Overall this series was an excellent example of good writing and progression of character development. In 1999 it is the most syndicated show, not just Star Treks, of all time according to Newswire.
This series could also be why further Star Trek shows have not done as well for it has set a very high standard of to be compared against. Now let us see why this series is the best Star Trek series ever.
Character Development
- DS9 had the development of key characters that delved deeper and more thoughtfully than the original and next generation Star Treks. The series did start of slow, but it started to gain momentum as it pieced together each character one bit at a time.
- Benjamin Sisko is a focal point, but the series did not focus just on him. He was a reluctant captain, not at all like his predecessors who basked in the limelight.
- Gul Dukat was the Cardassian overlord of the space station prior to the Federation taking it over. He is portrayed as the anti-hero who is a venerated leader of the Cardassian people, but he eventually abandons all for a smoldering grudge against Benjamin Sisko.
- Doctor Julian Bashir was a character who started off as a happy go lucky kind of guy, but as his interactions increased with others, he became darker and more rogue like.
- Engineer Miles O'Brien started off as a sullen character holdover from Star Trek: The Next Generation, but with his family and friendships with others we saw him soften up. Still, he had that mean streak as a professional solider lurking within him.
- Odo and Kira Nerys' story revolves around each other, and they both stay untarnished and ideologically pure throughout the series. Odo and Kira is an interracial love story with the girl being a diehard Tom-boy, and the boy being a shy but strong type who is still trying to find out where he belongs in this universe.
- Dax was played by two different characters in the series. The first was strong and sure of her identity, and open to just about anything. The second Dax you almost roll your eyes back and pray that she does not become another Denna Troi. She had spunk, but too flaky and emotional for the hard core Deep Space Nine fan.
- Worf, another holdover from Star Trek: The Next Generation, who was added for star power. He became more Kilingon, and it could be argued that he is the epic hero story that transcends these two Star Trek series. Worf has the chance to become the leader of the Klingon race, yet he is reluctant and still unsure of himself.
- Elim Garack is the Cardassian tailor who is exiled from his home world. He is very polite and optimistic, but this is but the sheathe for the blade of a master assassin. Whenever he was involved in a story he is the dominant figure, even when he was not the focal point.
- Quark was slated to the money grubbing Ferengi bar owner, but his humanity comes out in the good and bad directions he follows. He is a testament to how humans truly act.
- Jake Sisko is the son of the captain who has decided not be a military officer for Starfleet. He became a reporter, and his choice not to join reminds us that the Federation is a military organization.
Real wartime experience
- The after affects of the Bajor-Cardassian war is still evident thought the series. The feelings of hatred and revenge created a taught undercurrent when both races are involved in the story line of any given episode.
- The Dominion War is one of the most in-depth and war campaign in any Star Trek series. It takes us from the discovery of the Dominion to the end of the war by treaty, but even then the door is wide open for further skirmishes.
Dark Side of the Federation
- Section 31, an independent black operations side of the Federation. This new agency opens up how good intentions are not always the best way to reach your ideological goals of equality and freedom. Section 31 was instrumental in stopping the Dominion War, as well as securing friendly allies in competing regimes for the prolonged security of the Federation. Many ideological fans might not have enjoyed having a deep cover intelligence group within the Federation, and such an entity poses the question: "Is the Federation really the good guys?"
- Captain Sisko is also not immune to using any means necessary to keep the Federation from losing the Dominion War. One of the most memorable episodes is "In the Pale Moonlight" in which the captain enlists the help of Garack to falsely draw the Romulans into the Dominion War. Here we see Garack in his element of who he was prior to exile, and the subject of morality being pushed aside for the benefit of the Federation.
Death
- People died on the show that you sometimes did not expect, even main characters were taken down. With this death readily available, it made you savor the characters that where shown throughout the series.
Other Species
- This is where DS9 really flourished in comparison to the other Star Treks. Ferengi, Cardassian, Bajoran, races were developed very well. You saw the political and cultural aspects of each race fleshed out in a way that put them on par with the Federation. The inferiority complex for non Federation worlds is kept to a minimum.
Relationships
- Romance and all that it entails is what some people think when the word "relationships" is offered. Yes, there was their fair share of romance, but it was not all focused on the hip characters with the occasional bone thrown to the lesser characters.
- Marriages that come from the romantic liaisons were more common than any other Star Trek. It was almost downright family friendly, but there is also tragedy mixed within the stories that follows paths of classic Greek dramas.
- Friendships of many levels developed, and this is what gave the series the ability to endure.
- Familial bonds and mentorship of one character to another is important to many of the character developments, and they were done very well for a science fiction series.
Consequences
- There were continual consequences of actions that reverberated throughout the series, from personal choices to astropolitical. This is a major difference than the previous series' where they would land on a planet and make some drastic changes, then leave and never hear from the planet again.
Continual Progression
- The series progressed with the story of the Emissary and the lives of each of the individuals.
- At the end of the series a lot of the characters went their separate ways away from Deep Space 9 to end the magical time they had together.
