10 Ways Babylon 5 & Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Are Basically The Same Show
9. First Officers
In addition to the similarities in their commanders, each station had first officers that were quite reminiscent of each other. In the case of Babylon 5, it was Commander Susan Ivanova. On Deep Space Nine, it was Colonel Kira Nerys. Both women were strong willed and stubborn individuals who fought for what they what believed in.
Kira and Ivanova both grew throughout the runs of their respective shows, gaining promotions and respect from their colleagues. By the end of their series, each character had evolved far beyond where they were when fans first met them. That's the how a good character arc should work.
But the accidental similarities of a well plotted narrative combined with their individual characteristics aren't enough to justify the incredible commonalities between them. While it was great to see two women in positions of authority in science fiction, it was a little suspicious to see them hold such a similar positions on two competitive series with comparable storylines and settings.