Comments on: Retro Review: Progress

By: DS9 Forever

DS9 Forever — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 17:18:00 +0000

I really like this episode. TNG would have had to add a subplot with a focus on the technology that the Bajorans would use, but fortunately DS9 has no such constraints. Incidentally, there is a DS9 novel where Mullibok forgives Kira and realises she acted in his best interests.

As for the “B” story, I actually enjoy Nog teaching Jake about supply and demand.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 09:23:00 +0000

That an old man has lost his home and has NOTHING, and they have nice comfy living on a space station message?

My issue more would have been it’s a trite ending.

By: mvdelaney77

mvdelaney77 — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 06:21:00 +0000

For me, the poignance of the episode now comes from the later suicide of Brian Keith.

By: Bobby

Bobby — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 02:48:00 +0000

This was one of the best first season episodes. I really enjoyed the Kira storyline, and the Jake / Nog one too.

Having Jake and Nog give their land to the settlers never really occurred to me. First, it would have been “too easy” of an out – TNG always had these sort of A and B plots that miraculously converge like this. Besides, the Bajoran government wants to relocate them. Presumably they already have land they want to relocate them to. The point is, they don’t want to move. They want THIS land, the land that they have made their home. Its a lot like the Maquis situation, where the Federation wants to relocate people against their will for the greater good.

One thing I always liked about DS9 is that there were normally 2 or 3 subplots going on at once that had absolutely no connection. Even the worst episode would usually have a fun Jake / Nog subplot (or O’Brien / Bashir, or someone) to keep it from being a total loss.

By: Guest

Guest — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 01:52:00 +0000

“The first time I saw this episode, I thought Kira was going to learn that Jake and Nog had acquired land on Bajor and persuade them to give it to Mullibok, teaching them that some things have greater value than latinum and showing Mullibok that not only Bajorans but even strangers from space can be welcoming and generous. Would that have seemed awfully simple and reductive? Perhaps, but it would be more in fitting with the values of the show as a whole and with the emphasis of “Progress” in particular.”

Kids should give away their stuff to older people at no benefit to themselves? What kind of a message is that? Why is it good for someone else to have it, but bad for them to have it? That would have been terrible.