This is another example of a recurring 'nit' I have noticed on DS9. In the majority of cases, when the crew beam down to a planet, it is a primitive culture with very little technology. Often, they live in a small village. This saves budgeting money on items like transportation vehicles, etc.

They have yet to beam down to a big bustling techno futuristic (expensive set) city, a la Blade Runner.

At least the Cardassian home world had a big video screen. But they were careful not to show any exterior street shots of the Cardassian city, with Cardassian cars, taxis, etc.

I got the impression that it had once been a more sophisticated culture, but they had just let everything go to pieces when the disease hit them.

When the virus mustates because of the EM fields and everyone Bashir starts to convulse and die, how come the pregnant girls doesn't, given she's been given the same treatment?
Is it because she hasn't quickened yet or the fact the antigen has been absorbed into the placenta? If it's the latter, wouldn't Julian wonder why she wasn't suffering and have cottoned on to the fact the antigen may have all gone to the baby, a discovery he could of made before the birth?

Actually, I thought that the matte paintings in this episode were very effective.

They call this episode The Quickening, but I don't remember seeing any immortals chopping each other's heads off. ;-)

Supposedly, this planet is 'just outside of Dominion space.' (Wink, wink.) However, 200 years ago the Jem'Hadar trashed and infected this planet, so why didn't they spread out into this region?
Also, Kira has to hide the runabout in a nebula because they detect two Jem'Hadar ships on some kind of 'patrol route.' Clearly the Dominion thinks of this region of space as Dominion space and the Federation didn't get the memo.
(It's probably that Third Talak'talan's fault, being vague and not speaking clearly, so the Federation could not understand what the Dominion wanted. ;-)

Where did the Federation get their maps of the Gamma quadrant? Supposedly they know where Dominion space begins, and they also know the names of star systems that they have never traveled to and know very little about. How do they know that this is the Teplan system? How do they know that the system the Jem'Hadar just patrolled is the Kendi system?

Bashir is bothered by Trevean's 'assisted suicides,' but didn't Bashir argue with Kira about letting Vedek Bareil die rather than have his brain replaced with a positronic model in Life Support? True Bashir wasn't slipping poison into his food, but Bareil wasn't asking to die either.

If the Dominion has this kind of biological warfare capability, then why haven't we ever seen it used since? The Dominion seems to overly rely on the brute force of the Jem'Hadar.

Why would it take Starfleet months to mount a relief mission? Isn't Starfleet prepared to leap into action at a moment's notice?

Trevean knows that the planet once had sophisticated technology and it failed to stop the disease. Presumably the doctors two centuries earlier realized that the electromagnetic fields fed the virus. So, why didn't Trevean tell Bashir about this? For that matter why didn't Bashir try to find some old medical records?

Since the virus becomes nastier when exposed to electromagnetic fields. Did Bashir turn off his Universal Translator and learn their language?

Dr. Bashir says that he performed his first operation on his teddy bear when he was five. In Doctor Bashir, I Presume, I believe that he said he was five and his classmates were doing better than he, and he was having trouble using the computer. Now if Bashir was having trouble learning to use a computer at age 5, (my niece & nephews started playing computer games at age 2), then why would his mother trust him to handle a pair of scissors & a sharp needle?

If the vaccine isn't that difficult to make as Bashir states, then why didn't the doctors two centuries earlier discover it? Does it involve some mineral that doesn't exist on this world?

At the end of the episode, everyone on the planet is excited that the next generation will be born without the blight. Apparently, they have forgotten that they are 'just outside of Dominion space' because I don't think the Dominion will be pleased to discover that babies are being born disease free. What is to stop the Jem'Hadar from further trashing the planet and creating a new disease? If they do create a new disease, I doubt that they will allow another Federation ship to just waltz right in and create another vaccine.

If the runabout's sensors can detect two Jem'Hadar ships, isn't it likely the Jem'Hadar ships can also detect the runabout? And if so, doesn't it seem like they would bop over to the area real quick to see what was going on? Even if Kira managed to hide the runabout, wouldn't the Jem'Hadar send down a landing party to the planet's surface, just to take a look around, make sure the population was still suffering?

