Deep Space Nine had it all. It was the first Star Trek series to be produced after Gene Rodenbury passed away, and I think he would have been very proud. The series had a grand story arc from the very first episode. It increased the number of primary characters over that of 'The Next Generation.' It featured more female characters in commanding roles (most notably, Major Kira). It mirrored the post Cold War politics and instability of the Balkins / Slovakia / Eastern Europe, with its setup of the dimming Cardassian Empire and the newly-freed Bajorians. It also addressed the legacy of empires past. One only needs to see the bond between Chief O'Brien (ethnic Irish) and Doctor Bashir (ethnic Indian) to identify echoes of the British empire.

And let's not forget France, or for that matter, Casablanca! Deep Space Nine was a dense series. It had action, drama, romance, and a series-long homage to the classic film, Casablanca. It could have been called, "Everyone comes to Quarks." Quark is no Rick Blaine, but he does own a bar. And Odo is a very good redux of Captain Louis Renault. Add to that the familiar story of the spy-turned-tailor in the likeable character of Garak (the only Cardassian aboar DS9). In any case, it added a depth of romance and humor to the series. Furthermore, DS9 took advantage of a grand opportunity to further develop the Bajorians, Ferengi, and Cardassians as major players in the Star Trek universe....

And it should be mentioned that although Rick Berman and company downplayed early rumors that the series would be "bleak" and "much darker" than the 'Next Generation' series, it was still a very different Star Trek. The cinematography, set design, and music might have looked and sounded a lot like The Next Generation, but this Trek had a much more realistic storyline, with very powerful and often dark themes. This Trek had the highest body count of any previous or future series. Every major planet in the storyline - Earth, Bajor, Cardassia, and Qonos/Klingon are all devastated by major military attacks sooner or later in the series (with one of them nearly being destroyed altogether). DS9 (the station) itself was originally built as a Cardiassian prison, where countless Bajorians toiled and died. So although this series is part of the same glossy world as TNG, the themes and scenarios are much more realistic. This series was about suvival against the odds, and I think it pulled it off wonderfully.

This was a grand series about the struggle to survive and build trust among different races and worlds. And being a Star Trek series, it was also about management - how to manage people, build teams, and solve problems on the fly. I think any engineer, mechanic, or IT professional would love the new Star Trek shows, including this one for it's never-ending theme of problem solving and the demonstration of leadership skills.

But above all, a series can't work unless the characters are well-developed, and the story flows at a steady pace. And that's where DS9 excelled. In my opinion, 'The Next Generation' became a great series only when a solid story arc was established, and the crew of the Enterprise-D had acquired multiple missions to deal with the Romulans and fight the Borg. I assume, that could only be done when the future of the series was secured (thanks to strong ratings in syndication). DS9 hit the ground running when it premiered in early 1993, thanks, of course, to the success of TNG. It's characters were very well thought-out (most of them had solid backgrounds and personal interests established from the start), and only grew in depth as the series progressed. And the story arc was emphasized with some of the greatest season-ending cliffhangers I've ever seen. It is quite possible that the finale of the 1999 series (I think it was '99) when both Garak and Worf lost their love interests during an attack on DS9, was as dramatic and powerful as anything I had seen on other well-written drama series such as Homicide or Six Feet Under. In fact, Homicide was the only other TV show I watched between 1993 and 2000.

It could be years before all 7 seasons of DS9 are released on DVD. But let's hope Season #1 is released soon. And then the journey can begin again. This was one for the ages for Trekers and non-Trekers alike. Read more ›

In Deep Space Nine we're introduced to Starfleet personnel who are asked to command a space station built and formerly run by Cardassians who had been occupying Bajor for sixty years and in many ways, quite brutally! Now that the Cardassians have decided to move out, the Bajorans aren't quite prepared to operate the station and are only in the beginning stages of rebuilding their world.

In many ways, this series unfortunately wasn't received as well as Star Trek The Next Generation, Star Trek Voyager or even today's Enterprise. Often referred to as the "red headed" stepchild of the franchise, DS9 didn't initially receive the critical acclaim or the fan support it so richly deserved.

