The Maquis setting up Kassidy to throw Sisko off and then the Eddington reveal is just DS9 distilled to its core. No space battles needed, just pure character work

I used Odo’s vows at my wedding. It made my mom cry, and then she smacked me in the head after she praised my beautiful words and I told her where they came from.

I think, Sisko will come over this betrayal quickly. He is a really nice and forgiving guy 🤗

I love the tie-in to "The Visitor" with Jake starting Anslem, his most famous novel. Keats has a rather unusual grave. He died in Italy from TB and is buried in a grave with no name and marked "This grave contains all that was mortal of a young English poet. On his death bed, in the bitterness of his heart, at the malicious power of his enemies, desired these words be engraved on his tomb stone. Here lies one who's name was writ in water. Feb 24th 1821"

I love how that just as Eddington grows on us, the DS9 writers pull the rug out from under us.

Ahhh, Eddington. Such a great reveal! Such a great episode overall. The “I’ll be back” and “I’ll be here” part always gets me 😢

I've been waiting for you to be shocked in "For The Cause" when Eddington just hoses Kira with that phaser! SUP-RISE! Kassidy had a good storyline as well, but we FINALLY get to show you the REAL Michael Eddington. Ain't he the coolest?

"I'd forgotten about the Maquis." Well they didn't forget about you :-)

The Muse to me, is 50/50. Agree with you, the plot between Lwaxana and Odo is enjoyable, I love the friendship between them, she slowly breaks through the protective shell he keeps around himself. But the B plot with Jake and the telepath woman is rather tedious. As for the whole Marquis scenario, the hypocrisy from the Federation is unbelieveable. Eddington says "If Cassidy is part of the Maquis, then she is no longer part of the Federation." If that's so, anything Cassidy does is nothing to do with the Federation, as long as they aren't attacking Federation vessels, it's not the Federation's business. It's simply not the Federation's fight. Even if you keep the morals of occupying another planet out of it. Especially as Cassidy is suppling food and medical supplies, it's not as if Cassidy's ship is directly attacking Federation vessels!

It's sad that Odo's feelings toward Lwaxana, being legitimate and sincere as they are, are based on platonic love and personal development rather than the romantic love he feels toward Kira. All in all, it shows that Odo is not only capable of love but nuanced enough to distinguish between different types of love.

The thing I respect about the Star Trek franchise is their casting is consistently amazing, specifically casting really good character actors across the franchise's history. Meg Foster as the alien of the week in The Muse comes to mind. But Patrick Stewart, Lawrence Tierney, Armin Shimerman, Louise Fletcher, Jeffrey Combs, J.G. Hertzler. The 90s Star Trek franchise alone stands out to me for consistently giving character actors like these recurring roles.

Mrs Troy's husband is played by Michael Ansara. He also played a Klingon on Star Trek TOS and reprised that role on DS9 later.

I've been awaiting for the cause for a long time!!!!! Such a good character !!!

"your worse than the Borg" that's gotta hurt Sisko even more

Jeyal was played by Michael Ansara, the same actor who played Kang in 'Blood Oath' and episodes of TOS and Voyager.

The woman who played Lwaxana Troi (Majel Barrett-Roddenberry) was Gene Roddenberry's wife and the voice of the starfleet computer systems.

Remember in Improbable Cause/The Die is Cast when Eddington went behind Sisko back to sabotage the Defiant to stop them going after Odo and Garek and after he said to Sisko "I give you my word" and Sisko was like "I never question the word of someone wearing that uniform" Bang! Hit Sisko right in the gut. Also at the end of Season 3 when they talked about how Eddington was a security officer and had no interest in anything else... Playing the long game!

Michael Ansara (Commander Kang)...I'd know his voice anywhere!

