3. Romance
One of the things that will drive your crazy about the new Star Trek movies is that Uhura and Spock are only in a relationship on paper. They dont touch, they dont talk, and you never see them in a truly intimate moment, a moment where you feel as if they really do have some connection. It is almost as if they are brother and sister who give each other pecks on the cheek from time to time. This is not what you get from DS9. Both the actors and the writers go all in. If someone is in a relationship on DS9, they are in a relationship. You get to see the loving moments such as when Odo touches noses with Kira or when you see a wedding photo beside Worf and Jadzias bed or when Keiko decides to wear OBriens favorite dress despite the fact that she is tired. That way when they do argue the audience can hope for reconciliation because something precious may be lost. Right now, I dont care if Uhura and Spock make it or not. DS9 also explores the full range of relationships from Dax and Worf, exploring how we can be clueless and miss what is right in front of us. To Odo and Kira beautifully exploring the awkwardness of turning a friendship into a relationship. Kieko and OBrien explore married life, career compromises and raising a family and Sisko and Cassidy explore tragic love, falling for someone that you know can only end in heartbreak especially when The Prophets tell Sisko that his path is his to walk alone.