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Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
S3.E7
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  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
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IMDbPro

Civil Defense

  • Episode aired Nov 7, 1994
  • TV-PG
  • 46m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
2.6K
YOUR RATING
Colm Meaney, Avery Brooks, and Marc Alaimo in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993)
ActionAdventureDramaSci-FiThriller

The station goes into lockdown and the crew is endangered when an old Cardassian security program is accidentally activated.The station goes into lockdown and the crew is endangered when an old Cardassian security program is accidentally activated.The station goes into lockdown and the crew is endangered when an old Cardassian security program is accidentally activated.

  • Director
    • Reza Badiyi
  • Writers
    • Gene Roddenberry
    • Rick Berman
    • Michael Piller
  • Stars
    • Avery Brooks
    • Rene Auberjonois
    • Alexander Siddig
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.9/10
    2.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Reza Badiyi
    • Writers
      • Gene Roddenberry
      • Rick Berman
      • Michael Piller
    • Stars
      • Avery Brooks
      • Rene Auberjonois
      • Alexander Siddig
    • 14User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos28

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    Top cast19

    Edit
    Avery Brooks
    Avery Brooks
    • Commander Benjamin 'Ben' Sisko
    Rene Auberjonois
    Rene Auberjonois
    • Constable Odo
    Alexander Siddig
    Alexander Siddig
    • Doctor Julian Bashir
    • (as Siddig El Fadil)
    Terry Farrell
    Terry Farrell
    • Lt. Jadzia Dax
    Cirroc Lofton
    Cirroc Lofton
    • Jake Sisko
    Colm Meaney
    Colm Meaney
    • Chief Miles O'Brien
    Armin Shimerman
    Armin Shimerman
    • Quark
    Nana Visitor
    Nana Visitor
    • Major Kira Nerys
    Andrew Robinson
    Andrew Robinson
    • Garak
    Marc Alaimo
    Marc Alaimo
    • Gul Dukat
    Danny Goldring
    Danny Goldring
    • Legate Kell
    Judi M. Durand
    • Cardassian Computer
    • (voice)
    • (uncredited)
    Robert Ford
    • Starfleet Crewmember
    • (uncredited)
    Bill Hagy
    • Markalian DS9 Resident
    • (uncredited)
    Sue Henley
    • Starfleet Command Officer
    • (uncredited)
    Randy James
    Randy James
    • Jones
    • (uncredited)
    Zak Knutson
    Zak Knutson
    • Paclid Commander
    • (uncredited)
    Mary D. Mascari
    • Bajoran Woman
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Reza Badiyi
    • Writers
      • Gene Roddenberry
      • Rick Berman
      • Michael Piller
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews14

    7.92.5K
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    Featured reviews

    6brdavid-429-96270

    Apparently this episode took time to get off the ground... at that shows

    From what I read, this episode did not have a script that everyone liked. They had the idea, but no script. Eventually a script got approved but not after constant rewrites. In the end, the producers are happy with the final result, but I have to disagree and say, this episode has potential and falls flat.

    The finale is not any twist, nor is it an exciting finale. It seems more like a disaster film where everything that could go wrong can go wrong. We don't learn anything really new from the characters, we do not seem to gain any new ground, except to learn that Dukat and Garak hate each other. Neat, but what about the main characters?

    This is an episode with the potential to have dialogue and interactions that could move characters forward, in the end, it is a disaster episode that moves at a plodding pace and ends with a rather unconvincing display.

    This is rated high among fans, I rate it lower. However it does give us back evil Dukat. For that I give it a higher rating.
    8snoozejonc

    Solid episode if not taken too seriously

    After an old Cardassian security system is triggered, DS9 goes into a deadly lockdown.

    This is a enjoyable episode that is good fun whilst giving more insight into the Cardassian regime.

    The disaster-movie formula is a guilty pleasure of mine, so this type of story always entertains me. Some complain about the flow of the A-B-C plot structure and the lack of urgency about some of the acting but it doesn't bother me.

