[DS9] The Sword of Kahless

[DS9] Season 4, Episode 9: The Sword of Kahlessthe sword of kahless

Rating: 2

This is a difficult episode to rate because the first half was a lot of fun and the second half not only gets worse, but is a surprisingly poor representation of the characters. I really like Worf and Kor, and for much of the episode their relationship works well. Once the titular item is discovered all the interesting stuff is thrown out the window… in exchange for senseless bickering, wandering around in a cave, and Worf acting totally out of character.

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Notes:

Kor!

Kor! I like how he tells crazy stories. It makes me wonder if Klingons don’t have a proper ‘history’ in the way we would describe it. Everything might basically be myth for them.

My favorite Klingon and my 3rd favorite Klingon meet, and want to go on a quest!

My favorite Klingon and my 3rd favorite Klingon meet, and want to go on a quest!

But someone electrocutes Kor's brain

Someone electrocutes Kor’s brain

After they follow some clues to a location, and get past a few force fields, they find the sword of Kahless

After they follow some clues to a location, and get past a few force fields, they find the sword of Kahless.

But then that Duras kid shows up and wants the sword. He thinks he can lead the Klingon Empire if he brings it back

But then the Duras kid shows up and wants the sword. He thinks he can lead the Klingon Empire if he brings it back.

Fight!

So they fight. What did you expect, it’s a room full of Klingons.

Kor starts to turn against Worf. He thinks he's not a great Klingon because he didn't act on his right to vengeance against the house of Duras

Kor starts to turn against Worf. He thinks he’s not a great Klingon because he didn’t act on his right to vengeance against the house of Duras.

Worf starts to not like Kor, because he drinks too much and exaggerates his deeds, and also he might want to take over the Klingon Empire with the sword. Aw, but I wanted you guys to be best friends forever

Worf starts to not like Kor, because he drinks too much and exaggerates his deeds, and also he might want to take over the Klingon Empire with the sword. At this point their disagreements make sense, but…

Worf thinks maybe he should lead the Empire. Things only get worse, until finally they just fight each other. What's going on here? Does the sword put some kind of spell over Klingons? Why is Worf acting totally crazy?

Worf thinks maybe he should lead the Empire too. It kind of seems like the sword might have some magical influence over them, but the writers have stated this isn’t the case.  So why is Worf acting totally crazy? Do they really not understand Worf so thoroughly that they think he’d get power mad in like an hour? Also, how long have they been in this cave? They go on multiple hunting expeditions because they’re hungry. Days? A week? It’s totally unclear.

Dax breaks up the fight by stunning both of them, and they make it back to the runabout

Dax breaks up the fight by stunning both of them, and they make it back to the runabout.

Then they beam the sword out into space?? because I guess it wasn't their destiny or something, and it tears Klingons apart. More like they built it up as some Empire shifting object, and then realized they can't have that kind of thing introduced into the story

Then they beam the sword out into space?? because I guess it wasn’t their destiny or something, and it tears Klingons apart. More like they built it up as some empire shifting object, and then realized they can’t have that kind of thing introduced into the story. Thanks for practically nothing, episode.

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