Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV Series) Once More Unto the Breach (1998) User Reviews

Bittersweet

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 27 January 2015]

This is the final appearance by John Colicos as the Klingon, Kor. When the show begins, General Martok is planning on a raid on a Dominion/Cardassian base. Kor would love to go, as he's elderly and wants what ALL Klingons want--a chance to die in combat. Worf is a friend of Kor's and so he goes to Martok to get Kor a commission on one of his ships. Unexpectedly, Martok refuses. It's all due to some minor slight that occurred long ago, but Martok is being petty and doesn't care about Kor's honor or his trip to Sto-vo-kor. But, because Worf assumed Martok would agree, Kor is ready to go on his final mission. What's to happen to this old and legendary Klingon?

Considering it is John Colicos' last show of any kind, it's well worth seeing. Folks of my generation know him well, with his many, many appearances in shows over the years (mostly as a villain) and so it's well worth seeing--if also a bit bittersweet.

An old soldier's last battle

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 6 January 2010]

This episode manages to combine a stand alone story about an old Klingon wanting one last glorious battle into the main story arc about the war against the Dominion and the Cardassians. Kor, a renowned hero of the war against the Federation has grown old and is feeling increasingly irrelevant, seeking one last command he asks Worf to use his influence with General Martok. When Work goes to see the General it is clear that there is bad blood between the two of them, it later emerges that Kor blocked Martok's original application to become an officer because he wasn't from the right social class. Eventually Worf gets him a position but only as third officer. Initially the crew are in awe of Kor but when the senior officers are injured in an attack he takes command and it is clear that his memory isn't what it once was as he thinks he is fighting the Federation alongside an old friend who in fact died many years before. Following this he is treated as a joke by the crew... as Dominion forces approach from behind he sees one last chance for a glorious death...

It was nice to see an episode where most of the action took place away from both DS9 and the Federation. That is not to say nothing happened back at the station, there was an amusing subplot where Quark was somewhat upset when he thought that Ezri was interested in getting together again with Worf.

A fitting end...

[shooter7507 · 9/10 · 8 January 2021]

A great ending to a side story ghat started with James T Kirk and the original series. It shows what can happen when a great warrior is beaten by himself, yet this one has one battle left in him. Definitely one of my favorite DS9s! My only complaint is that there was no footage of his final battle.

Last battle.

[thevacinstaller · 8/10 · 25 December 2021]

I have a soft spot for the old heroic sacrifice trope and I have an additional soft spot for TOS era 'big' actors ---- so, this episode definitely lands well for me.

One of the memorable moments for me was when Martok gets 'revenge' on Kor by embarrassing him in front of the officers but he finds that gets no satisfaction from it. I have discovered that even if I am correct in an argument/confrontation, I get no pleasure out of being right if I respond in anger.

This episode also succeeds in having the B and C plots tie-in to the main plot and I appreciate that.

John Colicos was clearly a talented and experienced actor and his performance and presentation of dementia kept me captivated and engaged for this episode.

Moving

[sigelm · 10/10 · 22 May 2022]

It was a glorious send-off for one of the recurring characters. There are several unforgettable scenes in this episode that brought out the best acting there could be. However, the episode has one flaw: I couldn't understand the necessity of their attack on the Dominion outpost - The Klingon plan was to penetrate enemy lines, fully aware that they have to sacrifice several ships and their crews, so that they could not destroy but inflict a minor damage on one Dominion station that Dominion would probably repair in a week time? Sometimes Klingons are too eager to die. They don't even stop to consider whether their deaths would make a difference, as long as it pompous and courageous. How Sisko went along with that plan, is beyond me. But that one illogical thing in the script could not avert me from giving this episode the highest grade as I'm sure it will be one I won't ever forget.

Enjoyable Klingon episode

[snoozejonc · 7/10 · 22 August 2023]

Kor comes to DS9 looking for a purpose.

I like episodes focussed on Klingon culture and this is a pretty good story for Kor, Martok and Worf. It has an engaging conflict between two characters that makes for solid drama.

