Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV Series) Paradise Lost (1996) User Reviews

Coup d'état

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 27 May 2010]

After the attack on Earth's power supply in the previous episode Admiral Leyton has in effect declared martial law and there are Star Fleet troops on the streets of every city. While the people accept that this is a necessary evil to protect against a Dominion attack Captain Sisko believes something isn't quite right; why would the Dominion do something that didn't further their aims and served to raise the alertness of Earth. Sisko's investigations lead him to believe that the power system was in fact sabotaged by a group of cadets acting on the orders of an unknown officer. When he goes to present his evidence to the president he finds himself arrested after a rigged blood test suggests that he is a changeling. With Odo's help he escapes and confronts the Admiral while waiting for the Defiant to arrive with the evidence he needs to expose the coup attempt.

This was another great episode, it was good that while the admiral's actions were clearly wrong they were motivated by good intentions. As well as the plotting on Earth we get a nice action scene where the Defiant must fight against another Star Fleet vessel which believes it is protecting Earth from a ship which has been taken over by changelings.

Star Trek meets Seven Days in May

[kmoore17110 · 9/10 · 16 February 2022]

I couldn't help but make a comparison between this two parter and the excellent cold war film 'Seven Days in May'. In that film, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff -- dissatisfied with a treaty the President negotiated with the Soviet union -- attempts a coup to overthrow the president and install himself.

An excellent episode of Deep Space Nine and essential viewing -- especially now.

They're Setting the Table

[Hitchcoc · 9/10 · 23 October 2018]

This concludes a two part episode where Sisko and Odo go to Earth because it appears that the Dominion is in action there. We find out, however, that some element of Starfleet has been up to no good. Sisko digs this out but screws up the presentation of the evidence. We are facing a potential dictatorship here in the U.S. right now. The people of Earth are being set up by someone who is only interested in power and Sisko knows it. Meanwhile, the Dominion continues out there, ready to pounce.

Excellent Episode with Disturbing Parallels to Real Life

[hoops256 · 10/10 · 9 May 2010]

Paradise Lost is the second part of a two part episode in which Captain Sisko is recalled to Earth after a changeling sets off a bomb on Earth killing about two dozen people. While Sisko begins working on new security measures for Earth to keep out Changelings, Earth's entire power grid shuts off and everyone begins to believe the Changelings are attacking. After there is no invasion, Sisko begins to suspect something is up. He eventually finds out the disturbing truth, one that is hard for him to even swallow!

This episode has many ties to what has happened in the United States after 9/11, even though it was written well before that happened. A peaceful society is turned upside down by an act of terror, and the government uses the fear that the act of terror creates in its citizens to further its own agenda. Some may disagree with this point of view, but to me it seems all too clear that this is eerily similar to real life. It is an excellent piece of writing by those who worked on this series and good lessons can be taken from it. Ten out of ten.

The excellent and extremely paranoid follow-up.

[planktonrules · 10/10 · 29 December 2014]

When the show begins, Sisko is extremely tense. After all, the power on Earth is down and he knows that the Changelings are up to something. However, who the real enemy is you'll have to discover-- but Sisko realizes that Red Squad and other HUMANS are behind something big! The problem now is that Sisko might not be up to the task of stopping them--especially since their leader appears to be Sisko's old Captain and friend, Admiral Leyton (Robert Foxworth).

This episode was super-paranoid--even more than the first one. It also shows some of the worst parts of human nature--which I love. This is because all too often, the Star Trek future seems way too rosy and sweet. Here is evidence that people are still people! And, that Changelings aren't the only thing folks need to fear. Excellent and well worth seeing.

Good episode....but....

[Norad918 · 6/10 · 25 July 2015]

I'll agree with the other reviewers - this is a good episode, but there are a couple moments where Sisko is a complete moron. He gets a complete explanation of all of the treasonous actions that have taken place, along with names of the ringleaders, but doesn't record any of it! Then when he tries to present his findings to the President, he has no proof and is told as such. Then after spending two whole episodes thinking everyone is a shapeshifter, including his own father, it takes him several minutes to figure out that O'Brien *gasp* hasn't magically teleported across the whole galaxy!

There are strong performances and a couple of good twists, though its hard to get past the mental mistakes of the main character. My guess is they had enough content for 1.5 episodes and needed to pad out the length with the "no evidence" detour. I just wish they could have come up with a better way to do it. Maybe have Sisko record the conversation and have the villain steal it somehow. Great ending to the episode, though.

Meh

[gscharroo · 5/10 · 30 November 2022]

I don't really understand the higher rating on this two part story arc. They made this way too complex and the entire premise was completely absurd. One guy is dismantling the entire Star fleet and sense of security on earth and taking control of earth? I appreciated the message but this was a really poorly written and executed story. The amount of plot holes is absolutely staggering, as if a massive powers like Earth and Star Fleet have zero other powerful individuals and checks and balances? Only Ben Sisko? Lol what? The sort of premise is fine out in DS9c but Earth? It was just bad writing.