The Rules of Acquisition: A Star Trek Deep Space Nine Podcast

Season 5 commences!And the guys gets to play Klingons!   After the season 4 finale Sisko has to go undercover.  Sisko, Obrien, and Odo get into various degrees of character and Michael Dorn gets to laugh at everyone for experiencing what he gets to deal with every day of shooting.  Which actor got out of this due to a latex allergy? Who was the most miserable, Brooks or Meaney?  How much fun are Martok and Gowron? Voicemails (46:47) Eric finds new ways to dislike The Muse that we never even considered. Bucky likes the Quickening. And a new listener has us appreciating strong female characters and reminding us how we felt about some of these characters in the 90s before our more recent re-watches. Thanks Poppy!  Let us know what you think by giving us a call! 917 408 3898 And if you want to support the show -and get access to our Dune podcast Much A-Dune About Nothing- Why not support us on Patreon? patreon.com/kickersofelves

White Album time!  Will our choices lead to a fight as bad as those had by the Beatles? Season 4 complete! Can we narrow down this fantastic 26 episode season of television into a streamlined 12 episode run, similar to more recent "prestige" television?  We've done it for every season so far; is season 4 easier or more difficult than we imagined it would be? What criteria does each of us use? Will vital episodes be cast aside? Will ire be stoked? Near the end of the podcast we talk about book adaptations and other issues regarding recent television. In voicemails (48:10), it's a Twiggyflow Trifecta! Give us a call to let us know what you think and give us your own "White Album" cuts of Star Trek Deep Space Nine. 917 408 3898 And check out A Discovery Home Companion on itunes or check out our Patron only podcast Much A-Dune About Nothing on the Kickers of Elves Patreon. (patreon.com/kickersofelves) 

Odo Must Suffer! In the season finale Odo suddenly falls ill after Garak tries to play matchmaker, and the only thing to do is to try and find the changeling homeworld. There's a lot of just hanging out in this episode that is also very consequential to the story of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.  Sure, Big Things Happen, but the Ops crew still has time to joke about Kira's pregnant sneezing, Miles' being laughed at in his own home, and Garak's time as a murderous gardener. And being the very much adult and grown up podcast hosts that we are, we spend some time of our own hypothesizing on just what kind of equipment a transformed Odo is packing. AND A RETURN TO VOICEMAILS (48:28) On For the Cause and the Maquis:Greg from North Carolina gives us a call to remind James that he is wrong.Tom from Cleveland compares the Maquis to petulant children. Make your own contributions to the show by calling 917 408 3898 And check out our ongoing podcast series Much A-Dune About Nothing by supporting Kickers of Elves on patreon! (patreon.com/kickersofelves)

Quark is dying! Of "Dork syndrome"James hates Ferengi Ebay. But first, the B plot.What is Obrien’s hook? Does the Kira pregnancy work in this episode beyond being an interesting fix for a production problem? Just how are things going to develop with the O'briens and Kira? Back in the A plot, there's some disagreement over whether this is a high quality Ferengi episode.  Is this an important point in the Ferengi arc of the series, or an episode where Quark makes a no-brainer decision? In the end, we stumble into a Nerd Corner We go long on this one!  Give us your feedback to be featured in a later episode! 917 408 3898 Support us on Patreon for tons of extra content and updates to our Dune miniseries. patreon.com/kickersofelves

We interrupt our regular DS9 programming with a special bonus preview of our latest podcast endeavor! Kickers of Elves will be exploring Frank Herbert's scifi epic, Dune. What makes the world of Arrakis endure for scifi fans? Why is the book such a "white whale" to adapt for filmmakers? This limited series podcast will begin with the text itself, and progress through multiple "failed" interpretations, from Jodorowsky, to Lynch, to the SiFi miniseries, and finally to what we might expect from Denis Villeneuve, director of Arrival and Blade Runner 2049. In this short introduction however, we'll address our own personal histories with Arrakis, whether we've previously read the book(s), or never even seen the infamous David Lynch movie. Hear more of this multi-part series by becoming a "Friend of Sisko" at Patreon.com/kickersofelves Spoiler: Hugh HATES it.

