In 1993, The creative elements of Star Trek The Next Generation sought to capture lightening in a bottle for a unprecedented third time, and see if they could launch a successful third Star Trek series. Buoyed by the runaway success of the earlier Star Trek The Next Generation, the creative team sought to provide viewers a look at the Star Trek universe that was different from the typical Federation point of view.
Towards this end, the new series, Deep Space 9, was set on a space station orbiting the war-ravaged world of Bajor. A planet whose inhabitants are a bit leery of their provisional government inviting the Federation to oversee the station as they attempt to rebuild their planet from 50 years of brutal occupation by the Cardassians.
If this sounds a bit complex for a star Trek series, you are right, deep Space 9 was easily the most complex and diverse Star Trek show ever created, as characters and storylines unfolded over the shows seven seasons with many twists and turns, keeping viewers guessing. The idea of the show was to introduce conflict back into the series, as the Trek creator Gene Roddenberry insisted prior to his death that there would be no conflict between humans in the 24th century. To honor the late creators wishes Deep Space 9 centered on a multi-species cast, many of whom had very different value systems and beliefs that caused friction between the characters as well as set the stage for character development.
The show was lead by Avery Brooks as Commander Ben Sisko, a career Starfleet officer who is struggling to raise his son after the loss of his beloved wife to the evil Borg. He is a disillusioned man who is not happy about being assigned to a station in a remote system and is even less happy with the conditions facing him at the station.
His second in command is Major Kira (Nana Visitor), a former freedom fighter who is assigned to be the Bajoran liaison to Starfleet on the station, and not happy at all with the Starfleet presence in her system.
Jadzia Dax (Terry Farell) is a young science officer who holds a symbiotic organism with the experiences and memories of 800 years and several lifetimes. A past host was a close friend and mentor to Sisko.
Julian Bashir (Siddig El Fadil), a bright, yet cocky young doctor who desires to make a name for himself on the wild frontier of space.
Chief O’Brien (Colm Meaney), the former Operations officer on the Enterprise who is assigned to head up the operations of the station.
Odo (Rene Abuerjonois), A shape shifting security chief of the station as well as the only known member of his species. Odo is a caustic loaner yet faithful to justice and determined to jail Quark and find the nature of his origins.
Quark (Armin Shimmerman), a scheming and opportunistic Ferengi bartender who has his hands into everything and never misses a chance to make a profit, even if it means bending the law.
The first season set includes a number of classic episodes such as the classic “Duet” where Kira confronts a suspected war criminal played by Harris Yulin. The parallel the Holocaust is evident and the story and acting combined with the way controversial and sensitive subjects are handled make this a powerful episode. Other episodes dealt with spiritualism, racial relations, abuses of power, and more allowing the series to take a look at topics in a hard hitting way, and unlike past Treks, events did not have to be wrapped up in an hour and were free to carry over to future episodes and seasons as many did.
To this cast a myriad of strong supporting actors and actresses mixed with a vast and complex storyline allowed for some of the best moments in science Fiction to be created.
The Season One DVD set is a well-crafted set that in many ways surpasses the outstanding Next Generation series. Aside from the plethora of behind the scenes and making of segments, the series features the episodes in sparking color and sound.
A great launch to a fine series and a promise of great things to come.
5 stars out of 5
