The Sword of Kahless is the holy grail of the Klingons. Kahless is the godhead of these people and the sword is thought to have magic properties. Kor, Jadzea, and Worf go on a mission to find the sword and return it to the Emperor of the Klingons. But the thing creates serious problems for all of them. It also enlists a group of Klingons who follow the trio and try to take the sword from them. Ultimately, the power is different from what was imagined. There is just too little effort to create a sense of suspense and dread.
11 Reviews
Originally a nice idea, but the twist is pretty stupid
yincognyto-9171819 August 2019
Kor, Jadzia Dax and Worf go to the Gamma Quadrant to find the 'Sword of Kahless', the first bat'leth ever created by the legendary Klingon hero Kahless - and they are followed by another group that wants to get the sword as well. So far, a nice idea, and kudos to the designers for an absolutely magnificent "first bat'leth" - no kidding.
What follows though is not that smart though. Apparently the writers wanted the major symbolism of the sword in Klingon culture to be a dangerous thing that generates conflict between any Klingons that get a hand on the sword, and were baffled by the fact that the viewers thought the sword was either carrying a "virus" or had some "magical powers" that caused the whole aggresive behavior. Ok, maybe most viewers don't bother that much to get the underlying message of an episode, but then, what do you expect if you - aka the writers - don't explain things properly (not to mention that the strange behavior is simply illogical even for the brutal Klingon culture)?
If the sword was such a cause of conflict between Klingons, why on Earth (pardon, Qo'onos - the Klingon homeworld) was it just a harmless artifact that caused unity among Klingons before it was stolen by the Hur'q invaders? Sorry to say this, but the writers' idea to make the sword provoke division was pointless and absurd, really. No wonder the viewers came up with a more logical explanation for the strange behavior exhibited by the Klingons touching it - it makes much more sense to see it as carrying a "virus" or some sort of "magical powers" (the Hur'q factor, maybe?) than its mere symbolism causing friction... especially considering that the whole myth about it was that it would lead to unity (not division!) between Klingons. And, of course, the whole idea in this episode had to be eventually discarded (you'll find out how after watching), since it would have solved the Klingon - Federation conflict too easily, and make the Dominion threat less dangerous.
What follows though is not that smart though. Apparently the writers wanted the major symbolism of the sword in Klingon culture to be a dangerous thing that generates conflict between any Klingons that get a hand on the sword, and were baffled by the fact that the viewers thought the sword was either carrying a "virus" or had some "magical powers" that caused the whole aggresive behavior. Ok, maybe most viewers don't bother that much to get the underlying message of an episode, but then, what do you expect if you - aka the writers - don't explain things properly (not to mention that the strange behavior is simply illogical even for the brutal Klingon culture)?
If the sword was such a cause of conflict between Klingons, why on Earth (pardon, Qo'onos - the Klingon homeworld) was it just a harmless artifact that caused unity among Klingons before it was stolen by the Hur'q invaders? Sorry to say this, but the writers' idea to make the sword provoke division was pointless and absurd, really. No wonder the viewers came up with a more logical explanation for the strange behavior exhibited by the Klingons touching it - it makes much more sense to see it as carrying a "virus" or some sort of "magical powers" (the Hur'q factor, maybe?) than its mere symbolism causing friction... especially considering that the whole myth about it was that it would lead to unity (not division!) between Klingons. And, of course, the whole idea in this episode had to be eventually discarded (you'll find out how after watching), since it would have solved the Klingon - Federation conflict too easily, and make the Dominion threat less dangerous.
"Com badges? We don' need no steenking com badges!"
grizzledgeezer19 May 2017
Warning: Spoilers
If this episode reminds you of "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre", it should. The basic story, of a group of people with conflicting goals fighting over something valuable, wasn't new when B Traven used it in her classic novel. * Here is gets another outing.
In this case, Worf, Dax, and Kor (a wonderfully over-the-top but nuanced performance by John Colicos) are looking for the sword of Khaless -- which could restore the Klingon empire to unity, or tear it apart.
After a lot of in- and out-fighting, they agree that the sword is best left "undiscovered". Just as the wind blows away the gold dust in Traven's novel, the sword is transported into space, to be wafted by the cosmic winds (so to speak).
Not a "great" episode, but a fun one if you're familiar with the classic tale it parallels. Which is why I give it eight stars.
* No one is sure who B Traven was.
In this case, Worf, Dax, and Kor (a wonderfully over-the-top but nuanced performance by John Colicos) are looking for the sword of Khaless -- which could restore the Klingon empire to unity, or tear it apart.
After a lot of in- and out-fighting, they agree that the sword is best left "undiscovered". Just as the wind blows away the gold dust in Traven's novel, the sword is transported into space, to be wafted by the cosmic winds (so to speak).