Is Julian Bashir a Good Doctor? We have to contend with a question we’ve asked this entire podcast.  In Dominion space Julian and Dax find some "physiologically different" human-looking humanoids who are suffering from a manufactured disease.Hugh is not a disease guy.  Was Jen Kirkman, of all people, pregnant in this episode? Certainly not.  Let’s figure out the etymology of “quickening” and what it means in this episode.  Nerd cornering on weather seasons and alien physiologies.  Julian hates hospice.  Where do some of these actors come from? They Shoot Bashir’s Don’t They?  Deadwood! Just how many Julian reboots are we gonna get?  Early mocap.  And James has some remarks on pregnancy…   plust more! Voicmails! (48:44) Kristin from Toronto has some thoughts on Outlander  and  BuckyWTGoodHair has a few calls about the Mirror Uninverse. Let us know what YOU think by giving us a call at 917 408 3898 and check out our patreon page to see what you get by supporting us!  Stay tuned for that Dune podcast we mentioned. patreon.com/kickersofelves

DS9 done right.So much is crammed in this episode. After chasing off some Breen and hanging out in the lunchroom, SH#! gets real at the station when some Jem'Hadar asplode a pylon.  No time for mourning though, as everyone minus Bashir and Kira take chase into the gamma quadrant, meet a dream team of 90s B movie actors, and remind us all about that Dominion thing.   Details and worldbuilding abound. Characters get some hangout time while keeping the plot moving. OH, yes, and we finally meet our favorite Voorta [minus Iggy Pop], Weyoun! Klingons and Jem'Hadar rivalry is stoked. Some TNG callbacks are made. And plot points for the future are left out of the final cut."You can't get a time portal without getting a timeshare spiel from a space god." And some Voicemails! (48:53) New caller John from Pennsylvania wonders if maybe Lwaxana episodes are more fun for kids.  We remark on what we maybe shouldn't revisit from our childhoods. Warren, 10rant, from Seattle has some questions about why Lwaxana doesn't go to see her flagship living daughter for help, and we get into some costume questions. Give us a call yourself at 917 408 3898! And check out our patreon for other content at patreon.com/kickersofelves

Badlands and Bad Men. Or are they really bad? Who's bad? You know who's bad. Relationships are strained and even broken when secrets get out. But first! Wade has a nontraditional perspective on the B plot with Garak and Ziyal.  Sisko and Kasidy hit some bumps in their relationship, even as Jake learns about biscotti. The morallity and merit of the Maquis are discussed ad nauseum. Are the maquis and the federation a bad breakup? Who’s the good guy here?  Does anyone make a good case for Federation separatists in this episode?  What does Voyager fail to do with them? We go long in this one so no voicemails this week, but that doesn't mean we don't want to hear from you! 917 408 3898 And check out (and maybe support) us on patreon for access to out discord server and hours of other audio content. patreon.com/kickersofelves

What happened here? Just how did this episode come about?  When the widow of your vaunted creator wants to pitch a story, you let her, because you're not a jerk. Marky Mark, we have words for you. Space Vampires? Is this… Babylon 5? We talk about the craft of writing, and how it pertains to the subject and content of this episode. Masters of the Universe? Oh, yes. What good CAN we say about this episode? Is this part of a 3 episode Odo arc? Mellodrama? Oh, how bout we talk about Outlander? That’s supposed to be a good show. Is this episode about Odo and Kira at all, or is it just a plain ol’ bad episode about Odo and Lwaxana? But OH, the muse plot! We're a little distracted.  Jake likes older women. He meets one who likes to rub orange cheese out of his brain as he writes books... Oh, we have a few things to say. In Voicemails! (48:50) Stefan thinks Kurn should have killed himself.  We get political and talk about the shows we want in dark times, Tim Allen, and Reagan, and... the AIDS crisis? How did we get here? Give us a call!  917 408 3898 And support what we do at patreon.com/kickersofelves  

A casual jaunt across dimensions.Rub a ceiling fan motor and transport yourself to another place...Jake feels his mom's hands again! Ben Sisko makes some faces!Is this the worst mirror episode yet, or the the best? Pure dumb fun?We get the first appearance of Mirror Worf. Is that good enough?For James, enjoying the Mirror Universe: Like laughing at jokes in pornos. Topics we move to to talk about other than the mirror universe:  Liz Phair. The Office. Mash.  Our fav film, Magnolia. The number 47. Make it so! In Voicemails! (50:50)  We hear from Twiggy on Rules of Engagement, among other things.. Give us a call so we can hear from you at  917 408 3898 And check out all the extra content we have by supporting us on patreon. patreon.com/kickersofelves

