Time has been kind to Deep Space Nine.
Deep Space was only a modest success during its original run, but its reputation has steadily grown over the last decade. In the age of digital media, viewers can now watch the entire series at their own pace and on their own terms. For many Trekkers, DS9 is now considered the crowning achievement of the Star Trek TV franchise. It’s certainly the darkest, most uncompromising vision of Star Trek committed to screen, a vision that sometimes alienated casual and hardcore fans alike.
DS9′s flawed characters, moral complexity, and deep continuity was destined to rub some people the wrong way. Captain Sisko and his crew didn’t make a terribly good first impression when the show premiered twenty years ago, and DS9 only became more inaccessible to casual viewers as it progressed. It played a long game with its serialized format and its willingness to challenge Gene Roddenberry’s dream of a better tomorrow.
Deep Space was ahead of its time. Some people didn’t know what to make of it, others thought it was taking Star Trek in the wrong direction. Despite an exodus of fans, the writers of Deep Space Nine continued to take larger and larger risks as the show went on, almost all of which paid off. It’s amazing that it lasted for seven years with an unbelievable level of artistic freedom. Few shows have earned as much acclaim as Deep Space while still dividing a franchise’s fanbase. Here are a few reasons why.
Also, what’s the difference again between a Trekker and a Trekkie? I can never remember…
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15 Comments
The best of the Star Trek TV series.
Great article.
DS9 was always my favorite Star Trek. The Dominion story-line that began in season 3 and led us through the rest of the series is one of the greatest achievements in modern television history. Moving, intelligent, exciting and genuinely shocking at points (In The Pale Moonlight is, from start to finish, a masterclass in acting and storytelling) Deep Space Nine will forever be THE shining beacon the Star Trek lore.
Really enjoyed this article.
Great op-ed piece. As a kid, I was never all that interested in DS9, probably because my dad introduced me to TOS before I saw any other Trek, and TNG was the show of my childhood. My mom thought DS9 was too violent, so I wasn’t really allowed to watch it until I was “old enough,” but by then I was feeling out on all things TNG. I finally decided to watch DS9 a few years ago when I decided that no self-respecting Trekkie doesn’t own at least one Trek series in its entirety on DVD. I chose DS9 since it was the one I was least familiar with. Boy am I glad I did! (Of course, I was kicking myself for spending all that money when it showed up on Netflix just a year after I bought it. After watching it through, I must say, it is far and away my favorite Trek of the franchise.
I know what you mean about kicking yourself. The wife and I started buying The Next Gen DVDs as they were released and we didn’t stop until the last Deep Space Nine set. Now, I walk past my DVD cabinet and try not to think about how much those DVDs cost.
It was worth it, though, because it got my wife into Trek. She ended up being an even bigger DS9 fan than yours truly. When we first started dating, she even refused to see Insurrection with me in theaters. Admittedly, she had a point with that one…
Fantastic article. I “like” a lot of Star Trek. But I love Deep Space Nine. This article went to the heart of why that series meant so much to me, and why it still holds up. It’s pretty remarkable, actually, that a series would resonate even more today than when it first aired 20 years ago. It was groundbreaking. I also appreciated the sobering opinion about Gene Roddenberry, who was indeed a visionary, but sadly didn’t have a clue about what makes a good story great. And that’s sacrilege to speak in certain Trek fan circles.
When I was a kid I loved Star Trek, but the main reason I could never get into Deep Space as much as the other series was because of its episodic nature. I think I was too young to appreciate or pay attention to the greater arc. But about 2 years ago I watched it again from start to finish and realised how great it was. It definitely was ahead of its time. The Original Series will always be my favourite but Deep Space is actually one of the most well constructed and epic sci-fi series ever to have aired. It feels like the consequences of each episode will matter in the next, which just wasn’t the case with the other series.
I don’t usually post things on any website, but I just want to say “thank you” for writing this article. I actually watched the series when it originally aired, then programmed my VCR to watch it on Spike (or whatever it was called then) when it went on syndication. This is by far one of my favorite TV series of all time. The series deserves to be admired and I only hope more people can appreciate such a superb show. Kudos for spreading the good word.
Thanks!
I’m one of those people you mention in your article who didn’t bother keeping up with the seven year serial when it aired originally. I was busy with life and the few times I tuned in I had no idea what was going on. Flash forward about twenty years (wow), and Netflix gives me the opportunity to watch all of the Trek series! The small but strong group of people praising DS9 online over the years made me decide to give DS9 another chance since it was available. Wow! I never dreamed I would say this, but it’s my favorite Trek series. I’m re-watching it now, this time with my wife. She’s hooked too (and she’s certainly no science fiction fan). Thanks for the great article! I love your writing style! You made me laugh out loud several times!
I know know you’re being brutally honest, but you could seriously re-purpose reasons #7-1 as the reason why it is arguably the best Star Trek. It stood apart from the other Treks thematically, tonally, and structurally. The writers were clearly on the forefront of a new era in television writing, as most dramatic sci-fi/fantasy series are more serial than episodic in nature.
DS9 is also probably the clearest example in the Treks of the creative team working to disprove the notion that the scifi/fantasy genre is more than just children/family-friendly fare. The fact that it broke the pre-existing Roddenberry mold of writing “perfect” characters indicated that they felt their target audience could be challenged suitably by more complex characters. It was even more compelling when characters who are more “light” than “dark” on the moral continuum make hard choices. Sisko’s painfully frank narration from “In the Pale Moonlight” comes to mind.
Then there’s Quark, who by the latter seasons really occupied Odo’s role as the outsider looking in. Every other character, main cast or one of its extremely rich number of regular-to-semi-regular recurring characters (back before the era of the mega cast, at least) had, to varying degrees, a sense of being a part of something greater than him/herself (Starfleet, Bajor(an religion), the Great Link, the Klingon Empire, etc). Quark, while he did have his moments, is the only character whose modus operandi from start to finish remained “look out for number one.” And while the Ferengi episodes were very hit or miss, when Sisko and Quark are paired together, the potent contrast between two different ends of human nature, the idealistic soldier/community leader vs the self-interested individualist. The best example is “The Siege of AR-558.”
I’ve been collecting retrospective articles, journals, blogs and writeups of DS9 since the series ended in 1999. This one you wrote, Jeremy, is easily one of the best. I may have a few quibbles in terms of what you left out but those are minor complaints. Great job and what a great addition to my ever-growing collection.
By the way I was one of those folks who actually supported and loved both B5 and DS9. At first I took sides and stayed away from B5 after its terrible premiere but later a friend showed me “The Coming of Shadows” and I became hooked. Those two series will always represent the height of space sci fi to me and I think it is a shame that they get lost to the TV history while the new BSG and a show that had like nine episodes, Firefly, get all the mainstream media love. Don’t want to take anything away from those two series, but DS9, B5, and Farscape led the way for serialized shows like the new BSG and Firefly.
You should have used the word nerd more.
Ah why are Picard, Sisko and Janeway all wearing the same uniform…? Because that is very obviously a voyager era uniform…
I had to grow up before I could appreciate it. Now for me there is no better star trek. I love the character of Odo, Quark. Obrien. All of them. Gul.Dukat is a fantastic villian. I do miss the Doctor from Voyager and Seven.
This was a wonderful article. My work group is filled with nerds. I am made fun of because DS9 is my favorite of all the series. Yet, here is the kicker, they have never WATCHED DS9.
It actually seems to be a common theme among DS9 haters.