Yep, it's a bit of a crash when a strong season full of "Civil Defense"s suddenly offers up "Meridian."  And S3 isn't nearly done killing its momentum with duds.

I had been hoping that you wouldn't read a one-line synop that stupidly spoiled that, but you're in good company; the TV preview spoiled it, every TV Guide type synopsis of the episode spoiled it…  Just pretend that it's a cool surprise thrown in about 15 minutes into an episode that then serves as a jumping off point…

I had been hoping that you wouldn't read a one-line synop that stupidly spoiled that, but you're in good company; the TV preview spoiled it, every TV Guide type synopsis of the episode spoiled it…  Just pretend that it's a cool surprise thrown in about 15 minutes into an episode that then serves as a jumping off point…

Did y'all notice that "Civil Defense" actually did kill off a red-uniformed extra (to demonstrate to the viewer that the replicator-lasers are nasty), for old times' sake?

Did y'all notice that "Civil Defense" actually did kill off a red-uniformed extra (to demonstrate to the viewer that the replicator-lasers are nasty), for old times' sake?

Just because I haven't seen in mentioned, two great Sisko/Brooks moments in "Equilibrium."  One is the moment where he's like "I don't care about exposing your secret… BUT, given that you're playing with my officer's life here, I will totally blackmail you if I have to," and there's never any doubt that he would.

Just because I haven't seen in mentioned, two great Sisko/Brooks moments in "Equilibrium."  One is the moment where he's like "I don't care about exposing your secret… BUT, given that you're playing with my officer's life here, I will totally blackmail you if I have to," and there's never any doubt that he would.

Internal Medicine.

Internal Medicine.

I re-watched in hopes you'd be back this week!  Welcome to Season Three, Mr. Handlen.  You'll notice an influx of TNG staffers, and, to some, an influx of TNG-ishness in general.  Whether this is a thing that is good, bad, or insignificant will be left to the viewer's judgment.

I re-watched in hopes you'd be back this week!  Welcome to Season Three, Mr. Handlen.  You'll notice an influx of TNG staffers, and, to some, an influx of TNG-ishness in general.  Whether this is a thing that is good, bad, or insignificant will be left to the viewer's judgment.

Ah, yes, three things to accept about the Defiant's existence.  These are all things that will happen, and yes we know they don't make sense:

Ah, yes, three things to accept about the Defiant's existence.  These are all things that will happen, and yes we know they don't make sense:

Vague SPOILERS

Vague SPOILERS

Not just tempted, but it throws Odo's sense of identity out of whack.  Has his sense of justice (which is the main thing informing his concept of honor) always been just his Changeling nature finding a neutered way to play itself out?

Not just tempted, but it throws Odo's sense of identity out of whack.  Has his sense of justice (which is the main thing informing his concept of honor) always been just his Changeling nature finding a neutered way to play itself out?

Thing is, though, the Defiant wasn't just introduced for the purposes of showing how awesome the Dominion is.  It was a big heavily hyped gimmick to shake up the status quo and woo fans who wanted a starship.  The writers had big plans for the Defiant.  And they still were willing to have it lose its first battle.

Thing is, though, the Defiant wasn't just introduced for the purposes of showing how awesome the Dominion is.  It was a big heavily hyped gimmick to shake up the status quo and woo fans who wanted a starship.  The writers had big plans for the Defiant.  And they still were willing to have it lose its first battle.

I started my Medicine Residency program.  Now I'm a doctor.  And I'm busy.