Obrien. Must. Suffer. The Hardest.   Star Trek tackled some serious issues, in an era before we were all forced to learn the term PTSD. But, first don’t you want to hear us argue the difference between implanted memories and a simulation on a scifi future show?  Have you missed Nerd Corner? It’s hard to make jokes about such a serious well done episode!How bout them healthcare plans in the future?Jake helps O’Brien with his tools. Did everyone screw up by not sending Miles back to Ireland? And what of Roddenberry’s vision? Does this preserve Star Trek’s “evolved humanity” or perfect it? As we get older… do we have less desire to rewatch upsetting media? Skipping out on voicemails this week. This episode drained us. But still, give us a call! 917 408 3898 And support us on patreon, where there might be a few extra minutes of us arguing over simulations vs implants, but also so much more patreon.com/kickersofelves 

Worf, No! These leftovers taste great with a little O’bay on them! Is this a run of the mill episode? Have we seen this before? It’s another episode where we get to explore a character by putting them on trial!  And another episode about Worf’s conflict with his Klingon and Federation background.  Featuring Ron Canada, the voice of Gold Peak Ice Tea, as Evil Klingon Lawyer. And a great final Sisko scene we can’t wait to get to. In voicemails (56:00) we talk religion! Tom from Cleveland needs to vent about the Bajorans Greg from North Carolina also has some thoughts on Bajoran religion Give us a call and let us know what YOU think! 917 408 3898 Support the show on patreon! (patreon.com/kickersofelves)

Bajoran religion, everyone’s favorite type of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode. BUT… is this the most consequential episode yet for the arc of the series? Faith (or lack thereof) is discussed!   Fletch's boss comes out of the the wormhole and does Sisko a favor by taking over as the emissary.  Kira is surprisingly ok and doesn't question this, til not-quite-Borat starts bringing back the Bajoran caste system and tells her to quit her job and start making birds.  This regression into alt-right ideology sets Sisko down a path where he has to confront what it means to be a religious figure, and even buy into it a little bit more. No time for voicemails this week, but give us a call and let us know what you think! 917 408 3898 And check out our patreon at patreon.com/kickersofelves for more content!

Power in a Rom!   Rom starts a union! Lefty Propaganda!  We spend a bit at the top knocking out Worf's B plot before diving into Marx, Sean O'Brien, and Rom's tranformation from exploited worker to strong union leader. Putting politics aside, this is also a pretty good story about Rom finding himself when not under the shadow of his brother.  The episode that really sets Rom's story in motion, and sets the stage for relationships to come...   What are some our feelings on unions in the real world? We'll get into some of that and what gets us grabbing for our pitchforks, but mostly this is about Rom.  "Workers of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains."  Oh, and Jeffrey Combs shows up! And in the feedback segment: Franklyn from Jax and just what exactly happened to the robot voice lately? Music: Billy Bragg, "Power in a Union" And give us your feedback for future segments on the show! 917 408 3898 and check out the patreon (patreon.com/kickersofelves)    

Woo! Worfs brother! Tony Todd! ...Oh wait this one is a bit of a downer Worf and Jadzia are busy with some foreplay when Worf's brother Kurn shows up destitute and wanting some Mauk-to'Vor.  Being the loving brother that he is, Worf readily agrees to do some murder.  Yep this one gets heavy!  Relations familial and professional are strained as Worf once again has to decide where his Klingon-ness ends and his Federation beliefs begin.  Just how problematic is the third act?  Let the arguing over moral principles and relativism begin!  And you know we can turn this around to reflect on just what kind of doctor Julian Bashir is. And we bring back an old favorite from the early days of the podcast: How would we fix this? We're taking a week off from voicemails this week! Check out A Discovery Home Companion to hear from a few regualr callers, and keep telling us what you think about Star Trek: Deep Space Nine! 917 408 3898 And check out all the bonus material and conversation on Star Trek and more by supporting us at our patreon! patreon.com/kickersofelves