Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: A Time To Stand Rewatch
July 4, 2016 6:23 PM - Season 6, Episode 1 - Subscribe
In the first episode of the six-part "Station Occupation" arc, Jake learns the limits of freedom of the press under the Dominion, Dukat creeps on Kira (big shock), Odo balances being a god and a cop, Quark looks on the bright side of life, and the exiled Federation crew (plus Garak) execute a plan that's so crazy, it's gotta work--or does it? Plus, special bonus July 4th surprise!
Be kind to your web footed friends, For that duck may be Memory Alpha's mother:
- [I'm not going to C&P the several paragraphs from MA about the process and history of doing the multi-episode arc, but I'd strongly recommend following the above link, as I've always found it interesting in terms of the process of their breaking away from the episodic format, which was still somewhat unique at the time.]
- The opening shot of "A Time to Stand", featuring the retreating flotilla of Starfleet vessels, was one of the last mass scenes entirely composed of footage of physical studio models, save for the CGI USS Defiant. To beef out the scene, the production staff built several new ships, kitbashing them out of parts from commercially available AMT/Ertl, and Revell-Monogram Star Trek model kits. Regarding the names of the new ship types/classes seen in the scene, Mike Okuda has remarked, "Those kitbashes were pretty much built and labeled at random. The VFX department put in a lot of extra time and effort into assembling those models, and they had a little fun with the names. (A few of us from the art department even lent a hand.) Some of the ships had authentic-sounding names, but most of them had gag names. One might reasonably argue that Starfleet might have named a bunch of their ships after historic figures whose names happened to be the same as several of the Star Trek visual effects department staff members. On the other hand, some of the ships had rather impolite names that Starfleet would (probably) not have approved on any of its ships. In any case, everyone worked so hard that I felt it would not be appropriate to attempt to impose "authentic" names or numbering, especially since there was no chance that any of it would be legible on screen."
- Barry Jenner makes his first appearance as Admiral William Ross in this episode. After Jenner finished shooting, Ira Steven Behr took him aside and said, "We've had other admirals on this show. We're glad we've found you. Sorry it took five years!" Behr also says of Jenner, "He brings a gravitas to the role, and yet you can see there's a man behind the uniform. I think that Barry Jenner is one of the unsung heroes of the show, one of the pieces of the puzzle that might not be readily apparent to the audience. But he's part of the glue that makes our job easier."
- This episode serves as another chapter in the on-going Kira/Dukat arc which began in the second season episode "The Maquis, Part II". After it became apparent that Dukat was attracted to Kira in "Civil Defense", they briefly worked together in the episodes "Indiscretion" and "Return to Grace", before Dukat came to blame Kira for Ziyal's friendship with Garak in "In Purgatory's Shadow". In "A Time to Stand", Dukat's seemingly blind attraction to Kira is very much to the fore, but so too is Kira's repulsion towards his advances.
- The episode is dedicated to the memory of Brandon Tartikoff, the former Chairman of Paramount Pictures, who died in August 1997. It was Tartikoff who originally approached Rick Berman about doing a new Star Trek series, and it was Tartikoff's idea to do a stationary show, as opposed to one on a starship.
- This episode has one of the longest teasers in Star Trek, lasting just over seven minutes.
"I never expected to say this, but as occupations go, this one's not so bad."
"No, I suppose that's true if all you're worried about is a monthly balance sheet."
"I'm not just concerned with profit, major. Look around. Do you see any ghetto fences dividing the Promenade? Or exhausted Bajoran slave laborers sprawled on the ground after a grueling day in the ore processing center? Do you hear the cries of starving children? I don't. Now don't get me wrong, I miss the Federation, too. All I'm saying is, things could be a lot worse."
- Quark and Major Kira
"I could make things very pleasant for you here, Kira."
"You could start by doing something about your breath."
"I'm a patient man. I can wait."