Am I the only one who thinks that this succubus would have had no chance if Nog was on the station

Thank you, Oliver and Huxley! 🖖 David Livingston and James L. Conway directed these two. 🔸 *Majel* *Barrett* is an important performer, often referred to as the First Lady of STAR TREK. She was creator Gene Roddenberry's wife. She played 'Number One' in "The Cage" which was repurposed in the two-parter "The Menagerie" from the original series. She was nurse-eventually-doctor 'Christine Chapel' in the original series and subsequent movies. She was the 'voice of the computer' in the original series as well as THE NEXT GENERATION, DEEP SPACE NINE, VOYAGER and in one episode of ENTERPRISE... not to mention numerous STAR TREK video games as well as JJ Abram's STAR TREK (2009). Oh yes, and she was 'Lwaxana Troi'. 😉

I have a feeling this is "Spring ball" not "Racket ball". They are very, very similar (and use the same set, redressed) but Spring Ball is specifically Bajoran. Since It's two Bajorans playing, my guess is it's Spring Ball. Racket Ball uniforms are different - no masks etc and is more like Squash. Spring Ball is a contact sport.

I would just like to voice some appreciation to ollie for being able to speak at a normal pace almost every other show I watch on KZfaq the host forces me to bump it to at least 1.5 speed

"For the Cause" is so good! :) PS: Recommending the movie Krull (1983) with Eddington as the main lead!

Eddington is predictable. 😂😂😂😂

Anslem was the name of the book that helped make Jake famous author, as seen in The Visitor. The Muse is basically the genesis of that novel.

Was gonna make a sarcastic comparison to TNG but fact is, a lot of random aliens of the week on TNG were boring too. (Some good ones, probably better batting average than DS9 for that type of episode...maybe...) Annnyway I actually felt happy when it turned out the B plot (arguably) of "The Muse" was the third Lwaxana episode, and THAT definitely didn't happen on TNG haha. It is sort of riding off the success of that first episode quite a bit, and every rule of the alien-we-never-heard-of society's marriage customs is blatantly written backwards from the dramatic conclusion of the episode, but it's still got that Odo-Lwaxana sweetness.

Do you remember all those episodes ago when Cassidy was introduced and you joked what if she turned out to be a bad guy? :D

Cheers for the reaction Ollie. I think Huxley almost made an inadvertent appearance in DS9, so give them my best wishes ;) The Marquee are quite interesting in Star Trek. They don't come across as villains. And while some label Eddington as a traitor, as I think our DS9 captain does, many might suggest he genuinely stands up for his beliefs. The conflict between the Marquee and Starfleet is dealt with a little in the early episodes of Star Trek Voyager. The Muse is interesting, suggesting a force could inspire good writing but also be damaging. Perhaps it's a allegory is the idea of madness and creativity going together (I'm not saying that's the case, just that it might be the inspiration). Anyhow, at least we didn't have to watch O'Brian suffer in either of these episodes! Glad you're still enjoying DS9, and good luck with your channel and patreon.

I always took Lwaxana's final message to odo as her seeing he was starting to think he was in love with her and her not being in love with him so she gave him the gentle lie that swapped perspectives. She let him down easy and caring and letnhim keep his pride. It was beautiful as it was heart breaking.

If you want a preview of/get a feel for Star Trek Voyager, you can watch its [S4 Ep 14, Message in a Bottle] at any point between [DS9-S5 Ep16 and S6 Ep19].

18:01 - Technically, the Odo/Lwaxanna story is the B-story since the episode's title is "The Muse", which is totally about Jake's story.

Damn you, Michael Eddington! #EddingtonWasRight

14:53 I never noticed until I watched this, this time, how the music for about 4 seconds sounds like Zelda A Link to the Past, when you are in the temple and the hand keeps coming down and grabbing you.

Y'know, it's funny- I can't stand Lwaxana on TNG- where she's used as comedy relief- but I love her on DS9, where she's used dramatically. It would have been interesting to see Deeana Troi meet Odo. I'm certain her mother would have told her all about him.

Two of Ollie's favorite / least favorite characters making big moves. I knew that Kasidy running supplies to the Maquis would be a disappointment, but Eddington taking off his com badge, leaving his post at DS9 and being a Maquis sleeper agent? Who knew, right?

I like Jake as a supporting character for Benjamin Sisko, but episodes based around him usually bore me to tears. The Visitor is probably the only exception, the only one I can think of anyway, and it's mainly because of the other actor who plays an older Jake.

For those creative types among us who've entertained a muse in any of its many forms, The Muse is such a relatable episode, even if only symbolically and anthropomorphized.

Are Sisko and Michael Eddington best friends now?

