tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781870463849113009.post1816340904095300303..comments2024-03-15T04:29:00.751-04:00Comments on W.L. Swarts Reviews The Universe: Dreams Die - The Perfection Of Star Trek Deep Space NineW.L. Swartshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09974654586026013850noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781870463849113009.post-50018435948873430302011-09-19T10:19:33.148-04:002011-09-19T10:19:33.148-04:00Thank you SO much!
As for the O'Brien/Keiko r...Thank you SO much!<br /><br />As for the O'Brien/Keiko relationship, they spend the vast majority of the series apart and they achieve their greatest happinesses when separated. But more than that, the relationship was pretty inorganic to begin with - i.e. in "Next Generation" Keiko first appears when the pair is getting married and while they used that well in episodes like "The Wounded," it was clear the writers didn't know where to go with it. Moreover, they didn't know how to make Keiko fit Deep Space Nine after the school closed, so they essentially got rid of her. And yes, when she is there, she is never really happy and her relationship with O'Brien - while stable - is seldom characterized as overly loving (after the second season). Still, I like the couple!<br /><br />Thanks so much for reading and please feel free to share the links!<br /><br />-W.L.W.L. Swartshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09974654586026013850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1781870463849113009.post-84715314013114235302011-09-19T09:10:16.633-04:002011-09-19T09:10:16.633-04:00Great review and - while I don't agree that DS...Great review and - while I don't agree that DS9 is perfection (perfection is boring to behold anyway) - it's still easily my favorite Star Trek series (and that's coming from someone who was a big TNG fan throughout the 90's and who only recently has opened his eyes to the many flaws that particular Trek series has; it saddens me to see how many Trek fans still refuse to give DS9 a chance and keep on praising TNG as the best - or even worse - the only good Trek show thus disrespecting TOS fans as well).<br /><br />I agree that Brooks, Auberjonois and Visitor stand out among the other actors, though none of the performances from the main and supporting cast were poor IMO. You're lucky to have met Nana Visitor (Kira & Odo are my favorite characters from DS9), I would've loved to be able to meet her myself but unfortnately as far away from any sci-fi convention locations as I live, it will probably never happen.<br /><br />Just one small nitpick with your review : where did you get the ridiculous idea that O'Brien is "unhappily married". I'm not married myself (not yet anyway) but from my experience with my parents (who are still together after 26 years of marriage) that happily married doesn't mean having no arguments or experiencing only moments of harmony and joy. It takes patience and commitment to make it work and keep the flame alive, and both Miles and Keiko had plenty of it.<br /><br />Sure, at the start of the series Keiko is understandably unhappy with the living conditions on DS9 and she is right when claims a cardassian space station on the outskirts of Federation space is not exactly the ideal place to raise a child. It doesn't help that she is also conflicted while trying to make herself useful given that the station doesn't require a botanist.<br /><br />And while Miles is sad for her and unhappy at things being the way they are, he still supports her and tries to find a place for her on the station and put her skills to good use so that she can feel useful.<br /><br />Bottom line is, he loves his wife and she loves him; it's been proven many times in episodes like "The Assignment", "Tribunal", "Destiny", "Time's Orphan" and even "Children of Time" (where he is the one who pushes the most for the crew to leave the planet regardless of the consequences that would have on its inhabitants, because he has a wife and 2 children he deeply cares about back on DS9).<br /><br />An unhapilly married man would not think twice about accepting the cardassian female's advances in "Destiny" or having an affair with Kira in "Looking for par'Mach in all the wrong places". At the very least he would spend all of his time in Quark's Bar or doing extra hours on his shifts, request different living quarters or forget to come home alltogether.<br /><br />Sure, Miles and Keiko do have their occassional arguments (like the one in "Fascination") but that's to be expected in a married couple; it can't always be sunshine and laughter, like The Ink Spots said in one of their songs "Into each life some rain must fall". But they've got what it takes to make it and they're marriage is not only one of the few marriages in sci-fi tv, it's also one of the most believable and the closest to real life.<br /><br />Anyway, great review overall and I'll be sure to follow the individual episode reviews once I have the time for it! I've also bookmarked your blog page just in case the good folks at imdb decide to delete your threads or ban your account for so called spamming; personally I support you 100% and I've posted a reply to your thread on the DS9 boards in your defense). Thanks for the post!Alex B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02236728725796567625noreply@blogger.com