Not a "great" episode, but a fun one if you're familiar with the classic tale it parallels. Which is why I give it eight stars.
* No one is sure who B Traven was.
Action Barbie and the Klingons part 2
snoozejonc8 August 2022
Worf, Jadzia and Kor search for the sword of Kahless.
This is a fairly good episode with some enjoyable Klingon moments.
It is a story of two halves with the best aspects coming during the build up and search for the titular object. After it is found the plot heads into 'Treasure if the Sierra Madre' territory with the characterisations. This is good but feels tiresome and repetitive at times. I don't particularly like the ending, but overall the episode does a good job of showing how inanimate objects are sometimes mythicised to ridiculous levels.
The strong points are the performances of John Colicos and Michael Dorn who embody their characters so well. Terry Farrell is a solid foil for their machismo and does the 'Action Barbie' moments superbly well.
I appreciate the budgetary constraints that push Star Trek filmmakers down the route of another cave for the setting, but personally I would have used the darkness to a more creepy and horrifying effect than it is here.
This is a fairly good episode with some enjoyable Klingon moments.
It is a story of two halves with the best aspects coming during the build up and search for the titular object. After it is found the plot heads into 'Treasure if the Sierra Madre' territory with the characterisations. This is good but feels tiresome and repetitive at times. I don't particularly like the ending, but overall the episode does a good job of showing how inanimate objects are sometimes mythicised to ridiculous levels.
The strong points are the performances of John Colicos and Michael Dorn who embody their characters so well. Terry Farrell is a solid foil for their machismo and does the 'Action Barbie' moments superbly well.
I appreciate the budgetary constraints that push Star Trek filmmakers down the route of another cave for the setting, but personally I would have used the darkness to a more creepy and horrifying effect than it is here.
Nasty, icky Sword (Bat'leth) of Kahless.
planktonrules28 December 2014
This episode begins with Kor (John Colicos) on DS9 spinning drunken tales of glory. You might remember this character from earlier in the series ("Blood Oath") or from the original "Star Trek" ("Errand of Mercy")--but it isn't necessary for you to have seen these prior episodes. Suffice to say, this old warrior is more a drinking machine than much of a hero any more. However, his stories about how he might be on the trail of the legendary Sword of Kahless might just turn out to have something to it--and some others are also very interested in following Kor and his friends, Worf and Jadzia Dax to the location of this legendary weapon. However, surprisingly, there is SOMETHING about this weapon, as after they find it, it sets them against each other. What gives?!
All in all, this is a decent episode but not much more. I did once again love seeing the great evil villain character actor John Colicos once again and any Worf episode is worth seeing.
All in all, this is a decent episode but not much more. I did once again love seeing the great evil villain character actor John Colicos once again and any Worf episode is worth seeing.
Makes you question the history the Klingon Warrior ethos
txriverotter11 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This could've been an interesting episode, but really, if Kor, Worf and Dax 'had' found the Sword of Khaless, and they hadn't put in the strange twist to the story, how would that have been followed up in later episodes once it got back to the Klingon home world?
I don't need to cover the whole plot, that's been done nicely by several others, but suffice it to say that because they did put in the "twist" of the Sword of Khaless causing the two Klingon men who held it to turn into aggro, chest-thumping, pontificating jerks, the Sword never made it back so no sense worrying about that.
However, because said "twist" had the three finding the Sword, which then made Kor and Worf turn on each other, both craving the power the sword could give them, and believing the other was not worthy, what does this mean for the history of the Klingon Warrior culture?
If I were completely unfamiliar with the Star Trek universe other than TV and film, I would probably wonder if this is how the whole Warrior ethos got started to begin with.
Maybe Klingons were actually gentle, kind and quiet people, working hard on their farms thru the day and crocheting their garments at night, just your average gentle folk. But one day Kahless went searching for blueberries in the forest and came upon the Sword. When he touched it, he began to transform into an aggro, chest-thumping, pontificating jerk who wanted to fight and conquer anyone who wasn't Klingon. And when he went back amongst his people with the Sword, they all began to turn into aggro, chest-thumping pontificating jerks who want to fight and conquer anyone who isn't Klingon.
And thus the Warrior ethos is begun. They leave behind their gentle ways and being aggro jerks now, are embarrassed by the gentle peace-niks they once were, so they bury every evidence of their previous way of life, and soon begin to forget they were ever anything but a Warrior culture, to be feared and honored by all.
Aaand then again...maybe I'm overthinking things.
It wasn't a bad episode, just not a great one, like "Little Green Men" just before it.
