Comments on: Revisiting Star Trek [Part 3 of 7]: Deep Space Nine

By: Voidman

Voidman — Tue, 05 May 2009 12:55:56 +0000

Personal, intimate and poignant essay. I loved it! I’m too one of the DS9 affecionados and while the original series and TNG have got the special place in my heart, it is the DS9 that I watched as a whole almost back-to-back (my work and biological needs permitting).

Funny, it is somehow satisfying that despite some strong opinions (especially among the casual Trek followers) that it was too different to be as venerated like the more classic-like series, I did manage to discover the gem it really is. Like to many other it’s the characters that do it for me – plots as well but characters first and foremost. Quark and Rom, Quark and Odo, Quark and Grand Nagus (you can tell my favourite don’t you) Bashir and O’Brian, Bashir and Garak (fantastic), Gul Dukat, Martok and let’s not forget about Morn your quintessential patron. It is through their intricate relationships that the series shine and you did not fail to highlight that too

This is Star Trek noir I feel, unsettling and ugly in places as far from the “sterile future paradise” tag attached to the franchise as one can get and, I hate to abuse the word again, gritty.

Not all is great I agree, and some ideas are better conceived then other but it is solid and captivating. The underlying plot unravels with brilliant panache and the main setting twist – a “backwater” station in a volatile frontier catapulted to become the pivotal stronghold of the epic war – well if that’s not the top-notch SF drama I don’t know what is.

Once again thanks Pete.

By: Greg L.

Greg L. — Tue, 05 May 2009 07:07:08 +0000

Ummmm, I was being sarcastic. Of course I know what B5 is. But it still was a yawner.

By: Jason Sanford

Jason Sanford — Mon, 04 May 2009 11:52:40 +0000

DS9 is indeed the best Star Trek series. I still remember so many amazing episode, like the one where Sisko is shooting back and forth through time as his son tries to save him. These episodes functioned as excellent science fiction stories, regardless of the larger Star Trek continuum. With the other Star Trek series, while I enjoyed the overall storyline, individual episodes rarely rose to the level of greatness. With DS9 in its later years, greatness was extremely common in its stories.

By: Ausir

Ausir — Mon, 04 May 2009 09:19:44 +0000

I used to be a Catholic, but I didn’t have my confirmation because of Star Trek.

By: Pete

Pete — Mon, 04 May 2009 05:09:43 +0000

"B5" is "Babylon 5," an SF series running at about the same time as Deep Space 9...and if it could have an article in this series, it would have one possibly longer than this one. B5 and DS9 are ingrained into me, the way certain books are. Things that are just built into you from the ground level. Those two series, and Ray Bradbury, and a few other books and authors, are at the core.

Like DS9, B5 needed time to develop and devotion to appreciate. You have to follow it all through.

...

You know what was interesting, the day after this article was written, I watched a long Star Trek trailer, for all things Trek. And for Deep Space 9, it talked about and showed clips from "The Die Is Cast." Remember that? When Garek went off with the Cardassian Gul who had been his friend. Odo is captured by them and unable to shapeshift. And as he rots, and rots away, Garek questions him.

That was stunning. That was a powerful, powerful episode. I watched the trailer, and it came back in a rush.

And then I thought of all the other episodes I should have mentioned. Trials and Tribble-ations! I mean, corny as hell, but that was so...much...fun. Or what about "The Magnificant Ferengi" episode? Hilarious.

What I liked was that we not only had this huge, huge cast of characters...but they ALL had relationships with each other. You hadn't had that previously. there is a vague sort of friendship between Data and La Forge, a sort of companionship between Riker and Worf, maybe. They play Poker. and do their duties.

but DS9, you had Doctor Bashir and Garek. Doctor Bashir and Jadzia. Doctor Bashir and O'Brien. And everyone had a whole network of ongoing relationships and plots with everyone else. It really, really worked.

...

Anecdote: My family and I were having to move from one town to another one, across the country. and my mum was a big star Trek fan, and I was a rabid Star Trek fan. So we actually planned the whole move so that Wednesday night, we would watch Deep Space 9, and then Thursday morning, we'd leave. And we'd get to our new place in time, we'd have the cable guy waiting, get all set up, and catch the next episode of DS9. I remember we planned the whole trip around that.

