"Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (1993) TV series 1993-1999

Creators:

Rick Berman
Michael Piller

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Release Date:

4 January 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Orbiting the liberated planet of Bajor, a Federation space station guards the opening of a stable wormhole to the far side of the Galaxy.

Plot Keywords:

Wormhole | Klingon | Emissary | Changeling | Space Station

Awards:

Won 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 9 wins & 42 nominations

Cast

Avery Brooks	...	Captain Sisko / ... (173 episodes, 1993-1999)
Rene Auberjonois	...	Odo / ... (173 episodes, 1993-1999)
Cirroc Lofton	...	Jake Sisko / ... (173 episodes, 1993-1999)
Alexander Siddig	...	Doctor Bashir / ... (173 episodes, 1993-1999)
Colm Meaney	...	Chief O'Brien / ... (173 episodes, 1993-1999)
Armin Shimerman	...	Quark / ... (173 episodes, 1993-1999)
Nana Visitor	...	Major Kira / ... (173 episodes, 1993-1999)
Terry Farrell	...	Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax / ... (148 episodes, 1993-1998)
Michael Dorn	...	Lt. Commander Worf / ... (102 episodes, 1995-1999)
Mark Allen Shepherd	...	Morn / ... (91 episodes, 1993-1999)

Also Known As:

DS9 (USA) (promotional abbreviation)
Deep Space Nine (USA) (short title)
Star Trek: DS9 (USA) (short title)

Runtime:

45 min (176 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Klingon

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Australia:M (DVD rating - season 5) | Australia:PG (DVD rating - seasons 1, 2, 3 &4) | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant - 6100 Woodley Avenue, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Television

Trivia:

Wolf 359, mentioned as the battle site between the Borg and the Federation where Sisko lost his wife, is a real star that is 7.5 light-years from Earth.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): In various episodes throughout the show's 6th and 7th seasons, there are several mentions of "good years" for blood wine, with vintages given in Earth years. Why would the Klingons measure the vintages of blood wine in Earth years, instead of Kronos years or Stardates?

Quotes:

Odo: You're still disgusting!
Quark: Wouldn't have it any other way!

Movie Connections:

Spin off Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Dominion Wars (2001) (VG)

Innovative, Intelligent and Interesting

DS9 is one of my all-time favorite television shows. It edges out Star Trek's original series just barely as my favorite in the franchise. I am not going to state that it's the best Star Trek series, because it definitely will not appeal to everybody, but it is my favorite.

DS9 deviates from the Trek franchise formula in an important way - it is based on one location - a Cardassian-built space station near the planet Bejor. So even the architecture of the main set is alien - not another sterile militaristic star ship inhabited by a primarily white European crew - but a true Babel. Bejor has just been liberated from 60 years of occupation by an expansionist militaristic race - the Cardassians. Both Bejorans and Cardassians will play important roles throughout DS9. Since the station does not move much during the show's seven year run, DS9 has a much stronger sense of place than the other ST series, and is able to develop story arc and character continuity much more powerfully than the others.

All of the major characters and most of the frequent returning characters have their own interwoven story arcs - most of which span the entire series. Ben Sisko (Avery Brooks), the station's commander, is a somewhat disgruntled Star Fleet officer who has several personal vendettas which have almost driven him from Star Fleet. He is also a single parent and a genius. In the very first episode, Sisko's arc begins and it is clear that his story will be the frame within which the entire series is organized - though the reasons for this will no become entirely clear until near the end. Also memorable are the gruff, shape-shifting Chief Constable Odo(Rene Auberjunois) who does not know what he is and where he came from; Kira (Nana Visitor) Sisko's aggressive and intense Bajoran second officer; Garak (Andy Robinson) a Cardassian Tailor and - possibly - spy, who is easily the most well-developed, well-acted and interesting recurring guest star Star Trek has ever had; Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell) - the beautiful Trill science officer whose consciousness is enhanced by the memories and personality of a 600 year old symbiotic slug who lives in her stomach and has inhabited dozens of previous hosts; Julian Bashir (Alex Siddig) - the station's young, brilliant, adventurous and naive doctor; and Quark (Armin Shimmerman), the greedy, conniving, but entirely lovable Ferengi casino owner.

The characters, cast, and serialized stories make DS9 stand apart from the franchise as the most powerfully plotted, intensely dramatic and politically charged Star Trek ever. The show is, however, not for those with limited attention spans and a disdain for complexity. While it isn't exactly hard to follow, the dialog is often dense and DS9 - more than any other Trek show - uses non-verbal communication very well. Brooks, Visitor and Robinson - all of whom are masters at this - are particularly non-verbal and make a big impression from the first few episodes.

Throughout the series, there are constant underlying political intrigues and surprisingly little filler. Almost every story connects with the main story arc (Sisko's and Bejor's) in one way or another, and no time is wasted with aimless experimentation by the writing team (a problem Voyager and Enterprise both suffered from).

The production is consistently theatrical in scope. The special effects are still - even today - above average for television, and even the new BSG doesn't approach the scope and coherence of the plot.

Highly recommended for bright people looking for something more than typical TV drama normally delivers.