10 Ways The Streaming Era Has Improved Star Trek

9. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Star Trek Deep Space Nine Badda Bing Badda Bang
CBS Media Ventures

Despite glowing reviews, Deep Space Nine was the forgotten middle child of the franchise when it aired in the '90s. The serialised storytelling, now standard for many shows, made it a little harder to find new viewers. The darker themes, again now far more common, were stark at the time. This was Star Trek, but not as we knew it.

It took years, with the show finding new fans through reruns and VHS/DVD sales, but public opinion began to sway. The producers noted that, while airing, it did well enough not to be cancelled, but never received the viewing figures of The Next Generation or Voyager, something that seems to still be the case today, according to Robert Hewitt Wolfe on the recent episode of the TrekCulture Podcast.

The fanbase does seem to be die-hard when it comes to DS9, with streaming allowing some of the 'less flashy' episode another round of life. In The Pale Moonlight may be the prestige, but don't sleep on episodes like Progress, Shadowplay, or Family Business either. 

Instead of digging out the old cassettes, simply scroll. 

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Seán is the host and head writer/presenter for TrekCulture, as well as a writer/presenter on WhoCulture and WhatCulture Horror. He has authored two novels, dozens of short stories, and hundreds of articles for WhatCulture. He holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from University College Dublin. As part of his work with TrekCulture, Seán has been invited to participate in collaborations with Roddenberry Entertainment, as well as contributing to several Star Trek community projects. An avid fan of Star Trek, Doctor Who, and the horror genre at large, Seán's expertise has helped develop these channels to the successes they are today. As host of the Ups & Downs series on TrekCulture, Seán has become internationally recognised for his positive yet critically informed approach to reviewing every episode of modern Star Trek, ensuring he is one of the go-to voices in the Trek community. Favourite Quote to describe himself: "I'm serious about what I do, just not always about the way that I do it"