10 Reasons Deep Space Nine Is Secretly The Best Star Trek
9. Its Morals Aren't Preachy
One of the largest criticisms thrown Star Trek's way is that it's preachy. It has a lot to say about the human condition, but rather than weave it into the narrative naturally, many Star Trek shows prefer to just spend several minutes pontificating about it. "Show don't tell" is more of a guideline than a rule, especially in a TV show with a limited budget, I'll grant you, but it can get REALLY tiring. Especially when the morals being preached are BAD.
Deep Space Nine circumvents this. Sure, like all Star Trek shows, the first season or two is kinda shaky, but there's nothing as bad as when Star Trek The Next Generation was getting started. Episodes like Duet, Far Beyond The Stars, Waltz, and so forth brilliantly weave its themes and ideas into the narrative. And the dialogue still talks about the ideas present, but never in a condescending, moralizing way.
None of the characters come off as the one to deliver the lesson of the week, instead everyone getting a chance to shine and a chance to screw up. And either way, the audience never feels like they're attending a particularly boring philosophy lecture.