"Wait for what? What do you think is going to happen here, Dukat? That you're going to wear me down with your charming personality? That I'm going to be swept off my feet by that insincere smile? Are you really so deluded that you actually believe that we're going to have some kind of intimate relationship?"
"Oh, we already do."
- Dukat and Kira Nerys, friendly as always
Oops! Almost forgot! Courtesy of stunt coordinator and occasional extra Dennis Madalone: "America We Stand As One."
Be kind to your web footed friends, For that duck may be Memory Alpha's mother:
- [I'm not going to C&P the several paragraphs from MA about the process and history of doing the multi-episode arc, but I'd strongly recommend following the above link, as I've always found it interesting in terms of the process of their breaking away from the episodic format, which was still somewhat unique at the time.]
- The opening shot of "A Time to Stand", featuring the retreating flotilla of Starfleet vessels, was one of the last mass scenes entirely composed of footage of physical studio models, save for the CGI USS Defiant. To beef out the scene, the production staff built several new ships, kitbashing them out of parts from commercially available AMT/Ertl, and Revell-Monogram Star Trek model kits. Regarding the names of the new ship types/classes seen in the scene, Mike Okuda has remarked, "Those kitbashes were pretty much built and labeled at random. The VFX department put in a lot of extra time and effort into assembling those models, and they had a little fun with the names. (A few of us from the art department even lent a hand.) Some of the ships had authentic-sounding names, but most of them had gag names. One might reasonably argue that Starfleet might have named a bunch of their ships after historic figures whose names happened to be the same as several of the Star Trek visual effects department staff members. On the other hand, some of the ships had rather impolite names that Starfleet would (probably) not have approved on any of its ships. In any case, everyone worked so hard that I felt it would not be appropriate to attempt to impose "authentic" names or numbering, especially since there was no chance that any of it would be legible on screen."
- Barry Jenner makes his first appearance as Admiral William Ross in this episode. After Jenner finished shooting, Ira Steven Behr took him aside and said, "We've had other admirals on this show. We're glad we've found you. Sorry it took five years!" Behr also says of Jenner, "He brings a gravitas to the role, and yet you can see there's a man behind the uniform. I think that Barry Jenner is one of the unsung heroes of the show, one of the pieces of the puzzle that might not be readily apparent to the audience. But he's part of the glue that makes our job easier."
- This episode serves as another chapter in the on-going Kira/Dukat arc which began in the second season episode "The Maquis, Part II". After it became apparent that Dukat was attracted to Kira in "Civil Defense", they briefly worked together in the episodes "Indiscretion" and "Return to Grace", before Dukat came to blame Kira for Ziyal's friendship with Garak in "In Purgatory's Shadow". In "A Time to Stand", Dukat's seemingly blind attraction to Kira is very much to the fore, but so too is Kira's repulsion towards his advances.
- The episode is dedicated to the memory of Brandon Tartikoff, the former Chairman of Paramount Pictures, who died in August 1997. It was Tartikoff who originally approached Rick Berman about doing a new Star Trek series, and it was Tartikoff's idea to do a stationary show, as opposed to one on a starship.
- This episode has one of the longest teasers in Star Trek, lasting just over seven minutes.
"I never expected to say this, but as occupations go, this one's not so bad."
"No, I suppose that's true if all you're worried about is a monthly balance sheet."
"I'm not just concerned with profit, major. Look around. Do you see any ghetto fences dividing the Promenade? Or exhausted Bajoran slave laborers sprawled on the ground after a grueling day in the ore processing center? Do you hear the cries of starving children? I don't. Now don't get me wrong, I miss the Federation, too. All I'm saying is, things could be a lot worse."
- Quark and Major Kira
"I could make things very pleasant for you here, Kira."
"You could start by doing something about your breath."
"I'm a patient man. I can wait."
"Wait for what? What do you think is going to happen here, Dukat? That you're going to wear me down with your charming personality? That I'm going to be swept off my feet by that insincere smile? Are you really so deluded that you actually believe that we're going to have some kind of intimate relationship?"