I don't need to cover the whole plot, that's been done nicely by several others, but suffice it to say that because they did put in the "twist" of the Sword of Khaless causing the two Klingon men who held it to turn into aggro, chest-thumping, pontificating jerks, the Sword never made it back so no sense worrying about that.
However, because said "twist" had the three finding the Sword, which then made Kor and Worf turn on each other, both craving the power the sword could give them, and believing the other was not worthy, what does this mean for the history of the Klingon Warrior culture?
If I were completely unfamiliar with the Star Trek universe other than TV and film, I would probably wonder if this is how the whole Warrior ethos got started to begin with.
Maybe Klingons were actually gentle, kind and quiet people, working hard on their farms thru the day and crocheting their garments at night, just your average gentle folk. But one day Kahless went searching for blueberries in the forest and came upon the Sword. When he touched it, he began to transform into an aggro, chest-thumping, pontificating jerk who wanted to fight and conquer anyone who wasn't Klingon. And when he went back amongst his people with the Sword, they all began to turn into aggro, chest-thumping pontificating jerks who want to fight and conquer anyone who isn't Klingon.
And thus the Warrior ethos is begun. They leave behind their gentle ways and being aggro jerks now, are embarrassed by the gentle peace-niks they once were, so they bury every evidence of their previous way of life, and soon begin to forget they were ever anything but a Warrior culture, to be feared and honored by all.
Aaand then again...maybe I'm overthinking things.
It wasn't a bad episode, just not a great one, like "Little Green Men" just before it.
Will the sword unite or divide the Klingon Empire
Tweekums25 May 2010
Warning: Spoilers
When Klingon master Kor comes to Deep Space Nine almost everybody is gripped by his somewhat exaggerated tales of glorious battle, one exception of Worf who stays in his own corner of the bar think Kor won't want to see a disgraced Klingon. Dax insists on introducing them and soon they are drinking together and Kor has boasted that he has learnt the location of the legendary sword of Kahless; the three of them decide that they will retrieve it and return it to its rightful place on Kronos, the Klingon home world. It looks like it will be an easy quest but soon after finding the weapon the learn that they aren't the only ones after it and they must fight a second group of Klingons who want the sword to help them take over the Empire. These other Klingons aren't their only problem; Worf and Kor both seem to be effected by the sword and become distrustful of each other believing that only they know the best way to use it. Ultimately they come to the conclusion that it isn't yet time to return the weapon to Kronos and leave it drifting in space.
This episode was a lot of fun, this was largely down to John Colicos fantastically over the top portrayal of Kor, his character was nicely balanced my Michael Dorn's far more restrained portrayal of Worf. The story itself is enjoyably even if its events seem unlikely to be of any importance in any of the upcoming plot arcs.
This episode was a lot of fun, this was largely down to John Colicos fantastically over the top portrayal of Kor, his character was nicely balanced my Michael Dorn's far more restrained portrayal of Worf. The story itself is enjoyably even if its events seem unlikely to be of any importance in any of the upcoming plot arcs.
The one sword to rule them all.
thevacinstaller27 June 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Here we have an episode detailing the fallout that can occur when one comes into possession of power. The Sword of Kahless is essentially the ring of power from Lord of The Rings and this episode is a commentary on how holding power can distort and change a person.
It's a solid foundation for a star trek episode but the pacing of this episode was glacial and the overall stakes that the holder of this sword would be a galactic dictator did not feel tangible to me.
This one just didn't work for me. I just wasn't invested at all in the sword, the journey to get it, the conflict of the characters.
It's a solid foundation for a star trek episode but the pacing of this episode was glacial and the overall stakes that the holder of this sword would be a galactic dictator did not feel tangible to me.
This one just didn't work for me. I just wasn't invested at all in the sword, the journey to get it, the conflict of the characters.
Never went anywhere...
Tundrorock27 October 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Boring. I was hoping for some interesting action going after the sword, or a really good twist at the end to redeem itself, but it never happened. Tough watch coming after Little Green Men which was a very interesting episode. Total side bar, I think showing Quark at the very end reclaiming the sword from space and putting it on a galactic online marketplace would have been a neat twist of the twist.
Boring, ultimately pointless fetch quest
beanslegit11 April 2022
A Very Low-budget Episode
ANannyMoose0215 November 2022
Quite literally 36 minutes of this episode was done in that cheap-looking cave, but it was also in the exact same spot of that cheap-looking cave. They didn't even change the background props. They re-use the same scene with the sword twice and only used 2 cast members for the entirety of the episode. Was there seriously no money for the making of this episode? Was it that the script was so bad they didn't feel it necessary to put any effort into the production of this episode? It's a mystery as to why this episode had to be made so cheaply. The plot had potential, but suffered the same fate as most DS9 episodes.
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