAY LINK!" Sisko: "All right. You can cross barrels. All job appalled! Bread!" Me: This must have been so hard to film seriously.
Ross Townsend
2025-03-31 13:08:39 +0000 UTCPoor overworked everyman Obrien. I think a head canon I have for how OP he is as an engineer in DS9 compared to TNG where he just pushed a button to transport people is that his job before the Enterprise D was so stressful and in the Wounded he also mentioned he battled Cardassians and struggled with PSTD so he just assigned himself to an easy job for a few years to relax a little and now assigns himself to DS9 and is eager to overwork himself again.
Fedora The Explorar
2025-03-31 13:06:36 +0000 UTC[Comment deleted. Wrong episode.]
Joe Concepts
2025-03-31 13:01:51 +0000 UTCThis is the first episode of the show I really enjoyed. A simple concept about a terrifying disease.
Ian Meyers
2025-03-31 12:57:59 +0000 UTC
