sword episode american science fiction television series star trek deep space ninth fourth season originally aired november broadcast syndication story created turned episode directed star trek generation alumnus featured return appeared star trek original series episode mercy previously appeared series episode blood oath set 24th century series follows adventures deep space space station located near stable alpha gamma episode returns station recruit help find ancient sword find sword forced evade forces son come blows future use weapon episode series feature character central storyline previously character generation time restraints filming edits scripts production team forced best use cave sets seen previously sword created specifically episode elaborate bat previously seen star trek including hand appear similar damascus steel composer sought bring influences score including use wagner producers disappointed initial fan reaction critics later gave positive response episode compared treasure sierra plot revered warrior bar telling stories past battles friend lieutenant commander notices lieutenant commander nearby invites meet happily saying strongly disliked government friend explains station plan find legendary sword original bat defeat received vulcan science team believes held sword gives test authenticity returns quarters attacked reads thoughts order find sword removes memories attack finds following morning thinks passed alcohol verified authenticity captain trio travel gamma quadrant search sword planet vulcan team found arrive planet travel underground vault leave discovers secret chamber containing sword attacked son hired wants sword prestige finding fight past men finding transport orbit head adjoining cave system order try range block travel caves begin affected prestige sword begins talk allow overthrow chancellor emperor says lead people suddenly slips cliff refuses let sword grabs end sword tries convince let pull sword helps save takes possession sword thinks trusted camp sleep night fight stops momentarily men arrive subdued attack shoots set forces transport return depart planet realize sword divided men honorable beam space leaving drift ready production writing sword deep space episode focus joined cast beginning season character featured prominently episodes season scripted prior confirmation joining sword episode written arrival time character featured centrally meant episodes inserted episode sword episode written arrival production team wanted feature centrally time story created executive story editor season joined production team written episodes wrote trap gave opportunity write friends following arrival episode directed actor described story akin search holy mythology converted story aware mythology wrote script wanted avoid giving sword mystical magical powers said concept sword power said technology magic gave feeling power cheap way writing staff disappointed reaction fans wanted technological explanation effects sword filming casting music limited time film edits script scenes set cave sets dropped taken long set scene episode time saved filming scene time cave sequences filmed cave standing sets stage sets limited burton said order look like characters moving complex labyrinth caves director photography sets depth look like different parts caves nearly falls created filming actors second level cave sets footage feet long miniature version cave created aluminium foil production staff spread sand floor cave sets order look different episodes sets burton advised interactions episode type performance burton later nicknamed action appeared second season episode blood oath played main character appear star trek appearance original series season episode mercy appeared son sword character played appeared episode redemption sought leadership alongside history dating rivalry father grandfather rod composer created music episode echoes operas 19th century german composer explained wagner opera vocabulary actually wagner score religious tones accompany appearances sword specifically found said audience isn understand spiritual importance weapon episode props created weapon bat working appearance episode reunion appeared live action series star trek exception original series sword sword intended bat according mythology defeat unite people time history decided sword needed different bat seen new hardened aluminium prop ordered numerous designs considered paper original bat created prop sculptor designs blade hand dental tools producers requested designs blade similar effects seen damascus steel combined idea forming map effect described staring mountains names added weapon created stand sword spray painted look metallic legs stand carved look like feet animal sword featured new prop designs starfleet issued shoulder bags camping equipment cave sequences reception home media release sword broadcast november broadcast syndication received nielsen ratings percent placing tenth place timeslot lower episode aired previous week little green men gained rating percent sword received higher rating following episode man seen percent viewers reviewers watched episode end series watched episode april thought typical deep space episode required knowledge history generation said episode admirable drama takes place walking cave sets thought end little mystical perfect keeping felt episode relied past ending better stealing sword minute followed later episode website reviews compared episode story said enjoyable simpler time praised musical score thought episode perfect vehicle saying gave strong performance gave episode rating half zack_handlen writing january said plot similar plots stories treasure sierra felt episode showed seen exhibited willingness absolute lengths believes needs compared anger bubbling surface film home media release sword episode vhs cassette alongside man united_kingdom june followed united_states canada single episode release october later released dvd season box set august
The Sword of Kahless