DS9 - Soldiers of the Empire

[MerelyAFan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSniFgz ... FDebrisRed

https://www.sfdebris.com/videos/startrek/d519.php

Solid episode, and a great example of how Martok was critical in both giving some much needed nuance and depth to the Space Viking characterization of the Klingons at this point and in many ways being a better evolution to the older Trek depiction of them. While he lacks the overtly duplicitous and hostile nature of the TOS Klingons, he does embody a sense of personality beyond just a basic love for battle or fundamental respect for specific honor.

Those traits inform whom he is certainly, but he feels much more fully formed than that, just as how Kruge viewed his mission as one not just for glory, but for preservation of the Empire in STIII or Chang possessing a sense of appreciation of culture to him even as he longed for a showdown with Kirk in STVI. Essentially Martok comes off very much what a Klingon warrior decades after the Khitomer Accords would have really been; intelligent and reasonable enough with the Federation yet still differing in his ways from the Starfleet officers that his status as a respected soldier in the Empire is never in question.

[Mabus]

Episode was fairly good. Martok was a good addition to the series.

[CrypticMirror]

Worf does to Martok what Picard does for humans, he inspires him to be better. Worf is the Klingon King Arthur.

[clearspira]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSniFgz ... FDebrisRed

https://www.sfdebris.com/videos/startrek/d519.php

Solid episode, and a great example of how Martok was critical in both giving some much needed nuance and depth to the Space Viking characterization of the Klingons at this point and in many ways being a better evolution to the older Trek depiction of them. While he lacks the overtly duplicitous and hostile nature of the TOS Klingons, he does embody a sense of personality beyond just a basic love for battle or fundamental respect for specific honor.

Those traits inform whom he is certainly, but he feels much more fully formed than that, just as how Kruge viewed his mission as one not just for glory, but for preservation of the Empire in STIII or Chang possessing a sense of appreciation of culture to him even as he longed for a showdown with Kirk in STVI. Essentially Martok comes off very much what a Klingon warrior decades after the Khitomer Accords would have really been; intelligent and reasonable enough with the Federation yet still differing in his ways from the Starfleet officers that his status as a respected soldier in the Empire is never in question.

I think Martok got the role that Kor probably would have done if his actor wasn't so old. Both are fan favourites because both transcend the typical ''angry man'' that is your standard Klingon. It was fun that we got to see them as rivals in one episode though and they set up a valid reason for it that is as old as time: class struggles and envy.

[Linkara]

What I especially enjoyed about the episode was Dax clarifying a bit of the whole "kill your immediate superior" thing, that a Klingon is not just a ship of pirates and lawlessness - they have a code of honor and rules governing how these things work. I imagine that's how the Mirror Universe is supposed to operate, too - brutal, a bit ruthless, but ultimately you can't just do whatever the hell you want - SOMEBODY's going to kick your ass, be it a superior who sees your activities as moronic or a subordinate who sees your actions as cowardly and not representing their purported ideals.

[Thebestoftherest]

Worf does to Martok what Picard does for humans, he inspires him to be better. Worf is the Klingon King Arthur.

He did find an ancient sword

[Marveryn]

one of the better episode and a point on what DS9 was able to do as it found its feet. It took what already was establish about Klingon and just added to it without destroying any previous ideas. Plus fleshing out what life in a bird of prey was like

[Deledrius]

It took what already was establish about Klingon and just added to it without destroying any previous ideas.

I don't really understand why this is so hard for the current showrunners. Especially when the drive seems to be to build a working franchise that can support expansive worldbuilding.

[Laeril]

Am I the only one who thinks "How Martok Got His Groove Back" would have made a great alternate title for this episode?

[BridgeConsoleMasher]

Am I the only one who thinks "How Martok Got His Groove Back" would have made a great alternate title for this episode?

Of course not.