Civil Defense

Quick Review:

O'Brien and Jake Sisko are working in a little-used part of the space station. All of a sudden.....they trip a security alarm which sets off a series of security protocols the Cardassians put in place - and apparently didn't bother to disengage when they left OR let the Federation know about it.

Gul Dukat's voice and video image warning Bajoran workers to please cooperate or else he will kill everyone - plays incessantly in the background and foreground.

Plot Hole Question: Why didn't the Federation THOROUGHLY sweep DS9 before allowing families and civilians to live and work on the station? How many other traps and death-lurking-security-protocols are awaiting whomever stumbles upon them?

This episode is a clear reminder of what DS9 was before the Federation took control. A drab, depressingly dark and dingy place of forced labor for Bajorans.

Leadership rises to the top under any situation. Notice how Sisko (stranded on the station in isolated rooms with O'Brien and Jake) takes charge, comes up with awesome ideas, and has a never-give-up attitude. People who are genuine leaders tend to be leaders in all aspects of their lives and in all situations - not just when they are in their normal leadership position.

As the episode progresses the groups formed are: Group 1 (Roaming around in isolated rooms) - Benjamin Sisko, Jake Sisko and Chief O'Brien Group 2 (Stuck in Ops) - Kira, Dax, Bashir, Garak, and an expendable extra Group 3 (Stuck in Odo's security office) - Odo and Quark

This episode drags along. The writers had a hard time with it from the conception of the idea. There is so many pseudo science discussions and space station terminology and phraseology the episode bogs down. Even when there is only a few vital minutes remaining before the space station self destructs the actors are walking through their cues and blocking with hardly a sense of inevitable death. At least Kirk, etc. Acted desperate like their lives depended on their actions. He was sometimes accused of overacting but we all loved it and you know it.

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?

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.

Civil Defense is a classy episode that starts unassuming and builds its tension slowly without fanfare.

The surprises come as a comedy of errors highlighting the irony and "shortsightedness" (as Garak puts it) of Cardassia's tyrannical paranoia sparing absolutely nobody who find themselves aboard Deep Space Nine during this unique crisis.

It all works out to a darkly comedic episode where rationality is punished and chaos reigns.

Civil Defense is an ensemble episode, all of the main cast members have good moments ("Gaila, the one with the moon?"), ultimately it belongs to guest stars Andrew Robinson (Garak) and Mark Alaimo (Gul Dukat) who brilliantly steal the show.

5/5, a GREAT episode.

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.