( Eddington appears ) "Dude i'm so glad he's back" Ooops

I had pretty much forgotten the Garak subplot in this episode. Perhaps the time has come for me to rewatch DS9 myself.

Odo's constitution is completely different, being a metamorph, he's not affected by Solids' telepathic abilities. It's also what attracts Lwaxana to him. She can't read him and he can surprise her, something that most humanoïd males can't. And thus, Odo is the only person she's sincere and upfront with, which is a nice change from her usual narcissistic and manipulative self that we witness in TNG. The Muse lady makes me think of the Borg Queen for some reason. Same species? Odo's vows speech was not far from how my grandfather was retaling what his wife represented to him and what he lost after she passed away. That didn't prevent him of cheating on her while he was abroad. Interesting fact; they changed Zyal's actress because of the more mature content that the character is now exposed to. The former actress was then legally too young to be involved in such plots. Oh Eddington, never could stand him, so smug, formal and ultimately treacherous. Thus begins the Jean Valjean/Javère relationship between Eddington and Sisko ! (If you haven't read Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. Another good epic from him; '93, that takes place during the French Revolution (referencing the year 1793) Eddington's speech abouyt the Federation kinda reminds me of what I think of the EU to be honest.

For me The Muse is right down there at that the bottom with The Visitor, (I do love the Odo Troi story tho) but For the Cause and To the Death are sweeeeeeeeeeeeet! Great reaction, THUMBS UP!

3:39 - HEY. You're not allowed to make that joke if you haven't actually seen "Disaster", you poser! :P (If you did go back and watch it, well congratulations then!)

Just think, Odo and Quark have both done a sham marriage that kinda ended with their loving their wives. At this rate, Odo will open a bar and Quark will become a cop...

"he is predictable" - muahahaha! :D

6:02 Odo to Lwaxana: "I was wondering if you wanted to take a walk" Worf: "I would." 🤣😂 I think Rene messed up his line here and no one caught it. It makes more sense if he had said, "I was wondering if you would like to take a walk."

I've ben waiting for this sine Edington first appeared

I always felt like Odo's declaration of love speech in The Muse was his articulating his feelings for Kira. Like he'd thought long and hard about what to say, but could never say it to Kira- so he told Leaxana instead.

I knew I recognized those eyes from somewhere. Had to look it up of course. The muse was Meg Foster from They Live and also Evil-Lyn in Masters of the Universe.

In The Die is Cast after Eddington sabotaged the Defiant's cloaking device and he asks to be allowed to stay on duty Kira asks "what makes you think we can trust you?" Eddington "Cause I give you my word" Sisko "I make it a policy to never question the word of anyone who wears that uniform, don't make me change that policy" Eddington "Don't worry Captain I'll never betray you again...today."

I remember Jake was writing about the Federation/Cardassian De-militarized zone in a earlier season. I wonder if that was part of the story.

I enjoy that you are loving a show I fell in love with at thirteen yrs old. ❤❤❤

The Klingon's biggest issue with the Federation is their "we come in peace" mentality. They see it as a lie, that the federation wages war through cultural assimilation. Especially if you join Starfleet. Its such a fascinating angle to examine.

The Maquis are a very interesting concept. I wish they'd given them more space.

I am Lwaxana Troi, daughter of the Fifth House, holder of the Sacred Chalice of Rixx, heir to the Holy Rings of Betazed. Who are you?

Wedding in Blue 😂 you need to see one in Red 🍒♥️ 2 great Stargasts Meg Foster (Masters of the universe) and the best Telepath Babylon 5 ever hat (Patricia Tallman) Lyta Alexander / that's not the last Time we saw the Marquis, Cassidy is another thing ???

37:04 - 37:11 A prefect description of the West versus Islamists.

Hard Time is an EXCELLENT EPISODE I wholeheartedly agree. It's an episode that stays with you WAY PAST actually watching the episode. It's THAT POWERFUL.

He's coming up on "Trials and...." from the beginning of Season 5. I just checked Paramount Plus, and the thumbnail and tag gives the whole thing away. Someone has to let him know to get someone else to play the episode for him!

I was always a little put out by the implication that Jake had help writing "Anslem". We know it was his most famous book -- did he just go downhill from there? I would have thought it came later in life after he got more (other)worldly experience.

