The Homecoming

The problems of Bajor intrude big time on the operations of the space station in this season 2 opener. There's a nativist group causing trouble on the planet and they keep putting up threatening graffiti on the station to let the Federation know, not too subtly they want all foreigners out. The provisional government looks like it might fall.

That is when Nana Visitor gets word that a long supposed dead Bajoran hero of the resistance is really still being held by the Cardassians at a labor camp. With Avery Brooks's unofficial blessing she and Colm Meaney rescue him and several other prisoners.

Her work rescuing Richard Beymer didn't quite get the results she wanted. The Bajoran prime minister Michael Bell who is a real piece of work gets her recalled to Bajor and Beymer in her job at DS9. He fears Beymer's popularity might also be a threat to his position,

This episode and for the rest of the series run we got more and more involved in Bajoran and Cardassian politics and culture. As for Beymer he levels with Avery Brooks in that his heroism was not quite as heroic as legend has made it out. But when the legend becomes fact.................................

As Kira goes to Cardassia to rescue a hero thought dead for years, she opens a huge can of worms. The Bajorans continue to be in flux with a group called the Circle that is a danger to both Bajor and the Federation. There are threatening element including that nasty woman who wants power. It also turns out that our hero may have feet of clay.

Kira learns that a Bajoran freedom fighter is still being held prisoner in a Cardassian labour camp.

If you like the storylines about the leadership of Bajor, this is a good one. All the political machinations following the Cardassian withdrawal start to come into play well here and it depicts how complex these situations are when you have multiple parties vying for control.

Aside from the initial scenes where the exposition is rather clunky, the majority of the dialogue relating to plot and political situation is very strong. I enjoy the humour associated with Kira telling everyone she needs the runabout and all the scenes involving Quark.

I also like the way it looks at the reality behind legendary symbolic figures that people unite behind. It takes a Bajoran freedom fighter with an almost Nelson Mandela type aura and gives it a 'The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance' twist in the tale.

This episode contains multiple strong performances, including Frank Langella, Nana Visitor and Avery Brooks.

All visuals are great, such as the phaser battles and general use of location shooting.

"The Homecoming" is the first in a three-part series on "Star Trek: Deep Space 9"--and it's the first three-parter in the history of all the Trek shows.

When the episode begins, word that the great Bajoran resistance leader, Li Nalas, is alive and being held in a Cardassian prison-- even though just about everyone thinks he's dead. Because he can be a unifying force on a chaotic Bajor, Major Kira and O'Brien sneak onto the base and rescue the guy. There are two serious problems-- this is all WAY too easy (a serious plot hole) and the guy doesn't want to be a leader as he doesn't think he's done anything to earn it. By the time the episode ends, big changes are coming as Kira is sent by her government into an early retirement and Li Nalas takes her job on Deep Space 9! And, many of the Bajorans are now raring to kick EVERYONE out of the base and their planet!

As I mentioned above, one of the huge problems is that two folks EASILY enter a prison camp and rescue Li Nalas--something that just doesn't make sense unless the Cardassians WANT Nalas to be rescued--yet NO ONE questions this! Additionally, the show further solidifies my hatred of the Bajorans- -one of the most annoying, aggressive and xenophobic people in the Trek universe--which is made worse since they are an omnipresent force on the show! Fair at best.