10 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Episodes That Were Almost Completely Different

6. Waltz (Season 6 Episode 11)

Owing in part to a perfectly nuanced portrayal by Marc Alaimo, the disgraced Cardassian despot Gul Dukat is one of DS9’s most well received and morally complex characters. Ethically malleable in earlier seasons, Dukat’s descent into madness following the death of his daughter and the embarrassing defeat of Operation Return would mark the beginning of his fall into abject savagery, and sixth season episode Waltz is one of many putting the nail into the coffin of his possible redemption.

On the way to a war crimes trial, Sisko and Dukat’s ship is shot down by a Cardassian battle cruiser, and the two find themselves stranded on an alien planet, awaiting rescue without knowing which side will be the one coming to their aid. Ever the lover of his own voice, Dukat takes the opportunity to engage Sisko in a dialogue on morality and his role in the Occupation, despite suffering hallucinations of Kira, fellow Cardassian Damar and Dominion liaison Weyoun.

The episode was always intended to truly establish Dukat’s villainy, as he admits to himself for the first time just how much he despises the Bajorans, and affirms his intention to turn the planet into a graveyard. In the original draft however, the episode would have taken place entirely in Dukat’s head with other characters representing his personality, as he relives key moments from the Occupation whilst catatonic in hospital.

The decision to drag it into the real world gave much more weight to Dukat and Sisko’s dichotomous relationship, and set the stage for the series climactic conclusion when Dukat surrendered to his darkest desires and became the Emissary of the Pah-wraiths.