You should react to The Orville once you finish Star Trek. Penny Johnson (Cassidy Yates) is the Chief Medical Officer aboard and easily my favorite sci-fi doctor after Bashir and the EMH.

I always hated Eddington but the irony is, he the hero in one of my favorite movies from the 80s called Krull so many famous people were in that movie 🖖

I love how odo forgot the marriage is fake

All roads lead to for the uniform 😜😊

Wait..how did Yates betray Sisko? She was following her conscience, helping people she probably feels were themselves betrayed by the Federation. She’s not Star Fleet, let alone one of Sisko’s officers. Yes, she deceived him, but she had, as she put it, “obligations” she took extremely seriously, and she was fulfilling those commitments. Only a narcissist would feel personally betrayed in these circumstances…and the universe doesn’t revolve around Benjamin Sisko. Entertaining as usual. Sit on your hands. But nice work.

0:45 "...a rollercoaster ride" These two episodes certainly are, but in season 5, one of the best episodes is immediately followed by one of the worst. IMDb rates these two episodes at 5.7 and 7.9 The two in season 5 are rated at 9.4 and 5.6

I was a writer for Babylon 5 and a lot of Star Trek it was so intense a man died of overwork, and Adam nearly killed Rick Berman because of it

I agree the Garak/Ziyal stuff is....offputting. Rumour has it that after the heavy on-screen tension between Garak and Bashir became more evident, the showrunner Rick Bernham wanted to make it clear that Garak was in no way interested in Bashir that way and forced this weird romance with Ziyal. Why Ziyal and not someone his age? I assume Bernham also had a say in that.

This is NOT a bad episode. True its kind of a one off more suited to season one or two but it's NOT a bad episode or skippable.

Tbh you missed the opportunity to watch tos episode "The Tholian web" since they got mentioned in this episode

The big fail of "The Muse" is that the stories are too separate. They missed the perfect opportunity for Lwaxana to sense the presence of the succubus and be the one save Jake. The sum is less than the parts.

Wasn’t the actor of Lwaxana’s husband a ”technomage” in Babylon 5 ?

29:00 predictable XD

I don't think Odo is effected by Betazoid powers because he doesn't have a brain, strictly speaking. I mean, he can obviously think and is highly intelligent, but however that works within a changeling is wrapped up in their liquid, shape-shifting nature. He doesn't have a brain or a nervous system as we understand it. I think Betazoids need something akin to a humanoid brain to actually use their powers on.

Ollie, have you seen 'Les Miserables' with Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe? Would make for a great reaction!

Bye Huxley!!

3:00 Really, Ollie? Have you ever read "Not Without My Daughter"? Or has your girlfriend?

What do you say about a partner that would go to prison for their love. Keiko would have been gone if it was Miles.

Does anyone know who Troy is mother's husband was The voice you recognise It

Hey Ollie, don't know why but the notifications don't show up for your DS9 videos for me. I see everything else you post but those slip past.

He's predictable 🤣

Will you be doing a season 4 live ranking?

Did I mention how lame the Maquis are? They dishonor the real thing.

The Muse sucks, but For The Cause.. Great episode! EDIT: I take that back. The Muse doesn't fully suck. There ARE some good things there, but it's a lesser episode when you consider other Trek episodes.

FUCK YEAH EDDINGTON IS MAQUIS! HE'S EASILY TOP 2 SISKO ANTAGONISTS, AND HE AIN'T NUMBER 2!

Eddington is in my most fav ds9 episode "For the Uniform"

I always found The Muse kinda a lackluster episode. It's like it's there to get us off our guard for the one after it. Hate the space vampire woman. Bleh. Lwaxana Troi keep trying to get married to losers or terminally ill guys or whatever. Someone should call her bluff and just stand back- forcing her to resolve her bad decisions for herself.

Eddington is predictable and by the books, is he? Heh that aged poorly fast.

17:26 "That was a really good episode." 😁 No. It really wasn't. There is only one other DS-9 episode that's rated worse. If you don't dislike this one, then there's nothing you won't dislike, and that's boring. "Without the darkness, how will you recognize the light?"

I don't know how you can stand Lwaxana, much less enjoy her character.