Episode Discussion: Trials and Tribble-ations

Christopher Halsey · Posted Sun 10 Jul, 2016 12:11 PM

EPISODE DISCUSSION

Trials and Tribble-ations
Original Air Date: 4th of November 1996
Series: Deep Space Nine
Episode: 5x06

SUMMARY

The crew of Deep Space Nine are interviewed by two agents from the Department of Temporal Investigations following an unexpected trip to the 23rd century and their role in preventing the assassination of Starfleet legend James T Kirk.

"I lied to Captain Kirk! I wish Keiko could have been there to see it." - Miles O'Brien

DISCUSSION

With the release of Agents of Yesterday for Star Trek Online we'll be discussing Trials and Tribble-ations, the DS9/TOS crossover episode.

The episode was conceived as a tribute to the original series of Star Trek as part of the 30th anniversary. Whilst trying to write something for the 30th anniversary in tribute to the original series the writers had considered doing a simple follow up to a classic TOS episode such as 'Charlie X' or 'A Piece of the Action', however writer René Echevarria pushed to instead combine old footage with modern techniques to revisit a classic episode.

What did you think of 'Trials and Tribble-ations'? Did you enjoy seeing the DS9 crew in a TOS setting and being able to interact with their 23rd century counterparts? Do you think the effects worked well, did it look like they were really there? Would you have chosen a different episode to return to, if so which one? Would you have preferred a follow up to a TOS episode rather than re-visiting one, if so which episode?

Mark Okuda · Posted Sun 10 Jul, 2016 3:06 PM

As you can tell from my avatar, This episode is my favorite one from DS9. I thought the story was well written and it was plausible. I thought the effects were well done and I believed that the actors were really in the episode. I especially liked the interactions, like when Worf explains, or more for the matter, doesn't explain why the TOS Klingons do not look like him. and it was a nice homage at the end with all of the tribbles in Quark's bar at the end. I'm not so much up on my original series episodes to decide if they should have used a different one. I'm fine with what they did.

Avenger · Posted Sun 10 Jul, 2016 8:10 PM

A hilarious episode I think that rightly was done, it's a shame they never did more of these type episodes rather than the alternate universe ones in my opinion!

Kains · Posted Mon 11 Jul, 2016 2:59 AM

Always was a fan of David Gerrold's writing, from the original Trouble With Tribbles to War Against the Chtorr, and was super surprised to see this episode after he parted ways with Trek after some creative differences during the first season of TNG (Which, somewhat ironically considering our other discussion, was regarding ignoring issues of sexual orientation in the world of Star Trek). I know he didn't write this one, and didn't even get the walk on that was planned, but it did start with him and this episode is a wrapper to his work.

I thought it was brilliant to see a great modern shot of the old Enterprise (Which is funny now since TOS has had an HD face lift so DS9 kind of looks older in some aspects), the story flowed logically, and the characters responded in proper fashion. A feel-good episode in a season filled with war drama.

Not that I minded the conflict arc, quite the opposite, but episodes like this give a breather in all the drama.

Easily one of my favourite episodes.

Christopher Halsey · Posted Mon 11 Jul, 2016 9:36 PM

I really enjoyed the episode, I think it was a fun but plausible premise, I think the special effects worked really well to make it suitably convincing and it was a nice fun episode. I'm a fan of the Department of Temporal Investigations novels so I also have this episode to thank for introducing them as well as Lucsly and Dulmur.

Dark · Posted Tue 12 Jul, 2016 2:01 PM

To quote the good doctor: "I think I'm going to like history."

Allan Hood · Posted Fri 15 Jul, 2016 2:44 AM

So awesome, favorite DS9 episode by far. I was so excited watching it!! I loved seeing the DS9 crew in a TOS setting and being able to interact with their 23rd century counterparts! I think the effects worked well; it looked like they were really there! I hope the new Star Trek on CBS goes back in time a lot to pivotal moments on past series.

This was a good episode to return because they could interact and not damage the timeline. It other episodes, I think it'd be able to cause ripples, so this allowed room to play around.

Allan Hood · Posted Fri 15 Jul, 2016 2:49 AM

Originally Posted by Dark

To quote the good doctor: "I think I'm going to like history."

So...why was she wearing a red uniform?

Kains · Posted Fri 15 Jul, 2016 12:24 PM

I think the justification was to put her in the same division as Uhura....

... but we all know it has nothing to do with that and everything to do with how red works with that soft lighting they use and how it emphasises certain features.

AgentZeus · Posted Fri 15 Jul, 2016 1:11 PM

This has to be up with my favourite episodes from any of the series. In fact this might be my fav DS9 episode.

Also Quark in the bar with the tribble. Classic

Episode Discussion: Trials and Tribble-ations

View Poll Results: Did you enjoy Trials and Tribble-ations?

Pillar of the Community

Very Rare (100 Points)

...and On and On

Very Rare (100 Points)

Highly Decorated

Very Rare (100 Points)

To Infinity and Beyond

Very Rare (100 Points)

Correspondent

Rare (50 Points)

Civilian

Rare (50 Points)

Pillar of the Community

Very Rare (100 Points)

Academy Dean

Rare (50 Points)

To Boldly Go On and On

Rare (50 Points)

Commodore

Rare (50 Points)

Make It So, Number One

Uncommon (25 Points)

Well Respected

Uncommon (25 Points)

Silver Contributor

Rare (50 Points)

Eternal Servitude!

Uncommon (25 Points)

Starfleet's Finest

Common (10 Points)

Part of the Furniture

Common (10 Points)

The Needs of the Many

Common (10 Points)

Pillar of the Community

Very Rare (100 Points)

Pillar of the Community

Very Rare (100 Points)

Battle Hardened Leader

Rare (50 Points)

Correspondent

Rare (50 Points)

To Boldly Go On and On

Rare (50 Points)

Rear Admiral

Rare (50 Points)

Commodore

Rare (50 Points)

Pillar of the Community

Very Rare (100 Points)

...and On and On

Very Rare (100 Points)

Highly Decorated

Very Rare (100 Points)

To Infinity and Beyond

Very Rare (100 Points)

Correspondent

Rare (50 Points)

Civilian

Rare (50 Points)

To Boldly Go On and On

Rare (50 Points)

Warrant Officer

Rare (50 Points)

Eternal Servitude!

Uncommon (25 Points)

Command Master Chief Petty Officer

Uncommon (25 Points)

Master Chief Petty Officer of the Fleet

Uncommon (25 Points)

Qualified Officer

Common (10 Points)

To Boldly Go On and On

Rare (50 Points)

Paragon of Duty

Uncommon (25 Points)

Eternal Servitude!

Uncommon (25 Points)