The Pensky Podcast: Star Trek: Deep Space 9

With DS9 over, Wes and Clay get together to give some final thoughts about the series as a whole. Is DS9 better than TNG? Does it matter? The guys try to understand the complexities that make DS9 unique and both amazing and awful (but mostly amazing).

This is it. The final episode of DS9. "What You Leave Behind" serves to close out both the Dominion War and the series itself. It has action, drama, comedy and retrospection in spades. It's a brilliant ending to a fascinating series. But it's not perfect. In this podcast, Wes and Clay discuss what the finale does right and what it does wrong. They try to determine if "What you L

The two year journey through DS9 is almost finished! But before they tackle the DS9 finale, Wes and Clay head back to where it all began by revisiting the DS9 pilot, "Emissary". In this podcast, the guys discuss

In the penultimate episode of DS9, Damar becomes the leader of a Cardassian revolution. Bashir and Ezri hook up. The Siskos get some big news. And Quark gets some exciting, and then upsetting, news. Clay and Wes get together to discuss the choice to involve the Ferengi so heavily in the second to last episode of the show. Plus! They defend their choice of O'Brien as the weakest ch

Odo is dying. The disease that has infected the Founders has spread to Odo, and he does not look well. To cure him, Bashir and O'Brien lure Section 31's Sloan to DS9. They plan to enter his mind and steal the cure, and hopefully end Section 31 once and for all. In this podcast, Wes and Clay discuss the last Bashir and O'Brien adventure and the end of Luther Sloan. Plus! They talk

In "Tacking Into the Wind", our characters face an uphill battle against themselves. Gowron continues to sabotage the war effort, and Kira and Odo attempt to steal Breen technology. In this podcast, Wes and Clay discuss the collapse of two Trek empires. Plus! The guys talk about the death of Rene Auberjonois, the pointless romance of Odo and Kira, and the evolution of Worf.

"When it rains, it pours." Things go from bad to worse as Gowron arrives at DS9 and takes command of the Klingon forces. Odo discovers he is infected with the sickness ravaging the Founders. Bashir and O'Brien learn that Section 31 is responsible for the infection. Kira, Odo and Garak are sent to train Damar's soldiers. Dukat goes blind. In this podcast, Wes and Clay discuss an ep

The Breen have attacked Earth. Dukat has convinced Kai Winn to review the ancient texts of the Pah-Wraiths. Damar rebels against the Dominion. In this podcast, Wes and Clay discuss "The Changing Face of Evil". Plus! The guys discuss burning the peppers, the abrupt lethargy of the "final chapter", and the failures of the Winn/Dukat story line.

In "Strange Bedfellows", the Dominion and Breen alliance could prove costly for the Federation. Worf and Ezri discover an unexpected ally on Cardassia. Dukat manages to turn Kai Winn to the Dark Side. Wes and Clay discuss an episode that seems like a superior reboot of "Til Death Do Us Part". Plus! The guys explore the potential redemption of Damar, the narrative need for Dukat, a

Ignoring the will of The Prophets, Sisko and Kasidy Yates get married. Meanwhile, the captured Worf and Ezri are interrogated by the Breen. On DS9, Dukat works to lure Kai Winn to the Dark Side. Wes and Clay get together to discuss "'Til Death Do Us Part" and how it works as the second hour of the Final Chapter. Plus! The guys talk about the Breen popping up out of nowhere, treadi