    As with lots of similar stories there is a requirement of suspension of disbelief, whether it be a capsized ocean liner, exploding water tanks dowsing a fire, or in this case a computer booting up a deadly program from an previous operating system. If you can accept this premise you should enjoy the episode. Also, the stakes do get unrealistically high at one point, but again I can let it go and enjoy.

    The concept of the Cardassians having this security measure in place does more to expand their background of totalitarianism. The use of Gul Dukat and Garek is very good, particularly Dukat in an ironic and entertaining role.

    Visually it is a good one, as it gets into some unexplored parts the station and the camera generally tells the story.

    For me it's a 7.5/10 but I round upwards.
    7planktonrules

    A neat idea but it did seem to take a LONG time to get to the finale...

    While doing some routine work on the station, a long-hidden program is activated. It seems that an old Cardassian program designed to handle rebellions by Bajoran slaves on the station was hidden in the system and has just begun broadcasting warnings from Gul Dukat. The warnings indicate unless the rebellion is stopped immediately, stern measures will result. The stern measures mean a release of poison gas! So, as the Commander and crew try to turn off the program, they need to keep moving in order to prevent from being killed. Eventually, however, the real Dukat arrives and he thinks this is all very funny. Well, by the end, the joke is on him. See this one and see what I mean.

    The idea for this show is pretty novel and generally good. However, it is hard to sustain this for the entire program and eventually it becomes a bit overlong. An excellent idea but one that was difficult to sustain for so long.
    6Hitchcoc

    Just Too Much Like Lost in Space

    The premise to this is fine and it is fun up to a point. The problem is that Gul Dukat shows up and begins to extort people. He is the face of the computer which is programmed to keep miners from shirking their duties and rebelling against their masters. This program was left in place when the Cardassians left the station. It is well set up, but it devolves into a silly "we've only got so much time" and how can we get there" episode with several deus ex machina moments. There is some humor which would not be a part of a serious episode. So while the byplay is fun, it really doesn't work very well. I also have a question: What happens to Gul Dukat at the end?
    3tyson-davis-11-922277

    Nobody in a hurry?

    This episode is not good. For a space station this is about to destroyed in x number of hours/minutes, no one is in a hurry. Everyone is going about their business in a normal manner. Even The A team of Sisko, O'Brien and Little Sisko are calmly walking down the hallways despite the fact that they are the station's only hope.

    Bad writing, directing and with only a couple of exceptions, half-hearted acting. Definitely one of the worst episodes of the season.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Producer Ira Steven Behr commented on Dukat being more of a villain than he was previously in The Maquis, Part I (1994) and The Maquis, Part II (1994): "We were making him a little too friendly, and we definitely did not want to do that. I don't want him to become the friendly neighborhood Cardassian."
    • Goofs
      After Sisko blows the door with the power cable and the iridium, he goes to the door where there are still piles of iridium lying on the floor and drops the power cable on them.
    • Quotes

      [last lines]

      Quark: [checking out Odo's files] "A self-important con artist who's nowhere near as clever as he thinks he is." That's your official security evaluation of me?

      Odo: Quark, I told you to stay away from the computer.

      Quark: Two hours ago, you told me I was the most devious Ferengi you ever met.

      Odo: I thought we were going to die. I was trying to be nice.

      Quark: Name one Ferengi who is more devious than I am.

      Odo: Grand Nagus.

      Quark: All right. Name another.

      Odo: DaiMon Tye.

      Quark: One you personally know.

      Odo: Your brother Rom.

      Quark: My brother?

      Odo: Your uncle Frin.

      Quark: Frin?

      Odo: Your cousin Gaila.

      Quark: Gaila? The one with the moon?

    • Connections
      Featured in What We Left Behind: Looking Back at Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (2018)
    • Soundtracks
      Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Main Title
      (uncredited)

      Written by Dennis McCarthy

      Performed by Dennis McCarthy

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 7, 1994 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Paramount Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 46m
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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