Star Trek - Deep Space Nine - Series 7 - Complete (DVD)

Released in May 2007, this is the new Slimline addition to the Deep Space Nine boxset; differing only from its bulkier predecessor by having new packaging. Needless to say all the episodes discs and special features are there.

The series its self is slow to start however, once it gets going it doesn’t fail to disappoint. You kind of know from the start of series 7 that Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is coming to a close as open ended stories told throughout the series are wrapped up and drawn to an end. Season 7 concentrates on these series plots so much, you all too easy forget that there is a war going on, that is until the Dominion strikes at the heart of the federation; an attack on Starfleet HQ on Earth.

People die, people are reborn, new relationships start and old ones flourish. Gul De-Cut even becomes a B’jorian. There are twists at ever turn and underlining plots from Section 31; the Federations answer to the Obsidian Order. The Romulains and their Warbirds do not even shy away from confrontation of the war effort.

How will the war end? Enlist to Starfleet Academy today via Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Series 7 and find out. The Federation needs you!

I freely confess to being biased - I remember the first Star Trek in the 1960s (that ages me!!) and have always been a fan.

That said, I think DS9 was the best of the bunch. It somehow seemed grittier and the storylines more involved and inventive.

Perhaps it was helped by the fact the main characters were based in one place and had the action (very often) come to them rather than them travelling the stars to find it.

I found it also had some finely crafted portrayals of well-worn themes such as the classic warrior (Worf), the classic enigmatic good guy-bad guy (Garik), the lost soul (Odo) and the classic hero with a conscience (Sisko).

The women did not fare badly either. They were a pretty strong bunch who held their own and sometimes outstripped the men for the action kudos.

Even Kai Winn, with her flawed and selfish character, was played full tilt and flat out.

If I had one criticism, it would be those episodes (and thankfully there were not too many of them) that were "fillers".

If you are a Star Trek fan you will probably know where I am coming from.

If you have never seen Star Trek, you could do worse than actually start with DS9 rather than chronologically starting The Next Generation, or even the original series.

DS9 will stand well on its own and does not need too much previous knowledge of the universe in the time of the Federation for the newbie to catch onto the main themes.

I'd say that DS9 is the best of Star Trek as it is much more grittier than voyager or TNG. Captain Sisko is as enigmatic as ever and although the loss of Dax (Jadzia) is a sad time for the crew, it leads to a fresh new face being introduced to the crew in the shape of Ezri Dax, the new host to the Dax symbiant. all the favourite characters are here in season 7 such as Kira, Odo, Chief O'Brian (the famous Starfleet engineer, in Scotty's league, who could make a star ship out of spitballs and twine), Bashir, Quark and Cadet Nog who had been made an Ensign. My favourite episode so far has to be "The Siege of AR-558" Where Sisko and his fellow Starfleet Officers are holed up on a Jem-Hadar base with some battle weary soldiers. All in all Season 7 is the grande finale to Deep Space Nine and you can't beat the quality of having it on DVD.

the series when out with a bang..........................................................................................................................................................