If we do not count the animation series, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine which was the 3rd TV show of the universe was aired between 1993-1999 and lasted for 7 seasons. Directed by Rick Berman and Michael Piller, this is the first Star Trek work filmed without Gene Roddenberry after his death and it is highly different than the Star Trek production we are used to. Other than the absence of Roddenberry, the changes in the cast are visible. In 1993, original Star Trek cast was old and they must be retired. Similarly, the cast of 1987 Star Trek: New Generation was getting old and their wages were increasing.
Due to these reasons, the production of the TV show started in 1992 and started under the leadership of Rick Berman and Michael Piller. Since this was going to be the first show without Roddenberry, the production was outside traditional Star Trek concept. While some thought this as a positive thing, others criticized it harshly. The TV show had unusual plots such as conflicts inside the crew, deep political events and long-lasting storyline which Roddenberry avoided. Especially, there were innovations such as the Dominion War which involved thousands of ships and lasted for tens of episodes.
Deep Space 9 is the first Star Trek that does not happen in a starship. In the 3rd season, a starship called USS Defiant was added to the story but the station preserved its primary position. Deep Space 9 is a space station in the orbit of planet Bajor and the TV show narrates the events in this station. The station is, in fact, a base used by Cardassians when they invade Bajor planet. The government formed after the invasion transferred the administration of the station to United Federation of Planets for a temporary period. Previously known as Terak Nor, the station is named as Deep Space 9 after the transfer and a Starfleet commander called Benjamin Sisko is assigned to the station. The basic command echelon of the station has 8 people. When Commander Sisko lost his wife Jennifer Sisko in Wolf 359, he was left alone with his son and he accepted to come here to keep his son away from close contact.
Colonel Kira Nerys is the second most authorized officer and a female Bajoran. Colonel Nerys comes from a conservative family. The colonel is devoted to his religion. He does not accept the commanding of the Federation in the beginning and considered this as a second invasion but his attitude changed. The station strategic operations officer of the station is Worf from Klingon whom we know from Star Trek: The Next Generation TV show. He joined the TV show in season 4. The chief physician of the station is Julian Bashir. Since 2375, Ezri Dax from Trill race has acted as a consultant with first lieutenant rank. Lieutenant Nox from Ferengi race who started his position in 2373 is the officer of the repair station. Again, Senior Sergeant Miles O’Brien whom we know from The Next Generation is the operations chief and Odo from Changeling race is the head security officer. Major Jadzia Dax worked as science officer but was not included in the list because she dies in 2374.
Sisko who thought to enjoy the silence in the Station after the assignments were done under the administration of the Federation discovered the only known stable wormhole in the galaxy in the first episodes and met with the Messenger of Bajorans whom they worship as God for thousands of years. The first season of the series was below average and the 2nd season gave hints that the show will take a different turn. Ferengis have an important role in the TV show. A Ferengi called Quark even has a bar in Deep Space 9. Instead of telling a different adventure in every episode like other Star Trek shows, Deep Space Nine has a long storyline.
While some people say that Star Trek is tainted by this approach, the deep stories were well-written and loved by the audience. Additionally, this series introduced a well-written bad character called Gul Dukat to Star Trek. The rating increased after the 3rd season. Races like Changeling, Vorta and Jem’hadar were included in Star Trek with this TV show. After the Next Generation series is ended, USS Defiant that as added in the 3rd seasons reminds us the old days of Star Trek. But the events on the ship are not as detailed as the other shows but they are as good as them. The TV show had 7 seasons and 173 episodes and especially season 6 and 7 are praised a lot.
The difference of this series from other Star Trek series is that this one handles the background characters really well and guides the show as these characters make major changes. If you skip one episode, you will not understand anything from other episodes. All the storyline is connected except a few episodes and this made it mandatory to watch all episode. One of the best things about this series is that the characters are explained in detail starting from the first episode. Deep Space 9 is known for having religion in the plot which is one of the subjects Roddenberry avoided the most.
When the station commander Benjamin Sisko contacts with wormhole aliens that Bajorans worship for years, he is welcomed as a messenger in Bajor. In the first episodes, Bajoran religious leader Kai gives a speech to Benjamin Sisko which tells us what is going to happen and the things start to shape. Sisko who learned that he was going to help Bajorans to find the Sanctuary at Stars was unwillingly forced to accept this.
The politics which was not involved in the previous series are handled here in deep and dark format. Deep Space 9 that tells how friendship will be destroyed and innocent people will die with interstate plays and relationship of interest has a different position than all other Star Trek shows in this sense. The main plot of the TV show is the desire of Dominion that reached Alpha and Beta quarters of the galaxy with the wormhole to invade this place and the Dominion War. Dominion that has been ruling in the Gamma quarter for thousands of years applied the invasion plan when it saw the potential of the Alpha and Beta quarters. At this point, we can see how politics can be dangerous if used badly.
The dominion that secretly tries to play off against states and races is partially successful. As a result, the war brings destruction and chaos to the entire galaxy. Such that thousands of ships were destroyed and hundreds of thousands and even millions of lives were lost. Star Trek that has a storyline that covers multiple seasons did a great job. Going outside Roddenberry’s concept brought a difference and the show continued for 7 seasons.
When we look back at the end, we can see that this show brought various races and innovations to this universe. Of course, the show has negative aspects as well as positive ones. The greatest plus is that the first-time long storyline is reflected very well. The minus side is that there are lots of soap opera scenes and these scenes sometimes bore the audience. If we summarize everything we have talked about, the TV show exhibit better performance than expected with its new concept. The character development and reflecting that to the screen are detailed and deep. At the same time, it was important references to today’s world in terms of handling political and social events.
Although there are rumors that Gene Roddenberry approved the TV show before he passed away on 24 October 1991, there is no certain information about that.
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