Search - Star Trek Deep Space Nine - The Complete Third Season on DVD

Jefferson N. from BLAIRSVILLE, GA
Reviewed on 1/2/2009...

In this season, Deep Space Nine really kicked it up a notch. The Dominion finally rears it's ugly head and things will never be the same on the show...in a good way. The show really began to take on great continuity in this season and there were hardly ever any really throw-away episodes.

DS9 Season Three - The series suspense is building...

K. Wyatt | St. Louis, MO United States | 07/29/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"DS9's third season proved to be quite a pivotal season and a great buildup to the following seasons. Throughout the course of the season, several questions were answered and several new ones were introduced, leading up to an instrumental and somewhat ominous season finale in which a Founder tells Odo "you're too late, we're everywhere." That one sentence made for a long summer at that time, leaving fans in throes of anticipation for the fourth season. Important developments of the third season were the addition of the Defiant, additional back stories on the Dominion and its makeup, to include finding out who Odo's people are and the series taking on a more "serialized" tone.I highly recommend this DVD set, the two previous seasons and the remaining four seasons, to any and all fans of Star Trek, especially those who didn't quite give DS9 a chance in its beginning because you will find that DS9 represents some of the best Star Trek to date.Standout episodes of the season: (They all stand out, but space is limited)The Search Parts I & II - As a grand conclusion to season two's "The Jem'Hadar" and setting up season three through seven in the "epic" of Deep Space Nine, these two episodes are extraordinary. It is from this point you know as a viewer that DS9 has a sense of purpose. Here we find out where Odo comes from and the terrible truth that revelation brings about.The House of Quark - In this hilarious Quark episode, by a twist of fate, he becomes the head of a Klingon house. Robert O'Reilly makes a return as Gowron, Chancellor of the Klingon Empire. This is another brilliant Ferengi/humor episode.Equilibrium - In this extremely compelling and captivating episode, Jadzia begins having hallucinations for no apparent reason. Then it becomes clear that she may lose her symbiont, thus her life as well. She finds out that she has not been told of "every" host the Dax symbiont has had. The ending to episode is quite beautiful.Second Skin - This episode epitomizes why DS9 is such an exceptional series! Kira is kidnapped and altered to appear as a Cardassian and told that she is a deep under cover agent of the Obsidian Order.Defiant - In this poignant and ominous episode, Thomas Riker makes an appearance, hijacks the Defiant as part of a Maquis operation and then takes her to Cardassian territory intent on uncovering a large fleet of Cardassian warships he "believes" are preparing to head into the DMZ.Past Tense Parts I & II - This two hour episode is quite possibly the most stunning and moving episode of the entire season. Sisko, Bashir and Dax attempt to transport to Starfleet Headquarters but due to unexpected circumstances are transported to the year 2024 in the midst of one of the most crucial historical reference points for Earth and the Federation.Heart of Stone - This fascinating episode involves Kira and Odo making their way back to DS9 but they intercept a Maquis ship and follow it down to a moon in the hopes of capturing the solitary occupant. This episode is relatively important in lifting the vale on some of Odo's feelings.Destiny - This episode is a perfect example of the beauty of the epic "saga" that is DS9 as it brings in Sisko's role as the Bajoran Emissary when the mission of trying to set up a communications array on the other side wormhole has been prophesized some three thousand years ago by a Bajoran prophet.Prophet Motive - In this uproarious and brilliant Ferengi episode Grand Nagus Zek shows up on DS9 and he's totally rewritten the Rules of Acquisition towards a "not for profit" bent and Quark is beside himself with "grief."Visionary - This is a brilliant O'Brien episode in which he unexpectedly finds himself time shifting around the station while at the same time, Romulans and Klingons are aboard.Through the Looking Glass - This is another superb "Mirror, Mirror" episode that became a highly looked forward to annual episode of every season!Improbable Cause & The Die is Cast - These episodes constitute two of the finest hours of Star Trek. Garak survives what is seemingly an "assassination" attempt and Odo steps in to investigate. Before long, we have the Obsidian Order, the Tal Shiar, the Jem'Hadar and Starfleet involved, setting up what will be the arc that carries this series.Explorers - In this beautiful episode Sisko decides to build an Bajoran solar sailing vessel to prove that the Bajorans used these ships to get to Cardassia eight centuries earlier..Family Business - This is another terrific and humorous Ferengi episode in which Quark is shut down by the Ferengi Commerce Authority because his "Moogie" has been earning profit and he must find a way to stop it or he'll be financially destroyed.Facets - This brilliant episode involves Jadzia and her need to complete her "zhian'tara," a Trill ceremony where her friends temporarily receive the memories of her past hosts. This episode played wonderfully as the main characters assumed the roles of these past hosts.The Adversary - In this exceptional season finale, Sisko is promoted to Captain and given the mission to attempt to stop a full scale war between the Federation and the Tzenkethi, or are they as they soon find that there is a changeling aboard the Defiant. The beauty of this episode plays out in the last scene. {ssintrepid}Special Features:The Birth of the Dominion and BeyondMichael Westmore's Aliens - Season Three
Drew Dossier: Odo
Time Travel Files - "Past Tense"
Sailing Through The Stars: A Special Look at "Explorers"
8 "Hidden" Section 31 FilesEpisode list:The Search, parts I & II
The House of Quark
Equilibrium
Second Skin
The Abandoned
Civil Defense
Meridian
Defiant
Fascination
Past Tense, parts I & II
Life Support
Heart of Stone
Destiny
Prophet Motive
Visionary
Distant Voices
Through the Looking Glass
Improbable Cause
The Die is Cast
Explorers
Family Business
Shakaar
Facets
The Adversary"

