Derek S-H
Outstanding Member
Like many of you, I suspect, I was first exposed to the show via broadcasts on BBC Two during the 90's. My vague recollection was that it was shown once a week, which was duly recorded, and I worked my way diligently through all seven Seasons as and when the BBC showed them.
I also remember enjoying the show at the time, but for whatever reason it didn't leave a lasting impression on me, probably because I was also recording and watching shows like "Space: Above & Beyond", "The X-Files" and "Sliders" at the same time and they seemed more dynamic and engaging in comparison.
But at the start of this year, I was looking at my "Star Trek" disc collection on the shelf and there seemed to be a huge "DS9"-shaped hole, and a light went on in my mind and I decided to invest in the DVD Box Set. I wasn't planning on watching it anytime soon, but then lockdown appeared, sporting events (and subsequent TV highlights) stopped and suddenly I had all this free time in the evenings with no end in sight.
So in March I watched "Emissary", the pilot episode, and immediately fell in love with the characters. The show had a look and feel that was familiar, but also somehow different and unique. I've managed to watch two episodes a night, every night, and its groundbreaking serialisation became far more evident than just watching one episode a week. It was far easier to recognise references to previous events and episodes, to see the connections that were being laid down by the writers, and to keep track of the personal development arcs of the many characters.
It's a brave, ambitious and progressive show that took risks and the writing is frequently simply magnificent. The creative industries are often about collaboration and teamwork, both in front and behind the camera in TV, and the casting, performances, editing, lighting, sets, costumes, sound and special effects are all exemplary. But, in my opinion, it's all about the script - what you actually give your characters to say and the consequences of those words - that is the essential foundation of any TV show, and some of the dialogue is just poetry and a sheer joy to listen to.
What also helps the show enormously is its depiction of moral ambiguity, conflicted loyalties, hidden motivations and character growth and change. Much as I love them, you didn't really get this as much on "TOS" or "TNG". There are also regular user reviews and ratings on IMDB and some fairly consistent moaning, especially earlier on in the show's life or particularly about the Ferengi episodes. But for me, the number of episodes I didn't enjoy I can count on one hand, and even then there's nearly always a scene, or a small moment that's pure gold.
There's also mention of Avery Brooks' unusual and idiosyncratic performance as Sisko many times, but I liked him - he was passionate and committed and engaged as an actor, which clearly had a knock on effect on anyone sharing a scene with him as they knew they had to raise their game; they couldn't just hit their marks, say their dialogue and pick up their pay cheque. Terry Farrell also came under criticism for her acting, but I found her character witty, vivacious, charming and full of life. Special mention must also go to Nana Visitor as Kira as any episode featuring her as a major storyline would always be gripping and enthralling. And Andrew Robinson would always elevate any episode he appeared in. Plus, there's Morn!
As an accompanying reference piece, I was reading Terry Erdmann's "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion" book which is an incredible achievement in its own right as it was written during the show's seven year production run. You gain real insight into the making of the show, all the hard work involved (16-18 hour days, six days a week) and the agonising about practically every artistic decision. It's an absolutely essential read if you can find one at a reasonable price as it has rocketed in value since going out of print:
Amazon product ASIN 0671501062
Another book I had to hand which is much more affordable and just as enjoyable is Phil Farrand's "Nitpicker's Guide". It's nowhere near as in-depth as Erdmann's book, but it does make you think about the narrative and character inconsistencies and any continuity issues that crop up. It's also pretty funny! The only downside is that it only covers the first four Seasons (I don't know why):
Finally, as has already been mentioned elsewhere, there's a wonderful and deeply moving documentary called "What We Left Behind", which is a retrospective look back at the show's impact and influence. It's available on DVD for around £12, but that is just a waste of money because it's also available on Blu-Ray for around £18-19 and the HD footage is simply jaw-dropping and breathtaking. It's worth getting just for that alone:
The only downside is that it is Region A only, so you'll need a Multi-Region player to watch it.
In summary: I know guys like @lucasisking and @Sloppy Bob regard the show very highly, and I was clearly wrong to ignore it for all these years. It is undoubtedly the best of the "Star Trek" shows on so many levels, though I must confess that "Voyager" will always be my favourite show, despite its flaws. And this is mainly because Captain Janeway is my favourite character of all.
I know that's illogical, but I'm only human!