I know, I know, they can't patrol the whole planet, right? They did in fact beam down, just not into the town where Bashir was. Right.

I nearly cracked up when I saw the arrogant Bashir knocked down a few notches in this episode. Serves him right! I only hope he learns something from this experience.

This has been on my mind for a bit. When Dax and Bashir first beam in, and walk into the middle of the village, one of the victims who have already quickened, comes toward them asking for their help. It looks like Bashir immediately takes her into his arms and they both fall to the ground for him to try and help her. So it looks like the victim is half sitting and half being held up by Bashir's arms. When Dax gets up to find the 'hospital', Bashir then moves his arms to take his equipment and scan her. But the victim is still in the half sitting/half leaning back position, like she is still being held up by Bashir, but Bashir has already has his arms out doing something else. So, is she keeping herself up like that? Is that suppose to look still victim like? I would imagine she would have fallen the rest of the way to the ground in a horizontal position. Considering she must be in a lot of pain, I would think that holding that particular position with no help, would be tough to do.

Isn't Bashir's helping these people a violation of the prime directive?

I'm not sure about that. They have knowledge of alien life that predates Bashir's arrival, and if they ask for help, I don't think it's a violation.

Where did the Federation get their maps of the Gamma quadrant? Supposedly they know where Dominion space begins, and they also know the names of star systems that they have never traveled to and know very little about. How do they know that this is the Teplan system? How do they know that the system the Jem'Hadar just patrolled is the Kendi system?

In 'Emissary' after the discovery of the wormhole the computer in the runabout states that the Idran system(the closest to the Gamma Quadrant end) was charted by the Quadros-One Probe of the Gamma Quadrant. Maybe it also charted or mapped the systems in this episode? Or, even today, we have names for far-off star systems and even galaxies that we have charted with telescopes.

As for where Dominion space is, perhaps the Federation acquired that information from the Ferengi, who trade with the Karemma.

This episode was directed by the actor who played Odo.

mr Crusher, how did you find out that Rene (odo) directed this episode?

It says "Directed by" on the episode.

well, if you are looking up the info to find this information anyway, why not provide the actual name of the actor?

Im not looking up info, AS I SAID, its on the episode, during the first act.

This nit occurs when Bashir is about to leave the planet and is looking at the mural. As the sick woman comes up to him, we see the man with the dead body on a cart (bring out your dead!). There are two problems here. First, this is the second time we've seen him with what appears to be the same dead body on his cart, with the two scenes being set about a week apart. Second, the sick woman is well behind him in the long shot and when it transitions to the closeup, he is almost off the left side of the screen. Then, in the closeup, he is behind the sick woman and walks through the scene again.

DS9 didn't really bring up the prime directive much. As it was apparently the golden rule of Star Trek but everyone broke it DS9 took a more realistic view that you could get away with breaking it a lot. Technically you could do all of Star Fleet for violating it when they fought the dominion as they were interfering with another culture. Their worst thought through rule ever.

Maybe despite Bashir being 'special' at age 5 he was still good with a needle and thread. A lot of people who struggle with words and numbers and education excel at practical things. Or maybe he actually fixed his teddy at age 6 after he'd been enhanced but he has a few lies set up to keep it quiet that he was a slow learner so he attributes a few of his later successes to himself before the enhancement.

I find their reactions to Quarks advertisements extremely inappropriate and unprofessional. Someone needs to tell Kira threatening behaviour is a crime as is whatever "I will go to Quark's and believe me I will have fun" is.

I remember it came up at the end of The Circle. It also prevented Sisko from assisting Kai Winn in her conflict with Shakaar in Shakaar.

As for Quark, hacking into station and Federation computers to insert his advertisements is an obvious crime, and he's lucky he didn't get thrown in prison for it.

Daniel, the Dominion isn't a pre-warp culture. The Prime Directive doesn't apply.

I could be mistaken, but I seem to recall some episodes saying or implying that there were non-interference aspects to the Prime Directive that would apply to post-warp cultures and/or post-contact situations. IIRC we saw some of that in Symbiosis & Redemption Part II.

