10 Most Inappropriate Moments In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
For those about to seek jamaharon, we salute you.
Widely considered the grittiest Star Trek series, at least prior to the launch of Discovery and Picard, Deep Space Nine loved to set itself apart from the the likes of The Next Generation and Original Series.
By focusing on serialized storytelling and interpersonal conflict, as well as darker themes like war and trauma, Deep Space Nine succeeded in showcasing a different side of the Star Trek universe. But that doesn't mean the path to the Gamma Quadrant was always smooth. Deep Space Nine's desire to stand out occasionally pushed the show into questionable territory. And no, we're not talking about the Badlands.
Whether sexual, violent, or just downright nasty, Deep Space Nine was no stranger to inappropriate moments best left in the dank corner of Quark's holosuites.
These scenes made us question not only our favourite characters' underlying motives, but also our devotion to the series as a whole. And that's a shame because some of these moments spoil otherwise fantastic episodes. They just didn't know where to draw the line. Where's Picard when you need him?
Here are 10 of the most inappropriate moments in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
10. Non-Stop Jem'Hadar Killing
"To The Death" added much-needed depth to the Jem'Hadar in a thrilling episode that brought the Dominion and Federation together when an Iconian Gateway threatens the Alpha Quadrant. Sisko and company's collaboration with the Dominion to track down a rogue group of Jem'Hadar builds to a pitch battle on the surface of a mysterious planet. It's an exciting conclusion to a story already jam-packed with compelling scenes.
The only problem is the episode's brutal violence. Because of a dampening field generated by the gateway, the crew's phasers prove useless, forcing them to engage in vicious hand-to-hand combat with the Jem'Hadar. There's more stabbing and throat-slitting than any previous incarnation of Star Trek, although, to be fair, Sisko did promise us more fight than we could handle. He was right.
And if that wasn't enough, there's even a nauseating scene in which Jem'Hadar commander Omet'iklan punishes a subordinate by snapping his neck. Charming stuff.
The episode was heavily censored upon release. The Jem'Hadar body count was reduced from a staggering 52 deaths in the original edit. The British Board of Film Classification didn't stop there, making further cuts to remove the sound of Toman'torax's neck breaking. That's probably for the best.
The level of violence in "To The Death" distracted from the episode's strange bedfellows theme and underlying sense of intrigue. The real joy in this episode comes from watching the Dominion and Federation work together to solve a problem, not Worf and his mek'leth running wild.