Look. I like Klingon episodes. They are always fascinating. Especially when an adventurous story like this one also involves insights into Klingon history (or society). Usually Dax exploring her "Klingon side" is also quite interesting to watch. That said, this episode is very mediocre. This episode could have been so much better though. Kor is again a drunkard. It's difficult to take him serious or assign much weight to his insights. Sometimes it's like he's a mere comic relief instead of a wise Dahar master. Dax is strangely distanced. As if she's a mere observer, scientific advisor and mediator. (And there's no spark between her and Worf.) The search for the treasure isn't epic. It's too easy to find the sword and it's too easy to fight their way out. Stage design isn't good neither. It's standard paper mache cave. I don't really like the subsequent dissonance somehow induced by the artifact. I never like such stories (likewise I don't like LotR and its cursed ring). The best aspect is perhaps Worf's "coming of age" story. We had aspects of this before back on the Enterprise. This episode doesn't really tell a good Worf story. It's only reiterates Worf's outsider story but adds not much new to his character. However, it's good to see that DS9 is willing to continue the story about Worf's path navigating between his human and Klingon heritage.
The ending is also too convenient and totally inconsequential. It leaves the impression that this an isolated episode that won't advance the overall story nor Worf's story.
Review by Alexander von LimbergBlockedParent2023-06-25T20:35:03Z
Look. I like Klingon episodes. They are always fascinating. Especially when an adventurous story like this one also involves insights into Klingon history (or society). Usually Dax exploring her "Klingon side" is also quite interesting to watch. That said, this episode is very mediocre. This episode could have been so much better though. Kor is again a drunkard. It's difficult to take him serious or assign much weight to his insights. Sometimes it's like he's a mere comic relief instead of a wise Dahar master. Dax is strangely distanced. As if she's a mere observer, scientific advisor and mediator. (And there's no spark between her and Worf.) The search for the treasure isn't epic. It's too easy to find the sword and it's too easy to fight their way out. Stage design isn't good neither. It's standard paper mache cave. I don't really like the subsequent dissonance somehow induced by the artifact. I never like such stories (likewise I don't like LotR and its cursed ring). The best aspect is perhaps Worf's "coming of age" story. We had aspects of this before back on the Enterprise. This episode doesn't really tell a good Worf story. It's only reiterates Worf's outsider story but adds not much new to his character. However, it's good to see that DS9 is willing to continue the story about Worf's path navigating between his human and Klingon heritage.
The ending is also too convenient and totally inconsequential. It leaves the impression that this an isolated episode that won't advance the overall story nor Worf's story.