Once More unto the Breach (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)

"Once More unto the Breach" is the 157th episode of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the seventh episode of the seventh season. The title is taken from one of the more famous speeches in Shakespeare's play Henry V.

"Once More unto the Breach"
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode
Episode no.Season 7
Episode 7
Directed byAllan Kroeker
Written byRonald D. Moore
Featured musicDennis McCarthy
Production code557
Original air dateNovember 11, 1998 (1998-11-11)
Guest appearance(s)

This episode is focused on the fictional Alien species in the Star Trek franchise known as the Klingons, and features John Colicos as Kor, J. G. Hertzler as General Martok, Neil C. Vipond as Darok, Nancy Youngblut as Kolana, and Blake Lindsley as Synon.

This episode received a Nielsen rating of 4.5 when it was broadcast on television in 1998.[1] The main plot revolves around Worf (played cast regular Michael Dorn) going on a combat mission with General Martok into Cardassian space with a fleet of Klingon Bird of Prey spacecraft as part of the ongoing war with Dominion.[2] Back on Deep Space Nine station, Ezri deals with life there.[3]

Plot

An aging and increasingly senile Dahar master Kor has lost influence in the Klingon Empire. He comes to DS9 to ask Worf for help in securing a starship command, and a chance to die in battle. Worf brings the request to General Martok, who is planning a raid deep into Cardassian space with five Birds of Prey. Martok angrily rejects the request. Kor once rejected a young Martok's application to become an officer based on Martok's lower class lineage; the general still holds the grudge. As a compromise, and not aware of Kor's poor mental health, Worf appoints Kor as the third officer of the Ch'tang, Martok's ship.

Once aboard, Kor recounts old war stories to a crew enthused with having a living legend among them. However, this changes after the first battle when Martok and Worf are temporarily incapacitated and Kor is forced to take command. Kor's senility causes him to relive an old battle and give inappropriate commands. Disaster is averted when Martok and Worf recover and resume command.

Kor's pride is severely hurt as Martok and much of the crew mock him. Worf is forced to remove the Dahar master from duty, but blames himself for placing Kor in an untenable situation. Martok also realizes mocking Kor has brought him no pleasure. The pair agree to appeal to Chancellor Gowron to find a worthy and suitable place for Kor.

As the cloaked Klingons return to friendly space, they discover ten Jem'Hadar ships are in pursuit and will intercept them before they reach safety. Worf prepares to embark on a suicide mission in one Bird of Prey to delay the pursuers, and allow the remaining ships to escape. Kor learns of Worf's plan from Darok, an old Klingon who is Kor's age and is sympathetic to his plight. Kor's pride is rekindled when he realizes only his lifetime of experience can make the plan work. It is also the warrior's death he has longed for. As such, the Dahar master surprises Worf with a hypospray, sedates him and takes his place. However, before Kor transports out, he tells Worf that when he reaches the halls of the honored dead, he will find Jadzia Dax and tell her that Worf still loves only her and that he brings her honor every day.

Martok and his crew observe the battle from the Ch'tang's bridge. Martok belatedly discovers Kor's actions when Worf joins him. Against the odds, Kor succeeds in delaying the Jem'Hadar. An incredulous Martok is the first to toast Kor's noble end, and the crew sing to Kor's victory.

Naming

The title, "Once More unto the Breach" is derived from the play Henry V by Shakespeare, where the line is in Act 3 Scene 1.[4] There are several other episodes named after Shakespeare lines, and there are quotes from Hamlet in the 1990 film Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.[5] Another Deep Space Nine episode with a title from Shakespeare is "Dogs of War", which comes from Julius Caesar.[6]

Franchise connections

John Colicos (who plays Kor) has reprised his role as a Klingon multiple times in the Star Trek franchise.[7] He was first cast as Kor in Star Trek: The Original Series’ episode "Errand of Mercy"[8] that included the fictional Klingon race. Also, "Blood Oath" featured the return of Colicos, Campbell and Ansara in the Klingon roles that they had previously portrayed in Star Trek: The Original Series.[9] Colicos also played Kor on Deep Space Nine, in the episodes "The Sword of Kahless".[10][11]

Reception

Hollywood.com noted this episode as among the best of Klingon Star Trek content, highlighting it as a satisfying end to Kor, the foe turned friend.[12] They also note the special effect battle scenes with the fictional Star Trek spacecraft, the Klingon 'Bird of Prey'.[13]

The Klingon Bird of Prey is one of the famous fictional spacecraft of the Star Trek franchise, having appeared throughout the 1980s and 1990s to what Space.com calls "delightful effect".[14] The ships ability to cloak makes it an especially elusive adversary, and it was rated the 8th greatest spacecraft design of all Star Trek by Space.com in 2017.[15] In 2017, Daily Dot recommended this as a Star Trek Klingon alien themed episode to prepare for Star Trek: Discovery.[16]

The Hollywood Reporter ranked "Once More unto the Breach" as the 13th best of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.[17]

gollark: So "bee.mx" and such (not that that's available, I think).
gollark: Second level domain.
gollark: Which is the minimum available to me practically.
gollark: By "really short" I mean "three character 2LD, two character TLD".
gollark: Wow, that's really short.

References
  2. trektoday Retro Review: Once More Unto the Breach
  3. trektoday Retro Review: Once More Unto the Breach
  4. Spiteri, Geoff (2016-03-14). A Smidgen of Shakespeare: Brush up on the Bard with Quotations, Trivia and Froli. Pavilion Books. ISBN 9781911042327.
  6. A Smidgen of Shakespeare: Brush up on the Bard with Quotations, Trivia and Froli By Geoff Spiteri
  8. [http://www.startrek.com/article/john-colicos-full-expression
  9. Hoffman, Jordan (March 27, 2013). "One Trek Mind: Remembering "Blood Oath"". Star Trek.com. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  10. "Sword of Kahless, The". Star Trek.com. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  11. "Once More Unto the Breach". Star Trek.com. Retrieved April 6, 2013.
  13. Blauvelt, Christian (2013-05-16). "'Star Trek': The Best of the Klingons from 'The Original Series' to 'Into Darkness' — VIDEO". Hollywood.com. Retrieved 2019-03-20.
  14. Entertainment, Elizabeth Howell 2017-09-22T12:02:15Z. "The 15 Best Ships on Star Trek, from V-ger to the Vengeance". Space.com. Retrieved 2019-02-27.
  15. Entertainment, Elizabeth Howell 2017-09-22T12:02:15Z. "The 15 Best Ships on Star Trek, from V-ger to the Vengeance". Space.com. Retrieved 2019-02-27.
  16. "9 Klingon episodes to watch on Netflix before 'Star Trek: Discovery'". The Daily Dot. 2017-08-20. Retrieved 2019-06-11.
  17. "'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine' — The 20 Greatest Episodes". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2019-03-20.

See also
  • First of the three visits to Deep Space Nine of the character Kor started with "The Sword of Kahless"
  • Kor was the first named Klingon dating to Star Trek (1966-1969) in "Errand of Mercy" (aired March 23, 1967)
  • Blood Oath (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) (prior appearance of the character Kor on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine)
  • Once More Unto the Breach (Line from Shakespeare's play, famed English writer of the 1500-1600s)
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