“Whispers” 30th-anniversary reflections

When Chief O’Brien returns from a security briefing on Parada, he finds everyone on the station acting strangely toward him. Keiko and Molly pull away, Bashir insists on an unscheduled physical, and his own repair assignments seem designed to keep him out of the loop. The more he investigates, the more it looks like a conspiracy has taken over Deep Space 9—until he flees the station and uncovers a truth he never suspected.

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 “Whispers,” the effective simplicity of the story, and how it all hinges on nuanced acting and consistent character-building.

Chapters

Intro (00:00:00)

Bad Luck O’Brien (00:02:28)

Replicating Miles (00:07:57)

Rewatch Value (00:12:27)

Consistent Character (00:16:53)

Missing Pieces? (00:20:55)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:24:25)

Closing (00:27:09)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

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

“Armageddon Game” 30th-anniversary reflections

Sometimes, a good cup of coffee can save the day. It sure does for Miles O'Brien and Julian Bashir when a mission to help two formerly warring civilizations destroy their stockpiles of deadly weapons goes awry. Taking no chances, Kellerun soldiers storm the lab and massacre the science team the moment the last weapon is neutralized. And while Miles and Julian escape, they are reported dead to Deep Space 9. It's only when Keiko notices on security footage that her husband is drinking coffee in the afternoon—something she believes he never does—that Sisko mounts a mission to find out what is really going on and ultimately rescues his officers.

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 “Armageddon Game,” how it brings Miles and Julian together for their first real buddy adventure, how Keiko saves the day, spiky hair, and more.

Chapters

Intro (00:00:00)

A Miles and Jules Joint (00:03:09)

Almost Dax (00:11:01)

Keiko's Hunch (00:17:42)

Kill All the Scientists (00:23:25)

The Original Concept (00:29:44)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:33:05)

Closing (00:37:37)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

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

“The Alternate” 30th-anniversary reflections

When the Bajoran scientist who first studied Odo—and whose hairstyle the changeling unconsciously adopted—arrives at Deep Space 9 with a potential clue to his origins, their reunion is anything but warm. Dr. Mora Pol's patronizing manner rekindles old resentments, even as his discovery drives them together through the wormhole to investigate a planet in the Gamma Quadrant. What they bring back threatens the station: a mysterious silicate-based life-form that escapes its containment and begins attacking crew members in the night. As Odo leads the investigation, the evidence points in a direction no one anticipated—and the truth forces him to confront the scientist who shaped him, in more ways than one.

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 Alternate,” how the story fills in Odo's background, explores parent-child relationship, plants seeds for the Dominion, and more.

Chapters

Intro (00:00:00)

Literally Malleable (00:02:53)

Communication through Mirroring (00:06:31)

Father and Son (00:10:34)

The Original Concept (00:18:02)

Jekyll and Hyde (00:24:19)

More Dominion Breadcrumbs (00:26:20)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:32:01)

Closing (00:34:43)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

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

“Rivals” 30th-anniversary reflections

War isn’t always fought with phasers. Sometimes the weapons of choice are drinks, dabo tables, and an extra dose of charm. That's how El-Aurian Martus Mazur sees it. Being a listener also helps. As a rival to Quark, Martus gives DS9 residents and visitors an alternative way to be bamboozled. But this isn't the only rivalry brewing on the station; Miles O'Brien and Julian Bashir have their own battle going on the space racquetball court. With strange things happening all around, the outcome of it all may just come down to the laws of probability. Let's just hope no sperm whales or bowls of petunias are harmed in the process.

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 “Rivals,” how casting impacted the final results, the surprise guest who wasn't, what the story does for the Miles–Julian relationship, and more.

Chapters

Intro (00:00:00)

Highly Improbable Filler (00:02:57)

Guinan's Wayward Son (00:07:24)

Is the Story Rewatchable? (00:11:03)

The Martus Problem (00:17:26)

The Better Listener (00:20:58)

Miles and Julian (00:23:03)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:26:52)

Closing (00:28:58)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

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

“Sanctuary” 30th-anniversary reflections

When a group of refugees from the Gamma Quadrant come through the wormhole, Sisko naturally extends Federation hospitality. These aliens, the Skrreeans, flew through what they call the Eye of the Universe in search of their fabled homeworld, Kentanna. According to their sacred texts, Kentanna was a place where they would plant seeds of joy. There's just one problem; the planet turns out to be Bajor.