DS9 Comes Into Its Own

Adam Dukovich | 03/01/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The third season of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was a pivotal one in the series. The groundwork for the series was finally laid, and the show finally moved from a TNG-picaresque storytelling style to a true story arc, when we finally get the first taste of the storytelling that would make Deep Space Nine a truly great show.The season begins with The Search, which formally introduces the Dominion, a powerful empire led by 'changelings' with anymosity for the 'solids'. The episode also features the Starship Defiant being introduced to the station, thus altering the dynamic of the series drastically, and some reticent fans who didn't like the idea of a show about a space station finally jumped on board. There are exciting action episodes, such as Defiant and Civil Defense, a time travel adventure in Past Tense with gentle social commentary, and an astonishingly good Garak two-parter (Improbable Cause, The Die is Cast). Life Support features the departure of Kira's love interest with dignity and honor, and Explorers is the kind of warm character-based story that the show could never make enough of. Also highlights include a trip back Through the Looking Glass and the genuinely suspenseful The Adversary, which has Sisko promoted to Captain, continues the storyline of shapeshifters infiltrating Alpha Quadrant civilizations, and the drama of Odo killing one of his own.Once again, the acting and character development are exemplary. Sisko becomes interested in Bajoran history, which indicates a possible growing comfort with his unwanted role as the planet's spiritual leader. Jeffery Combs is indespensable as both the antipathetic Brunt and the ingratiating, pleasant Weyoun, the Dominion's mouthpiece. Odo goes through the most turmoil in this season, learning of and turning his back on his people, being constantly frustrated on his affections for Major Kira, and finally killing another shapeshifter. All of this angst is pulled of admirably by Rene Auberjonois. Garak finally gets a storyline revolving around him, and it turns out to be the best two-parter that DS9 ever produced. All of this sets the scene for the rest of the series."