I also remember enjoying the show at the time, but for whatever reason it didn't leave a lasting impression on me, probably because I was also recording and watching shows like "Space: Above & Beyond", "The X-Files" and "Sliders" at the same time and they seemed more dynamic and engaging in comparison.
But at the start of this year, I was looking at my "Star Trek" disc collection on the shelf and there seemed to be a huge "DS9"-shaped hole, and a light went on in my mind and I decided to invest in the DVD Box Set. I wasn't planning on watching it anytime soon, but then lockdown appeared, sporting events (and subsequent TV highlights) stopped and suddenly I had all this free time in the evenings with no end in sight.
So in March I watched "Emissary", the pilot episode, and immediately fell in love with the characters. The show had a look and feel that was familiar, but also somehow different and unique. I've managed to watch two episodes a night, every night, and its groundbreaking serialisation became far more evident than just watching one episode a week. It was far easier to recognise references to previous events and episodes, to see the connections that were being laid down by the writers, and to keep track of the personal development arcs of the many characters.
It's a brave, ambitious and progressive show that took risks and the writing is frequently simply magnificent. The creative industries are often about collaboration and teamwork, both in front and behind the camera in TV, and the casting, performances, editing, lighting, sets, costumes, sound and special effects are all exemplary. But, in my opinion, it's all about the script - what you actually give your characters to say and the consequences of those words - that is the essential foundation of any TV show, and some of the dialogue is just poetry and a sheer joy to listen to.
What also helps the show enormously is its depiction of moral ambiguity, conflicted loyalties, hidden motivations and character growth and change. Much as I love them, you didn't really get this as much on "TOS" or "TNG". There are also regular user reviews and ratings on IMDB and some fairly consistent moaning, especially earlier on in the show's life or particularly about the Ferengi episodes. But for me, the number of episodes I didn't enjoy I can count on one hand, and even then there's nearly always a scene, or a small moment that's pure gold.
There's also mention of Avery Brooks' unusual and idiosyncratic performance as Sisko many times, but I liked him - he was passionate and committed and engaged as an actor, which clearly had a knock on effect on anyone sharing a scene with him as they knew they had to raise their game; they couldn't just hit their marks, say their dialogue and pick up their pay cheque. Terry Farrell also came under criticism for her acting, but I found her character witty, vivacious, charming and full of life. Special mention must also go to Nana Visitor as Kira as any episode featuring her as a major storyline would always be gripping and enthralling. And Andrew Robinson would always elevate any episode he appeared in. Plus, there's Morn!
As an accompanying reference piece, I was reading Terry Erdmann's "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion" book which is an incredible achievement in its own right as it was written during the show's seven year production run. You gain real insight into the making of the show, all the hard work involved (16-18 hour days, six days a week) and the agonising about practically every artistic decision. It's an absolutely essential read if you can find one at a reasonable price as it has rocketed in value since going out of print:
Amazon product ASIN 0671501062
Another book I had to hand which is much more affordable and just as enjoyable is Phil Farrand's "Nitpicker's Guide". It's nowhere near as in-depth as Erdmann's book, but it does make you think about the narrative and character inconsistencies and any continuity issues that crop up. It's also pretty funny! The only downside is that it only covers the first four Seasons (I don't know why):
phil farrand deep space nine for sale | eBay
Find great deals on eBay for phil farrand deep space nine. Shop with confidence.
www.ebay.co.uk
Finally, as has already been mentioned elsewhere, there's a wonderful and deeply moving documentary called "What We Left Behind", which is a retrospective look back at the show's impact and influence. It's available on DVD for around £12, but that is just a waste of money because it's also available on Blu-Ray for around £18-19 and the HD footage is simply jaw-dropping and breathtaking. It's worth getting just for that alone:
what we left behind blu ray for sale | eBay
Find great deals on eBay for what we left behind blu ray. Shop with confidence.
www.ebay.co.uk
The only downside is that it is Region A only, so you'll need a Multi-Region player to watch it.
In summary: I know guys like @lucasisking and @Sloppy Bob regard the show very highly, and I was clearly wrong to ignore it for all these years. It is undoubtedly the best of the "Star Trek" shows on so many levels, though I must confess that "Voyager" will always be my favourite show, despite its flaws. And this is mainly because Captain Janeway is my favourite character of all.
I know that's illogical, but I'm only human!
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