"Necessary Evil" 30th-anniversary reflections

When someone attempts to kill Quark, Odo starts down a path that leads him to reopen a five-year-old murder investigation. Dating back to the days of Terok Nor, that mystery centered on a familiar face: Kira Nerys. After seeing her as a prime suspect in the killing of a shop owner named Vaatrik, Odo ultimately dismissed her involvement—in part to protect her from Gul Dukat—but never quite let go of the unsolved case. The presence of Vaatrik's widow aboard DS9 alongside the attack on Quark, together with the discovery of a list of eight Bajoran names, sets Odo into full Columbo mode. And what he ultimately uncovers may change how he sees Kira forever.

In this episode of The Orb, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss "Necessary Evil,"how the story brings the history of the station to life, what it says about the Kira–Odo relationship, and more.

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
Firsthand Occupation (00:02:38)
Full Columbo Mode (00:08:00)
Cardassian Arrogance (00:12:40)
Things Past (00:15:80)
What Makes Odo Tick (00:18:57)
One Must Always Choose a Side (00:21:28)
The Cut Scene (00:26:21)
The Early Odo-Kira Relationship (00:31:18)
Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:43:54)
Closing (00:46:08)

Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

"Rules of Acquisition" 30th-anniversary reflections

Word is there's profit o' plenty in the Gamma Quadrant, and the Grand Nagus wants a piece of it. And who better to send as chief negotiator than Quark? But never forget the 48th Rule of Acquisition: "The bigger the smile, the sharper the knife." Quark's new waiter, Pel, thinks Zek is setting him up to take the blame if a deal for the totally reasonable ask of 100,000 vats of tulaberry wine falls through. Thankfully for Quark, he won't be alone at the table, because Pel turns out to be more than a waiter. He's a skilled entrepreneur. And a she. Despite their combined negotiating prowess, Quark and Pel return without the wine. But they aren't entirely empty-handed. They have the memory of an awkward kiss and information about some group called The Dominion.

In this episode of The Orb, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss "Rules of Acquisition,"what the story says about identity, how it sets up The Dominion, and how DS9 makes the Ferengi matter.

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
Making the Ferengi Matter (00:03:31)
Finding Common Ground (00:10:33)
Hiding Your Identity (00:15:45)
Originally a TNG Story (00:21:26)
A Rom Regression? (00:25:38)
Dominion Breadcrumbs (00:27:54)
Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:43:54)
Closing (00:46:08)

Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)

"Melora" 30th-anniversary reflections

Doctor Bashir and Chief O'Brien prepare for the arrival of a new cartographer, Ensign Melora Pazlar. She is the first Elaysian to join Starfleet. Why? Her homeworld has low gravity, which makes it difficult for her people to function in environments common to Starfleet operations. She generally must use a wheelchair to move around, and Bashir has modified a special one for her to use while aboard Deep Space 9. When he and Melora start to fall for one another, Bashir begins searching for a treatment that could allow her to walk. But there's a catch: she would never be able to return to her homeworld for more than a short visit. Meanwhile, some other stuff is happening with Quark.

In this episode of The Orb, hosts C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing continue our 30th-anniversary retrospective that will take you through all of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, one episode at a time. In this installment, we discuss "Melora,"what the story says about challenges and limitations, becoming comfortable with yourself, and how the character connects to the original concept for the series.

Chapters
Intro (00:00:00)
Part of the Original Series Concept (00:03:50)
We All Have Limitations (00:10:56)
Firsthand Experience Matters (00:12:50)
The Melora Problem (00:19:53)
Becoming Comfortable with Yourself (00:25:00)
Not Your Doctor Anymore (Still Your Doctor) (00:29:51)
Manatee Idea Balls B-Story (00:36:12)
Final Thoughts and Ratings (00:43:04)
Closing (00:48:26)

Hosts
C Bryan Jones and Matthew Rushing

Production
C Bryan Jones (Editor and Producer) Matthew Rushing (Executive Producer) Norman C. Lao (Associate Producer)