We got to the new place. And I was crushed to discover that they didn't carry the channel. We couldn't seem to get DS9. So I wound up not watching the seventh season until much later (and I've still missed episodes).

...

Okay, and this comment has become nearly as long as my original article. Sorry. :)

By: Greg L.

Greg L. — Mon, 04 May 2009 04:39:34 +0000

Martok rocks!

Garak is one of the most complex and well-executed characters in all of Trek.

I was a late convert to DS9, but the quality and depth of the last couple seasons were excellent. The series earned its place in the Trek tapestry.

And by the way, what's B5? Is that a Stargate? (Yaaaawwwwnnnnn!)

By: Kaz Augustin

Kaz Augustin — Mon, 04 May 2009 00:38:58 +0000

Oh it's so nice to be among other DS9 fans. You're right though, Pete. I had to sit down and explain the series to my DH before he could click into it. Now, he's as big a diehard DS9 fan as I am. And they stand up very well. We were just starting on Season 4 again a couple of nights ago, cherrypicking our favourites here and there. I don't think a series like DS9 could be made now. As with Next Gen, both series were quite nuanced in their response to war. By the time Enterprise (yuck!) came along, the world (and Trek) was in a different place. * sigh * I liked Garak and Weyoun of course, but I also have a soft spot for Damar. For me, Kasidy Yates was a loser character. And thanks. Will go look for Far Beyond the Stars this evening.

By: Steven French

Steven French — Mon, 04 May 2009 00:20:08 +0000

Thanks for that! DS9 was my favourite Trek by far, for all the reasons you've so clearly articulated. I recently re-watched the episode where Kira is assigned to help the cardassian rebels - the moral dilemmas were nicely explored and the characters and their actions were so believable, especially as the cardassians realise the costs of their rebellion. That was such a magnificent series!

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 03 May 2009 18:19:04 +0000

You must be joking. DS9 was AWFUL. For one thing Avery Brooks NEVER got into the skin of Captain Sisko. Never. He's an outstanding actor, but he just could not get a steady take on that character.

The writing was, for the most part, awful. The Dominion war was just a way to fill out episodes. There were some great characters, sure. Garak was wonderful. And Rom. But for the most part this show was so bad I finally stopped watching it. I did catch the final episode, though. Gee, the commander of the space station goes off into a mysterious white space with the weird aliens. Where have I seen that before? Oh yeah, it was the finale of B5, which aired a couple of months earlier. And don't even start me on the 'Kira Nerys and Odo' romance. How something so ridiculous could be dragged on so long....

This was a low-mark in Trek not to be equaled (or possibly surpased) till 'Enterprise'.

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 03 May 2009 15:50:17 +0000

Gush on, brother. I enjoyed your essay on Next Generation, but this one...I had goose bumps all the way through. While I love all things Trek, I have a very, very special fondness for DS9. From the pilot episode on, it was not your daddy's Star Trek. Even that first season had stories that have stayed with me. “Captive Pursuit” was just the sixth episode and told a story with a very un-Trek conclusion.

I won’t go on because you’ve done such a great job. You’ve made me long for lunches with Garak and Bashir, or a raktajino at Quark’s. I have so missed my DS9. I get my TV over the air for free, the way God intended, and no one within range has played anything for a long, long time. Your essay was the incentive I needed to fork out the bucks for the series, and now that I've made that decision, I can’t wait.

Good job on these essays, Pete, and a great job on this one. Die with honor.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sun, 03 May 2009 08:31:03 +0000

I always thought I loved DS9 because of the dark, non-Roddenberry settings, but you've reminded me of the sheer number of astonishingly complex, riviting characters that walked the decks of DS9. Garak and Weyoun were worthy of whole episodes in and of themselves. The actors were extraordinary, but the writers realy did make you feel for a great many of those "throwaway" characters.

You can stop reviewing Trek now. It only goes down hill from here. : )