Star Trek: DS9: Season 1 (1993)
19 episodes, approx 44 minutes each.
When DS9 launched it ran concurrently with TNG for a couple of years, but differentiated itself from the other show in a number of ways, the most obvious being that it wasn't set aboard a spacefaring vessel.
With a premise that was perhaps (i.e. likely) inspired from an idea that Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski pitched to the studio, the action was situated on a space station positioned near a planet. The self-contained environment served as a stop-off point for diplomats, traders, rogues and all sorts of nasty characters intent on doing harm to one another.
The location of the station is both a profitable and tactical one for Starfleet, enabling them to keep a cautious (and controlling) eye on both a newly discovered wormhole and on the aforementioned planet, Bajor, a war-ravaged place recently liberated from an aggressive occupation by the Cardassians.
With a premise that was perhaps (i.e. likely) inspired from an idea that Babylon 5 creator J. Michael Straczynski pitched to the studio, the action was situated on a space station positioned near a planet. The self-contained environment served as a stop-off point for diplomats, traders, rogues and all sorts of nasty characters intent on doing harm to one another.
The location of the station is both a profitable and tactical one for Starfleet, enabling them to keep a cautious (and controlling) eye on both a newly discovered wormhole and on the aforementioned planet, Bajor, a war-ravaged place recently liberated from an aggressive occupation by the Cardassians.
The DS9 station itself is of Cardassian design. Gone are the clean lines and brightly optimistic aesthetic of the Federation fleet, replaced by a gray, brooding alien architecture whose every turn and entryway seems designed to sap any feelings of comfort and safety that its non-Cardassian inhabitants might dare to nurture.
Even the computer voice is different, no longer the reassuring tones of Majel Barrett that we're accustomed to, sadly. Each of the changes in tone are reflective of the overall feeling that the DS9 series will be darker thematically than any Trek series that preceded it. The cinematography supports the notion, with muted lighting and prominent shadows aplenty.
It opens with the Battle of Wolf 359, stardate 44002.3 (see TNG's The Best of Both Worlds Eps I + II), a conflict in which 39 Federation ships were destroyed and approx 11,000 lives lost.
More than just a TNG connection, it sets the groundwork for a deeper insight into the man appointed to represent the Federation's interests on DS9, Commander Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks). Sisko is a redoubtable leader, but also a father, so his concerns are more than just duty and honour. (I'll mention the other characters in future posts so as not to make this one too long.) Because the station was in Bajorian space, it was forced to acknowledge the wishes of the planet's provisional government, meaning Starfleet had to frequently compromise its wishes, creating a conflict of interests that Ben Sisko had to deal with and temper firsthand.
Speaking of Bajorans, the culture gave the show its second most notable difference: a strong spiritual/religious focus that made the day to day running of the station more difficult than it could've been otherwise; the Federation aren't welcomed with open arms. Unfortunately, the Bajorans were too often characterised in extremes, as either zen or zealot, making their plight and persecution as much a histrionic hindrance as a help to the ongoing narrative.
Even the computer voice is different, no longer the reassuring tones of Majel Barrett that we're accustomed to, sadly. Each of the changes in tone are reflective of the overall feeling that the DS9 series will be darker thematically than any Trek series that preceded it. The cinematography supports the notion, with muted lighting and prominent shadows aplenty.
It opens with the Battle of Wolf 359, stardate 44002.3 (see TNG's The Best of Both Worlds Eps I + II), a conflict in which 39 Federation ships were destroyed and approx 11,000 lives lost.
More than just a TNG connection, it sets the groundwork for a deeper insight into the man appointed to represent the Federation's interests on DS9, Commander Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks). Sisko is a redoubtable leader, but also a father, so his concerns are more than just duty and honour. (I'll mention the other characters in future posts so as not to make this one too long.) Because the station was in Bajorian space, it was forced to acknowledge the wishes of the planet's provisional government, meaning Starfleet had to frequently compromise its wishes, creating a conflict of interests that Ben Sisko had to deal with and temper firsthand.
Speaking of Bajorans, the culture gave the show its second most notable difference: a strong spiritual/religious focus that made the day to day running of the station more difficult than it could've been otherwise; the Federation aren't welcomed with open arms. Unfortunately, the Bajorans were too often characterised in extremes, as either zen or zealot, making their plight and persecution as much a histrionic hindrance as a help to the ongoing narrative.
Deep Space Nine (aka Terok Nor). Orbital Docking Station / Location: Denorios belt.
Diameter: 1451.82 metres / Draft: 969.26 metres / Levels: 98 / Capacity: 7000 people.
Docking: 6 large pylon ports; 3 medium ring ports; 9 small ring ports; 6 landing pads.
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