Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
(a.k.a ST:DS9)

This television show was the fourth Star Trek series. It was a spin-off from Star Trek: The Next Generation.

This show distinguishes itself from the other Star Trek series in several ways. Firstly, the show takes place in orbit around Bajor. Other Star Trek series take place on starships that travel from place to place. Secondly, this series was more dramatic than other Star Trek series. Thirdly, this series focused on issues of spirituality, religion, and politics. Lastly, this series explored a darker perspective on the federation, on the Star Trek universe, and on life in Starfleet.

At the time this series was released, it was rumored that Gene Roddenberry had strong objections to the Deep Space Nine concept. Gene Roddenberry strove to depict positive role models, an optimistic future, and a spirit of exploration and scientific achievement. Roddenberry was also an atheist, and had reservations regarding religious themes in the Star Trek shows. As rumor has it, Roddenberry did not want a pessimistic, dark, and brooding version of his universe. Whether the rumors are true or not, the series was clearly filmed and released after Roddenberry's death, and is the first Star Trek endeavor that launched without his supervision.

Characters

The captain of Deep Space Nine is Benjamin Sisko, a reluctant messiah to the Bajoran people. He is a brooding, broken man, who nearly dropped out of Starfleet following the death of his wife. The first officer is a brash Bajoran named Kira Nerys. She is an angry ex-resistance fighter who has trouble adjusting to social norms of a free world. The security officer is a "unique" shape-shifter named Odo. The science officer is the playful Jadzia Dax, a symbiotic life form with many generations of life experience, and a mentoring relationship to the captain. Julian Bashir is the playboy doctor. Miles O'Brien is the salty Irish mechanic.

On the darker side, there is Quark, a purveyor of vice. While he would primarily be described as a bartender, he also runs a casino, a holo-suite -- used for erotic pleasures --, and performs back-office deals involving contraband, smugglers, and mercenaries. Quark's exploited brother Rom and nephew Nog round out the dysfunctional Ferengi family. Other dubious characters include Garak, an ex-Cardassian spy, and recurring villain Gul Dukat.

Later in the series, the Klingon Worf from Star Trek: The Next Generation becomes a regular on Deep Space Nine.

Location

The totalitarian Cardassian Regime built the space station Deep Space Nine. This brutal race mined and exploited the planet Bajor, and performed various atrocities revealed throughout the series. Through a treaty with the United Federation of Planets, the Bajoran star system was liberated leaving Deep Space Nine the property of Bajor. The Federation serves as protector for the people of Bajor and provides station maintenance and management. Bajor is a war-torn planet clinging desperately to its religion. The people are poor, ignorant, and confused. The planet and its space station are beset by political and religious pressures from leaders clamoring for power.

Critique

This series is distinguished in part by its drama and religious/ political themes. These characteristics seem to polarize viewers. When I originally watched the series, I was disappointed. I did not watch it regularly and eventually quit watching it entirely. I have since purchased the entire series on DVD, and have been able to watch every episode in sequence.

In my opinion, this is the worst science fiction that I have ever tried to enjoy. I find it difficult to sympathize with the main characters, I find it difficult to care about their station or their planet, and I find myself rooting for the bad guy most of the time. I feel apathy when I should feel anxiety, and I feel annoyance when I should be sharing their victories. The writers tried to fix the plodding elements of this show by adding a super-powerful starship to the station, throwing in epic wars, bringing in characters from the more successful TNG franchise, building many long-term intertwining story arcs, and creating some excellent recurring villains. These efforts added some excellent scenes to the series -- some of the best in any Star Trek series. However, I was never able to get past my contempt for the main characters or the planet Bajor.