Cheap Star Trek - Deep Space Nine, Episode 119: Soldiers of the Empire (Video) (Avery Brooks, Rene Auberjonois) (Victor Lobl, David Carson, Gabrielle Beaumont, Robert Legato, Robert Scheerer, James L. Conway, Alexander Siddig, Avery Brooks) Price

Related Products

Customer Reviews of Star Trek - Deep Space Nine, Episode 119: Soldiers of the Empire

You know, this would be a very bad day for Worf to die
The Dominion formed an alliance with the Cardassians in order to attack the Klingon Empire, and in "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," Episode 119, "Soldiers of the Empire" (Written by Ronald D. Moore, Aired April 28, 1997), we find out that things are not going to well for the Klingons. General Martok is ordered by the Klingon High Council to search for the B'Moth, a mission Klingon war ship that is missing near the Cardassian border. Martok takes command of the "Rotarran," with Worf as his First Office and Dax as the Science Officer. However, they are surprised to learn that this Klingon crew has been beaten up by a long string of losses to the Jem'Hadar. Martok declares that what this crew needs is a victory to improve morale, but when the opportunity comes for the cloaked Klingon ship to attack a Jem'Hadar vessel, he lets it slip away. Worf decides that there is only one course of action dictated by honor, and that is to challenge Martok for command of the ship.

My biggest complaint about season five of "DS9" is that the war with the Dominion gets ignored in a lot of these episodes. "Soldiers of the Empire" is the exception that proves the rule, because it hints at the hard struggle the Klingons have been facing against the Jem'Haddar and Cardassians while we have been watching comic relief episodes focusing on Quark. But somewhere out there in the "Star Trek" universe a war is going on and this episode provides some evidence of what is happening. Of course, most episodes focusing on Worf and the Klingons are above average, and this one is no exception. Plus you have Dax, who is proving to be as much of a Klingon purist as her beau.

---

If you love the Klingons, this is for you!
For fans of the Warrior Race, "Soldiers of the Empire" is arguably the best Klingon episodes of any Trek series. The entire story is set on a Klingon Bird of Prey. Worf boards as Exec, to bolster the shaky leadership of the warship's commander, General Martok. Jadzia Dax signs on as a subordinate bridge-officer, to monitor the growing unrest of the Klingon crew. Having suffered some humiliating defeats by Dominion forces, the warriors are now further demoralized by Martok's cowardly avoidance of combat. Resentment is rampant and to Dax's dismay, Martok and even Worf seem oblivious to the impending mutiny. How disaster is averted, and the very Klingon manner in which Worf restores Martok's confidence and command make for a good story. Even better are the characterizations of the Klingon crew, who are not just stereotypical berzerkers. Borrowing heavily from the definitive novel "The Final Reflection", they are scripted as interesting but alien people with individual strengths and weaknesses. Particularly compelling is the female engineer who fearlessly asserts her position as third in command. And David Graf, best known for his comic portrayal of firearms-fanatic Officer Tackleberry ("Police Academy") gives a delightful performance as the frustrated helmsman. Perhaps the sweetest treat for Trekdom's klinfans is the cast's rousing battle-ballad with singable lyrics in the authentic klingo-lingo. "Soldiers of the Empire" provides little of plot-importance to DS9's ongoing space-opera, but it is certainly one of the most enjoyable episodes of the series.

---

One of the Great Klingon Episodes!
Why is paramount withholding these great episodes? This like almost all of Deep Space 9 was such a great episode. Is it revenge for our love of this series or just a plot to bleed even more money out of us. Can anyone at Paramount answere this question?