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 “Sanctuary,” the story's Dominion connections and social commentary on cultural concerns and immigration that remains relevant three decades later.

Chapters

Intro (00:00:00)

Cultural Communication (00:02:41)

Story Origins (00:06:29)

Immigration Policy (00:13:21)

Cultural Concerns (00:20:44)

Reassessing Bashir (00:21:16)

Dominion Breadcrumbs (00:29:30)

Creepy Makeup (00:31:29)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:33:53)

Closing (00:36:57)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

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

“Second Sight” 30th-anniversary reflections

On the anniversary of the Battle of Wolf 359, Benjamin Sisko finds himself surprised that such an important date could almost slip by. Four years have passed since he lost his wife, and life without her is becoming routine. That may be why he is open to the possibility of a relationship with someone else when he encounters a beautiful woman on the Promenade. But smiles give way to puzzlement when the woman keeps disappearing. And when she turns out to be the wife of a visiting scientist, things get really awkward.

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 “Second Sight,”how the episode humanizes Sisko, casting saves a forgettable story, and more.

Chapters

Intro (00:00:00)

Time Heals All Wounds (00:02:42)

Story Origins (00:06:29)

Station (and Life) Matters (00:10:14)

Humanizing Sisko (00:14:41)

Reassessing Bashir (00:21:16)

The Lady in Red (00:23:34)

Saving a Forgettable Episode (00:26:47)

The SF Premise (00:32:34)

GENESIS!!! (00:35:00)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:41:04)

Closing (00:44:15)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

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

“Necessary Evil” 30th-anniversary reflections

When someone attempts to kill Quark, Odo starts down a path that leads him to reopen a five-year-old murder investigation. Dating back to the days of Terok Nor, that mystery centered on a familiar face: Kira Nerys. After seeing her as a prime suspect in the killing of a shop owner named Vaatrik, Odo ultimately dismissed her involvement—in part to protect her from Gul Dukat—but never quite let go of the unsolved case. The presence of Vaatrik's widow aboard DS9 alongside the attack on Quark, together with the discovery of a list of eight Bajoran names, sets Odo into full Columbo mode. And what he ultimately uncovers may change how he sees Kira forever.

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 “Necessary Evil,”how the story brings the history of the station to life, what it says about the Kira–Odo relationship, and more.

Chapters

Intro (00:00:00)

Firsthand Occupation (00:02:38)

Full Columbo Mode (00:08:00)

Cardassian Arrogance (00:12:40)

Things Past (00:15:80)

What Makes Odo Tick (00:18:57)

One Must Always Choose a Side (00:21:28)

The Cut Scene (00:26:21)

The Early Odo-Kira Relationship (00:31:18)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:43:54)

Closing (00:46:08)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

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

“Rules of Acquisition” 30th-anniversary reflections

Word is there’s profit o’ plenty in the Gamma Quadrant, and the Grand Nagus wants a piece of it. And who better to send as chief negotiator than Quark? But never forget the 48th Rule of Acquisition: “The bigger the smile, the sharper the knife.” Quark’s new waiter, Pel, thinks Zek is setting him up to take the blame if a deal for the totally reasonable ask of 100,000 vats of tulaberry wine falls through. Thankfully for Quark, he won’t be alone at the table, because Pel turns out to be more than a waiter. He’s a skilled entrepreneur. And a she. Despite their combined negotiating prowess, Quark and Pel return without the wine. But they aren’t entirely empty-handed. They have the memory of an awkward kiss and information about some group called The Dominion.

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 “Rules of Acquisition,”what the story says about identity, how it sets up The Dominion, and how DS9 makes the Ferengi matter.

Chapters

Intro (00:00:00)

Making the Ferengi Matter (00:03:31)

Finding Common Ground (00:10:33)

Hiding Your Identity (00:15:45)

Originally a TNG Story (00:21:26)

A Rom Regression? (00:25:38)

Dominion Breadcrumbs (00:27:54)

Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:43:54)

Closing (00:46:08)

Hosts

C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production

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