Space Exploration Series Improved Significantly Before Dominion Conflict on Deep Space Nine
Rewritten Article:
Gem-Laden Deep Space Nine and the Shadows It Sparkles
Star Trek's assholes (yes, we're talking about you) often tout the "upgrade" in quality, claiming the series in the franchise improves at a certain point. They shout "Riker's beard makes TNG TNG" and dismiss the brilliant ideas that the series pioneered before that. It's time to debunk these notions, as the criticism is based on flawed reasoning. Let's talk about the love-hate relationship with Star Trek and Deep Space Nine (DS9).
Deep Space Nine, the TV show that keeps the fandom guessing and nursing bruised feelings, boasts an exquisite adaptation of the franchise’s darker and finest moments. However, DS9 isn't appreciated until the Dominion subplot boldly enters the stage – or so we're led to believe. Yet, revisiting the series from the beginning reveals a different picture. DS9 has always been a tricky and gritty show, mining the cracks in the Star Trek's idealistic universe since its debut season – which, by the way, is fantastic and worth watching.
Admittedly, I revisited the first season of DS9 last year to celebrate the 30th anniversary, and I stumbled on remarkable gems in a season that Starfleet fanboys will tell you to skip beyond the initial premise. But season two stages a comeback, diving deep into the threads that DS9 left hanging in its debut season – the ongoing tensions simmering in a complex storyline – while the other Star Trek series hurry off to the next adventure.
Take a look at season one's tinderbox: Bajor's Provisional Government. Most Starfleet fans can only comprehend Kira's exasperation with Starfleet during the ongoing power struggles and her past as a resistance fighter from her perspective. However, season two puts Bajor's self-rule into chaos with Vedek Winn's treacherous coup attempt, making Deep Space Nine a battleground well before it becomes the dreaded "war show."
Crucially, the resolution of the Bajoran coup d'etat in season two sets a domino effect, kaleidoscoping across the narratives that unfold. The resonance of this event is especially evident in the two-part storyline "The Maquis."
"The Maquis" serves as a frightening mirror to the escalating conflicts between Bajor's rule and Starfleet interference. The storyline explores the formation of and beginings of dissent with a guerilla group of Federation colonists in the demilitarized zone, highlighting the Federation's careless apathy towards the people directly affected by their actions and decisions. Rarely does Star Trek portray Starfleet as so oblivious to others' plight as it does in "The Maquis."
Commander Sisko conducts an investigation of conflicts between Cardassian and Federation colonists, including a terrorist attack on DS9 that destroyed a Cardassian ship. In the process, the awful struggles faced by civilians on both sides become glaringly apparent, from the dark manipulations of the Cardassian military commander to Starfleet's hands-off and detached policing efforts. The revelation of the Maquis is a shock, but tensions climb rapidly towards open conflict in part two of "The Maquis."
Entering Sisko's office, Admiral Nechayev delivers a callous message: If you try to communicate with the Maquis, they'll remember they're citizens of the Federation, and they'll be saved. With Nechayev gone, Kira steps in, and Avery Brooks lets loose. Known for his fiery outbursts, Sisko has never unleashed his harsh criticism on Starfleet quite as powerfully as he does here. "It's easy to be a saint in paradise," he rages, "but the Maquis do not live in paradise. Out there, in the demilitarized zone, all the problems haven't been solved yet. Out there, there are no saints: just people."
Starfleet's self-righteousness is under scrutiny here. Deep Space Nine isn't about the best of ourselves exploring the unknown or defending the innocent; it's about the downtrodden people who dwell beneath the ideals of Starfleet Academy, striving to make a difference with limited resources and support from Starfleet when things go terribly wrong.
"The Maquis" serves as a crucial stepping stone towards the stressors DS9 would explore during the Dominion War, which began shortly after the season two finale, "The Jem'Hadar." Already having demonstrated the Federation's inability to support its own people and its unpreparedness when faced with the Dominion, we see the twisted roots of this disillusionment germinating where Deep Space Nine excels: on the fringe, fighting the ragged battles that the utopian Federation rarely acknowledges.
Deep Space Nine continues to stream on Paramount+. Keep tabs on the upcoming releases of Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek, the future of the DC Universe on film and TV, and all things Doctor Who. Stay tuned for more thought-provoking takes on the anarchic heart of Star Trek – the ever-grimy, ever-wonderful Deep Space Nine.
- The gritty and complex nature of Deep Space Nine (DS9) was evident from its debut season, showcasing the fractures in Star Trek's idealistic universe, a fact often overlooked by Starfleet fanboys.
- Avery Brooks, known for his passionate performances, delivered a compelling outburst in season two of DS9, criticizing Starfleet's self-righteousness and apathy towards the struggles of ordinary citizens.
- The storyline "The Maquis" served as a harbinger of the disillusionment that DS9 would explore during the Dominion War, foreshadowing the Federation's unpreparedness and inability to support its own people on the fringe.
- Just like the One Still Touched by 'God', the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks, DS9 continues its stream on Paramount+, inviting us to delve deeper into the anarchic and captivating world of Deep Space Nine.