Since TNG, I think the Klingon characters have been Star Trek's way having having its cake and eating, in a show predominantly featuring peace-loving characters, by indulging their appetites for stories about warrior codes and the glory of battle. Themes about historical legends come through strongly.

The weakest part for me is the ending. Not just the predictability of it, but how little investment is made in the production values. Considering the build-up given to a certain moment of glory, it is poor that we are just given a verbal explanation of the event and no effort is made to show it.

J. D. Hertzler, John Colicos, Michael Dorn, and Neil Vipond all make great Klingons and all give entertaining performances.

LOVE the episode, but....

[Dropkickmeelmo · 8/10 · 21 June 2021]

As a few people have mentioned, the long range tachyon scanner isn't used again, and hasn't been used since the early Gamma Quadrant mission to find the Founders, except maybe when Tom Riker had the Defiant (remember he cloaked in Alpha Quadrant, breaking the Federation Treaty with Romulans and Dukat & Sisko use some variation of what the Jem'Hadar used to find him once Kira blew the power conduit out).

But other than the tachyon scanner issue.... Why didn't they just call Siski & the Federation squadron and say, "Hey dudes, bringing heat quicker than thought. Need to rally sooner than expected, like now. No mention was made of the comms being out so they actually **couldn't** call ahead, so it seems that the death of Kor here, although a way to sign off Collicos, for the character, for the series, and for his career - though it may have not seemed that way at the time - is a little contrived.

With those marks against it, I still love the episode and it was an absolute killer way to send off Kor & Collicos.

Contrived Plot

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 10 November 2018]

This is the story of Kor, a Klingon legend, who is suffering from dementia after a violent career. In his younger days he was a reckless, unpopular man. Now he lives in the past but wants a chance to die with dignity. Worf gets him on board a ship on a very dangerous mission, but the Captain despises him. What transpires is a very formulaic plot which I figured out half way through. Nothing much new.

Pure DS9

[azgardmajik · 10/10 · 18 November 2022]

DS9 at its best; great action, outnumbered, race to safety, waiting to hear if Joe's sacrifice was successful, brilliant acting and glorious victory song at the end. It felt like a desperate no win escape from certain defeat by from the JemH'adar. This is my favourite episode of J. G. Herttzler as General Martok. His voice alone is imperious and iconic.

DS9 at its best; great action, outnumbered, race to safety, waiting to hear if Joe's sacrifice was successful, brilliant acting and glorious victory song at the end. It felt like a desperate no win escape from certain defeat by from the JemH'adar. This is my favourite episode of J. G. Herttzler as General Martok. His voice alone is imperious and iconic.

Best episode in all of the Star Trek series

[rick-46551 · 10/10 · 12 April 2023]

This might sound like an exaggeration, but it's not. There are many classic Star Trek episodes, IMHO this is the best of them all.

Maybe it's because I'm older now, been watching Star Trek since the original series was the entire Trek universe. Maybe it's because I admire Klingons, esp their old ways. Maybe it is because I'm a man against time, but I think this is the best episode of Trek ever made.

Sacrifice, honor, overwhelming odds. It's the best of the best. Not a huge production budget, no amazing CGI effects, no massive sound stages or production facilities, just good acting, plot and classic theatre.

Savor the fruit of life, my young friends...

Remember the Whatta?

[student_points · 5/10 · 2 December 2021]

Apparently it is based on the Alamo. But this episode suffers from the same defect as the baseball episode: nobody outside the US cares! I hate to break it to Americans, but no one knows or cares about the "legend" of Davy Crockett or the Alamo. The only way the rest of the world knows about it, is because American TV shows keep bringing it up. Worf talking about the "legend" of Davy Crockett is laughable. No Klingons would have heard of it. Hell, you can ask any German, Indian, Norwegian, Japanese or Australian... NO ONE cares or even knows the story.

The B story is about Quark and Ezri. The more the series progress, the more human Quark becomes. He has become the warm hearth of the show.