Shapeshifiting to interesting themes during season 3

Wayne Klein | My Little Blue Window, USA | 06/07/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Season 3 of DS9 is where things got really intesesting.During the first season and part of season two all the key pieces for the ensuing conflict that would continue throughout the course of the series. Like B5's Shadow War, the Dominion-Federation War, would be center stage during season 3. Sisko finally gets a ship that can hold its own against many of the Jem Hadar spacecraft. The Defiant is an "overpowered, overgunned craft" that providesa a way for Sisko and company to meet, greet and defeat(as well as be defeated)oncoming advesaries.In the opening two part episode, Sisko and his crew take the Defiant into Dominion space in an attempt to discover who and where the Founders are. Unfortunately, the Defiant is taken down too easily to make the episode credible. Still, it does provide a unique glimpse into the ideal presented by Founders and the reality of their civilization as they try and seduce Odo to join them."Defiant" also provides an opportunity for NextGen actor Jonathan Frakes to appear on DS9. As Riker, he charms Kira into giving him a tour of the Defiant in order to steal it. Written by NextGen writer Ronald Moore and directed by Cliff Bole, it's an interesting and intense episode well acted by Frakes. The episodes "Second Skin","The Abandoned" and highly acclaimed two parter "Past Tense" (a transporter accident hurls Sisko and company across time and space to Earth during a conflict in the year 2024. A key figure of the past Gabriel Bell attempts to help Sisko and Bashir during a fight. Bell is killed prematurely thus altering history and forcing Sisko to take the man's identity to ensure the continuity of his world. "Life Support" provides a serious look at the ethics of artifical life support. The character of Vedic Bareil suffers from brain damage during an attempt to resuscitate him. Bashir gradually replaces Bareil's brain with implants making his contribution to peace talks possible but robbing him of his humanity in the process."Improbable Cause" gives us further background on Garak. Garak chooses to rejoin his mentor Enabran Tain in a combined assault with the Romulans against the Dominion.There are many other fine episodes during the third season worth noting. Most important, though, is the doubt cast on Odo when his relationship with the Dominion's Founders becomes clear and the introduction of a new Star Trek security chief Michael Eddington played by the Marvelously oily Kenneth Marshall. The extras are nicely put together and all appear on the last disc in the set. The most interesting are the Birth of the Dominion and Beyond, Time Travel Files: "Past Tense", Sailing Through The Stars: A Special Look At "Explorers" and the crew dossier on Odo. The 5.1 remix on the audio gives additional depth to the episodes making them more cinematic and allows one to finally hear all the detailed sound effects buried in the stereo mix of the broadcast episodes. Unlike Season 1, Season 3 features 26 episodes and the transfers are pristine. Although not flawless (how could they be with minor analog artifacts? and an occasinally slightly blurry look to some of the episodes), they are among the best in a well designed boxed set. The lack of a booklet providing credits and a basic outline of the plot is still a problem. I suppose Paramount figured that most folks purchased the DS 9 Companion. In fact, the third season transfers put the 2nd season transfers of many of the B5 episodes to shame. Obviously great care was taken and, unlike early Trek NextGen episodes, there's rarely any of the compression problems one would expect. What's amazing (and easy to forget) is how well structured and written DS9 was; while it follows the Trek formula a little too closely at times, DS9 takes a number of risks that never occurred to the makers of the earlier Next Gen and of later series Voyage and Enterprise. I'd recommend the DS9 Companion in addition to the boxed set. Unfortunately, DS9 doesn't come with any booklets (unlike the fine synopsis in each boxed set of B5). It's hard for many fans to remember which of the cryptically titled episodes features what. Another drawback to the boxed set is the lack of any writer/director/cast/producer commentary tracks. I would have been interested in hearing producer Michael Pillar's and writer Ira Behr's comments on the key episodes "Past Tense 1 &2". I'm surprised given the wealth of extras here, that Paramount hasn't sprung for two or more cast commentaries as it would make the hefty cost a bit more understandable. I'd definitely recommend seeing season 3 prior to seasons 4 & 5 as they outline the background for those seasons and the conflicts between the characters of Eddington, Sisko, Odo and Kira. While DS9 3 isn't a perfect set, it features nearly flawless transfers with a wealth of documentary extras that will be of interest to Star Trek fans. Always the Rodney Dangerfield of the Trek family when Next Gen was on, DS9 is still among the best written and detailed series (outside of B5)created during the90's."