Progress

The boys go into business, trading some worthless stuff for more worthless stuff--with interesting results. The main story has to do with a farmer on a planet that is going to be compromised for a valuable substance. Kira goes to the surface and finds he is recalcitrant. He has lived there his whole life an nothing is going to move him. This is a decent episode where Kira must make a decision that will determine her future. It's hard to deal with a man's life that is dedicated to his work. Pretty decent episode.

() ...despite the Kira/Mullibok 'A' story, which -- while well performed by Keith and Visitor -- feels like a drawn out, soapy extrapolation of the classic old man/attractive young nurse fantasy (that has, mercifully, seemed to have disappeared from popular media).

((a more engaging iteration of this story might have Mullibok truly *fear* leaving the familiarity of his home because of PTSD from the Cardassian occupation, with Kira acting as less of a nurse and more as a fellow veteran as they both reencounter the demons of their violent past and find a path forward together))

() It also seems Kira has inherited the Troi syndrome, in that the writers seemed allergic to giving her character a focused, no-nonsense, story-rich POV episode to deliver backstory and give us some points of connection. At this seasonal midpoint, it honestly feels like they still didn't trust her to carry an episode, let alone an 'A' story, on her own.

() The Nog 'B' story here is awesome, and provides much-needed characterization not just for Nog, but for what the average Ferengi coming-of-age process might look like. Jake's emergent skills as friend/mediator/voice of reason are fun to see as well.

Kira tries to remove a stubborn farmer from one of the Bajoran moons.

This is a relatively enjoyable episode with some good development for Kira.

If you have an interest in the mission you will likely enjoy this episode, but if the philosophising of an inflexible, pessimistic farmer isn't your cup of tea there will be little to take from this one.

That being said, it is a good early character establishing episode for Kira as it portrays her struggling with the transition from her past life as a rebellious freedom fighter to being part of the established order.

The scenes with Jake and Nog are fairly entertaining, and as we are shown (in a humorous way) more about the Ferengi aptitude for free enterprise.

Nana Visitor is on top form as usual and Avery Brooks is also good.

It's a 6.5/10 for me but I round upwards.

I don't understand this series so far. At least 5 or more of the episodes are slow and boring and the exact opposite of what I came to love about Star Trek. Sci-Fi, Exploration, Adventure and Beautiful Woman (At least DS9 has some of those)

This was a very dull, soap opera episode. Learning more about Major Kira is always nice though.

The episode has the usual two plots. The first is supposed to be humorous and involves Nog and Jake taking some Cardassian Yamok sauce (which Quark didn't want or need) and trading for successive products--all in the hope that eventually it will exchanged for latinum. The second involves Major Kira going to one of Bajor's moons to relocate 50 settlers because the moon is going to be converted for energy production--which will make the place uninhabitable. Unfortunately, an old crank named Mullibok (Brian Keith) and his two mute friends would rather die than leave the place. There is a certain irony about having Brian Keith play a man who is suicidal, as a few years after starring in this show he actually did commit suicide in real life.

While I generally don't like episodes that star Nog and Jake (or any kids), this plot turns out pretty well and is played for laughs. As for the other plot, it is decent enough. Overall, a rather inconsequential but enjoyable episode.