The Passenger (OB 22 Feb. 1993) score: 5

DS9 S1: another day, another disappearing alien fugitive

In 1993, I wrote to Starlog (#195) arguing DS9 was not true to Gene Roddenberry's vision.  The series won me over, but I don't regret the letter, which reviews the first season, most of which remains dreary and disposable.  (And re-reading the letter ... there were some feelings to work through in accepting a post-Roddenberry series.)

Something only vaguely referenced in my long-ago rant is the young season's crutch plot: an alien fugitive uses an unusual power/characteristic to elude capture.  On The X-Files, Vantika (of "The Passenger") would've been a human mutation, or perhaps a demonic entity.  Compare also the Kyle MacLachlan-starring The Hidden (1987), which foregrounds action-comedy, not giving viewers a chance to think.

DS9, however, is harder sci-fi grounded in politics, and the Kobliad's tricks veer too close to sorcery.  The script compensates with technobabble, as viewer eyes glaze.
Otherwise "The Passenger" tracks well enough, and there are good Odo-Quark bits, as well as a straight-faced Julian telling Kira he amazes even himself.  The episode is well-cast, but makes little of the intersection of three security experts (Odo, Starfleet's Primmin, and the Kobliad agent, Kajada).

Nor is there much to say about Kajada being at once predator and prey.  As metaphoric conscious and unconscious, this could have distinguished a hide-in-plain-sight turn, after "A Man Alone," "Captive Pursuit" and "Dax."

** Siddig is terrible as alien-possessed Bashir, such that the director must share blame. **
** DS9 tended downward with Bashir in altered states: "Distant Voices" (S3), "Extreme Measures" (S7).**  

Dax (OB 14 Feb. 1993) score: 2

Anne Haney as Judge Renora

Sci-fi viewers understand the need for the occasional bottle show, but "Dax" is based in a writer's cheat.
Ilon Tandro tries to abduct, then extradite Jadzia Dax for the murder of Tandro's father, a general.  Most of the episode is a courtroom debate on whether Jadzia can be held responsible for the actions of Curzon Dax.

The problem: the Trill would've long ago codified such matters.  (The species may be new to viewers, not to the Star Trek universe.)
As Roger Ebert would say it's the idiot plot, dependent on characters being ignorant of what they should know.  The climax has Ilon Tandro remembering the Trill do consider new hosts responsible for past behavior (even a Starfleet judge would've heard this to start).  He's interrupted by his mother, who alibis Curzon, at the expense of the family reputation.  A pretty good line -- the accused "was in ... my bed." -- is wasted here.
Note the centenarian judge flashing a look at Enina Tandro (the widow), as if to say "thanks for showing up after wasting everyone's time."  The attentive viewer feels the same. 

Q-Less (OB 7 Feb. 1993) score: 3

Q was important to TNG as a foil for Picard (and thus Starfleet), and its most prominent recurring character.  If he was a poor fit for DS9, it's understandable the fledgling spinoff had to learn the hard way.

DS9 was designed to add grit to a Star Trek that had grown complacent: these flawed characters couldn't warp away from their choices.  They were subject to political blowback.  Omnipotent Q knocks this reform all to hell.  (Even DS9's wormhole prophets, though localized and thus limited, never quite paid off.)
Indeed, Q seems to disappear from the second half of "Q-Less" as Sisko and company sleuth the station's beeline for the wormhole, discovering a homesick alien, evidently related to those in (Q's debut) "Encounter at Farpoint."

The theme of "Q-Less" seems to be the frustrations of male control amid more instinctive or intuitive forces, such as Vash and her relics, and the alien refugee.  In the best scene, Q himself spoofs human machismo, impersonating a 19th century bare-knuckle boxer (Sisko punches him out).  Like the title pun ("clueless"), however, it never ties together, or even makes sense: when Vash rejects him, why doesn't Q respond with his usual coercive punishment?

Q and Vash make a great team, but not between the pylons.  

Captive Pursuit (OB 31 Jan. 1993) score: 8

The first DS9 episode that clips right along, assuming our familiarity with setting and characters.  While not particularly original as a story -- every sci-fi series does The Most Dangerous Game, and the original Predator was a recent memory -- it works.  And I've always loved the hunters' uniforms, so Gerry Anderson.

Although Sisko cites exploitation, the story blissfully cuts to an action climax, with O'Brien inspiring Tosk to continue his flight: "change the rules."  TNG might've bogged down in speeches.

We love TNG but it could be stuffy, without a McCoy or Scotty for fresh air.  On DS9, most of the regulars stand ready with the sardonic.  Note that here, both Odo and O'Brien cite personal pride (reputation) as motivation. 

The only scripted misstep: the failed attempt to stir an O'Brien-Quark rivalry.

We're told Tosk are bred as prey, an honored role, thus foreshadowing the Jem'hadar, while the hunters look to the Hirogen of Voyager.  The name "Tosk" may derive from "caste."