"Oh, we already do."
- Dukat and Kira Nerys, friendly as always
Oops! Almost forgot! Courtesy of stunt coordinator and occasional extra Dennis Madalone: "America We Stand As One."
Oh my god, that's horrible.
posted by dinty_moore at 7:25 PM on July 4, 2016
posted by dinty_moore at 7:25 PM on July 4, 2016
The first thing that jumped out to me was the brilliant juxtaposition of showing how grim the war is going for the Federation, and then giving us the enemy viewpoint with Dukat and Weyoun. This is another of those instances where it works so well because we've already come to know and almost even like the enemy.
Once again we see that the Dominion is not All Bad. So long as you buy into what they are selling and don't ask too many questions you're going to live pretty comfortably.
That Worf has been doing nothing except fretting over a small detail about his wedding is so very Worf.
posted by 2ht at 4:50 AM on July 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Once again we see that the Dominion is not All Bad. So long as you buy into what they are selling and don't ask too many questions you're going to live pretty comfortably.
That Worf has been doing nothing except fretting over a small detail about his wedding is so very Worf.
posted by 2ht at 4:50 AM on July 5, 2016 [4 favorites]
Courtesy of stunt coordinator and occasional extra Dennis Madalone: "America We Stand As One."
Don't miss the cameo by frequent Trek day-player/stuntwoman Patricia Tallman!
posted by Ursula Hitler at 2:32 PM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
Don't miss the cameo by frequent Trek day-player/stuntwoman Patricia Tallman!
posted by Ursula Hitler at 2:32 PM on July 6, 2016 [1 favorite]
The bit at the start with Bashir and Garak discussing the odds of surviving, and Bashir says "It's strictly a matter of mathematics and Garak rebuffs him with "it's strictly a matter of our lives" is a great scene, and works so well in terms of the relationship between the two characters which has developed since s01e03! Even the "boyish smile"/"it's not so boyish any more" is like a knowing wink to the audience.
Wayoun talking about how the promenade is alive with life, and he seems so nice, it really does seem like the Founders/Doninion are okay, not evil, and how Kira sows a little discord between them. One thing I love about Wayoun is the way he can go from being diplomatic, to giving orders which he is used to having followed, to the obsequiousness he displays when Odo or the Founder woman is around. (Just the way he says the word "Founder" is excellent.)
Jake talking with Wayoun about Freedom of the press is funny, and again, Lofton shows how much he has come on as an actor since the first episodes. Dukat sliming around Kira is amazing, he really is a total creep, bit he is so well written and played, it is a pleasure to see such a well done bad guy.
The plan of blowing up the base is neat, and how all that works out/doesn't quite work out is well done, even the fight with the Federation starship shows another of the shades of grey of the show. And at the end, Bashir giving them the time to get back is a nice touch - Spock-like!
posted by marienbad at 1:47 PM on July 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
Wayoun talking about how the promenade is alive with life, and he seems so nice, it really does seem like the Founders/Doninion are okay, not evil, and how Kira sows a little discord between them. One thing I love about Wayoun is the way he can go from being diplomatic, to giving orders which he is used to having followed, to the obsequiousness he displays when Odo or the Founder woman is around. (Just the way he says the word "Founder" is excellent.)
Jake talking with Wayoun about Freedom of the press is funny, and again, Lofton shows how much he has come on as an actor since the first episodes. Dukat sliming around Kira is amazing, he really is a total creep, bit he is so well written and played, it is a pleasure to see such a well done bad guy.
The plan of blowing up the base is neat, and how all that works out/doesn't quite work out is well done, even the fight with the Federation starship shows another of the shades of grey of the show. And at the end, Bashir giving them the time to get back is a nice touch - Spock-like!
posted by marienbad at 1:47 PM on July 20, 2016 [1 favorite]
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
X(
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 7:05 PM on July 4, 2016 [9 favorites]