That being said, I don't think fighting back when attacked should fall under the Prime Directive at all.

KAM- Symbiosis, I think, was pre-warp (between two planets in one system.) And yes, there is a non-interference with internal political affairs of other bodies,even post warp- as in Redemption, between Romulans and Klingons. this probably applied to Bajor in many situations.

However, as you said KAM, the Dominion war has no such effect, as that was a direct affair of the Federation. Basically, the post-war/post-contact aspect of the Prime Directive only applies to non-interference in the affairs or battles of Party A and Party B... if neither party A or B is the Federation. If the Federation is one of the parties- I.e. the Dominion War- they are by nature involved and the directive does not apply. :-)

But if a Starfleet officer is trapped with primitive natives they're supposed to let themselves die rather than reveal who they are, that would surely involve party A as the Federation. Obviously they would never apply the prime directive in such a way but it's wording is wanting to say the least.

The Prime Directive worked just fine until they started applying it to space faring species. Voyager clearly states that they can't give tech to the Kazons because of the prime directive. The problem with the phrase "interfering with another species culture/destiny" is that could mean just about anything, it's no problem when it just means don't tell the cave men who you are and stay off their planet but if you trade with another species/grant them aid/go to war. Then you're doing all of the above. Even making first contact with warp capable species is a violation as you're going to change the course of their culture, look what's meant to have happened to Earth. Again it's not meant to mean that but the problem is it does. I guess poorly worded laws will always be a problem.

Yes Quarks adverts are a crime but see what happens to a police officer if they assault someone for it. I know in practice it's all covered up but in theory that would get you into a lot of trouble. Consider how you would feel if if we saw video footage of a suspect being treated like that. As I said that was threatening behaviour and whatever having fun is it's likely to be ABH or GBH. I know I will go to Quarks and give you a huge fine doesn't have the same ring to it but that sort of thing guts a case.

I'd say the the truth is that the Prime Directive changed at the whim of the particular writer of an episode. Sometimes it was only about interfering with non-warp capable societies. Sometimes it was applied to the Klingon Civil War even though they had warp drive, although it was an internal matter. Sometimes it allowed the Federation to stand by while a natural disaster destroyed a civilization (Homeward) while they were obligated to save the primitive society (Pen Pals).

"But if a Starfleet officer is trapped with primitive natives they're supposed to let themselves die rather than reveal who they are, that would surely involve party A as the Federation. Obviously they would never apply the prime directive in such a way but it's wording is wanting to say the least." - Dqanny21
That is the PRE-Warp half. The Federation-as-party-A applies to the post-warp half. It is all quite consistent- no interference or contact with pre-warp societies, period. No interference in the affairs of post-warp societies (I.E. any affairs not involving the Federation directly)- internal matters, as Brian points out. And no sharing of Federation technology with less advanced technological civilizations. This is not a Voyager invention; TNG practiced it too.

"Sometimes it allowed the Federation to stand by while a natural disaster destroyed a civilization (Homeward) while they were obligated to save the primitive society (Pen Pals)." - Brian Fitzgerald
Actually, in both episodes, their interpretation of the Prime Directive was 'let them die.' While I agree that this is the most stupid invocation of the Prime Directive possible, it is internally consistent, and can be interpreted (from an extremely miserly and inhuman position, which Picard apparently holds) as consistent with 'not interfering in the fate of a pre-warp culture.' It's cold and cruel and inhuman... but it is, from a legal interpretation standpoint, technically consistent with the other Prime Directive stances.

They've always been pretty consistent about applying the prime directive to pre warp civilisations, don't tell them who you are and no changing the course of their culture. Unless they already know about you in which case you can tell them who you are and aid them in certain ways if they ask however you're not allowed to tell them they need your help if they don't realise they need it EG Symbiosis. Also no sharing tech. However despite their assurances the prime directive was good and prevented more harm than good the only time we saw it cause harm to primatives was Who Watches the Watchers, and if they'd just explained the whole thing to him instantly instead of just hoping the memory wipe worked the problems of the ep could have been prevented. I fail to see how saving a planet from a preventable natural disaster could at all backfire. Especially if you can do it without even telling the natives.

