Encyclopedia of Speculative Fiction

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

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(Redirected from DS9)
For the article on the space station, see Deep Space 9
Image:DS9title.jpg
Abbreviation: DS9
Created by: Rick Berman and Michael Piller
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Distributor: Viacom syndication
Production dates: 1993-1999
Episodes: 173 (7 seasons)
Timespan: 2369-2375
Image:Deep space 9.jpg
Space station Deep Space 9.
Image:DS9 crew.jpg
The crew in Season 6.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is the third live-action Star Trek series. It ran in first-run syndication from January 1993 to May 1999, and was the first Star Trek series not created by Gene Roddenberry.

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Summary

Deep Space Nine boldly went where no Star Trek had gone before in that it was the first series that was not actually a trek, being set instead on starbase Deep Space 9. Unlike its predecessors Star Trek: The Original Series and Star Trek: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine avoided a simple episodic format and prided itself on complex story arcs with lasting consequences. Such radical changes inevitably garnered some criticism, but it was well received by fans and particularly critics, with TV Guide describing it the "best acted, written, produced, and altogether finest" Trek series. [1]

Like The Next Generation, DS9 had a strong cast and well-developed characters and relationships. Unlike other Trek series, DS9 also had a strong cast of recurring characters, which heightened the richness of the program's world. The series focused on several races that were first featured on TNG, such as the Bajorans, the Cardassians, the Trill and the Ferengi. Later, the Klingons and the Romulans (created in TOS) became pivotal species on the series. Many other species made appearances on the series, including Vulcans, Bolians and Benzites. The series also created many memorable species of its own, most notably the Founders, the Vorta and the Jem'Hadar. Deep Space Nine was also the first series to have regular characters who were not members of Starfleet, with Kira Nerys, a member of the Bajoran Militia and Odo, the station's chief of security as well as civilians such as Quark and Jake Sisko.

Ironically, one of DS9's most redeeming qualities — the fact, being set aboard a space station, events from one season directly affected the next — also turned out to be one of its biggest flaws. Like TNG before it, DS9 took several seasons to firmly establish its own identity; however, unlike TNG, viewers could not simply tune in to watch the latest adventure. The complex development of the characters and the multiple story arcs over time meant that much of the series was lost on the casual observer, which resulted in a smaller fan base and inevitably lower ratings.

DS9 also garnered a reputation for having some of the best and worst Trek episodes made to date. For example, many Trek fans count the fifth season episode "Trials and Tribble-ations" among their favorites, yet it was followed by "Let He Who Is Without Sin...", an ill-conceived episode even according to its writers. An earlier example is the second season episode "Necessary Evil", a noir-type story about Constable Odo's experiences during the Occupation of Bajor, and the episode after it, "Second Sight", which essentially consisted of Captain Sisko chasing an imaginary woman around the promenade. In any case, by the time the Dominion War came into full swing from the latter part of the fifth season until the end of the series, virtually all fans -- at least those who were still watching -- were more than satisfied.

Despite the relative lack of exposure the series received during its initial run, DS9 has found an ever-growing following of fans in syndication. Even opponents of DS9 admit that, despite the bumps along the road, it achieved a level of complexity and richness the likes of which Star Trek had never seen before and likely will never see again.

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Main Cast

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Executive Producers

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Staff Writers

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Episode List

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Season 1

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Season 2

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Season 3

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Season 4

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Season 5

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Season 6

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Season 7

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Related topics

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External Links

Some of this page is derived from Wikipedia. The original article was at Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Wizards.pro, the text of Wikipedia is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.
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