Some character introductions:

Commander Benjamin Sisko, played brilliantly by Avery Brooks is a man of strong convictions and possessed of a superb leadership quality.... In the beginning of "Emissary," Commander Sisko is still plagued by the death of his wife at the hands of the Borg at Wolf 359. He is raising his son Jake by himself, as a widower. He initially felt at the time he received the assignment that he didn't want the position and that he didn't wish to stay in Starfleet. Upon meeting Captain Picard and the stoic Bajoran people his desire to resign grows even greater. Upon his discovery of the wormhole and the aliens within serve to change his mind as they help him to finally recover from the anguish he'd been living in since the death of his wife. He accepts his role as the commander of Deep Space Nine and quite reluctantly accepts the Bajorans belief that he is the prophesized Emissary.

Major Kira Nerys, played perfectly by Nana Visitor is the Commander Sisko's choice as his first officer on DS9. She grew up under the terrible conditions of the Cardassian occupation. At an early age she joined the Bajoran resistance as a freedom fighter. Her character is one of great interest and intrigue as she learns to deal with situations from a leadership/political manner rather than always taking up arms. The role was initially to have been Ro Laren/Michelle Forbes from STNG, which probably would've been alright but thank goodness she turned it down as Nana Visitor did an outstanding job with the Kira Nerys role.

Chief Miles Edward O'Brien, continuing in his role from TNG, Colm Meaney performs admirably when his character accepts a promotion/transfer to DS9. Coming along with him, but somewhat reluctantly, is his wife Keiko. No longer used in the background as transporter chief, the character stands out in many different aspects, from the dramatic to the comedic.

Lieutenant Jadzia Dax, the ever beautiful Terry Farrell steps into the role of a joined Trill. Trill are a symbiotic species, meaning that while the woman is twenty eight, the "worm" in her abdomen is another life form that has been joined with other Trill several times before. Notably, Dax's last joining was with Curzon who had been mentor and friend to Benjamin Sisko. Playing the science officer, Jadzia is a brilliant and quite alluring character that enhances the show greatly.

Lieutenant Julian Bashir, played perfectly by Alexander Siddig. Dr. Bashir is fresh out of the Academy and on his first assignment. He is a brilliant doctor and also serves well in the role of the "ladies" man. Of course, in a later season we learn where a lot of his intelligence comes from.

Chief of Security Odo who is played beautifully by Rene Auberjonois. Odo is a shapeshifter or as we later find out, a changeling. Odo is a being possessed with a strong conviction for justice and a great need for privacy in his own affairs. The banter between him and Quark is perfect and very reminiscent of those between another pair on the Original Series.

Quark - The Ferengi that runs the stations drinking establishment. In good keeping with Ferengi tradition, he is in on nearly every illicit and illegal activity that happens on the station. The character is wonderful in every way conceivable, from the comedic stand point to the dramatic; Armin Shimerman's performance is brilliant and irreplaceable.

Garak, the Cardassian tailor/spy that was left behind when the Cardassians withdrew from Deep Space Nine is played superbly by Andrew Robinson. While only making one appearance in this first season, the former agent of the Obsidian Order does well to secure many recurring roles in episodes/seasons to come. He is, to date, one of the most intriguing characters of the entire genre.

I highly recommend this DVD set and the other seasons to come, as it is worth every penny! {ssintrepid}

Episode listing:

Emissary
Past Prologue
A Man Alone
Babel
Captive Pursuit
Q-Less
Dax
The Passenger
Move Along Home
The Nagus
Vortex
Battle Lines
The Storyteller
Progress
If Wishes Were Horses
The Forsaken
Dramatis Personae
Duet
In the Hand of the Prophets

Special Features:
Deep Space Nine: A Bold Beginning
Crew Dossier: Kira Nerys
Michael Westmore's Aliens: Season One
Secrets of Quark's Bar
Deep Space Nine Sketchbook

Alien Artifacts: Season One
A photo gallery
Several "hidden" interviews with cast members Read more ›