It's when they started applying it to warp capable species that the problem arises. It's pretty clear cut for primatives but it's very incosistently applied to aliens. Voyager refused to share tech at the the start but later they metnioned they had started doing it with no references made to PM violations.

"However despite their assurances the prime directive was good and prevented more harm than good the only time we saw it cause harm to primatives was Who Watches the Watchers" - Danny21

And maybe, kinda, "First Contact." Though that was really more of the Federation's spying policy. BUT- they did indicate the Prime Directive was established because they HAD been harmful to another species- the disastrous first contact as the Klingons, as seen in the Enterprise episode...

....

...Well whaddya know? Enterprise dropped the ball on something. Something continuity-related. What a SURPRISE. :-)


"I fail to see how saving a planet from a preventable natural disaster could at all backfire. Especially if you can do it without even telling the natives." - Danny21

I would tend to agree with you. But clearly the enlightened folk of the 24th century know something we don't, about how cruel and inhumane it is to save people from dying using means outside of their own... somehow... for some reason. Or else, they're cold, heartless nitwits and the Prime Directive works well in theory, but not in any of the situations contrived by the writers to tie the captain's hands with it. :-)


"It's when they started applying it to warp capable species that the problem arises. It's pretty clear cut for primatives but it's very incosistently applied to aliens. Voyager refused to share tech at the the start but later they metnioned they had started doing it with no references made to PM violations." - Danny21

I do think it got a little inconsistent in latter Voyager. I still understood the rule to be 'no sharing technology with a less technologically advanced species'- but that leaves an AWFUL lot of room for interpretation, especially on the technically advanced levels of a species. I would assume, though, that Voyager found some, making the trades PD-legal... while the Kazon clearly didn't apply. :-)

Yeah so as we've discovered Andrew Prime Directive = terrible idea. Well one thign we can be sure of is that won't be a problem when we really get into space lol.

I'm with you on the latter interpretation if you look closely you realise just how cold the feds are. Especially in the early series where Gene had gone slightly OTT with his vision of an ideal future to the point that humans weren't even allowed to argue with each other any more.

The Kazon and Voyager was one giant mistake. lol

Hmmm. No references to "Highlander" on this board at all. I suppose that's a good thing!

I saw the first two Highlander films, and the second was a complete betrayal of the characters from the original. Making them aliens from a world called Zeist? And the idea of this so-called "Quickening" that referred to the "transfer of power" between the Highlanders? Those two things right there completely contradicted the origins of the race from the first film! And the dystopian future of the mid 21-century in which the abomination of a sequel took place in! Are you ready for this? The ozone layer has been totally destroyed and the "World Corporation" (or ONE of them) has activated an energy shield over the planet that was created by the Christopher Lambert HL (I forget his character name) that uses up so much energy that it ends up creating a worldwide greenhouse effect with constant stifling humididy, and the worst part is that the Earth is shrouded in CONSTANT DARKNESS! Why would ANYONE have thought this THIS was the best solution to the planet's problem?!

Well, anyway, director Russell Mulcahey ended up releasing a "Renegade Edition" of HL 2 that totally removed all references to the Highlanders being from Zeist, as well as taking out a few other things about the film that had proved unpopular. That's the version I have, and I'm glad it was done!

Anyway, regarding this episode? Well, which was worse? The Blight? Or the Phage? Whoever had either suffered considerably with great agony, and was fatal to anyone who was afflicted, right? I wouldn't wish EITHER of them on anyone. Not even my worst enemy!

At least the Think Tank cured the Phage. At least that's what they claimed, I wouldn't think they were entirely trustworthy, seeing as how they were going to capture Seven and then ended up fighting the Hazari, whom they had sent after Voyager in the first place! I wonder what happened to them?.....

"They call this episode The Quickening, but I don't remember seeing any immortals chopping each other's heads off. ;-)" - KAM in 2000

Sorry, I must have missed this somehow. My bad.